John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

The owner of Sark Electricity says talks with the government about a possible buyout have been "positive".

David Gordon-Brown intends to turn off the supply to the island's 300 homes at midnight on Friday after being forced to lower prices.

But it was revealed earlier that the Sark government has agreed to try to buy the island's power provider in a bid to avoid an island blackout.

After meeting with Sark's Seigneur Christopher Beaumont and Chief Pleas Conseiller William Raymond, Mr Gordon-Brown said he's hopeful a blackout can be avoided.

There will be further meetings on Friday in a bid to resolve the matter.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Primary schools in Jersey could close next Friday as a number of States workers plan to strike over pay.

Members of the Unite and Prospect union are currently keeping to the terms of their contract, known as working to rule but plan to step up action and strike on Friday 7 December.

Marina Mauger, from the NASUWT teachers union, says although teachers aren't walking out on that day the strike will still affect primary schools because teaching assistants and key workers are part of one of the unions planning to strike.

Members of the Prospect and Unite unions have voted for strike action as part of a protest against a below inflation pay deal from the States of Jersey.

The States Employment Board has said there is no more money available to pay any more - and it is trying to make the public workforce more efficient for taxpayers.

Members of the island's main teaching unions are due to be balloted over what action to take in the coming weeks.

Emily Wood
BBC Weather

Thursday evening and overnight there will be further showers, with the continued risk of hail and thunder.

It will stay windy, but the winds will gradually ease.

Minimum temperature: 8C (46F).

Friday will be breezy with spells of sunshine.

There will also be further showers through the morning, which will become isolated into the afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 8C (46F).

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Six strategic objectives have been set out for Jersey's Chief Executive Charlie Parker in 2019.

The objectives have been set by Chief Minister John Le Fondre and include modernising public services and developing a stronger focus on customer services.

Senator Le Fondre said the objectives work alongside the new government Common Strategic Policy, external that sets out the areas the States of Jersey plans to focus on over the rest of the parliamentary term.

He has also announced that Dr John Nicholson, a leading international business psychology consultant, will be responsible for carrying out performance reviews on Mr Parker.

Charlie Parker's objectives include:

• Deliver One Government and modernise public services
• Lead organisational change and secure culture change through Team Jersey
• Develop a stronger focus on customer services
• Continue to build and develop good working relationships with the Council of Ministers, States members and scrutiny panels
• Deliver effective financial, performance and business management
• Promote and support the economy of Jersey both internally and externally

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

Hayley Westcott
BBC News Online

The filter-in-turn could become part of a raised table in a bid to further reduce speeding.

Guernsey's Traffic and Highway Services reported an average speed of 34mph was recorded on approach to the Route du Longfrie/Route de Lihou junction, which is a 25mph zone.

It found the installation led to average speeds dropping, but only to 31mph, and some motorists still failed to give way to traffic at the junction.

The plans for the raised table are open to consultation until the end of the year.

The filter was installed as a trial in March 2017.

Image source, States of Guernsey

BBC Radio Guernsey

After more than a decade with gaps in St Julian's Avenue, Traffic and Highway Services has secured funding to replace the missing trees along the road.

Nine trees are being replanted in the avenue this week and further works will follow to resurface the areas surrounding their bases.

Andy McCutcheon, from Guernsey Trees for Life, says trees are the "green lungs that support life on earth" and he's happy to see them back...

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

The Chief Executive of the States of Jersey, Charlie Parker, has had his contract after a seven-month battle between a news site and the island's government.

Mr Parker started as the Chief Executive of Jersey's civil service, external on 8 January 2018 having previously worked as the Chief Executive of Westminster City Council.

In October a Freedom of Information request asking for the contract to be published by online newspaper Bailiwick Express, external was rejected on the grounds it contains personal information.

Bailiwick Express said Mr Parker's team argued against releasing the contract because it "would cause unnecessary damage or distress" to him and "States employees in general".

Defending the decision to withhold the contract, Mr Parker's team said releasing it would cause "distress due to media coverage and negative public image” and “high potential for harassment of the CEO in a small public sphere”.

The Express appealed to the Information Commissioner Jay Fedorak who found in favour of publication and ordered the States of Jersey to release the contract.

There are large areas of the contract redacted, including details of termination of employment.

Under the contract Mr Parker is paid £250,000 a year, has one month annual leave and must work at least 37.5 hours per week.

Jersey Evening Post

A third of ten and 11-year-olds in Jersey are overweight or obes, externale, according to latest figures.

The boss of Sark Electricity still aims to switch off the power, despite government plans to buy the firm.

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Rental properties will have to meet new minimum standards in future under a new health and safety order from the States of Jersey.

Image source, States of Jersey

The rules, introduced by Environment Minister, Deputy John Young are designed to ensure properties "do not pose a risk of harm to the health and safety of tenants".

