DPA chaos as two claim to be its vice-president

Its president, Deputy Victoria Oliver, narrowly won a vote of DPA members to throw out her vice-president, Deputy Andrew Taylor, and replace him with Deputy John Dyke.

But weeks of dispute about how the vote was conducted and whether it was even allowed under States’ rules have left Deputies Taylor and Dyke both claiming to be the Authority’s vice-president.

Asked if he was now vice-president, Deputy Dyke said: ‘Yes, I am. A vote has been taken. We’re waiting for an announcement to go out.’

But when asked if he still regarded himself as vice-president, Deputy Taylor said: ‘I do.’ And he added that he had no intention of giving up the role.

‘My concerns around the conduct within the authority continue,’ said Deputy Taylor.

‘While it would be better for me personally to resign, I believe my continued scrutiny is much needed, so I don’t intend to resign from the position any time soon.’

Deputy Taylor has been vice-president since the start of the current States term in October 2020.

He submitted his resignation from the DPA in November last year, after alleging it had mishandled and pre-determined a landmark application to develop Leale’s Yard.

He was particularly critical of Deputy Oliver.

But he changed his mind in December, before a replacement member could be elected, and the Bailiff allowed him to withdraw his resignation.

In a highly unusual and possibly unprecedented move, Deputy Oliver then oversaw a fresh vote on who should be her vice-president.

States rules are silent on removing vice-presidents in the middle of their term.

‘From the procedural advice I have received, there is no provision within the rules to remove a vice president,’ said Deputy Taylor.

Speaking late yesterday on behalf of a majority of the DPA – but with Deputies Taylor and Sasha Kazantseva-Miller dissenting – Deputy Oliver said that she and Deputies Dyke and Chris Blin stood by their decision to oust Deputy Taylor and make Deputy Dyke vice president.

But it remains unclear whether the vote was allowed under States rules and whether it has been accepted as legitimate by the Bailiff.

Deputy Taylor remains vice president, according to the States website and ‘blue book’, which is the official record of such information.

‘We sought advice and were told a vote for a new vice president should be a committee decision, as the rules are silent on the matter,’ said Deputy Oliver.

‘When we discussed this during the committee meeting, Deputy Taylor gave a speech on why he thought he believed he should stay in the role. When we then voted as a committee to see if the committee wanted him to remain, he lost by majority.

‘I then opened up to the committee who would like to put their name forward and three deputies did. They were given the opportunity to speak for up to five minutes, followed by a secret ballot.

‘The result was Deputy Dyke was appointed as vice president. Although alternative legal advice has been received, this remains the decision of the committee.’

Before the statement from a majority of the DPA late yesterday, Deputy Taylor said he had asked for the dispute over the vice presidency to be discussed at the committee’s previous meeting.

‘I attempted to raise this issue...but it was swiftly brushed aside,’ he said.

‘This is the ugly side of politics. I have zero time for it. It needs resolving and that’s going to involve some difficult conversations, which it appears are being avoided.’

The DPA is holding an open planning meeting today to hear a controversial application to develop 26 homes at Briarwood in St Martin’s.