“My priorities are to fight for what matters to the people of Grouville in the Parish and the States assembly, ensuring your voice is heard.
I believe the Parish should be a place where our whole community comes together. The Parish has grown over recent years and has become more and more diverse.
Remaining a
Green Parish.
Grouville must stay a rural Parish and I will work to maintain this status. I will resist the development of Green Field sites within our borders and resist any further unnecessary street lighting.
Connecting our Green lanes.
We need more Green Lanes to enhance our role as a beautiful country Parish but I believe they need to be more connected. Our green lanes slow traffic, making it safer and easier for cyclists and walkers to enjoy the environment. So I want to create an uninterrupted green route around the Parish. We also need to look at more Road Safety measures in the future.
Conserving our Environment.
Grouville must play its part in reducing its carbon footprint and I will strive to reduce the impact that our Honorary Police, Parish Hall, Parish Depot and its staff have on our environment. I will also examine the feasibility of introducing Solar Panels in the new Roof project to be undertaken soon.
I would like to see the Parish office take a more active role in providing advice to parishioners on ways to conserve the environment through Energy saving and efficiency at home and in the workplace.
Building a truly representative Parish.
We must continue to open up the municipality to all people from all backgrounds. It is vital that everyone can feel at home in any activity or group associated with the Parish and we must recognise and work to overcome the blocks that prevent this now. I will work with all groups to make community involvement and leadership opportunities, open to all. There are also many groups that aren’t properly represented. I will help to establish them in any way I can.
Making the States accountable.
The most consistent criticism of recent times has been the wasteful and unnecessary use of Consultants. The States need to be more accountable in the way it spends its money. As a potential member of scrutiny panels, the Connétable, will be able to challenge and make recommendations to eliminate unnecessary public spending that wastes taxpayers money.
Modernising a Parish system under threat.
Our Parish system and the role of Connétable are under threat. The Parish has grown over recent years and has become more and more diverse. Inclusivity must be a part of our future, involving all sectors of our community in our activities to ensure the parish continues to thrive.
Now that the political landscape has changed, The only way to secure the position of Connétable is to show their value in the assembly itself. In defending the Connétables right to sit in the States I pledge to be an active States member to best enhance the reputation of both the office and the Parish.
Supporting
our invaluable volunteers.
Grouville is supported by an army of volunteers, whether they are Honorary Police, Roads Inspectors, Roads Committee, Rates Assessors and Procureurs de Bien Public. They all give their valuable time and expertise to make the Parish work. My role will be to support these generous people, helping them to help you even more.
Providing for our younger Parishioners.
Grouville does not have enough facilities for young people and pre-school children and I will strive to encourage the introduction of more activities for them. The East of the Island is a veritable desert when it comes to public access facilities for Sport and Play Areas. I will encourage the incorporation of sports and leisure facilities into the Parish.
Championing Local business expertise.
The States needs to support local expertise rather than the current default setting of farming out projects to UK consultants. I will champion local expertise to be used on public initiatives. Helping to save us money, invest in the future of local businesses and encourage expertise to stay in the Island.
Limiting financial burdens on parishioners.
I have run my own business for 32 years and been an Honorary Treasurer for three organizations and am critically aware of the present financial climate and I must strive to limit any extra burdens on personal and business Finances.
Always available to listen to you.
I will make myself available to visit Parishioners to discuss their issues face to face. I will work with staff at the Parish Hall to try to adjust the opening hours to enable more Parishioners to visit and I will make myself available at many times to deal with Parishioners who would not usually make contact with us.
I will also hold regular open surgeries with Deputies so we can team up on Parishioner issues, ensuring a strong united voice.
To achieve these goals I want to see a fiscally responsible Parish.
As someone who has run his own business for many years I believe I am well placed to bring that level of business knowledge to our Parish. Planning ahead has always stood me in good stead. Understanding all the potential pitfalls and preparing for them in advance will ensure greater financial stability.