0:00:03 > 0:00:05A new partnership and new local crew -
0:00:05 > 0:00:15the RNLI says lifeboats will be back in St Helier next month.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20We will start training with our colleagues in the Fire and Rescue
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Service on Thursday and other volunteers to look at bringing that
0:00:24 > 0:00:29service back up as quick as we can.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Good evening and welcome to the late news
0:00:30 > 0:00:32from BBC Channel Islands.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Also tonight, a funding U-turn, as cuts to Guernsey's arts
0:00:34 > 0:00:35and sports events are cancelled.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39And this is where the air is coming from on Saturday. The weekend sees
0:00:39 > 0:00:44much lower temperatures and the risk of frost as well as rain tonight as
0:00:44 > 0:00:51well as early tomorrow.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Jersey's only all-weather lifeboat will be back in the island
0:00:54 > 0:00:57by the end of the year, and the St Helier inshore lifeboat
0:00:57 > 0:01:00should be ready to respond to emergencies next month.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It's because the RNLI has announced a partnership with Jersey's Fire
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and Rescue Service, and says volunteers are coming
0:01:04 > 0:01:08forward for a new crew.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Emma Chambers reports.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13A shocking scene as Jersey's only all-weather lifeboat is withdrawn
0:01:13 > 0:01:15from service last Friday, the end of the RNLI's relationship
0:01:15 > 0:01:21with this St Helier lifeboat crew.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Seven days on, the doors of the station may still be locked,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26but not for much longer.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29We weren't sure at the end of last week what support we would get
0:01:29 > 0:01:32for the return of the service and actually we've been really
0:01:32 > 0:01:34encouraged by the number of people who've come forward,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37shown support for the RNLI and said they would like to be part
0:01:37 > 0:01:39of a crew going forward.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41So we are now looking at bringing the all-weather boat
0:01:41 > 0:01:43the George Sullivan back to the island at the end
0:01:43 > 0:01:45of the year for training.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47And they say St Helier's inshore lifeboat will be ready
0:01:47 > 0:01:49for action next month, due to a new partnership
0:01:49 > 0:01:50with the Fire Service.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53But this has been described as a premature move by the crew
0:01:53 > 0:01:55at the heart of the dispute.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58We are actually setting up today a petition for an independent
0:01:58 > 0:02:01inquiry into what's gone on and I think until that's done
0:02:01 > 0:02:07the RNLI should not be bringing the boat back into St Helier,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09because will they treat the crew the same as they've
0:02:09 > 0:02:12treated the present crew.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14They're volunteers and this has caused so much stress and distress
0:02:14 > 0:02:19to the families and the crew and it needs to be resolved.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21The former St Helier crew are launching their own independent
0:02:21 > 0:02:24rescue service, but it's unknown if it will raise enough money
0:02:24 > 0:02:27for their own lifeboat, and with the George Sullivan out
0:02:27 > 0:02:30of action until the new RNLI crew is trained, Jersey's
0:02:30 > 0:02:35still without its own all-weather lifeboat.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The harbour master has a complete list of everybody he can
0:02:38 > 0:02:41call on if he needs too, but we can't get away from the top
0:02:41 > 0:02:44priority which is to return lifeboats to St Helier to be used
0:02:44 > 0:02:49by the harbour master, by the coastguard if they're needed.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53And that's what I'm working on with Government making sure,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56whoever it is, let's get a lifeboat, a proper lifeboat, a properly
0:02:56 > 0:02:58trained crew, proper kit, let's get it signed off
0:02:58 > 0:03:00by the harbour master and let's get to work.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04But that work can only happen with islanders' support.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07And after a very public dispute that's divided opinion and possibly
0:03:07 > 0:03:09damaged reputations, will islanders back the RNLI
0:03:09 > 0:03:15or the former St Helier Crew?
