11/12/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

Jersey States will debate whether to keep the Bailiff as its president in

the new year. Jersey States will debate whether to

keep the Bailiff as It could mean an end to a dual role when the current

Bailiff, Sir Michael Birt, retires in just over a year. Bailiffs are

appointed by the Queen and are civic head of the Island with

responsibility for official communication with the UK. They re

also the island's senior judge. And they are the Speaker of the States

Assembly ` they decide if questions and propositions can be debated.

Assembly ` they decide if questions and propositions can be debated

Well Pam Caulfield's been looking into what powers the Bailiff has `

and asking politicians how they could change.

The role of Bailiff has existed since the 13th century. Created by

the King of England, the Crown still decides who takes on the position

and so far, it's never been a woman. It's a dual role ` as well as

presiding over legislation here in the States the Bailiff is also chief

Justice here at the Royal Court. He the States the Bailiff is also chief

Justice here at the Royal Court. He can't vote, but can the Bailiff

really be impartial if he's making and administering laws? The

politician calling that into question is Constable of St Helier,

Simon Crowcroft. Tell me what you want to happen and why? I would like

the States to the bait the review `` to debate the review. This would not

stop the bailiff remaining the civic head of Jersey. Senator, Sir Philip

Bailhache, you don't want change ` why? We need to be aware of the

consequences of change. I agree that the debate is a sensible thing to

have. If he is no longer president of the state Assembly someone has to

take his place and that needs to be considered. The bailiff is the chief

citizen of the island. That also depends upon his position as

president of the state Assembly. president of the state Assembly.

Does one wants to have a new chief citizen who will be the new

president of the state? These are all matters to think about.

Politicians will debate whether to divide the role in the new year and

if they agree the current Bailiff, Sir Michael Birt, will be the last

ever to preside over States meetings.

A driver who left a man needing a leg amputation and a two`year`old

boy severely injured has been fined ?1,000 and banned from driving for

nine months. 63`year`old Ian Duncan Wainwright pleaded guilty to driving

without due care and attention at Albert Pier in July. Guernsey

Magistrates' Court was told he had inadvertantly driven his automatic

Audi A3 into the pair while trying to adjust its position in a parking

space, pinning them against railings.

The funding for a new scheme to pay for long`term care in Jersey has

been approved by the States. All income`tax payers will pay into the

fund from 2015, and it will start helping people from next year. The

new benefit is designed to help protect people's savings and remove

the financial worry of long term care.

And in Guernsey's States today deputies agreed to spend almost ?1

million to boost the finance industry. Guernsey Finance will get

?900,000 over the next three years to promote the industry to new

markets. Finance contributed around ?800 million to the economy in 011.

markets. Finance contributed around ?800 million to the economy in 2011.

markets. Finance contributed around ?800 million to the economy in 011.

But the number employed in the industry has dropped by nearly three

hundred since the start of the recession to 6,815 people. It's

hoped the extra cash will help reverse that trend. We do a lot with

a small amount. We are very efficient. We cannot stretch the

budget any further. We will lose some business in our existing

markets. The prize fund for this year's

Channel Islands Christmas Lottery could break through the ?1million

barrier for the first time ever Tickets now cost ?2 and because

fewer have been sold your chances of winning are higher as Edward Sault

explains. Lining up in the hope of hitting

that jackpot. This was the lunchtime cued today. What are the odds of

winning? The odds are basically the same as last year.

But because fewer tickets at the higher price have been sold, your

chances of winning it are greater. Charities across the islands are

also set to benefit from more money in the prize pot, The GSPCA in

Guernsey ahs used money it's had from the lottery in the past to buy

these intensive care units for animals. It has enabled us to save

the lives of animals every day. We are grateful to all those who

support the Christmas lottery. Have you bought more tickets this year?