• install a smoke alarm on every storey
• install a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with an oil, gas, wood or coal heater
• ensure the alarms are kept in full working order
• ensure that gas and electricity supplies pass annual inspections.

The changes come into force on Saturday, 1 December.

Image source, States of Jersey

Environmental Health Officers will also have the power to enter a property to assess the risk of harm from any hazards and take action if the tenant is deemed to be at risk of serious harm.

The idea of minimum standards for rental properties was proposed in 2017 after officers from the environment department said they see sub-standard properties every week.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey civil servants have voted to go on strike next Friday.

Unions have decided to take action after dismissing pay offers from the states.

It follows a work-to-rule action starting today.

Terry Renouf from the union Prospect says he wants everyone who works for the States to join the strike from 09:00 until 11:00 next Friday.

He's asked States representatives to get back to the negotiating table to prevent further action and apologised to the people of Jersey for any inconvenience their action causes.

The States Employment Board has said there is no more money available to pay any more - and is trying to make the public workforce more efficient for taxpayers.

But Mr Renouf says those claims are misleading....

The States has been approached for comment.

BBC Radio Jersey

Islanders are willing to open their homes to child refugees, but the States of Jersey needs further advice before it can be done, says St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft.

It follows comments last month by British Labour Politician Lord Alf Dubs who said the Crown Dependencies have a duty to help relieve the refugee crisis in Europe.

Mr Crowcroft is asking the States to consider working with the UK government to find a way to accept an "appropriate number" of child refugees to the island.

He said: "If it is possible to do it, it may well be there are no laws that need changing, we simply need to make sure there is appropriate support network over here."

John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

Sark’s Lighthouse will remain in operation if the power is turned off on Friday evening.

Negotiations between the island's government and Sark Electricity continue as Chief Pleas has agreed to possibly buying the island's power provider.

The lighthouse has a backup diesel generator, which the current keeper tested last week.

John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

A Sark doctor says medicines like insulin and vaccines will be kept refrigerated in case of a power outage on Friday night.

Dr John Stevenson says he’ll be helped by the generator at the Island Hall.

Negotiations are continuing today after Sark's government said it agreed to look at buying the island's electricity company.

BBC Radio Guernsey

More negotiations will continue later between Chief Pleas and Sark Electricity as the island's government contemplates a potential takeover.

At a meeting last night Chief Pleas voted to look at valuing and potentially purchasing the company.

The power in the island is due to be turned off at midnight on Friday over a price dispute.

The owner of Sark Electricity, David Gordon-Brown, says he doesn't want it to come to a power outage but will be forced to if an alternative solution isn't found...

• Sark electricity: The Channel Island that could lose its power

John Fernandez
BBC Radio Guernsey

At a tense meeting last night, hastily organised by Sark’s government - Chief Pleas - it was decided unanimously that work should be done to value and possibly purchase Sark Electricity.

One politician spoke out saying they were disappointed Chief Pleas wasn’t discussing a solution that would guarantee the power isn't switched off on Friday at midnight.

Image source, Sue Daly

But the motion was nodded through, alongside preparation for the possible emergency.

Sark Electricity owner David Gordon-Brown said after the meeting the power would still be going off on Friday - but there are negotiations starting on Thursday between Chief Pleas and Mr Gordon-Brown to try to stop that.

But with Conseiller Reg Guille now admitting that the British military could get involved if power is lost, the hope from most in the room was that some kind of solution can be found that keeps the lights on.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's health minister says looking at other sites will delay the construction of the new building further.

Deputy Richard Renouf was responding to a group of politicians who looked at why the current site was chosen for the new hospital and decided the Waterfront and Overdale sites should be considered again.

He said he had grave concerns about the risks of running the present hospital for an extended time it would take to look at and potentially build on other sites.

Mr Renouf said it would put patient safety at risk and was concerned at the cost of maintaining the building for any extra time.

He said there was no compelling evidence that the States Assembly made a wrong decision when choosing the current site, which had been properly evaluated.

The minister admitted it will be a challenge to build on the current site, but that it will deliver a good general hospital.

Twitter

An orange weather warning for wind is in place across the islands. Jersey Met has said.

It added gales of force nine are expected to continue.

Image source, Jersey Met

BBC Radio Jersey

The status will be awarded by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage to show the work being done in the island to reduce the amount of single-use plastics.

Plastic Free Jersey had to meet five objectives to be eligible:

• Involve local government
• Work with businesses to reduce single-use plastics
• Work with community to raise awareness
• Hold events to clean up areas, fundraise for the initiative and organise a 'mass unwrap' where customers remove the plastic packaging in a shop to highlight the issue to the business
• Set up a local 'steering group' including a politician and gather and submit evidence

The certificate is due to be presented next week. There are more than 400 plastic-free communities across the British Isles.