Deputies frustrated by use of ‘guillotine’ motion in Alderney runway debate

It follows Friday’s debate on the future of Alderney’s airport being cut short.

Deliberations went on for two-and-a-half days over how extensive the rehabilitation of the runway and airport buildings should be, including considerations about the future of the public service obligation subsidy the States pays Aurigny to operate the Guernsey-Alderney route.

Several members of the States of Alderney were present to watch the Assembly approve a comprehensive upgrade of the runway and terminal, carrying an estimated price tag of £24m. They had also been present during November’s States meeting, when it was originally scheduled to be discussed but it was delayed to December after they ran out of time.

With time running out again at 5pm on Friday, Policy & Resources member Dave Mahoney proposed a Rule 26 (1) motion – the guillotine – to stop debate on the final proposals, as amended, ‘given the hour of the day’.

Deputy Lyndon Trott was among those who was disappointed by the outcome of the debate, believing the policy letter had taken no account of the cost of capital and had been unrealistic in its assumption of inflation at the January rate of 3%.

However, his biggest concern was over the curtailment.

‘Probably the thing that troubled me the most was right at the end of the debate, where there was a guillotine motion,’ he said, ‘and the Alderney representatives voted to guillotine debate.’

He described as ‘reprehensible’ the fact that one of them – Steve Roberts – had done so after having had his opportunity to speak.

Fellow former chief minister Gavin St Pier has also expressed concern about the way the debate concluded.

He said voting for a guillotine motion after having spoken was ‘pretty poor form’. The rules state that those who have already spoken are not allowed to propose a closing of debate, but they can vote in favour.

‘Finishing bang on 5.30pm seems pretty convenient but not necessarily appropriate when you’re spending such large amounts of taxpayers’ money,’ said Deputy St Pier.

Deputies Steve Falla and Heidi Soulsby were also unhappy that debate was cut short, and took to social media to express their dissatisfaction.

‘It was our prerogative to support the guillotine motion,’ Mr Roberts said in response to the criticism.

‘We wanted it done before the new year. It couldn’t be allowed to go on any longer. They had every opportunity to speak. I was lucky enough to have the chance to put my views across but [fellow Alderney representative] Alex Snowdon lost his chance to do so.’

He drew attention to the fact that Deputy Trott had previously voted in favour of guillotine motions. He supported nine of 23 such motions between January and October this year.

Mr Roberts said the spectre of allowing the debate to carry over until the next meeting at the end of January had been a concern.

‘We’ve got a very important tax debate coming up in January,’ he said.