Yes we have. Do you think there is a greater chance of winning? I want to

take the prize back to Guernsey for a change. Are you buying more this

year? Yes. The more you buy the more chance you have two minute. What

would you do with ?1 million? I expect my son would get rid of it

for me. There's just over a week before the

draw at Beau Sejour in Guernsey next Thursday. And by then the record

jackpot could be above ?1 million for the first time. A nice little

Christmas for someone. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight with Justin and Rebecca: The flying

Dr. We meet a group of Dr Who fans who've built a TARDIS that flies.

He has been the face of Jersey Special Gymnastics Club for 22

years, but last weekend John Grady retired from his post as head coach.

During the last two decades John has taken his gymnasts to more than 100

national and international competitions where they've won

dozens of medals. He has also been appointed MBE for service to

disabled people. Amy Harris reports. Members of Jersey's Special

Gymnastics Club training hard. And behind every swing, twist and jump

is volunteer John Grady. He's trained hundreds of youngsters here

with learning difficulties, but now after 22 years as head coach John is

retiring. I've got to a certain level of

coaching. I've also done a lot of things I've wanted to do and

achieved what I've wanted to achieve. The club has achieved more

than I thought it would do and it's about reaching that plateau and

thinking I'll quit while I'm ahead. John formed the club in 1991 and

from small beginnings it's grown to an international centre of

excellence for disability gymnastics.

There have also been many triumphs at national and international

competitions, like here at the Special Olympics World Summer Games

in Greece. None of it would have been possible without John ` and in

2009 he was appointed MBE for his hard work and dedication.

He's been really brilliant with us, probably one of the best coaches

we've ever had and we're all going to miss him so much. He inspired me.

He is one of my favourites cultures. Taking over as head coach will be

the current ladies' coach Yana Vibert.

I'm just hoping to maintain the club over the next year and settle in and

take the club forward and keep going to some of the world stage

competitions with some of our gymnasts. So while this club is

entering a new era, no one will forget its own special founder ` the

man in the background, who has achieved so much.

Here is the weather. Big changes on the way. We have had a settled spell

of weather for quite a while. That will change into the weekend.

Tomorrow we have more of the same. Some missed, fall, and some sunny

spells. Rain bearing clouds is poised to move them. Until then it

is mainly dry story but increasingly cloudy. We still have high

pressure. That is keeping as reasonably dry and fine. Overnight

and eight we see a fair cover of mist or more). Tomorrow will be a

misty grey start. A lot of high`level clouds will come in

during the afternoon and evening. As for the Outlook, we will see some

rain on Friday. Clearing overnight into Saturday. Saturday will be the

better of the two days at the weekend. More wet weather turning up

on Sunday. That is the news and weather from

the Channel Islands. Goodbye. more than 25% in the last few years.

The recovery is being shown here, despite it not showing in ordinary

passenger numbers yet. The schools inspector, Ofsted, has

published its first ever report reviewing education standards in the

South West. It says the proportion of good or outstanding primary and

secondary schools in the region has increased, but too many children

from poorer backgrounds aren't doing well enough. Coming up, we'll reveal

who's we know that across this region,

across the south`west, there are children in schools that are not

getting what they need. They are languishing behind others. The

challenge for every local authority, for every school, is to ensure that

those children get what they need to do their best. Plus, the big

Christmas switch off. Coming up, we will reveal who has won our sporting

lifetime achievement award. Find out why these lights have fallen foul of

the rules. And And the TARDIS takes off in North Devon but is quickly

back down to Earth with a bump. It's feared the Government's

decision to change the way lambs are tagged could force farmers out of

business in the South West. All lambs under 12 months old will have

to be electronically tagged from 2015. It aims to make the meat more

traceable but the farming industry says it comes at a time when

businesses have seen incomes drop by nearly 50% in the last year. Anna

Varle reports. Edmund sold and electronically

identified. Peter is one of the few farmers already using these tags on

his lands. It delivers something to me because I am doing the recording

to improve the genetics of my flock. But he struggles to recommend it to

others. I spent more than ?1000 a year on ID tags and as of next year

every farmer will have to spend that sort of money on buying tax and

unless they can get a benefit from that, I do not think it is fair and

equitable. What is going to change? Currently plastic tags are used on

lands under 12 months old going to slaughter. `` on lambs under

12`month`old going to slaughter. They will have to buy electronic

tags which could cost thousands pounds more.

