Savings consultation ‘means everyone can have their say’

Having failed to agree any of five separate tax and spending plans debated earlier this year, deputies are now turning to the public for inspiration in their quest for £10-16m. of annual cost reductions to help plug a funding shortfall projected to be £100m. a year by 2040.

‘We are interested in new ideas and old ideas. We are doing things differently. Hopefully we will get an indication of the public’s appetite for change,’ said sub-committee member Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.

‘During the tax debate, deputies received many emails from islanders about how to reduce costs.

‘We want to give everyone in the community a chance early on in this process to put forward any suggestions they believe would genuinely reduce costs for the States and ultimately the taxpayers.

‘We hope that this different approach will demonstrate our commitment that no idea will be left off the table. But it’s also an exercise we need to tackle quickly, and so we are asking people to get their responses in by 14 July... so we can then press forward with reviewing the suggestions we receive.’

Deputy Kazantseva-Miller said the public survey was part of a three-pronged approach to generate ideas to reduce costs.

‘In parallel, we are asking civil service staff to submit their ideas, and we are asking all deputies and committees to submit ideas as well,’ she said.

The survey, which is being launched on Monday, will ask each islander to submit up to three suggestions in three categories: generating more income, restructuring services, and reducing or stopping access to public services.

P&R member and sub-committee chairman David Mahoney appealed for as many ideas as possible. He is confident there will be at least some which could be pursued to achieve the cost reductions P&R believes are necessary.

‘This is the first time we’ve cast such a wide net as we invite suggestions on the subject of how we reduce costs, which services should be stopped or restricted, and how islanders would want to see their public sector generate new income,’ said Deputy Mahoney.

‘While it’s hard to predict at this stage what sort of suggestions we’ll get, I’m hoping that overall we get a good insight into how the community wants us to tackle this very significant challenge.

‘Many people are happy to offer their take on how the States can bring down costs on social media or by contacting their deputies, but even if you wouldn’t ordinarily share your views I’d encourage you to take this unique opportunity to bring ideas to the table.’

Deputy Mahoney pushed aside claims that the public survey was the first step towards holding a referendum on tax and spending if the States continues to fail to agree a long-term funding plan.

‘I can say that the word referendum has not been used in the sub-committee,’ he said.

A previous savings initiative – known as the financial transformation programme – was carried out by the States between 2009 and 2014. It generated savings of more than £28m. a year

‘While those savings have improved Guernsey’s financial position against where it would have been, it has not prevented the rise in costs that continues to be pushed upwards by the growing demand for services, driven by the changing population,’ said P&R’s savings sub-committee.

The survey will be available online at www.gov.gg/yourviews from 9am on Monday 26 June.

Suggestions are also welcome by post to: Reducing the Cost of Public Services Sub-Committee, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St. Peter Port, GY1 1FH.