Thursday 29 January 2015
Environment Department response to media enquiry from Guernsey Press.
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
With Wednesday being the debate day about the strategy, can the department please:
- Outline exactly what proposals will be taken to the debate.
- Whether it thinks the strategy in that form has a good chance of being passed.
- What happens if there are additional amendments which alter the strategy, will it return 'to the drawing board' or proceed?
- What benefits will the strategy bring?
- Does the department still believe it to be an effective strategy which does what it was originally intended?
- If it has had discussions with other departments, notably Treasury, about any opposition or alterations to the plans it might be considering / has proposed. What were the outcomes of those discussions?
- Does the department stand by the strategy and think it has altered it enough to take into account public opinion?
- Are there any plans to alter it further?
Please add anything else the department wishes to.
Environment Department Response:
The States is being asked to approve legislation to give effect to their previous resolutions in support of the Integrated Transport Strategy in May 2014. The legislation seeks to introduce width and CO2 taxes that would only apply on a vehicle when first registered in Guernsey. The Duty rates were approved by the States in May 2014 but in response to public feedback the Environment Department has proposed amendments to the rates to reduce the financial burden especially on family cars.
The full details of the Rates and exemptions are set out in the amendment being paced by the Department http://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=93551&p=0
They are also set out in laymen's terms in the attached.
The Strategy was approved by the States and there has been no fundamental change in issues or circumstances since May 2014. The Department sincerely hopes that the States will not follow the actions of previous States and votes for the big picture but then rejects all the elements that are constituent parts of that picture. There is, no reason why the States should reject that which they have already approved.
There can be no further substantive amendments laid from the floor of the assembly as such amendments would inevitably impact of the legislation proposed and a proposition relating to taxation and hence would have to have already been made available to the Department (in accordance with rule 13 (2)).
The Strategy benefits have been set out in the report approved by the States in May last year but in essence the benefits are about making transport easier for all and especially easier for those who do not have the option of using a car. This includes disabled people, young people and people who do not and/or cannot own a car. The Strategy seeks to make it easier to cycle or walk in safety, or to use a bus or other public transport. Knock on consequences of this include a more pleasant and safer environment especially in the Town area with Public Realm improvements making the town a more attractive place to walk, shop and socialise. The average vehicle size across the fleet will become smaller and vehicles less polluting and hence more appropriate for our small Island.
The Strategy as outlined above and as already approved by the States can still be delivered with the reduced income that would result from the amendments the Department is proposing to the vehicle duties. The Strategy might move forward slightly less quickly but the Strategy was never intended to a sudden single stepped change. It was always intended to be incremental in its development.
Contact Information:
Steve Smith, Chief Officer
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
