The Policy and Resources Committee led its budget debate through the States with eyes focused on the January debate on the future of our tax regime.
The future debate on GST had already split the States leading committee – with Deputy Heidi Soulsby resigning from her role as Deputy Chief Minister due to her opposition to the goods and services tax.
She was replaced on P&R by Deputy Bob Murray who is seen by many as having views more closely aligned with the “ruling coalition”.
Pictured: Deputy Bob Murray (top right) joined P&R in November.
His election to P&R opened up vacancies on Education, Sport and Culture – where he was replaced by Alderney Representative Steve Roberts, and the Development and Planning Authority – where he was replaced by Deputy Chris Blin.
The DPA had larger problems to face in the latter weeks of the year, as the committee was forced to dispute claims of a conflict of interest affecting the Leale’s Yard planning application.
The development was given the green light by the DPA, with a number of conditions attached, but it was immediately followed by Deputy Andy Taylor quitting saying he had evidence of a conflict of interest which he later confirmed involved the DPA President, Deputy Victoria Oliver.
Pictured: Deputy Andy Taylor claimed Deputy Victoria Oliver was conflicted in the Leale’s Yard planning application.
Deputy Oliver vehemently denied the conflict of interest and stated that she wanted to put it all behind them and to continue working together.
The DPA has a busy 2023 ahead as the planning notice for the field in the grounds of the PEH went up in December. The public consultation period fell over Christmas and New Year and will close on 10 January.
La Société Guernesiaise is among those hoping to encourage others to oppose the plans.
December’s news was dominated otherwise by a series of tragedies in Jersey which resulted in the loss of 14 lives, as well as the death of more than 100 cows.
Pictured: The L’ecume II sank in December with the loss of three lives.
A fishing trawler collided with the Commodore Goodwill leading to the deaths of skipper Michael Michieli, and his two Filipino crewmen, Larry Simyunn and Jervis Ramirez Baligat. Mr Michieli’s body has not been found, while Mr Simyunn and Mr Baligat’s bodies were discovered in the wreck of their boat.
More than £100,000 was raised for their families through a fundraising campaign launched by Mr Michieli’s daughter.
Just two days later Jersey was rocked again by an explosion which killed ten people in total.
Pictured: Jersey mourned for the victims of its two tragedies.
The nine residents of Haut du Mont all died in the explosion, while a neighbour died in hospital two weeks later – on Christmas Day.
Inquests into their deaths were opened yesterday to allow their families to hold their funerals. The investigations into what caused the explosion is ongoing, but it’s believed to be linked to gas.
There was no gas supply to the building but Islands Energy is working with the authorities to establish what happened.
The following week a house fire claimed the life of a man in Jersey.
Then shortly before Christmas a Jersey dairy farm was hit by tragedy when more than 100 cattle died. Investigations are ongoing to establish what happened.