Achievements

REFORM OF MARRIAGE LAWS
As President of Etat Civil, in 2000 after years of prevarication, reformed Island’s Marriage Laws, liberalising marriages and opening up the Island for marriages from outside the Island. Today hundreds of couples visit the Island to as a result of the reforms. People have visited the Islands as couples or guests of couples getting married.

2001 CENSUS
As President of Etat Civil, Oversaw 2001 Census, regarded as most accurate and detailed census of modern times. Estimated for first time Island population undercount and provide States with most accurate base line data on population, housing and many other statistics.

LIBRALISED TELECOMS
Developed, oversaw and took through States reform of Telecomunications market. Incorporating Jersey Telecoms from a States department to State owned company, liberalised Telecoms market and set-up Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority: the Islands first independent regulatory body. Since that time Telecoms has become more competitive, quality of services has increased and prices fallen.

INCORPORATED JERSEY POST
Oversaw incorporation and liberalisation of Jersey Post.
COMPETITION LAW: pioneered creation and adoption of Island’s first Competition Law. Result in making price-fixing illegal and putting in place merger and acquisition controls to prevent over concentration of individual firms in Jersey. It is widely regarded as one of the major drivers for lower prices in many sectors.

UNFAIR WELFARE BURDEN
As a member of States Parish Working Party, designed new States Rating System including introduction of new Island-Wide Commercial and Domestic Rates which has lead to reform of unfair rates burden. Parishes who benefited most from this were St Helier, St Saviour and St Clement.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
As Vice-President of Finance and Economics, established the Public Accounts Committee and creation of the office of Comptroller and Auditor General. The PAC provides the first independent watchdog on States expenditure.

WASTE STRATEGY
In June 2005, as President of Environment and Public Services successfully steered, after years of prevarication by previous Committees, steered and got near unanimous States approval for new Waste Strategy for the replacement of the Bellozanne Incinerator (sadly, the decision for the replacement of Bellozanne which was ready for final approval later that year took 2 more years to resolve after I left E&PS)

INVESTMENT IN ROADS
As President of Public Services, after years of over charging and under investment in our roads, I spearheaded the renegotiation of contracts for road repairs. This resulted in miles of much needed resurfacing on many Islands arterial roads (it is with sadness that I have recently seen a return to poor decision making at West Park)

PLANNING OBLIGATIONS
As back-bencher then President of Planning frustrated that following re-zonings of green land nothing was invested back into much needed affordable and social rented housing, I introduced, despite much opposition, a system of Planning Obligations (the 45:55 policy) which captured some of the windfall gain of re-zoning and provided community facilities and hundreds of units of social rented housing.

PLANNING
During my tenure as Environment and Public Services President, I took over a Committee in crisis, that moved from having one of the lowest reputations in the States to one of the highest of any Committees by the time I completed my term. Under my leadership, numerous major problems were tackled solved including: resolution of the significant problems associated with the Connex Bus Contract, rescinding the ill-judged Trinity In Fill Decision, putting in place stronger guidelines and raising standards for Planning Committee Members, Commissioning the Sheply Review of the Waterfront, raising the quality of Planning decisions (which Senator Cohen has built on since), passing numerous Planning Permissions such as The Royal Yacht Hotel, Liberation Station)

STATES REFORM
Was a key member responsible for pushing ahead reforms recommended by Sir Cecil Clothier. Proposed introduction of Questions without Notice, the key way backbenchers hold Ministers to account publicly.

MIGRATION POLICY
Chaired working party overseeing reform of outdated, unfair and complicated Housing and Regulation of Undertakings Laws. Effectively personally designed new system which streamlines and strengthens functions of Population Control which will lead to better information, fairer and tighter control of migration.

EVENTS
During last three years, put in big focus for events which benefits Islanders and visitors including, Liberation Day Celebration at People’s Park, Boat Show, Kyran Bracken Ice Show, Branchage Film Festival and after years of problems (and whilst this has not been trouble free) increased funding for Battle of Flowers, International Air Display and Fete des Noues.