What next for the parishes?
YESTERDAY this column explored the pros and cons of parish administration in the island, pondering whether the lack of a clearly articulated sense of purpose threatens to breed a lack of enthusiasm, or the other way around.
More than a year ago now there was significant enthusiasm when the States announced it was actively looking into working with the douzaines to enable the parishes to expand their remit.
That was tempered by juggling with what were likely to be difficult conversations about what, and why, or if, the parish would do things for free, which the States had previously paid someone to do.
That well of enthusiasm appears to have run dry.
Uncertainty about who should be leading the way in exploring ideas has not helped – would it be right for the States to make suggestions on what the parishes should do?
Could the parishes, largely doing the same things but often in different ways, make the running? And how would planning issues be interpreted in the Vale, compared to Torteval, for example?
With the prospect of new opportunities for the parishes seeming to dry up, potential interest from would-be busy souls in the community to seek election as douzenier may go the same way.
If the parishes want to become more relevant and broaden their community involvement, someone has to break this apparent impasse with government.