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Emma Chambers, BBC Channel Islands News.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20Deputy Peter Ferbrache has resigned as the President
0:03:20 > 0:03:28of Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32It is because of what he calls a perceived conflict of interest. He
0:03:32 > 0:03:37will stay on as aim deputy and a new head of economic development will be
0:03:37 > 0:03:41appointed next month. You can get the full story on BBC radio Guernsey
0:03:41 > 0:03:43after 7am tomorrow morning.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Well, Guernsey's Committee for Economic Development met
0:03:45 > 0:03:47without a president today, and announced a U-turn
0:03:47 > 0:03:50on a proposed cut in funding for sports and arts events.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Several event organisers had warned they couldn't go ahead
0:03:52 > 0:03:53without the States funding.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I asked David Harry from the Guernsey Sports Commission
0:03:55 > 0:03:56if he was relieved.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Very much so.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00It came as a huge surprise when it was taken away without any
0:04:00 > 0:04:04justification that we could see.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07To have it restored now is good news for Guernsey sport
0:04:07 > 0:04:11and the arts commission as well.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12This U-turn in a short time, it has messed people around
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Economic development wants to see sports and the arts
0:04:17 > 0:04:19bring people to Guernsey, it is economically beneficial,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21how do you prove that?
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I think it is evidenced by the huge outcry over the last ten days
0:04:24 > 0:04:33and the support that sports and arts have received has been great.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39I am grateful.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I think we have to work with Economic Development
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and the tourism part to make sure they know what value
0:04:43 > 0:04:52there is to Guernsey of the grants they pay to us.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55How do you describe the relationship between the sports and arts
0:04:55 > 0:04:58communities and Economic Development?
0:04:58 > 0:05:01A lot better now than it was about one hour ago
0:05:01 > 0:05:06when we went into the meeting.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08I think that the committee realised they had made
0:05:08 > 0:05:12a mistake in what they did.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15They apologised for that and they were clearly happy
0:05:15 > 0:05:18to accept that apology.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Going forward I think we must be positive and see what we can do
0:05:22 > 0:05:24to make things better for the future.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26So good news for Guernsey's sports and arts
0:05:26 > 0:05:28groups, but still no news on the future of public
0:05:28 > 0:05:31funding for Alderney's air link to Southampton.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33The Economic Development Committee says its waiting for more
0:05:33 > 0:05:35consultation responses before it can make a recommendation
0:05:35 > 0:05:41about whether it's a lifeline route.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Plans have been approved for 165 new homes
0:05:43 > 0:05:45in the North of St Helier.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Andium Homes wants to build five apartment blocks, four retail units
0:05:47 > 0:05:48and underground parking.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54Two listed buildings and Toddy's Bar will be demolished under the plans.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Weak decision-making led to additional costs and delays -
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Jersey's auditor's findings about the planning
0:05:59 > 0:06:01of the new hospital.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03She reviewed the process up to February last year,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06when People's Park was dropped as a potential site.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Jen Smith reports.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11This project will cost Jersey proportionatly the equivalent
0:06:11 > 0:06:14of what the multi-billion-pound high-speed train will cost the UK,
0:06:14 > 0:06:21so every decision counts.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Jersey's Auditor General says the delays in decision making have
0:06:23 > 0:06:26added to the expense, one of a number of issues
0:06:26 > 0:06:28the report's highlighted.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31The man in charge of scrutinising how public money is spent says
0:06:31 > 0:06:34the findings are alarming.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39The delays have certainly resulted in costs, the failure to supply
0:06:39 > 0:06:42reliable information has resulted in the consultants having to get
0:06:42 > 0:06:49that information themselves, and decisions have been aborted
0:06:49 > 0:06:53because information was not correct.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Which might help explain how around £17 million of public money had been
0:06:58 > 0:07:00spent by February 2016.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05Originally the new hospital had a £250 million price tag.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09This is now around 466 million.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Jersey's Health Minister doesn't accept the costs
0:07:11 > 0:07:14could have been smaller.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I think the way I read what the Comptroller
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and Auditor General was saying is that decisions took longer
0:07:19 > 0:07:22than they should have done because she's rightly looking at it
0:07:22 > 0:07:25purely in a business sense.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27If you overlay the political aspects that we have to work in,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30it becomes much more complicated.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33And it's right that she doesn't comment on that, but it is a fact
0:07:33 > 0:07:36that a project can tick all the right boxes but be
0:07:36 > 0:07:38politically undeliverable.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41The report author has made several recommendations,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43which the Minister says he's now following.
