Jersey parishes urged to raise rates when needed

The chair of Jersey’s Constables Committee has defended parish rate increases, saying authorities must raise charges when necessary to keep services financially sustainable.

Andy Jehan said each of the island’s 12 parishes faced different financial pressures and that modest, regular increases were preferable to imposing a large rise in a single year.

“It's important that parishes do put up their rates when necessary,” he said.

Parish rates help fund local services including waste collection, road maintenance, church upkeep and the honorary police. Each parish sets its own rate, with residents able to question proposed increases at Rates Assemblies.

Most parishes have now agreed their rates for the coming year, with increases generally below 5%. Some have frozen their rates altogether.

St Lawrence has recorded the largest increase so far, with rates rising by 12%. The parish has pointed to higher operating costs and the need to rebuild funds for maintaining its buildings.

Grouville is the only parish still to set its rate for the year.

Jehan said the differences between parishes reflected their individual circumstances. In St John, for example, rates have been frozen after the parish identified savings by transferring its bin collection service to St Helier.

“You're better to have little and often rather than a big hike in your rates,” Jehan said. “But parishes need to make sure that they're sustainable, and some parishes will find different challenges.”

He also defended the system of allowing parishioners to have a direct say over local spending, describing it as “democracy in its rawest form”.

A recent review of Jersey's parish system praised its traditions while concluding that some aspects were outdated and should be changed. Jehan said preserving the independence of the 12 parishes remained important.

In St Brelade, rates have increased by just over 3%.

Constable Steve Pallet said the parish had tried to keep the increase as low as possible, but rising costs meant an increase was necessary.

Among the pressures facing the parish are ongoing property and road maintenance costs, as well as work connected with the revamp of Elephant Park.

“Property and roads are the two things we're going to have to concentrate on and make sure we get right,” Pallet said.

He said the parish's reserves had helped limit rate increases during years when spending was higher, giving the parish greater flexibility.

Pallet also backed the existing rates system, saying it gave residents a direct opportunity to influence how money was spent locally.

“It brings democracy down to a much lower level where people have a chance to comment and contribute,” he said.