IoD welcomes move to change the way island is governed

A requete led by Health & Social Care president Heidi Soulsby wants to see a new investigation launched in 2021 under an Investigation & Advisory Committee.

But it stresses that this is not a call for a full review, but a way of looking at lessons learned during this term and sets out the areas which, its authors believe, most need to be addressed. It also outlines potential solutions.

‘We invite our successors to bring their own perspectives and analysis to it, and to decide how, if at all, they want to change the structure of government they’re working in,’ said the requerants.

If the Assembly backs the requete, Policy & Resources will be given £150,000 and charged with paving the way for this new committee, with a requirement to bring proposals no later than February 2021.

Among the requete’s 17 areas it suggests need looking at by the new committee are that a treasury committee be formed or a chancellor established within P&R to address its ‘dominance of resources over policy’.

The idea of air and sea links and tourism being given more prominence by way of a new committee is also suggested, as is perhaps having ‘a visible political commitment to addressing climate change’ in the name of the Environment & Infrastructure committee, and whether the creation of a separate Public Accounts Committee could address the lack of scrutiny of the States’ finances.

Devolving powers to the douzaines is put forward as an idea of relieving the States’ workload.

And there is the suggestion that a citizens’ assembly be set up.

The requete signatories also want to see better communication between P&R and the rest of government, something which was raised last week by Institute of Directors chairman John Clacy.

Having seen the requete, he said the IoD will support it.

‘Whilst it doesn’t deal with all the matters we have identified, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction,’ said Mr Clacy.

‘I would encourage the States to support the motion so we can begin the journey towards a more-effective structure of government and build on the findings of the Staite report.’

In the recently-published report looking at governance in P&R, Professor Catherine Staite said that the States might like to review its governance after she found several areas that she felt needed to be addressed.

Mr Clacy said the IoD would have preferred a review of government during this States term, so the next Assembly could start from a more-effective platform: ‘However, failing that, this requete is welcome. as it puts a review at the forefront of minds ahead of the general election.’

. The requete is likely to be put onto the agenda for the February States meeting, along with another, led by Deputy Al Brouard, calling for the anti-tank wall at L’Ancresse to be left alone for 10 years.