It is now a little over 12 months since the incumbent States Assembly were sworn in and Members are nearing the end of their first full year in the job. We asked the 49 elected States Members to reflect on their achievements during that time in 200 words. In the first of a series detailing their responses, here is what the Senators who replied said
Senator Ian Gorst (Chief Minister)
The first task of each new Council of Ministers is to develop a plan for Jersey, to consult with Islanders on the plan and to present it to the States Assembly.
Once Members agreed Jersey’s strategic direction we established a financial plan to support priority investment in health, education, infrastructure and economic growth. Now we have proposed detailed tax and spending plans for 2016 in our budget.
It is essential to agree a firm direction for the Island, but alongside this strategic work we have been getting on with things.
You can now pay your social security contributions online, police officers are moving to mobile working and registering a birth or death is one of the first ‘tell us once’ projects to come to fruition.
We are reorganising departments to cut costs and increase efficiency and we are assessing how best to ensure Islanders get the services they need.
Anti-discrimination legislation has come into force, Freedom of Information is firmly established and a family support task force is preparing to launch our 1001 Days agenda to ensure all children reach their potential.
I am proud that ministers are working together as a team to support our economy, protect the vulnerable and ensure Jersey is fit for a successful future.
Senator Sir Philip Bailhache (External Relations Minister)
The Senator said he was unable to respond as he was out of the Island on government business in the United Arab Emirates.
Senator Philip Ozouf
My team has worked closely with the Financial Services Commission to deliver more than 15 legislative changes in areas like investment funds, financial crime and companies law, with many more in the pipeline.
Our excellent relationship with Jersey Finance ensures industry is represented and that Jersey is promoted as a favourable environment for business.
The digital revolution is now well underway; whether it’s FinTech or MedTech, the thread that binds these pockets of innovation is a resilient digital infrastructure.
Telecoms operators have rolled out 4G across the Island and more than 15,000 high-speed broadband lines have been connected.
Jersey is ranked first in Europe and fourth in the world for fibre access at home.
My team is developing a cyber security strategy so Jersey remains a safe place to live and do business, and Digital Jersey is promoting clusters of tech-excellence in our digital economy.
Underpinning everything is the need to embrace innovation.
A review of our innovation performance has recommended ways to improve existing practices; furthermore, a review of Jersey’s competition framework has been looking at whether we need to update our competition practices.
Senator Zoe Cameron
I was disappointed not to play a more active part in Health and Social Services development.
I considered a role in Scrutiny, but was advised by experienced States Members that any challenge could be construed as ‘conflicted’ and therefore dismissed.
Last year in addition to my work for the States Assembly I have attended, organised and spoken at meetings and conferences in Jersey and the UK to gain a deeper understanding of the issues confronting our Island.
I have helped produce national education materials to improve patient safety, child, mental and public health.
It concerns me how difficult it is for politicians, workers and the general public to be heard by those in the executive and make a meaningful contribution.
I have encountered the same resistance to new ideas and innovation I experienced as a frontline practitioner.
I fear that proposed changes are resulting in increased costs and loss of productivity by destabilising and demoralising the workforce and those who rely on benefits in times of poor health.
Jersey seems to have lost the confidence to plough its own furrow and learn from the best.
I have enjoyed, however, being able to provide a frontline perspective to the States Assembly.
Senator Paul Routier
My main role as Assistant Chief Minister is to oversee social policy.
I successfully gained States support for the first part of the new Charities Law, which will lead to the appointment of a Charities Commissioner in early 2016 and will support the regulation of the voluntary and community sector.
We recently conducted a health and wellbeing survey which attracted 4,300 respondents, a very high rate of return.
We have also undertaken focus groups to inform work on the Disability Strategy.
Meeting service users has improved our understanding of the needs of people with disabilities.
As chair of the Children and Vulnerable Adults policy group I consider recommendations from serious-case reviews and the Jersey Care Inquiry.
I have also been working with the Chief Minister to shape divorce reform, open-air marriage and same-sex marriage.
I chair the Housing and Work Advisory Group, which has the challenging task of allocating business licences and taking a balanced view on admitting newcomers to the Island.
I also chair the Access to Justice Review.
We have presented two interim reports to the States Assembly and with the support of the Bailiff, legal profession and other stakeholders we will deliver our final report and recommendations next summer.
Members of the public can still provide submissions for consideration.
Senator Alan Maclean (Treasury Minister)
Since this Council of Ministers was formed we’ve been making decisions that will ensure a successful and sustainable future for Jersey.
We’ve agreed a workable Strategic Plan and set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan how we intend to fund our priorities – health, education, infrastructure, economic growth and St Helier.
Those decisions involve saving money in some areas to spend more in others, so we can help all our young people reach their potential and provide the services we will all need as our population ages.
The Budget for 2016 maintains investment in areas like Back to Work, financial services, the digital sector and skills.
And it goes further by providing extra investment in education, health and infrastructure.
We are continuing to support the economy while global conditions remain fragile, and we have identified an extra £20 million over the next four years to allocate to new policy initiatives that aim to boost Jersey’s economic performance.
In the last year we have been working to reduce staff and other costs through pay restraint, vacancy management and restructuring service delivery, so we can deliver a modern, efficient and affordable public sector.
We are now seeing wages going up, record levels of employment, and economic growth of five per cent in 2014.
While there is still economic risk around the globe we are in a stronger position for whatever the world may throw at us.
Senator Lyndon Farnham (Economic Development Minister)
In the 12 months since taking office, in addition to business as usual across the whole portfolio, the Economic Development Department has delivered a number of projects.
In March, Visit Jersey opened for business and assumed responsibility for marketing the Island and has since delivered the first Tourism Strategy for over ten years.
In July the Financial Services Ombudsman was created, adding significantly to consumer protection in the Island.
In October, the process of incorporating the Harbours and Airport was completed and the Ports of Jersey Ltd was created.
In early November, the first aircraft was registered on the newly launched Jersey Aircraft Registry.
In addition, plans are being finalised to create Events Jersey, Film Jersey and Farm Jersey, all aimed at facilitating growth and development across their respective sectors.
My department has also managed to reduce its budget by over a million pounds for 2016 while at the same time increasing the amounts set aside for our traditional industries, tourism and agriculture.
As we enter the second year of this administration I look forward to welcoming Sport and Culture into the fold and, together with Assistant Ministers Deputy Norton, Constable Pallet and the Economic Development team, working to ensure that all sectors of our economy are supported to increase their productivity and contribution to the Jersey economy.
Senator Andrew Green (Health Minister)
The past year has seen excellent progress as we continue work to transform health and social care, one of the top priorities in ministers’ plan for Jersey.
Key features include:
- Continuing work on a new Mental Health Law, and a Capacity and Self-Determination Law (a new Mental Health Strategy has just been launched).
- Developing effective out-of-hospital services to avoid unnecessary admissions and enable faster patient discharge.
- Hospital projects such as the new antenatal clinic and refurbished operating theatres.
- A third intake of local nursing degree students to help fill vacancies with qualified home-grown nurses.
- Tackling challenges in Childrens Services through investment; this has already seen a reduction in waiting times for those requiring the specialist help of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, plus the establishment of a designated place of safety for vulnerable young people as part of the near-complete project to refurbish Robin Ward
- Initiatives to improve public health, notably the Eat Safe food grading, and protecting children through the new law prohibiting smoking in vehicles carrying under-18s.
There remains a great deal to be done, especially confirming the preferred site for Jersey’s new hospital. This project is imperative to provide for the future healthcare needs of every Islander.
On Tuesday the Constables share their reflections on the past year
