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The Chief Minister said the Government spending plans for the next three years will fund "the long-term projects our island needs, and deliver the future islanders deserve" ahead of the debate beginning this morning - but not all States Members agree.
Late last week, a number of Scrutiny Panels published reports in quick order detailing their response to the Government Plan 2022-25, which is being debated this week.
A number of panels have lodged amendments to the plan, but these reports provide the background to why those changes have been proposed, as well as list other findings and recommendations.
Last week, Express dived into the detail of the amendments. Today, as the debate gets underway, it looks at what Scrutiny say in their reports, providing an insight into the issues that will be in States Members minds as they go to vote...
The panel, chaired by Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, reaches 47 findings and makes 15 recommendations in its review of the Government Plan.
Findings include:
Recommendations include:
The panel which scrutinises the running of government services has not only looked at the plan itself but employed the services of an economist called Warwick Lightfoot.
Overall, the Panel says it is “unsatisfied with the majority of programmes and the rationale for the 2022 funding bids”, with seven of 28 having been assigned a red ‘RAG’ rating.
These projects relate to investment and expenditure on IT across the Government, for which the Panel is worried about cost increases and budget changes.
It added: “As highlighted by [our] adviser, many areas of the Government’s work require further information to be publicly communicated and the Panel believes this will aid in transparency, accountability and enabling an efficient public service.
“The Panel has recommended that outcome-based accountability be introduced, and this should take place across the organisation.
“The Panel has also identified that the Government Plan will set the island on a course in which taxes will inevitably have to rise.
“There is greater need for action to meet this demand in a timely manner, whilst keeping taxes broad, low, simple and fair. Indeed, the Panel has lodged amendments following concerns regarding the Fiscal Stimulus Fund, the Technology Fund and tax duties.”
Aside from saying the Government should accept these proposed changes, the Panel recommends that the Treasury Minister should bring forward a proposal to implement a phased removal of Commercially Let Property Tax Relief by the end of next year.
It also asks for changes to future Government Plans, including clearer capital project budgets and information about “unit costs” of public services.
This panel, chaired by Senator Kristina Moore, is to comment on the over-arching themes raised by this year’s plan focusing on how it has been presented and the public’s understanding of it.
The panel recommendations include:
The panel scrutinises the work of the Economic Development, External Relations and International Development ministers.
When it comes to the former, its recommendations mainly focus on the Inspiring Active Places Strategy and the provision of sports facilities around the island.
The panel proposes that the Council of Ministers makes sure that funding is clearly defined in future Government Plans for the delivery of the IAP project. This should include detail around delivery of each stage of the project together with the funding stream required to deliver the strategy.
It also recommends that the Economic Development Minister should “ensure a contingency is in place to deal with delays to the ongoing delivery of sports projects on the island. This could cover aspects such as planning refusal, delays, and spiralling costs.”
The panel, chaired by St. Brelade Constable Mike Jackson, wants to see more clarity around the roles and objectives of the Jersey National Park.
It also notes that, in the Government Plan, next year’s funding of £1m for the Drainage Foul Sewers Extension project has been withdrawn due to funding pressures and further funding is not proposed until 2023.
“The delivery of future extensions to the foul sewerage network will therefore be impacted by delays,” the panel notes.
It recommends that the IHE Department, working with LibertyBus, should study the reasons why bus usage has not returned to pre-pandemic levels (they are currently down 65%), as well as “an analysis on measures which can be further taken to promote and incentivise bus ridership as a sustainable travel option”.
It also wants ministers to consider, before the next term of Government, how political oversight for the climate emergency portfolio can be strengthened and improved. Specifically, whether the climate emergency portfolio would benefit from a dedicated ministerial role.
The Government’s ‘Preferred Strategy’ for carbon neutrality does propose creating Minister for Energy but not a specific climate change role.
The panel also wants the Infrastructure Minister to set out the Government’s plans for its offices at 28-30 The Parade, which current houses the Covid helpdesk, beyond 2023.
The panel’s recommendations include:
The panel also has lodged a number of amendments to the plan, including calling for an extra £500,000 next year to be spent on mental health.
Of the 26 amendments, Ministers are accepting 13 of them, some with suggested changes.
Follow Express for updates and watch the Government Plan debate live HERE...
AMENDMENTS: The 26 spending battles being fought this week
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