That is 55p more than a plastic tag. The cost of the industry is

estimated at ?1.8 million. This is another thing coming from Europe

which is put upon us, putting costs and our industry, which we do not

need. It has been a difficult year for farmers like Adrian. The prices

are down and margins are tight. I cannot see any reason for us to do

this. The information on where the land comes from is already in their

ear on the plastic tag. There is no need to have them Alec Tunnicliffe

identified. The government says it will increase traceability and will

help to decrease illness. Well, the MP for Camborne and

Redruth, George Eustice, is also a farming minister. I asked him why

the electronic tagging scheme was being introduced when the NFU and

the National Sheep Association had so many concerns about it. It will

give farmers much more reliable information on individual lambs and

carcasses that they can help to manage their business. It will help

us to argue with the commission that they should have greater tolerance

when it comes to problems with accuracy and movement of sheep.

There are benefits to this. It only cost is 50p extra per lamb and I

think we just have to get on with it. You say it is only 50 pets ``

50p extra per animal but this is the cost farmers could do without. Will

they get help with this? This is the way it has to go. Scotland and

Northern Ireland have already had a electronic tags only since 2009 and

I don't see any point in dithering or holding back. There is no point

in having to systems that complicate things when we all know that

ultimately we have to go to digital only tax. The National sheep

Association is asking why it needs to be typed if the lamb is only

going from the farm of birth to slaughter. There is no risk, they

say. It gives the farmer individual information on that animal. This can

help refine the management of their farm. There are times when you get a

disease outbreak where you do want to know actually where individual

animals have come from, from what holding, so I do not accept that it

is of no value to record individual lambs as they go through the

slaughter process. This is one of those decisions that when you

introduce it or announce that there is concern and disappointment

expressed by farmers, but once we get on and do this, I think in a

couple of years time people will let back and wonder what the fuss was

about. They will realise this was the right thing to do. It gives them

better management information and it enables us to manage movement of

sheep much better than we currently are able to. Thank you very much

indeed. A Dartmoor village has been told to

turn off the lights on its Christmas tree. A group of residents put the

tree up on Meavy village green at the weekend. But the local council

has ordered them to turn the lights off. John Danks has the story. This

is the first time there has been a Christmas tree on the green here,

the lights adding a touch of festive cheer. But now the lights have gone

out. It seems one local resident has taken exception to the cable running

over this raid and now Devon county council have pulled the plug.

Apparently someone came and informed the person supplying the power for

the lights that if they did not take the cable down, they would be fined

for doing so. The council said it had concern over the use of a

domestic power supply and that the cabling, in their words, had been a

bit a goodie piggery. This resident has lived in the village for 50

years. She is unhappy that somebody complained. It is not very Christmas

like and it is very disappointing. It looked lovely when the light is

lit up there at 4pm and I made a support at midnight. `` they

disappointed at midnight. They were not harming anybody. The council

told us it was related to regulations about cabling of a

highways and was to keep people safe. Meanwhile, residents are

hoping to apply for a permit to happy cable put back and to have the

lights switched on again. Time for our next BBC South West

sports award for this year. Today, it's the Lifetime Achievement

trophy. The recipient took the Cornwall

rugby team to Twickenham in May, 22 years after he led them to glory at

the same venue. Dave Gibbins had the honour of presenting his award.

