04/12/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

good evening. The headlines: Follow Keep up-to-date online.

good evening. The headlines: Follow Church of England law, not the

island's own. We have exclusive access to letters from the Bishop of

Winchester telling Jersey's Dean he must defy local laws if they

conflict with the church support for Low Value Consignment relief.

To me, that is unacceptable for someone outside Jersey, who is a

member of the House of Lords, to be telling someone who is a member of

Parliament of Jersey to effectively break Jersey law.

Support for Low Value Consignment Relief ` UK MPs say they are

sympathetic to a move that could support Island growers.

And, oh no, it isn't! The curtain goes up on a pantomime with a

difference in Guernsey. The BBC has been given exclusive

access to letters suspending the Dean of Jersey in which the Bishop

of Winchester asserts that laws governing the Church of England

should take precedent over Jersey's own laws. It's the latest

development in a long running rift between the Island and its Anglican

leaders. In March this year, an independent

report investigated allegations that the Very Reverend Bob Key mishandled

an abuse complaint made in 2008. The an abuse complaint made in 2008 The

Korris report criticised his failure to take the complaint seriously and

led to the Dean's suspension. The diocese then ordered a second report

reviewing safeguarding policies. diocese then ordered a second report

reviewing safeguarding policies The diocese then ordered a second report

reviewing safeguarding policies The Gladwin report has still not been

published. In April, the Dean was reinstated after apologising for the

way he handled the abuse complaint. In May, the former appeal judge in

Jersey, Dame Heather Steel, was asked by the Diocese of Winchester

to lead a further investigation into the abuse complaint. It was revealed

last month that her report will not be made public.

BBC Radio Jersey's Matthew Price joined me earlier to explain more.

It is a very serious letter from the bishop outlining the Dean's

suspension, and the investigation into how and allegation was

investigated by the dioceses into suspected abuse along the way. One

bishop stresses that the Dean has a duty of obedience to him as a

bishop, and that the Dean, Bob Key, should not defy him, particularly

his request relating to Jersey's own laws. The bishop writes that

whatever the local lawmakers seek to impose, the Dean must follow church

law and not local law. So basically, the bishop has told the Dean to

ignore Jersey rules. The Dean is a member of Jersey's parliament. Does

this raise tensions diplomatically? Allegations of pressure have been

raised and the Dean would have to ignore his obligations to the

Bishop, and that our concerns that the Bishop of Winchester and the

dieses themselves have acted very badly towards Jersey. To me, that is

unacceptable, for someone outside of Jersey, who is a member of the House

of Lords and a bishop, to be telling someone who is a member of

Parliament of Jersey to effectively break Jersey law. What is the

response from the Bishop of Winchester? He has said that he

acted within the law and he expect the Dean to comply with his orders

over any local laws. The dioceses of Winchester says it expects that

anyone who works for them is committed to addressing fundamental

discrepancies between church law and local law. Any reaction from the

Dean himself tonight? He told us this issue has been very painful and

this was a difficult letter for him to receive. He says the law of the

land is the law, and that no citizen is allowed to disobey it.

MPs at Westminster have agreed to support the reinstatement of a

controversial Channel Island tax concession. Low Value Consignment

Relief, which allowed goods under a certain value to be sent VAT free,

was scrapped last year by Westminster. A group of Guernsey

growers and politicians travelled to London to lobby the UK Government.

Mike Wilkins reports. For years, Guernsey's growing

industry bloomed as it benefitted from being able to sell products

into the UK VAT free. But, last year, the British government

controversially scrapped Low Value Consignment Relief, or LVCR, last

year after concerns that it gave some bulk mail firms an unfair

advantage. But a group of growers and deputies have met this week with

British MPs and Peers to make their case to reinstate LVCR for local

flower growers. And several UK politicians agreed to support their

case. They want us to come forward with some sort of proposal that is

practical and doesn't open up too much of another exemption that could

impact their economy. We are concentrating on indigenous Channel

Island produce and to see whether we can work something around that. Paul

Ingrouille runs this flower business in Guernsey which has been going for

more than 25 years. He says if the island could get LVCR back, then

retailers may have to accept certain limitations. If the law came in that

said there would be relief solely on the stuff you are growing in

Guernsey, but if are doing circular you shipments then you cannot claim

for VAT relief on those, and that is what we would have to live with.

