A couple of real heroes. Aneta and Patricia have been on duty since midday. Never under estimate the importance of our honorary police service. Thankyou ❤️
I want to give my personal thanks to
@Andiumhomes
for their incredible efforts today to re-house and support those who have been caught up in todays tragedy. They are a true exemplar of caring community led home builders.
It saddens me to see so much character assassination on Twitter today before any of us has even started out. The new assembly fills me with hope for the future. Let’s get behind those charged with bringing a brighter future for us all.
I want to thank so many of my Twitterarti friends for your support. I know many watch from the sidelines and say little. ❤️ to you all, I will try to live up to your expectations
So good to see our Fish market being so well supported. This is why Jersey still has a fish market when so many UK towns have lost theirs.
#supportlocal
Todays surreal moment in the Chamber was when we had to vote as to whether the men could remove their jackets as it was so hot. A move considered too extreme by a couple of Constables. 😳🥵
Today I just wanted to give a shout out to Natasha and Carly who are the engine behind the Housing minister. Our civil servants don’t always get the the recognition they deserve, rest assured they go above and beyond on a daily basis.
This pm I tried to find a roof for a homeless man in a wheelchair & other health cons. I failed!There are over 300 abandoned properties in this Island yet I can’t find one appropriate room. What type of society have we become? Tonight he sleeps outside in his chair, that’s wrong.
Seems we need to get creative when it comes to trying to get long abandoned properly back into housing. Being foiled by GDPR rules, let’s see if this works.
Today I found out that a total of 167 people are currently in shelter accommodation, across 17 provisions. Jersey has yet to set a legal definition for the ‘Homeless’. That’s the first piece of up to date data I’ve received on our Housing crisis. A big reality check.
#betterway
Just stopped by a Landlord who owns 2 flats. ‘Please don’t bring in too much red tape!’ I charge £1200 per month for each apartment plus free parking and haven’t put rent up in 2 years. Amazing how decent landlords never get mentioned on Twitter.
There has been a major explosion on Pier road in one of the
@Andiumhomes
flats. Emergency services are on-site and town hall is taking in walking wounded. Thoughts with those families affected at this time. We will need temp accommodation. Please get in touch if you can help.
Reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song ‘Bridge over troubled water’ as we head off to Le Marais to meet and listen to those displaced by the explosion on Pier road. Huge response from so many, ‘we’ll see you through’.
Today I saw that not everyone ticks the Housing Gateway criteria ‘box’ despite the difficulties they face. Thankfully as Minister I’m allowed to make exceptions in extraordinary cases. This was one of those days. This Government cares, the people of Jersey care.
Really looking forward to
@Moore4Jersey
becoming our next chief minister. If only you could see how hard she is working behind the scenes to build a new collaborative Government. So refreshing
A shout out to my colleague Deputy Tom Binet. I’m loving his honesty around the hospital review and his succinct interview with
@ITVChannelTV
. No politicking, simple honesty, very refreshing.
My thanks to Robin Smith for taking all of the south St Helier deputies to meet members of the emergency teams working in the Pier road area.
@SamMezecJsy
reminded me that we are all here to help our constituents.
Visited Customer & Local Services with my team, Carly and Natasha this morning. Very much open to the public. Met Heather (pic rhs) who with Jade gave some insight into the housing issues they have to resolve on a daily basis. Truly the caring and considerate face of Government
What a mixed day today. Firstly and most importantly I’d like to thank the care workers who have been able to resolve the homelessness issue I came across over the weekend.
So here we go a night in a car park ahead of me. Extraordinary turnout and a huge sum of money being raised. An amazing community effort making the invisible visible.
Met today with the Jersey Homelessness Cluster. This image underlines the huge amount of effort being put into caring for the most vulnerable in our society and still it’s not enough. In awe of these individuals.
We’ve now created a ‘warr housing wall’ in Broad street as we gradually collate information on the state of Housing on Jersey and sort out work streams. Being a very visual person I find visualising the issues really helpful.
Congratulations to
@Moore4Jersey
on her election as Chief Minister of Jersey.
Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
Winston Churchill
My thanks to
@Andiumhomes
for their time today showing me round the very impressive Ann street development. The first tenants are now moving in. The quality of these apartments is superb. Couldn’t be prouder of what they are delivering. Urgently needed homes for Islanders
Genuinely disappointed that
@deputyrobward
and
@DeputyTadier
didn’t succeed in their efforts to get involved in Scrutiny and Planning. Regardless of any views on Reform allegiances we need good people working for the people of Jersey.
Our extraordinary green wall at Coopers IFC5. Cleaning the air naturally and bringing a sense of calmness and wellbeing when the rest of the world has gone mad.
Today's facts: Andium will return £29m of their income to Treasury this year. They have returned £223m since 2014. 60% of Andium tenants get £16m help with their rent each year and 32% of them have their rent fully paid In effect that's 1,400 homes not paying any rent to Andium
Dear
@waitrose
please bring back real people to your tills. I self scanned this evening but got stopped by the machine as it wanted my age checked due to there being a ‘baba au Rhum’ in my basket! 🫢Maybe there’s more Rum in the baba than there used to be!
Wow! I’d like to get some perspective put into this debate please. First and foremost I’ve reinstated a rent tribunal panel for the first time in 10 years because there is a recognition that the private rental market is dysfunctional
Never thought that sitting in a queue of traffic this morning and seeing families taking their children to school could be so uplifting. Let’s keep thinking positive
Back in the saddle after a short break and out visiting the Women’s refuge and Sanctuary house and hearing first hand the stories of those dealing with the most vulnerable in our society. No surprise that housing costs are a big driver.
As part of the ‘Fair rents plan’ I’ll be presenting a report to the States Assembly that looks to re-appoint the Tribunal which transforms it into a statutory function able to offer suitable protections against excessive rent rises to a wider cross section of private tenants.
I’ve received this from
@Andiumhomes
this evening:
In response to the launch of the Government’s £10 million assisted purchase scheme we have been extremely busy.
We have already received 47 new applications and 23 updates from those already on the Assisted Purchase Pathway
Today we said goodbye to Sir Stephen and Lady Dalton. Thought the Lieutenant Governor’s speech gave the chamber plenty of food for thought. I wish them both all the best and thank them for their service to our Island.
Politicians wishing everyone a Happy Christmas doesn’t sound terribly authentic but I’ll give it a go anyway! With best wishes to all those who have supported me and those who haven’t have a great Christmas and a peaceful New Year 🎄⛪️🤶
Wish someone would just take a moment to reflect upon what it’s like to be running a business at the moment. I compare it to being like a puppet, never knowing who will pull the next string.
Apologies for the radio silence, am working hard on my speech to the Chamber for the position of housing minister. Also reflecting upon the many challenging questions I will no doubt face.
It’s the creeping coldness that slowly seeps into your bones. That and the inability to find one comfortable sleeping position on a concrete floor. Can’t even begin to imagine doing this night in night out.
@JEPnews
Chief Minister
@Moore4Jersey
and myself Interviewed this afternoon by
@thetimes
. It’s a privilege to talk about our Island and the plans this new collaborative Government has in store to better the lives of all Islanders.
Visited Grand Vaux today and saw first hand the impact of the flooding. Can’t begin to imagine what it’s like when your home is being inundated with water on this scale. Thanks to
@Andiumhomes
and our Blue light services ensuring that everyone got out safely.
I just want to put on record by huge respect for
@Moore4Jersey
for her dedication to our Island and the people of Jersey. The job of CM is 24/7, it is relentless and I admire anyone willing to be so selfless for their community
Great to catch up with Andrea at the offices of Children’s commissioner for Jersey today. Given a copy of ‘Life on the rock’ and of course the first interviews are around housing and the vastly different experiences of some of our young people. ‘Home is everything’ Wendy Deardon
Over the moon to hear the planning committee pass the Ann street brewery scheme. Another 249 new homes on the way. Congratulations to
@Andiumhomes
for developing such a well thought through scheme which will bring new energy to a forgotten part of St Helier.
