Policy & Finance and its chairman John Guille have faced strong criticism in recent months from a string of now ex-conseillers, who said they feared the island was heading for insolvency and described the leadership as autocratic.
Natalie Tighe was elected to Chief Pleas in December last year and now sits on P&F as deputy chairwoman.
She said, from her experience, the committee and its members were open to discussion, differing views, and new ideas.
‘The committee is made up of conseillers who care deeply about Sark’s future,’ she said.
‘Across the assembly, there’s a real sense of shared purpose and determination to make progress for the island.’
She added that they had made tangible steps toward greater openness and accountability, with meeting summaries published online; attendance registers for all committees; and monthly conseillers’ surgeries giving the public a direct voice in local decision-making.
‘These measures strengthen trust and demonstrate that transparency and dialogue are priorities for us all,’ she said.
‘As a new conseiller on the Policy & Finance Committee this year, I have seen real positivity across all of the work we’ve been involved in.
‘The work taking place across committees – from tourism to long-term planning and revenue generation – reflects genuine cooperation between conseillers who are committed to finding practical solutions for the challenges Sark faces. The revived Policy Development Group and the constructive engagement seen at recent public meetings are clear examples of that collaboration in action.’
Conseiller Tighe, who also chairs the island’s tourism committee, said she believed Chief Pleas did operate in a democratic way.
‘It functions as a consensus government where every major spending or policy decision must be brought before the whole House for discussion and agreement; even beyond the smaller, day-to-day decisions, this approach ensures that all voices are heard, differing views are considered, and collective agreement guides the direction of the island,’ she said.
‘It demonstrates a system designed to balance collaboration with accountability, giving elected representatives the opportunity to work together in the best interests of Sark and its community.’
She maintained that many of the exciting projects islanders were seeing come to fruition were the result of long-term efforts by dedicated conseillers and residents.
‘From local power supply management to the Island Plan and the ongoing tax review workstreams,’ she said.
‘Decades-long issues, like electricity, are now being addressed through the dogged determination of people who live in Sark year-round. The contested elections we have seen recently are a sign of a healthy democracy, and while a minority has been vocal, much of the work represents the wider community’s interests.
‘While it is natural for people to hold differing opinions about how best to move the island forward, it’s equally important that debate remains constructive and focused on progress.
'From what I have seen, the Policy & Finance Committee is working hard to do exactly that – to make decisions responsibly and in Sark’s best interests.’
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