My Record

My term in the Assembly was very much a game of two halves; the first half as Minister for the Environment, the second half – after the change in government – as a very active backbencher. The common themes were a determination to make a difference, a commitment to evidence based policy making, a focus on the environment and sustainability and voting for measures that improved living standards. 

Minister for the Environment

  • Passed the Licensing of Rented Dwellings legislation (commonly known as landlord licensing), to help enforce better standards in the rental market
  • Proposed a massive expansion in marine protected areas through the Marine Spatial Plan
  • Instigated sweeping changes in the Planning Department which have improved customer service
  • Brought forward proposals for a commercial wind farm in Jersey’s waters
  • Introduced a new Food Law, with enhanced allergy labelling
  • Delivered incentives to help people decarbonise, lessening the island’s reliance on fossil fuels 
  • Helped set up the PFAS Scientific Advisory Panel

It is noticeable that my successor as Minister for the Environment continued all of these policies – my 18 months in office set the agenda for the entire 4 your term of this Assembly.

Backbencher

  • Multiple Scrutiny roles; Chair of the New Hospital Facilities scrutiny panel, Vice chair of the Health and Social Security scrutiny panel, member of the Corporate Services scrutiny panel.
  • Held ministers to account over public spending, the state of health and care services & the economy. No one asked more questions of Ministers in the Assembly than I did. 
  • I proposed an amendment to the new Residential Tenancy Law that limited rent increases to inflation, removing the unfair 5% cap on rent increases that would have penalised landlords unfairly at times of high inflation.
  • I supported significant increases in the minimum wage to the living wage. 
  • I voted in favour of increasing the proportion of social housing in the Waterfront development.
  • In the assisted dying debate I voted for Route 1 (terminal illness) but against Route 2 (unbearable suffering).
  • I opposed reducing the government’s grant to the Social Security fund until a full actuarial view confirms that the reduction will not harm the long term future of the fund, which is so important for paying future benefits such as pensions.

Parish Deputy 

  • Pushed for new community uses of the Pavilion at Les Creux – now finally coming to fruition
  • Supported the parish Youth Club as an active committee member, working to ensure the club’s finances are sustainable
  • Campaigned against further development of the Nude Dunes site, including submitting planning objections
  • Lobbied for road improvement schemes such as at La Sergenté (sadly still not delivered)
  • Supported Deputy Helen Miles’ proposition to prioritise government consideration for the future of Les Quennevais parade and precinct 
  • Played a key role in getting approval for the Elephant Park toilet block renovation (having strongly opposed the original plans which would have cost over half a million pounds)

And one mistake..

I haven’t always got things right. For example, my attempt to introduce stronger tree protection as Environment Minister is something on which I have reflected long and hard. The goal was right — Jersey’s trees need better protection — but I moved too fast and didn’t bring people with me. I learned from that.