Moves to create a dedicated Planning Minister are facing an early political challenge, with a backbench politician calling for the process to be halted until ministers provide more detail on the costs, staffing implications, and rationale behind the shake-up.
Deputy Tom Coles has lodged a proposition calling for the Chief Minister to take “no action” to establish the new ministerial office until further information has been published and debated by Members.
The move follows the lodging of legal proposals last week to create the standalone Planning and Regulation Ministry, paving the way for States Members to elect a dedicated Planning Minister.
Senator Sir Mark Boleat has been identified as the preferred candidate and is currently serving as an Assistant Environment Minister with delegated planning powers pending the formal creation of the role. During the election campaign, he described Jersey’s planning system as “not fit for purpose” and pledged sweeping reforms.
Deputy Coles stressed that his proposition is not necessarily opposed to creating the new ministerial position, but argued that such a significant restructuring should not proceed without greater transparency.
The Reform Jersey politician said his proposition seeks to ensure “all viable options have been properly evaluated” and that any decision is made with “full transparency, robust analysis, and a clear rationale that serves the best interests of the Island”.
If approved, the proposition would require the Chief Minister to publish a report setting out the additional costs and staffing implications of the new ministry, explain how officers would be accountable under the revised structure, justify the transfer of ministerial responsibilities and outline whether alternatives – including merging existing ministerial portfolios instead of creating a new one – were considered.
The Assembly would then debate that information before any new ministerial office is established.
Deputy Coles argued that while the Chief Minister has the legal power to create new ministerial offices by order, no information has been provided on the financial or staffing consequences.
He added: “Unfortunately, the Chief Minister has opted, as is his right, not to provide any costs or assessments into the staffing requirements this new position will incur or reduce.”
The St Helier South Deputy also questioned whether splitting planning, environmental and economic development responsibilities could create confusion over accountability.
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There is a strong argument that such a fundamental structural change like this should not happen without proper parliamentary scrutiny and debate
Citing the Democratic Accountability and Governance Sub-committee’s 2022 report, Deputy Coles noted that departments should have a single minister ultimately accountable for their work.
He argued that introducing a third minister into the Infrastructure and Environment Department “further blurs the lines of political accountability” that the review sought to clarify.
The report also raised concerns over whether departments will remain adequately staffed after functions are transferred between ministries and warns that separating responsibilities could have “unintended consequences”.
Deputy Coles said “such a fundamental structural change” should be subject to “proper parliamentary scrutiny and debate”.
He added that questions remain over the proposal’s “financial implications, staffing requirements, and operational impact”, warning there is a risk the changes could “complicate lines of responsibility and weaken, rather than strengthen, effective governance” if they are introduced without further justification.
