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Government officials have been left hunting for nearly £6m to pay for the refurbishment of the Opera House, Oakfield Sports Centre and Spartans Athletic Club after their funding was pulled.
All three had been awarded grants from the ‘Fiscal Stimulus Fund’ – a money pot aimed at stimulating the island’s pandemic-hit economy – in April 2021.
The concept of the fund was created in the wake of recommendations from a panel of economic experts that the Government should provide "targeted", "timely" and "temporary" funding for projects and initiatives that could be completed by the end of 2021 and would help get money moving around the island.
Oakfield was due to receive £3.15m, the Opera House £2.2m and Spartans Athletic Club £580,000.
While most projects granted money from the fund have now been given extended deadlines for completion, officials said the Opera House, Oakfield and Spartans would take too long to complete and are therefore no longer eligible to be 'stimulus' projects.
Oakfield had received the largest chunk of funding for the refurbishment and improvement of the facilities at the sports centre as part of the wider £100m strategy to move sports out of Fort Regent and create a network of training locations across the island.
However, plans for the centre were rejected by the Planning Committee in October over concerns the design was “cheap" and "lightweight” and that parking would be an issue, and modified ones are due to be decided on this week.
Pictured: The refurbishment of Oakfield is part of the wider strategy to move sports out of Fort Regent and create a network of training locations across the island.
Last week, Deputy Susie Pinel, the Treasury Minister, announced that the Opera House was one of three projects which wouldn’t be completed by the end of June. She said her department was working with the respective teams to “find alternative funding measures”.
In an update report on the scheme published yesterday, it was confirmed that alternative funding sources are now being sought.
While the report explains “the complexity of the project and the impact of the delays in planning” is to blame in the case of Oakfield, no explanation was provided for why Jersey Opera House was delayed.
Deputy Pinel told Scrutiny last week there had been “a huge delay in getting the Project Manager there”, as well as construction issues, although she didn’t provide specifics. An update on the matter is expected later this week.
Pictured: The Treasury Minister said there were construction issues with Jersey Opera House.
The Jersey Spartans Athletic Club (JSAC), which had received funding for a project at their FB Fields-based headquarters, has also been affected with no reason being given for the decision.
Of the remaining projects, the majority have been given an extension until the end of March, with a couple extending until the end of June.
Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau - website improvements £50,000
The project went live in January 2022.
First Tower Youth Project – improve disability access, unused areas, lifts and toilets £1.5m
Planning and Building Control permissions are now in place and a contract has been awarded to a local developer. Work started in December 2021. Extension granted to 31 March 2022.
Crabbé – upgrade facilities for use by Youth Service and for Duke of Edinburgh scheme £32,000
Enable Jersey – develop disabled changing facilities and toilets in Winston Churchill Park £87,000
Pictured: 84 students attended Every Child Our Future's Summer School.
Every Child Our Future - two-week catch-up summer school for pupils aged 11 to 16 £60,000
84 students attended the Summer School over the two-week period.
Brook Jersey – lease refurbishments of new rental property £188,992
Completed in December 2021.
Jersey Action Against Rape – Counselling Hours £10,448
An extra 7.5 hours per week worth of counselling has been in place since June 2021.
Jersey Action Against Rape – development of a small ecommerce site £5,406
Jersey Cheshire Home – adding solar panels to reduce carbon footprint £67,094
Completed in October 2021.
Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship – maintenance and upkeep £30,000
Completed in December 2021.
Pictured: Work is nearly finished at Acorn's new collections hub.
Acorn - building a new collections, processing and delivery hub for donations £808,336
All foundations are now complete, and the steel shed has been built. However, long waits for orders of construction materials and increased specifications of the foundations of the build due to by-law regulations have caused delays. The steel cladding and doors and windows will be fitted in preparation for internal works to start and be completed by Feb 2022.
The Shelter Trust – women-only accommodation £189,500
The facility was largely completed in December 2021 and all Fiscal Stimulus funds have been spent. However, due to an outbreak of covid within the contractor's teams, the opening of the facility has been delayed to February 2022.
Kenneth Faucon Hall – replacement of doors, windows and flooring to improve use for young people £50,694
The project commenced on 8 September 2021 and was on track to complete by the end of January 2022.
Jersey Scouts – improving facilities at St. Luke’s £50,328
Works have been slightly delayed due to availability of resources. An extension has been granted to 31 March 2022, but the project was expected to be complete in January.
Jersey Action Against Rape – refurbishment of premises £11,575
This project was expected to be completed in January 2022.
Pictured: Howard Davis Hall's project has been extended until the end of March.
Howard Davis Hall - redevelopment into a community and events space £750,000
Internal work, which represents the bulk of the restoration, has started but planning permission needs to be granted for the external works.
Employment support package to help islanders move back into paid employment £1.25m
The approved funding in April 2021 was to improve 190 long-term job-seekers’ opportunity to move back into paid employment. The project has been given an extension approval until 31 March 2022.
In April 2021, there were 1460 locally qualified people registered as looking for work in Jersey compared to a pre-covid level of 850 in March 2020. As of 22 November 2021, there were 821 registered jobseekers.
Ebenezer Church – create kitchen refreshment area to serve community £11,000
There has been delays in the delivery of suppliers and securing tradesmen.