After unrivalled success with the Cornwall county rugby team and with

success coaching, it gives me enormous pleasure, Dave Thomas, to

give you this. It was at unanimous decision from the panel and they

decided to award you, Dave, the BBC South West lifetime achievement

award for this year. That is unbelievable. I wondered why you

were bringing me here today. This is a tremendous honour. A really

tremendous honour. I am overwhelmed by it. You deserve it. Not only

coaching the county and club teams, you have done an awful lot of

coaching with youngsters as well. You have been involved in rugby for

50 years or more. Why so long? You are 75 now. You shouldn't have said

that! I am very lucky. My wife is very, very supportive of all the

rugby that I do. Although she says, you are not off again, I have been

very lucky because I have had a lot of coaching at senior level and

working for the rugby union. When you do get some success on the way,

it motivates you even more to keep going. Dave Benji Thomas, many

congratulations. Thank you very much indeed. Now I know why a cane! A

legend in Cornish rugby. Tomorrow, Dave will be revealing the

BBC South West Youngster of the Year.

Now, this year Dr Who fans are celebrating 50 years of the Time

Lord and his famous means of transport, the TARDIS, which has

spent half a century flying through space and time.

Well now, thanks to a group of enthusiasts, a replica has also

flown in Hatherleigh. And we really do mean it's flown in Hatherleigh.

Spotlight's Kirk England was there for the maiden flight. Every detail

considered and a lifelong ambition finally coming to fruition. It has

always been my goal to get these dyes to help you build a flying

TARDIS. But will it fly? It is just not made to fly, basically. It is

not an aerodynamic shape and it goes against the laws of physics. These

friends enjoy making unusual objects take to these guys like washing

machines and lawn mowers. The replica Time Machine is their most

ambitious to date. I am quite up for just taking it off now and seeing

what happens but we will do a bit much evening, get it to fly properly

and come back another day. Daily two. `` day to and after a few

adjustments, the team are ready for take`off.

That was awesome. Just amazing watching it fly around. That is

crazy. It did not go as well as expected

but we got it off the ground, which was the main thing. But then back to

the drawing board, really, with that. Not quite a journey through

time and space but I am sure the doctor would approve.

It was going so well. Fantastic thing. A bit of a heavy landing

there. Of course, you arrived here once in a TARDIS...

You will not see that again. Good evening. Much more unsettled weather

over the next few days. A misty start tomorrow, a grey 12, dry and,

if we are lucky, possibly a glimpse of sunshine. A lot more clout than

two day there and some rain turning up in the afternoon as well. This

lump of cloud has been waiting in the wings for the last four or five

days and it is finally making its way towards us. It is still

relatively mild and we will see temperatures well into double

figures, possibly as high as 13 tomorrow. Through the night and day

tomorrow, whilst these weather fronts move around a little bit, the

final movement of that is gradually over us. We will see a change

Thursday into Friday as to whether systems straddle us. Setting us up

for an unsettled weekend with the best of the weather on Saturday.

That is the satellite picture from earlier today. We had quite a bit of

sunshine with some high`level clout. There was also some list and

fog earlier on. There is a very picturesque scene from earlier

today. A bit of sunshine above the frog. That looks quite artistic,

doesn't it? The mist and fog has caused those ability issues for

people driving to day. Let's look at what will happen overnight. Some of

the mist and frog will happen overnight. Some of the mist" we form

for a time. The cloud though will genuinely increased the cloud amount

from the West overnight. Beefy, mist and fog will increase, the cloud

will turn up and what we're left with is cloud shrouding the tops of

the hills and morals. Those are the temperatures for tomorrow morning. A

bright start and then the cloud will be thicker and brief sunshine will

be limited. As you can see through the afternoon, we will see some at

breaks of rain. Finally, more persistent rain spreading to all of

us by the early evening. Also, the breeze increasing. It will not be

cold though. Temperatures well above the average for the time of year. 13

Celsius. Before I give you the surfing

conditions, look at this from earlier today. Fantastic surfing

conditions. The most of the north coast of Cornwall, it has been great

to day. They take `` the sea temperature is down to 12 Celsius

though. Friday is a damp day with outbreaks

of rain, fine on Saturday, windy and cold `` windy and wet on Sunday.

That is all from us. I will be back with the late news at 10:25pm. Enjoy

what's left of your Wednesday. Goodbye.