Ferbrache supports Oliver to continue as DPA president

Deputy Ferbrache said yesterday that Deputy Oliver had no reason to resign and assured her he would oppose any move to unseat her, despite evidence that she misled her committee more than once while trying to oust its vice-president Andrew Taylor and replace him with John Dyke against States rules.

Deputy Ferbrache called on Deputy Taylor to resign instead. ‘I continue to have confidence in Deputy Oliver as president of the DPA,’ said Deputy Ferbrache.

‘My personal view is that if a vice-president no longer enjoys the support of their president or the majority of their members to continue in that role, they should do the right thing and stand down from that role. It helps no one, including the public who we all serve, to have a member insist on holding onto a role when they have no intention of trying to work together with their colleagues.’

On 18 January, Deputy Oliver won a ballot of DPA members to change its vice-president. Deputy Oliver has since insisted it was a valid vote despite the Bailiff and the States’ senior legal adviser telling her in January that it was not allowed under States rules. She failed to share their advice with the rest of her committee for more than six weeks.

‘Deputy Oliver has explained in the media that she had received conflicting advice from senior officials, law officers and the Bailiff and had sought clarification before reporting back to the committee. That does not seem unreasonable to me,’ said Deputy Ferbrache, adding that she was doing 'a good job' as DPA president.

‘During her time as president, the DPA has streamlined planning processes, improved flexibility and reduced red tape. I believe this is in large part thanks to her constructive and can-do approach.

‘She has worked collegiately with members from across all committees on a number of matters, including the provision of more sites for affordable housing.’

The States’ Assembly & Constitution Committee agreed yesterday to propose a change to States rules to allow committees to fire vice-presidents. Deputy Ferbrache said changing the rules would be ‘clearly common sense’.

The DPA is meeting on Monday to try to resolve the impasse over its vice-presidency.

Deputy Dyke was the only DPA member to accept an invitation to back Deputy Oliver yesterday.

‘I have full confidence in the president. This vice-president argument is a trivial and pointless distraction.' He said the vote on 18 January was consistent with advice received at the time, but acknowledged that conflicting advice had been circulated since. ‘This seems to be running longer than Coronation Street,’ he said.