Snowdon turns down a seat on new Policy & Finance
Alderney’s newly-elected Policy & Finance chairman Bill Abel was left surprised during the first States of Alderney meeting of the year, when fellow States member Alex Snowdon publicly rejected joining the committee.
Mr Snowdon told the Guernsey Press he hoped his decision would lead to increased openness and transparency within the States chamber.
His announcement came during a meeting when members were elected to positions within States committees.
Mr Snowdon said during the island’s recent election campaign he had engaged with many members of the public who he said had spoken of their frustration at the scale of privacy and confidentiality that seemed to exist within the States, particularly within P&F.
In recent years every member of the Alderney States has been a member of the senior committee, giving rise to concerns about decisions made in secret.
‘I hope that by doing this it triggers a conversation about whether we carry on as normal and do the same old thing over and over and over behind closed doors, or whether we move more debate into the States chamber.’
He said he was intent on continuing to ask questions.
‘I feel I’ll be better positioned to scrutinise the decisions P&F take from outside the committee.
‘The best time to highlight and push forward on this is now, right at the beginning of a new States term.’
When asked whether he had informed Mr Abel in advance of his decision, Mr Snowdon said he had spoken to some friends and colleagues.
He added the situation during the committee votes during Wednesday’s meeting had been quite fluid, and he had then confirmed in the chamber that he would not stand for P&F.
The announcement was met with surprise in the meeting, with officials double-checking if he really meant it.
Mr Abel said Mr Snowdon’s announcement ‘came as a surprise.’
‘It was unexpected. I don’t feel that Alex needed to step off P&F to do what he wants to do, but he is good at asking questions and engaging the public.
‘If it leads to a few more questions being asked and ends up improving and complementing States proceedings then that can only be a good thing.’
Mr Abel said that it was a privilege to take over the leadership of the senior committee for a second time after being forced to stand down from the role for health reasons two and a half years ago.
In terms of his priorities, he was hopeful his experience as a States member for four and a half years would be useful in steering the States and civil service through what he called ‘an unsettled time’.
He said Guernsey’s updated Funding & Investment Plan – set to be released next week – would provide more clarity on Alderney's airport runway project and other projects, and give the States a steer on its own plans.
