THE parish system has an important future and its powers should not be centralised, a review has found, but change is needed, including clearer rules around rates, assemblies, inter-parish collaboration and the Constables’ Committee.
That said, it does recommend that, in the longer term, the firearms licensing regime is looked at to see if a single certification authority would be better.
The backbench Parishes and Government Review Panel has published its findings after analysing if the parochial system is fit for purpose in 2026.
Although putting its weight firmly behind the parishes – with their unique responsibilities, including refuse collection, gun licensing and running their own volunteer police forces – the panel also found that many of the laws, governance arrangements and administrative frameworks that underpin parish functions were outdated “and no longer align with modern expectations of transparency, accessibility, consistency and accountability”.
Panel chair Deputy Helen Miles said: “The parishes remain a central part of Island life, delivering many of the essential services that residents depend on. The evidence we received consistently highlighted the strength of community commitment, particularly the dedication of volunteers who underpin so many parish-based services. That contribution is widely valued.
“At the same time, it is clear that some parishes are encountering increasing difficulty in recruiting individuals into key voluntary roles. The honorary police was frequently cited as an example: a service that provides significant public benefit yet is experiencing sustained recruitment pressures.”
She added: “The intention of this review was not to propose centralisation of the parish system. Rather, it was to identify practical opportunities for modernisation, promote the sharing of effective practice across parishes, and consider where government support could help ensure that essential services and strategic responsibilities are delivered without placing disproportionate strain on parish staff and volunteers.
“We recognise that the report has been published at the close of the current political term, and that many of its recommendations cannot realistically be progressed before the election on Sunday 7 June.
“It is therefore our expectation that the incoming Assembly, ministers and the Constables’ Committee will use the panel’s findings as a considered basis for reform, enabling the parish system to remain a strong and relevant pillar of Jersey’s democratic framework.”
In its review, the panel found the relationship between parishes and the government to be generally constructive but largely informal, relying on personal relationships and goodwill rather than structured mechanisms.
It added that although this approach could work well in certain circumstances, it could also lead to inconsistencies and limits the opportunity to work across all parishes.
Its recommendations include:
- modernising the legislative framework governing parish assemblies to improve accessibility, transparency and participation.
- strengthening governance, accountability and consultation arrangements where parishes act collectively, including consideration of the role and status of the Constables’ Committee.
- improving consistency, sustainability and equity in areas of shared service delivery, particularly honorary policing, refuse and recycling, and play provision.
- enhancing transparency, comparability and public understanding of parish rates and financial governance.
- establishing clearer and more structured engagement between government and parishes on Islandwide strategies, while respecting local decision‑making.
Deputy Miles added: “The panel does not advocate centralisation or the erosion of parish independence. Instead, our recommendations focus on clarity, collaboration and mutual understanding, so that parishes and government can work together more effectively in the interests of Islanders.
“The panel also encountered varying levels of engagement during the review. Many parish officials contributed openly and constructively, providing detailed evidence and insights that strengthened our analysis.
“In other areas, participation was more limited. We record this not as a criticism of the parish system itself, but as an indication of a wider cultural challenge: long established structures can sometimes be cautious or defensive when subject to external examination.
“Openness to scrutiny, clarity of roles, and consistent expectations are fundamental to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.
Specific recommendations include:
- The government should ensure procurement processes actively enable parishes to bid for maintenance and horticultural contracts where they have relevant expertise.
- The Constables’ Committee should “facilitate exploratory discussions between parishes on alternative delivery models for refuse and recycling services, including shared or lead-parish approaches”.
- The government, working with the Constables’ Committee, the States of Jersey Police and honorary police leadership, should develop a clear, modern statement of the role, purpose and core responsibilities of the honorary police.
- The government, working with the Constables’ Committee and the Jersey Youth Service, should develop an Islandwide protocol to support parish engagement with children, young people and families.
- The Infrastructure Minister should carry out a review of the “end‑to‑end decision‑making and implementation process” for speed‑limit changes, with a view to reducing delays where parish approval has already been secured.
- The Environment Minister, with the Infrastructure Minister, should develop and publish “clear, non‑statutory guidance to improve clarity, consistency and transparency in how parishes engage with planning applications”.
- There should be longer-term structural reform of the firearms certification system. The review should ultimately determine whether primary responsibility for firearms and ammunition licensing should be transferred away from individual parishes to a centralised, statutory authority.
