Dear Ratepayer

I thought I would take the opportunity of the rates bills going out to enclose a letter to you explaining why the domestic rates bills have increased this year.  Although I originally intended to propose a Parish rate that would have kept domestic rates bills at last year’s level, the Parish Accounts Committee recommended that a contingency sum of £200,000 be added to our budget, and the ratepayers who attended our annual Rates Assembly last week agreed that in the current economic climate this was a prudent thing to do.  This means that domestic rates bills have gone up by 2.3%, while non-domestic (commercial) bills have risen by 0.4%. 

As was stated at the Parish Assembly where the rate is set, the contingency sum is there to protect the Parish from the reduction in interest rates and other risks that could affect our income.  If the sum is not required for such purposes it will not be used for anything else, but will be returned to ratepayers in the next financial year.  While I am pleased that many of those who attended this year’s meeting expressed their confidence about the way the Parish is run, it would be better for Parish democracy if more ratepayers attended this important annual meeting.  Next year’s Rates Assembly will be on Wednesday 7 July so please make a note of this date in your 2010 diary.

The last financial year (to April 30th 2009) has seen the Parish of St Helier continuing to provide a wide range of services with increasing efficiency and constant vigilance over cost controls.  The Procureurs du Bien Public, Clive Barton and Patrick Freeley, have provided invaluable advice to me and to the team of Directors which meets every fortnight, and together we have steered the organisation through the increasingly choppy waters of the current economic down-turn.  Sound decisions about matters such as where to invest Parish savings, how to realise the value of the Parish property portfolio, and how to increase non-rates income, have helped to produce a good set of accounts, and these are available from the Town Hall.

The Parish’s relationship with the States of Jersey has not always been harmonious during the past year, and the States have yet to accept the strong case we have made over the payment of rates on their property and the need for a greater contribution towards the cost of providing essential town services such as parks and public toilets.  However, there have been many examples of the States and Parish working together, such as the recent agreement to rationalise street cleansing services with the Transport & Technical Services Department, which should lead to more efficient services and cleaner streets.  We are also receiving States’ support as we seek to implement more Residents and Business Parking Zones, and the agreement to provide some free nursery care will also improve the financial situation of our children’s day nurseries.

An enormous number of people contribute to giving our Parish financial stability and a reputation for excellent service provision, whether in the area of residential care, the maintenance of Parish parks and streets, or the many practical services provided to residents and businesses.  Complaints are extremely rare, whereas I am constantly being given examples of how a member of our staff has gone the extra mile to help a parishioner.  The work of our paid staff is complemented by a large number of volunteers, and I am very grateful to them, too, for all of the time and energy they put in to the life of their Parish.  However, our Honorary Police force still needs more parishioners aged between 20 and 69 years who are willing to help us fulfil this important role in St Helier.

If you have access to a computer you can find out more about your Parish at our new website.  We are also working on a new-look Town Crier monthly newsletter which won’t cost the Parish anything to produce or deliver to your door.  And please continue to contact me with your comments and queries by phone, letter or email.  Thank you.

Yours sincerely
 
Simon Crowcroft
Connétable

View the 2009 Draft Rate List