It's time to get digging into the States Strategic Plan
IT IS amazing what you can find when you dig a little deeper. Much focus from the States Strategic Plan has been directed to the spending on new services - instant headline grabbers - or to those things that are not going ahead.
IT IS amazing what you can find when you dig a little deeper. Much focus from the States Strategic Plan has been directed to the spending on new services - instant headline grabbers - or to those things that are not going ahead.
But it is a massive document - of 258 pages - albeit one in its infancy with some gaping holes in it, particularly when it comes to recording success or failures.
Take some time and you will stumble across the Environmental Plan.
It was easy to miss, for example, a line that informs us that the Environment Department had bought an electric van to investigate the feasibility of electric transport. Value for taxpayers' money, you might ask?
You can also learn that there is a report paid for by you but never put into the public domain on the viability of carbon offsetting.
The Energy Policy Group has decided it is not a priority area, but it might still be nice for everyone to see what their cash has been wasted on this time.
We will, it seems, soon learn about emissions taxes. Environment is set to liaise with Treasury and the Energy Policy Group on this 'in the near future'.
Another report completed but locked up is one by the Office of Utility Regulation on discounting prices for big users of electricity - the Energy Policy Group sent it back for further work.
Guernsey Electricity had been asked whether it was feasible to use heat from the power station for Leale's Yard - apparently not because it is not consistent and it could be expensive to lay pipework to the other side of the Bridge.
All this is just a snapshot of what is contained in the SSP - without touching on the fiscal and social plans.
Reading 'progress' on the Energy Policy gets somewhat dispiriting if you are looking for any actual movement. Even the report says 'there are still a number of workstreams that have significant work to be done in order for them to progress or near completion'.
This is year one, but it is a report laced with warnings about the lack of resources to do the work.
There is another grand vision contained in the SSP which has had practically zero publicity.
Work is under way on creating an Island Infrastructure Plan.
Stop yawning at the back. Without it there to ensure our infrastructure is maintained or developed, claims the report, social, fiscal and economic plans will not be delivered.
The whole house would effectively come tumbling down.
A formal plan could be before the Assembly in September 2011.
It would have a 20-year vision, making sure new investment by the States and private sector happens in a coordinated way.
Any infrastructure that is needed to meet the community's needs will be covered - roads, sewage, ports, hospitals, open spaces - it goes on.
Details in the SSP give some indication of what to expect.
We are told that the merits of commercialising Guernsey Water, which now has responsibility for drinking water and wastewater, will be assessed.
Security of energy supplies and the communications infrastructure are addressed.
Coastal defence is all about maintenance for the next five years before looking at a long-term strategy.
Down at the ports a study is under way about the future requirements - there may be a need for an 'always afloat' fuel berth at St Sampson's.
The infrastructure plan indicates decisions need to be made about road maintenance with, it says, insufficient funding to keep the roads in good condition in the medium to long term.
Will people simply accept worse roads?
It asks whether in the long term all the emergency services should be located on one site near the centre of the island.
Even the sticky question of Alderney's breakwater gets a fleeting mention - as does the substantial annual loss made by its airport.
Hopefully all this will ensure we do not get massive surprises - like the airport runway work - sprung on us in future.
The report was released some six weeks in advance of the States debate on Wednesday 29 September.
It was an attempt to give everyone enough time to digest it before the debate, which means an average of six pages a day.
Best get reading...
