A CRISIS meeting will be held by the douzaines next month to discuss alternative ways of meeting parish and church costs. Fears that the occupier’s rate system could collapse if ratepayers refuse to set a sum to pay for extraordinary costs has galvanised Douzaine Council chairman Bill Robilliard to urge members to think of alternative ways of raising the money.

The Guernsey Press has learned that HM Procureur Nik van Leuven spoke to the council about possible difficulties in obtaining Royal Court permission [the remede] to meet ecclesiastical needs from the occupier’s rate.

‘When talking to council, [HM Procureur] intimated it could be open to serious challenge that parishioners have to upkeep parish churches and he is investigating,’ said Mr Robilliard, in a letter to council members.

‘Following recent media exposure which has, dangerously for every parish, brought the subject into the open arena, one cannot avoid thinking that any parish’s future remede might be challenged.

‘I doubt if there is much

opposition to ordinary upkeep and expenditure, but crunches could come in respect of extraordinary repair costs.’

Torteval may be the first parish to face a rebellion. A rise in the occupier’s rate is expected to cover the parish church repair bill, which could cost up to £500,000.

Mr Robilliard said the douzaines should debate whether there were other avenues for funding and outlined four options for raising revenue in the event that ratepayers refused to pass a remede, including extraordinary repairs.

* The first would look to the States for financial assistance, because churches could be classed as part of the island’s heritage. But Mr Robilliard questioned whether it was right, when States capital and revenue budget allocations were under scrutiny, to ask for the States to give interest-free loans which would be repaid over a long period through successive remedes.

* The second option would look at creating a central fund by allocating a sum that would be drawn on when demands on parishes arrived.

* Another would be to create a central fund into which every parish would contribute and the States would produce a matching sum.

* The fourth option would be broadly similar to option three, but would have no central government involvement and an extra 5p in the £ would be needed.

Mr Robilliard said yesterday that the possibilities in his letter were thoughts on which to base discussion.

‘It is right that the council should be considering the subject, but it is very early days and the ramifications are considerable and will affect many varied interests in the matter,’ he said.

HM Procureur said that the constables and douzaine of Torteval had formally sought his advice on legal issues arising from the anticipated cost of repairs to the church.

He had not yet given any advice, which would require research. He added that he would not comment on informal remarks made to the Douzaine Council.