for VAT relief on those, and that is what we would have to live with The

for VAT relief on those, and that is what we would have to live with. The

what we would have to live with The visits to London have been described

as a process of "winning hearts and minds", and, while this week's trip

can be seen as a small victory, the Channel Islands still have a long

way to go to win the LVCR war. Jersey's budget debate rumbled on

today with long arguments about the amount of duty added to alcohol

tobacco and fuel. Any attempt to remove any increase was rejected,

but the arguments by how much they will go up continue.

It has been a long day in Jersey States as politicians discuss next

year's budget. Today they have talked about duty increases for

alcohol, fuel and tobacco. Increases in fuel will go up by 1.5%, which is

a slight change to what Treasury bond. They wanted a 2% increase.

That was a successful change by its own telly Dunstable Simon Crowe

Croft. He wasn't successful in trying to reduce the amount that

tobacco goes up. It'll go up by 11%. That is 47p on a packet of King

20 cigarettes. Without the whole it is more concentrated. Stronger

alcohol will go up by 11% on duty rises, but for lower strength

alcohol and wine, the duty will go up slightly less, and to a change

brought in by the Treasury minister. The Channel Islands have joined up

with the South West of England to develop offshore wind and tidal

energy projects. They've signed an agreement to work together to create

renewable energy from the sea. The idea is to share research and

information and grow the industry. It comes as the UK Government

increases the price it pays for offshore wind power.

The curtain is about to go up on a pantomime with a difference in

Guernsey. It's called Snow White and the Seven Directors, and it's all

about redundancy. Not exactly a festive theme, but the law firm

behind it says the irreverent look at employment legislation will teach

employers how to deal with the tricky issue more fairly. Tim

Robinson had a back`stage pass to the dress rehearsal today.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but not as you know them! Though you

might recognise some of these characters from your workplace.

Let's make this quick, I have got a meeting later. I like a wee drop of

whiskey. Ladies, I've got a big one. It's in the name. Get out of my

face. Why is this camera in my face? Am I getting paid for this? Can you

point the camera away from me, I have got a really bad migraine. The

performers are from Guernsey College, but this unusual rendition

of Snow White has been written by lawyer. Redundancy is a hot topic,

and it is something that I see a lot of at the moment through the course

of my work. I was finding that a lot of employers were basing redundancy

on subjective criteria, personal traits and characteristics, and

actually, that is not what they are supposed to do. It has got to be

based on more objective criteria. The seven direct display the board

of this failing company, and it is up to our dynamic duo, Snow White

and the Queen, to somehow decide who is going to stay and he will go. Is

and the Queen, to somehow decide who is going to stay and he will go Is

employment law too dour an issue for a one`night panto spectacular?

Tonight in Guernsey they answer .. Well, you didn't expect me to get

all the way through this report without it saying it, did you? The

answer, of course, is "Oh no, it isn't!".

Good evening. We are going to see a bit of a change tonight as colder

air floods in behind the band of rain that has been plaguing us for

the last hour or so. It is moving away, say later on tonight it will

turn quite chilly and we might even see some frost. A brighter day

tomorrow with some sunshine, and it will feel colder. A brisk north`west

wind will develop. The cloud is slowly moving down into France, and

it will eventually go. There is a fair amount of clear skies that will

develop behind it, and then that high pressure begins to slip down

towards the Bay of Biscay. This weather system will bring some rain

late tomorrow night, and as a move into Friday, we have got high

pressure coming back. Generally light winds tonight, but it will

turn quite cold, with enough clear sky to get temperatures down as low

as three or four degrees. That is cold enough for a touch of Frost.