Trinity Youth Centre – refurbishments for use by Youth Service and Scouts £828,330
Planning permission has been granted and all contractors have been appointed. Work began in June but there have been a few delays on inbound building materials from UK which pushed the project back by approximately six weeks.
RETRAIN Skills, Technology-led skills programme £1.7m
Digital Jersey has been providing 43 courses to those who found themselves economically inactive or 'underactive' due to the pandemic. Of the 536 enrolled students, 400 have now either completed or are in progress, with the remaining students scheduled to start before the end of 2021. Another 32 are currently enrolled online.
An extension has been granted to 31 March 2022 to increase the reach of the courses.
Pictured: Beaulieu Convent School received £1.5 for a new sports centre.
Beaulieu Convent School - new sports centre for pupils and the community £1.5m
Work started on 28 June 2021.
Jersey Scouts Association - refurbishment of the Les Creux hall and campsite £93,000
Delays in receiving bye-law approval.
Jersey Scouts Association - refurbishment of the St. Ouen’s Scout Centre £244,000
Project planning is underway, and the tendering process has started.
Brighter Futures - digital strategy to improve service delivery, and provide an internship programme £135,000
Recruitment and interviews for the Digital Strategy lead role took place in November, and the internship program that provides bespoke training and professional development is now up and running. An additional role has been created within the crèche with various training being offered to the staff to support their own continuous professional development and induction to the service.
Expansion of home care services £621,500
The project aimed recruit 100 new staff and up skill 50 existing employees within the sector. The advertising campaign and scheme launched in October 2021.
Extension granted to 31 March 2022 to enable the continuation of the recruitment campaign.
Jersey Hospice Care – recruitment and training of five Health Care Assistants £75,725
The project has been granted an extension until 31 March 2022 to enable Jersey Hospice to recruit to the remaining two posts.
Pictured: Coronation Park Paddling Pool should be completed by the summer.
Coronation Park Paddling Pool – replace and upgrade pool £749,650
Procurement approvals are in place for the project. An open Tender for the construction works was completed in October 2021 and work has commenced on site.
Extension granted to 31 March 2022 and work is expected to be completed in time for summer 2022.
Grainville Cricket Facility – refurbishments £300,000
Approval granted and main contractors appointed. Work has commenced using local contractors. Extension granted to 31 March 2022 when the project is expected to be completed.
Jersey Baptist Church – modernising church £164,850
Planning permission has been approved and work on constructing the covered buggy and bike park is progressing. Quotes are being sought for other aspects of the grant application.
Jersey Race Club – racecourse improvements £37,500
Jersey Padel – build additional padel courts at St. Clement recreational ground and provide coaching/training opportunities £425,350
Variety of project delays.
FB Fields – demolish pavilion and build improved facility £568,500
The department received initial approval to demolish and rebuild the small sports pavilion to provide a fit-for-purpose changing and rest facility for local sports users at FB Fields. Following submission of the initial application, proposals have been developed for a Masterplan on FB Fields.
Following, a request to change the scope to refurbishment of the facility was approved which will extend its life until the masterplan comes into effect.
Air Cadets – upgrade facilities £203,600
Planning application granted and the contractor is in place but there have been “various issues” with the project.
Pictured: Durrell received funding to build the warty pigs a new home. (3C international)
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust – warty pig enclosure and other works £980,000
Expressions of interest issued for the main contractor.
Healing Waves – adaptive surf centre £411,000
Enabling works has taken place and the site is now enclosed with fencing. Work has also been completed to repair drainage from the adjacent public toilets.
Healing Waves have been required, through Planning Conditions, to incorporate a public disabled toilet/changing facility within their adaptive surf centre, at a cost of £46,166, which the Government has agreed to fund from the Discrimination Law, Safeguarding and Regulation of Care allocation in the 2022 – 2025 Government Plan.
Jersey Biodiversity Centre – website improvements £56,070
Extension granted as developers started work in September.
La Hougue Bie – completion of La Hougue Bie site masterplan to improve visitor experience £271,302
Planning and bye-law consents are in place for the external structure and a bye-law application has been submitted for changes to the gallery space.
Jersey Consumer Council – website upgrade to improve security £37,000
The project has been delayed by the need to recruit a Chair and started in the last quarter of 2021.
RJA&HS – refurbishment of facilities £495,000
Jersey Heritage - Membership, website, supporting systems upgrades £226,641
Work has started on the website.
National Trust – development of Morel Farm as a visitor experience £2.16m
Due to issues with the 'glamping' proposal, the project is now on hold and the Trust has had a revised proposal for alternatives for self-catering accommodation approved.
Pictured: Springfield is one of three projects extended until June.
Springfield – improvements to facility as part of strategy to move sports out of Fort Regent £1.96m
There have been issues relating to the project because of the complexity of the implementation of the project and its position within the overall sports strategy. An extension has been granted to 30 June 2022, but discussions have taken place with the Project Manager about the ability to meet this deadline and keep it within budget and scope for a variety of factors.
Hamptonne – create agricultural museum £1.31m
The project has received planning and Bye Law approval.
Jersey Arts Centre – refurbishment and maintenance £2.96m
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