0:07:43 > 0:07:52But that won't help reduce money already spent or time wasted.
0:07:52 > 0:07:58And Jen joined me earlier to explain the other criticisms in the report.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00There is a lot in a 42-page report, and there are
0:08:00 > 0:08:01a few standout phrases.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04The comptroller and auditor general mentions that when looking at sites
0:08:04 > 0:08:08the team did it without "effective input from clinicians",
0:08:08 > 0:08:11so they didn't talk to experts, the people who can tell them
0:08:11 > 0:08:14what a hospital needs to work.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17The report also mentions there were too many people involved,
0:08:17 > 0:08:18"smaller political oversight" was needed, which did
0:08:18 > 0:08:28eventually happen.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And the report mentions other sites that were in the running for the
0:08:33 > 0:08:34hospital?
0:08:34 > 0:08:35And interestingly it brings up the waterfront.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39It reminds us that the site of the new car park by the Radisson
0:08:39 > 0:08:41topped the list for the new hospital initially, followed closely
0:08:41 > 0:08:42by the Esplanade car park.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45But after concerns were raised about where the Finance Centre
0:08:45 > 0:08:48would go the Esplanade car park was dropped from the list.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Jersey's Health Minister did acknowledge expert advice should
0:08:50 > 0:08:52have been listened to earlier, and the terms of reference
0:08:52 > 0:08:54for the Future Hospital project needed to be established
0:08:54 > 0:08:58from the start.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Now let's take a look at the weather.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Hello and good evening.
0:09:02 > 0:09:08We have got some wet weather coming our way.
0:09:08 > 0:09:08Once weather coming our way.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09Once the weather coming our way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:09Once the rain weather coming our way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:09Once the rain clears weather coming our way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:09Once the rain clears colder weather coming our way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:09Once the rain clears colder weather weather coming our way.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13Once the rain clears colder weather on the way. A real taste of winter
0:09:13 > 0:09:16moving from Friday into the weekend. Tomorrow is cloudy with rain in the
0:09:16 > 0:09:20morning. Showery in the afternoon and feeling colder but there will be
0:09:20 > 0:09:25lighter winds than today. Winds pick up again into the weekend. A lot of
0:09:25 > 0:09:30the next few days happening, between weather systems at the moment. This
0:09:30 > 0:09:33lump of cloud is approaching the western end of the English Channel,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36an area of low pressure which will move through the English Channel
0:09:36 > 0:09:41overnight and give us heavy rain at times. Once that gets through,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44another area of low pressure comes behind it. We are expecting to keep
0:09:44 > 0:09:49a lot of cloud for much of tomorrow, capable of producing some rainy
0:09:49 > 0:09:53outbreaks. This is the boundary between the mild error across parts
0:09:53 > 0:09:57of Spain and Portugal and southern France and the cold air on this side
0:09:57 > 0:10:00of it, and with these north-west winds are developing, it will feel
0:10:00 > 0:10:04quite chilly through the weekend, with some low-temperature is. They
0:10:04 > 0:10:08can temperatures are low and the risk of night-time temperatures
0:10:08 > 0:10:11close to freezing. The risk of a prosper developing, especially on
0:10:11 > 0:10:15the Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Wet weather for a time for
0:10:15 > 0:10:25the
0:10:25 > 0:10:28rest of the night, and then the rain eases for a bit but comes back
0:10:28 > 0:10:30towards dawn tomorrow morning, temperatures down to eight Celsius,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and tomorrow a cloudy day. I baked the rain through the morning and a
0:10:33 > 0:10:36bit brighter in the afternoon. The main area of rain begins to pull
0:10:36 > 0:10:38away but it takes its time and showers will follow. Less windy than
0:10:38 > 0:10:41it has been recently and feeling on the cold side at nine or 10 Celsius
0:10:41 > 0:10:43the top temperature. Colder on Saturday with a brisk north-west
0:10:43 > 0:10:47wind. They called start on Saturday morning with some showers, fine but
0:10:47 > 0:10:50called on Sunday, and more wet weather and less cold on Monday.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Have a good night.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54That's the late news and weather from the Channel Islands.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57The national forecast is next, but from me, goodnight.