THE government is still failing to act on audit warnings dating back more than a decade, with the Island’s public spending watchdog raising fresh concerns about delays, premature sign-offs and a growing backlog of unresolved issues.
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s latest report shows 98 recommendations remained open at the end of 2025, including some originating from a report published in 2014.
Despite ministers agreeing to most recommendations, the report highlights a persistent gap between acceptance and delivery.
Of 74 recommendations made in 2025, 69 were “agreed or partly agreed”, yet overall progress has stalled — with more recommendations added than closed during the year.
Lynn Pamment concluded that the government “continues to tend to mark recommendations as closed before actions have been fully implemented”.
The report also underlined how long it is taking to deliver change.
Recommendations closed in 2025 took on average 1.7 years to complete, with some stretching to nearly eight years.
According to the findings, “most of the recommendations closed in 2025 were closed later than the original target date”, with delays averaging almost a year beyond planned deadlines.
Some open recommendations yet to be implemented date back 12 years.
While the government has put in place systems to track progress, Ms Pamment suggested that these are not translating into timely action.
“There is scope to ensure that action is taken on a more timely basis to implement the recommendations in full,” she wrote.
The backlog includes unresolved weaknesses in critical areas such as infrastructure resilience, healthcare workforce planning, financial management and decision-making oversight.
And even where progress is made, it is often slow. Of recommendations closed in 2025, 46 were delivered late, compared with just 12 completed early.
Ms Pamment said: “This publication comes at the end of the Jersey Audit Office’s 20th Anniversary programme, celebrating two decades of independent public audit. I am also pleased to announce a move to new premises in Jubilee Wharf from April 2026.
“My recommendations are made to improve corporate governance, value for money, financial management and internal control. When recommendations are implemented, benefits are delivered and risks are reduced.”
