Call made for debate on 'housing crisis'
A CALL by one States member for a debate on the island’s housing crisis could be answered by a meeting taking place outside of a States sitting.
Deputy Steve Falla has said that he feels it is important for members to debate the issue to demonstrate that the States is treating it with some urgency.
He is considering ways in which it could be brought before the Assembly, but the chairman of a States body set up to look into the matter has suggested an alternative.
The cross-committee Housing Action Group was set up in June under the chairmanship of Peter Roffey with the aim of speeding up the building of more homes.
Deputy Falla would like to see the issue discussed in the open.
‘Because the Housing Action Group is cross-committee there are not the usual avenues to challenge, question and contribute. It feels slow.
‘We need to show publicly that we see it as a matter of urgency,’ he said.
While committee presidents have regular opportunities to deliver a statement in the Assembly and any member can make a statement with the permission of the Bailiff, Deputy Falla did not think this would fulfil his aim.
Statements can be only 15 minutes long, with a limited amount of time for questions afterwards.
‘I’ve had various conversations with colleagues in the States over the last few months then I wrote to the Chief Minister and copied in deputies Peter Roffey, Victoria Oliver and Lindsay de Sausmarez,’ said Deputy Falla.
His email was welcomed, he said, and it had been mentioned that States members may have an opportunity to ‘debate’ the issue at a private session for members only early in the New Year.
‘But I feel we need to be demonstrating to the community that we know their concerns and that’s why I would favour some debate or discussion, rather than it be behind closed doors.’
A requete was another way of having the issue debated but he said he was still considering how he could make use of this option.
HAG chairman Deputy Roffey said the group’s update to deputies was probably going to take place in February with the aim of informing them of what has been done and to see further ideas and inspiration.
But he agreed that an open debate would be a good idea.
‘I would like an open debate where all presidents on HAG [Policy & Resources, Environment & Infrastructure, the Development & Planning Authority and Employment & Social Security] can answer all points raised, and where members can speak more than once,’ he said.
‘But the formal rules of debate in the States tend to constrain this. For this reason we'll probably use another venue.’
HAG, set up early last year, was intended to have a 12-month lifespan, and Deputy Roffey said it was hoped that some public engagement would also take place during that time.
