Infrastructure funding not sustainable - minister

Constable Andy Jehan has said infrastructure funding is too low and not sustainable

Jersey Minister for Infrastructure, Constable Andy Jehan has told a scrutiny panel that the island is only investing half of what it should do into its infrastructure.

The minister said that this was not sustainable and his department would have to introduce charges for some services.

Deputy Hilary Jeune, the head of the infrastructure scrutiny panel, said a lack of investment was leading to projects being delayed.

The minister made clear that he has continually been speaking to ministerial colleagues about the importance of investing in infrastructure.

Deputy Hilary Jeune said that a lack of investment was leading to infrastructure projects being delayed

Constable Andy Jehan said: "I have continually been speaking at the council of ministers table about the importance of investing in our infrastructure - whether that's sewage, solid waste, roads, sporting facilities, education facilities.

"We have to invest in our infrastructure."

The minister added that the current levels of investment were not sufficient.

"We invest half of the recommended investment in our properties and that is not sustainable."

'Introduce charges'

Speaking to the BBC after the scrutiny panel hearing, the minister said: "For many years we have underinvested in our portfolio, we find properties with significant work needed."

"We only invest 50% of what we should do in our properties."

"That means we end up with work that is delayed and it costs more money and we are working to rectify that."

"There are many priorities like health and education but infrastructure is as important as those two other areas."

The minister said his department would have to start charging for services.

"We will have to introduce charges for liquid and solid waste. I don't know the exact detail but charges will have to be fair and consistent, I will bring a proposal on this to the states in the future."

Delayed projects

Deputy Hilary Jeune, the chair of the Environment, Infrastructure and Housing scrutiny panel said the lack of investment was leading to infrastructure project being delayed.

"A lot of projects are delayed, sometimes costs are out of their control because of global events but other times its related to decisions that are made by the government such as cutting consultancy fees down by a third but that also made significant delays to particular projects."

Deputy Jeune added that sewage infrastructure was one area facing delays.

"It's really important that we have upgrades to our sewage network so we can have more affordable homes around the island.

"The ultimate goal is to have affordable homes but to do that we need a sewage network, so any delays on that is a concern."