Parishes accept change as the only way to do business

It follows the introduction of emergency legislation which the Civil Contingency Authority approved last week.

The legislation is intended to either support the States’ response to the coronavirus pandemic or enable the continuation of certain elements of island life.

It means that the constables of each parish can apply to the Royal Court for the rates to be levied in the normal way without the need for a meeting. Matters have to be advertised beforehand in La Gazette Officielle in the Guernsey Press so ratepayers can make representations.

Only one parish, St Andrew’s, was able to hold its public meeting before lockdown restrictions came in to force.

The Vale meeting had been due to take place on 1 April by which time the lockdown had been enforced and the CCA approved the new emergency legislation the following day.

Vale constable Richard Leale said it was unfortunate that the meeting had already been advertised in the La Gazette Officielle. It had been done again [on 9 April] and parishioners had until the end of the month to comment. Details of where to make comment were in the Gazette notice.

The douzaine would then consider any representations made. If no changes were made it would then have to be advertised again stating when the constables would be making an application to the Royal Court.

‘The douzaine has already discussed it, so in some respects its a belt and braces exercise,’ he said.

‘Changes would be unlikely but if there were any we would have to start the whole process again,’ said Mr Leale.

People could always oppose the application at the Royal Court stage if they wished.

He said he did not see how the CCA could have done anything else.

‘They put this is place so that the parishes can get their rates in place. Most parishes have something in reserve but not enough to get them through the next year.’

St Peter Port had not yet advertised its public parish meeting which had been due to take place this month.

Constable Dennis Le Moignan said he did not think that the CCA could have done anything else and it was difficult times for everybody.

He did not think that the change would make a great deal of difference.

‘Parish meetings seem to get minimal attendance given the number of people in each of them,’ he said.

The publication would probably now be in about early May and ratepayers had to be given at least a week to comment.

Dean of the St Martin’s douzaine, Ben Gregg, said it was hoping to make the publication by the end of this month or early next.

He too thought that the CCA could not have done anything else.

‘Our understanding is that if we appoint people to parish committees they would remain in the position for one month after the emergency legislation is removed and then there would have to be an election,’ he said.