Tomorrow, a bright enough start Some sunny spells, and more cloud

coming into the second half of the day. And the wind will increase

Although we will get 10 degrees, day. And the wind will increase.

Although we will get 10 degrees it day. And the wind will increase

Although we will get 10 degrees it will feel colder with that wind.

Although we will get 10 degrees, it will feel colder with that wind.

Those wins will reach 46 by the end of the afternoon. `` fourth six

Friday will be quite a cloudy day. It will be quite stubborn to break

up. For the weekend, we have got sunny spells and patchy cloud.

Temperatures on the way down a little bit. The wind will be mainly

from the South or Southwest. Have a good evening.

That's it for now. Goodbye. landlords for them to come forward

if they have an empty house that can be used to re`home someone on the

homeless register. A jury was today told that a

pensioner died after falling into the River Exe because her walking

stick broke and not because of any safety shortcomings of steps and

handrails. Exeter City Council denies breaching health and safety

laws where passengers get on and off Butts Ferry at Exeter Quay.

80`year`old Dorothy Stevens drowned when she fell into the river in July

2010. Hamish Marshall joins me now from Exeter Crown Court.

We find out why Sharron Robbie has been nominated as this year's unsung

sporting hero. The premise of the defence case was that Dorothy

Stevens would not have fallen into the water if her walking stick had

not snapped into. A consultant came to the courts today and spoke about

how she was not very agile and a foldable stake was not as reliable

as a wooden one. He said that if it had not broken in such a way he

believed she would have been able to climb the steps.

Who else has been giving evidence? The health and safety inspector who

was called there in 2010 gave evidence. She was asked why she

allowed Butts Ferry to continue to operate as normal through the rest

of that summer if there was such a danger in these steps. She said the

full circumstances surrounding what happened to Dorothy Stevens was not

known at the time. And other witness, a retired health and say

inspector, said that just because there have been changes to the steps

and rails does not mean that work needed to be done before the

accident happened. What happens now? Tomorrow morning

we will have the closing speeches. The jury will retire to consider its

verdict. Next on Spotlight: We hear from the man who received an apology

after complaining to the Prime Minister.

Also We find out why Sharron Robbie has been nominated as this year's

unsung sporting hero. I have been kissed a few times under

the mistletoe. I was kissed a few times when I was younger. I am still

waiting! A man from Dorset who wrote to the

Prime Minister to say that he'd only received his out of work benefits on

time once in three months has today received an apology from the

government. Adrian Robinson claims problems with his job`seeker's

Allowance began when he returned to his home town of Lyme Regis, from

where Simon Clemison sent this report.

Think of Lyme Regis and you probably think of the cob and the coast but

it is not just a famous tourist spot. I found a business park here

where people live and work as well as come to be enjoyed. It is lovely

to be back. Returning to his home town after his contract came to an

end in Berkshire, Adrian wanted to join the local workforce. He is

partially sighted and is helped by his wife. I went through the

recession in the 1980s and you just had to wait until things get better.

I know that as long as I keep doing everything I need to do... Are you?

Yes, indeed. Adrienne knows about employment as much as unemployment,

having been a human resources advisor. He was getting job`seeker's

allowance before he moved back to Dorset but when he signed on in

Weymouth the problems began. The system seemed unable to cope with

the profit of the sale of their house when they moved even though it

was below the amount that would have meant the benefits were docked.

While he was entitled to the payment, every time it was delayed.

We gave them all the information they needed but the system would not

bend. There is no more that I can do and the benefit that we seek we were

entitled to and we were entitled to it on time. Adrienne may have been

making every effort to find work by new rules mean there are those that

don't in the government's view. Many people have already been penalised

in a shake`up of state benefits. Support services say that some are

struggling with all the changes. We need to be sure that the system is

there to help people and we do not get into a situation where admin

errors make things worse and put a burden on people because many people

do not have a safety net or anything to fall back on. This job`seeker

managed to survive as other benefits were paid on time. The Department

for Work and Pensions has apologised for the delay and said it has

rectified the issue with any money owing being paid.

