Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order: Proposed amendment

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 30 January 2017:

Decision Reference: MD-T-2017-0012
Decision Summary Title :	Amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003		Date of Decision Summary:	26 January 2017
Decision Summary Author:	Head of DVS / Inspector of Motor Traffic		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003		Date of Written Report:	26 January 2017
Written Report Author:	Head of DVS / Inspector of Motor Traffic		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003.
Decision(s): The Minister:- (i) Approved the principle of the introduction of an online application process for the renewal and replacement of a Jersey driving licence. (ii) Approved for drafting instructions to be issued to the Law Draftsman in order to prepare an amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003.
Reason(s) for Decision: To amend Article 3 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003 in order to allow for an online application process for the renewal and replacement of a Jersey driving licence.
Resource Implications: DfI Officer and Law Draftsman’s time.
Action required: Head of DVS to instruct the Law Draftsman to prepare an Amendment to the Order for subsequent submission to the Minister.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Infrastructure
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003: Amendment: Law drafting instructions

DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

AMENDMENT TO THE MOTOR VEHICLES (DRIVING LICENCES) (JERSEY)

ORDER 2003

Purpose of the Report

To request the Minister for Infrastructure to approve the principle of the introduction of an online application process for the renewal and replacement of a Jersey driving licence.

To request that the Minister for Infrastructure approves drafting instructions to be issued to the Law Draftsman in order to prepare a draft Order amending the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003.

Background

The Comité des Connétables has agreed, as part of an ongoing initiative to support the eParishes programme, to provide online driving licence services.

The development of an online application process for the renewal or replacement of a Jersey driving licence, will facilitate a more efficient application process for both the general public and the Parishes.

The public are looking for more dynamic and convenient ways to communicate with the States of Jersey and the Parishes, including applying for and updating documents such as driving licences. It is recognised that some customers will not want to use the online service so the ‘paper’ application process will remain in place.

A digital service will provide greater convenience for drivers renewing licences (circa 3,000 per annum) or requesting duplicate licences (circa 1,200 per annum). Furthermore for historical reasons the number of renewals processed in the space of six months in 2018 will be of the order of twenty eight thousand and a further nineteen thousand in 2019.

Discussion

In order to support the Parishes and introduce an online application process, some amendments will be required to the ‘prescribed photograph requirements’ set out in Article 3. These changes will allow for a photograph to be submitted electronically for applications made online.

Article 3 “Prescribed photograph requirements”

3(1)(d) “45mm by 35mm and printed on normal photographic paper”

Amendment required to refer to a ‘paper’ application only as the size, if scanned/submitted online can be adjusted to fit.

3(3)(c) “be printed at 1200 dpi resolution or better, if it is a digital or scanned photograph” – remove the word ‘printed’.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the request.

Reason(s) for Decision

To amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Jersey) Order 2003 in order to provide greater convenience for customers and support eParishes and eGov initiatives.

Action Required

Head of DVS to instruct the Law Draftsman to prepare an amendment to the Order for subsequent submission to the Minister.

Written by:	Head of DVS / Inspector of Motor Traffic

Approved by:	Director of Transport