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"I have to say that in principle the idea of St Helier having its own Council is good but when it is examined in detail it is bad financially for the ratepayers. I speak from experience having been elected to a London Borough Council in 1966 when there was neither pay nor expenses for elected members.
Sometime thereafter it became the practice for a Councillor in Borough A to be employed as a special adviser in Borough B and paid for doing nothing in the payment Borough.
This was banned by Margaret Thatcher. A payment system was brought in which allowed for a small sum to be paid for meetings which then grew to an annual sum. In London a backbencher now gets over £10,000 pa regardless of how much or little they do and the committee chairman and leader have between about £25,000 and £50,000 pa each.
Pictured: Margaret Thatcher disagreed with the notion of a councillor in one borough speaking for another district.
If St Helier were to take on planning it would also require 2 or more qualified planners and admin assistance.
On licensing there would need to be at least one expert as laymen don’t know the intricacies of the law.
In respect of parking if it were to be properly monitored there should be a surplus but this would only be allowed to be used for similar purposes. Currently parking control is virtually non existent other than for a few hours a day and at weekends and on bank and public holidays there is a free for all to see how many cars can be parked on yellow lines, bus stops and zebra crossings.
Pictured: With no pay and display needed on weekends and bank holidays, streets become filled with parked cars.
I have little doubt that the argument against me would have been that there will be no pay and no need for additional officers or that the States will transfer the money for any transferred staff. Sufficient money and increases over the years are most unlikely to happen and there will be cut backs by the States and where would be the easiest, the Parish!
There is little doubt in my mind that to introduce a Council for the Parish will be regretted in years to come due to the large financial burden.
I have discussed the proposal with others who know the cost of employing people and they have estimated the likely cost of between a half a million and 1 million pounds a year. This equates to between £17 and £33 per person in town or an increase of about 4 ¾ and 9% on the current average rate bill.
For the above reasons I would have voted against the proposal if I had been here rather than on holiday."
Edward Trevor, St Saviour.
The St. Helier Parish Assembly to discuss the Town Council plans is tonight at 19:00
FOCUS: St. Helier’s bid for greater independence