Yeovil Town's renaisssance could be underway in football's Championship.

Their one goal win over Blackpool at Huish Park last night was their

second in a row and keeps them within touching distance of the

safety line. One of their three new loan signings, John Lundstram from

Everton, scored the vital goal in the first half. Blackpool had three

of their players dramatically sent off in added time as Yeovil hung on

for a precious three points. Plymouth College swimmer Ruta

Meilutyte has taken her tally of gold medals for the year to 12. The

16`year`old Lithuanian, who's the Olympic and World champion, is

representing England at the World Schools' Championship in Brazil and

collected her latest gold in the 100 metre freestyle. The England team,

coached by Jon Rudd the director of swimming at the College, were the

top team in Brasilia with all seven of Rudd's swimmers winning at least

one medal each. Prince Harry has been offering

support to a group of servicemen, including a man from Devon, who have

set off on what's being called the world's toughest rowing race. Cayle

Royce who lives in Dartmouth lost both his legs last year while

serving in Afghanistan. He's part of the Row2Recovery team racing in the

Atlantic Challenge, to raise money for Help For Heroes. Prince Harry,

who's currently trekking in Antarctica, called the team to wish

them luck on their 3,000 mile journey.

Especially if you have a broken toe, I imagine that is true. Good luck we

are thinking of you. Throughout this week we're meeting

the people you've nominated as Unsung Sporting Heroes. Across the

region there are scores of people who give up huge amounts of their

own time to help others enjoy their chosen sport. Tonight's finalist is

Sharron Robbie, who's the Chair of the Plymouth Netball League.

Spotlight's John Ayres reports. We want to 20 chest passes. The profile

of netball has risen significantly in Plymouth in recent years with 800

women playing in the city league. Heading it up is Sharron Robbie. She

has been an ambassador for the sport, but most significantly she

works hard to provide a permanent home for netball in the city. Over

the last three or four years I have lobbied really hard to gain a

central venue for our sport in the city. We were extremely lucky to get

the support from Plymouth City Council and England netball and

sport England to give us our home in the Plymouth life Centre. Sharon has

been keen to encourage more women into sport generally. She heads up

the league which is quite a challenge. You are talking about

more than 80 teams in the Plymouth and district league which is a lot

of people to manage, with their own views and suppression is of interest

and they are really concerned for their own teams and she manages it

beautifully. She is passion and NHS and approachable and she wants to do

things right for netball and netball in Plymouth and sport itself. She is

amazing. What is it that drives Sharon on? When you start to

volunteer for an organisation, whether it is a sport or charitable

organisation, I think that if you feel passionately about something

you really want to share it with others and I am absolutely

passionate about netball and what it can bring, especially to young

women. Sharon has been on the committee for more than 20 years.

Plymouth netball harbour is now one of the largest of its type in the

country. We'll find out about another Unsung

Sporting Hero in Spotlight tomorrow and the overall winner will be

announced in Friday's Spotlight. I can't wait to find out who it is.

It will be a tough decision for the judges. We have heard sobs `` from

some fantastic people again this year.

Now, this festive season, will you be hanging the mistletoe with the

hope of catching someone under it for a traditional Christmas kiss?

I make no comment on that. I just happen to have some here...

