Parishes reimbursement for 2026 elections costs

2026.07.14

19.11 Connétable K. Shenton-Stone of St. Martin of the Minister for Treasury and Resources

regarding election costs. (OQ.54/2026)

Will the Minister advise from which States department the Parishes should seek reimbursement in relation to the June 2026 elections of costs they have incurred but which are to be met by the States pursuant to

Article 15 of the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002?

Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean (The Minister for Treasury and Resources):

Article 15 of the Elections (Jersey) Law 2002 provides that certain costs incurred by the Parishes in connection with a public election are to be met by the States. However, it does not prescribe which department or office is responsible for administering or reimbursing those payments. Historically, claims for reimbursement have been submitted through the Judicial Greffe together with appropriate supporting evidence for that expenditure. Accordingly, I consider that the appropriate office to which the Parishes should submit their claims is the Judicial Greffe who are allocated a sufficient budget for the purpose.

1. The Connétable of St. Martin :

I have notification that apparently there has been no agreement that the Parishes should seek all of their Article 15 costs from the Judicial Greffe, and this is why we keep going around in circles. So, could the Minister for Treasury and Resources investigate this and tell us where we should be recovering our costs from?

Senator A.J.H. M. Maclean :

As I have mentioned, I am of the clear opinion that it should be the Judicial Greffe. I have in front of me a document, which is the business plan submitted by the Judicial Greffe in relation to public elections, which makes it clear that there is sufficient funding for the purpose of the 2026 election, including for the Parishes, which are an item. There are a number of items listed for payment here and the Parishes are listed. I also note that that particular budget is roughly double what it was in 2022, which takes into consideration the additional costs of a Sunday election and so forth.

2. Connétable I. Gardiner of St. Helier :

The Minister just mentioned there are Parishes expenses that should be covered by the Government. Would the Minister item what type of expenses are expected to be covered by the Government for the Parish? Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

As far as I am aware, it is covered under Article 15. If I could direct the Constable to that particular Article, that should give enough sufficient information. I will just repeat the point that I made earlier, that is, from 2022 to 2026 the budget has more or less doubled. So, there should be sufficient budget there. There is also, I would add, an underspend in the States Greffe in relation to the elections, albeit a small underspend, which could also assist if necessary.

3. The Connétable of St. Helier :

We have Article 15, but I do not believe that the public knows what Article 15 is as we have in front of us, and there is this miscommunication going between what Parishes under Article 15 think they will receive from the Judicial Greffe, and the Judicial Greffe are not sure. So, if the Minister will help the public and Assembly to understand, as currently stated, what is expected to be recovered from the Judicial Greffe? Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

I am afraid I do not have the information to go through items line by line. All I can say is that I am happy to circulate the information, once I have had an opportunity to review the particular Article, to Members of the Assembly.

4. Deputy K.F. Morel of St. John , St. Lawrence and Trinity :

The Minister rather tantalisingly said he had a business case with a line in it saying "Parishes", and I assumed there was an amount next to that line, so I was wondering what was the amount that the Judicial Greffe felt that should be budgeted for the Parishes expenses?

Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

The total budget for the elections was up to £268,800, I think £270,000 in total. The budgets for the Parishes was £57,000, which is more or less double what it was in 2022.

5. Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John :

Will the Minister for Treasury and Resources agree with me that the Parishes invested themselves significantly in the elections, not only in hosting on a Sunday but in the build up to those elections? Will he take it upon himself for his Department to liaise with the Judicial Greffe so that the Parishes can send their invoices to a single point?

Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

I am delighted to agree with the Constable; I think the Parishes did an excellent job in the election and their staff, in particular. The first time we have had a Sunday election. A lot of people gave their time and commitment, and they did a marvellous job in that respect; so, I completely agree. With regard to assistance, I would encourage the Constables to submit their costs to the Judicial Greffe. For my part, I will make certain that officials from Treasury speak to the Judicial Greffe to ensure that the matter is dealt with swiftly and efficiently, and there are no further issues.

6. The Connétable of St. John :

I thank the Minister for Treasury and Resources for those words. Would the Minister for Treasury and Resources agree with me that potential savings could be made in not employing moderators for hustings in the future, but going back to the traditional volunteers chairing those meetings?

Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

I think the moderators did an excellent job, but whether indeed we could get volunteers to do as good a job is a matter for further consideration. I am all for good outcomes at lower cost, if that can be delivered.

7. The Connétable of St. Martin :

I thank the Minister for his answers, and I am pleased that we seem to be getting somewhere. I do not have a question. I was sad that I had to bring this before the Assembly because we were going around in circles, so thank you.

Senator A.J.H.M. Maclean :

Can I thank the Connétable for her non-question and for raising this matter. It is clearly a concern, and I do take the matter seriously. We need to get it sorted.