JERSEY’S politicians yesterday agreed on a set of government priorities for their remaining two years in office.
The States Assembly voted through an amended Common Strategic Policy which sets out their core aims before the mid-2026 election. Two Members voted against the document – Deputy Max Andrews and former Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson – and one Member abstained, Deputy Philip Ozouf.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said the policy was intended to cover “sensible practical solutions” that could be delivered across the next two years, covering 13 areas that were “achievable, measurable, realistic and deliverable”.
Referring to his predecessor Deputy Kristina Moore’s government, Deputy Farnham claimed that his government’s CSP steered clear of “extensive unproductive narrative”.
“We will focus on real outcomes and actions,” he said, acknowledging that in several areas, the policy would be continuing work begun by the previous government.
The Chief Minister also said he appreciated the “constructive” role of Scrutiny in introducing amendments – all of which were accepted by ministers – which he said improved the policy.
One important amendment, he said, related to the natural environment. “We recognise the ongoing need to address the climate emergency through the carbon neutral roadmap, and that will continue,” he said.
In his closing speech, he stressed one of the document’s central policies, to get Jersey building, by taking aim at the planning process. He said: “Islanders have become exasperated with the complexity and time-consuming nature of the planning process. It can result in significant delays in developments, which can be particularly problematic in times of economic uncertainty and can hinder economic growth. We have to build back the public confidence in our planning processes.”
Among the other key areas were education and healthcare, with the aim of starting the development of the new hospital at Overdale in autumn 2024 ahead of construction getting under way in 2025 and the project being completed by the end of 2028.
Deputy Inna Gardiner, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, highlighted the dilemma facing every Council of Ministers in wishing to concentrate on what could be delivered during a fixed term of office and looking forward in order to meet the long-term needs of Islanders.
One example of this, she said, was work on reform and inclusion within education, which had stretched across the past three governments. Details on the areas where “reprioritisation” would occur had not yet been shared, Deputy Gardiner added, imploring the Chief Minister to ensure that all ministers issued their delivery plans by July. Deputy Farnham agreed to this deadline. On behalf of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, which she chairs, Deputy Helen Miles said she was concerned about the prospect of cuts to the Cabinet Office having a negative effect on Public Health, which lies within the Cabinet Office.
She said: “Public Health underpins our sustainable wellbeing and we spend less on it than most other jurisdictions. It’s a vital function and must not become a casualty.”
Deputy Alex Curtis and Deputy Jonathan Renouf – members of the previous government – also voiced concerns about the document. Deputy Renouf said that the “back-to-basics” vision had no “guiding hand”. He said: “It doesn’t seem to be a coherent strategy, it’s just the personal preferences of key people at the top of government.”
However, he admitted that ministers’ decision to accept the amendments was a “welcome sign that the government is prepared to listen without getting involved in pointless arm-wrestling”.