I do hope not! I am in terrible trouble now. Well, work has begun

gathering in hundreds of bunches of mistletoe at The National Trust's

Cotehele House in Cornwall. Johnny Rutherford has been along to find

out more about the plant and how the tradition of kissing under it came

about. Are you sure? Sorry. Long before our

ancestors were hanging mistletoe up at Christmas time it was believed it

had special powers. They were careful not to let it touch the

ground because it was said to really move its strength. This week Gardner

's are also being careful in cutting and harvesting their mistletoe, to

make sure that both the Apple tree and the plant to `` continue to

survive together. The mistletoe grows in Saint biosis with the tree,

it is a semi`parasitic plant and they grow together really well,

although the mistletoe will tend, if it is not checked, you will see that

I am taking out large clumps because it will start to take over the tree

a little bit. It does need careful management. Mistletoe is often found

in traditionally managed orchards although it is unusual to find it

Cornwall. This is a fantastic food source for birds in the orchard and

it is quite popular at this time of the year as well. It is still

possible as part of the traditional Christmas decor. In Europe it was

not to bring good luck and here in the UK we went one stage further and

hope that luck would get us kiss! It used to be said that young men had

the privilege of kissing girls under mistletoe, plucking off Bury for

each case. The berries were gone the privilege ceased. This couple have

been married 60 years but have never once kissed under the mistletoe. No,

we haven't. No! We have never needed it! First time then. I have been

kissed a few times under the mistletoe. I think I was kissed a

few times when I was younger. And I am still waiting! I would offer to

help out but I am married! Indeed, if Rebecca's husband is

watching, I was joking of course! Although there is some mistletoe on

our desk which has been attempting a full day but we haven't...

Tempting us! Really. It is time for the weather. He is

quite a big fellow, her husband, isn't he?

He is taller than me! Let us look at the weather then.

the weather Let us start with what is happening

tomorrow. We have been gloomy for the last few days. The sunshine came

out today. Tomorrow is different, there will be frost and a cold start

in the morning. It will become quite windy in the second half of the day

and we will see showers towards the end of the afternoon and evening. We

are actually between weather systems to night. This stripe of cloud which

has kept us cloudy through the morning is now moving away and

moving into northern France and clear sky will follow. Tonight there

is a ridge of high pressure and we are expecting some low temperatures.

In the second half of the night, just slightly more of a breeze to

stir the air and by the middle of the day it will become quite breezy

with westerly or north`westerly winds that could touch gale force in

the Bristol Channel. Here is a look at what could happen on Friday.

There will be a chilly start with a risk of morning frost and then there

should be a decent enough day. The high pressure means the cloud will

be stubborn to shift so things will settle down nicely. We did have some

sunshine and it was quite a pleasant end to today. This was earlier near

Teignmouth where there were some bright skies. It was a lovely end to

the day and a nice sunshine `` sunset. Look at that cloud! This

means there will be frost is a night, not everywhere but certainly

for the areas that are well sheltered from the northerly

breeze. We will see overnight temperatures at or just below

freezing. A good deal of fine weather and clear sky. Good news for

the stargazers who have been disappointed in the last few nights.

The frost will develop in the small hours of the morning and towards

dawn we will see a bit more cloud drifting in from the North West as

the breeze steadily freshens. Nonetheless we see temperatures

close to freezing just about anywhere. In parts of central and

mid`Somerset temperatures could be as low as zero or below. Expect the

frost first thing tomorrow morning. Tomorrow it self is a bright enough

start with a lot of cloud around throughout the day. It will be

patchy. Some sunny spells briefly. As the wind increases so does the

cloud amount and through the afternoon we will see a cloudy end

to the day and a stiff north`westerly breeze setting in.

The breeze is strong enough in fact to whip up the waves along the north

coast and through the Bristol Channel. Rough seas are possible

here. The temperatures tomorrow, on the face of it it does not look bad

but because it is windy it will feel colder because of the strength of

the wind. For the owls `` for the Isles of Scilly, a fine enough start

but becoming windy with the risk of showers late in the day.

On the north coast the size of the ways increases through the day and

by the end of the afternoon it could be six feet and messy. That is it

for the coastal waters and there is more the breeze tomorrow. There,

then showers, and generally good visibility. At the end of the week

and Friday, it will be a fine start to the day but quickly becoming

cloudy. The cloud will be stubborn to shift as you move into the start

of the weekend. Note how the wind drops right down with light wind and

the high pressure comes back and there will briefly be sunshine on

Sunday. Have a good evening.

Thank you very much. That is the way the news and weather looks on

Wednesday evening. There will be an update on all the

main news at 1025 p.m. But have a good