Today for the first time ever got an inkling of the number of truly empty/ unused properties on Jersey. Out of just over 4,000 recorded empty on census day, only around 300 appear to be unused. We’ll be cross checking this number with other sources as more data becomes available.
Here’s a sense of the scale of the information sources my team is currently sifting through. Gradually uncovering the data that will help inform our Islands housing policy and enable us to make better and informed decisions
After a 14 hour day, I’d like to finish with the following quote
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference
Great to see local business Le Masurier releasing a further 61 homes this Saturday 1st October for first time buyers. Part of the 145 home development at Merchant square. Le Masurier leading the way on first time buyer homes being provided by the private sector. 👍
Bumped into someone today who tells me they haven’t registered to vote in 30 years but they’ve taken the plunge yesterday as they’ve seen all my reminders and now want to get involved. That’s the spirit!
My thanks to Deputy Barbara Ward for stopping me in the Assembly and putting forward her ideas around Empty Rooms. Result Treasury have put forward some tax relief ideas. It’s not just about Govt. It’s about the Assembly working together and delivering for the people of Jersey
A big shout out to the
@TrustSanctuary
for organising the Car park sleepover. To Frank Walker for his continued passion. To those who made significant donations but seek no recognition and finally to the 100 or more individuals who walked the talk
@JEPnews
They rarely get the credit they deserve, but thank-you
@Andiumhomes
for providing this new facility from which
@sanctuarytrust
will be helping to support those less fortunate in our society.
#teameffort
Long day around the CoM table today. The breath of subject matter makes you appreciate the level of complexity involved when it comes to running our Island. The challenges are immense but Jersey’s worth it!
Thankyou to those of you who recommended‘the movie
#DontLookUp
. It’s excruciating, frustrating, anger invoking, gut wrenching and annoying. Great satire and an indictment of our times. Not at all relaxing because it so captures the zeitgeist.
It was with great pleasure that Lindsay and I officially opened Edinburgh House,
@Andiumhomes
newest development. It’s a stunning location and Islanders should be really proud of what is being delivered on their behalf.
This afternoon a new bench was unveiled in memory of the late Deputy, Richard Rondel who did so much to get the Fête de St Hélier up and running. Pictured are his parents and two of his three children
Today I signed off a new housing development in North St Helier that enables Andium to build more homes. The challenge is to create communities when land is at a premium. We’re getting there.
Taking this poster down today reminded me of what an incredible journey we are on. A small group of people sitting around a kitchen table and quietly building a movement that has resonated. Today we have a Chamber that so much better reflects our society. This is the better way.
@Krislefeuvre
@JsyStats
On a positive note
@electricjersey
have done a really good job hedging electricity prices which means that they’ve saved the Island millions of pounds unlike many other jurisdictions where Govt. has had to step in and spend millions capping energy price increases 👏👏👏👏👏
Thankyou for your kind comments. I hope that the
#betterway
structure will really embolden more independent candidates to stand and work together. A great opportunity to change the culture of our politics.
Thankyou
@EmzJ_Smith
for your very relevant article in todays
@JEPnews
. In the 8 weeks I’ve been HM my team have been working hard on policy development. I realise that we can never be quick enough for some. Rest assured no stone is being left unturned to make things better.
Reflecting upon a conversation with a local lady with young children who left the Island because of the cost of housing and was over visiting. A reminder if needed that our Housing policies have a huge affect on peoples lives.
We had to close our Grand Marche outlet due to COVID t&t issues today. Just carnage
@JenCarnegie
summed it up in her Chamber comments. ‘Is the programme working to keep people out of hospital?’ If so, what are the reasons for halting the progress we have all been working towards?
One observation and highlighted by
@keenjersey
. Is it still appropriate that positions such as being a panel member on the Rent Tribunal remain unpaid? Maybe one of the issues is that the individuals who we’d like to see cannot afford to give their time for no financial reward?
Thankyou everyone for your input this evening I think there’s definitely something here to build on. Will check out the options available to me and let you know the next step.