David Dorrity, pictured, has been a member of the committee only since July. He said he had submitted his resignation to the Bailiff ‘with some regret’.
‘I became a member of ESS knowing that it was tasked with the difficult job of balancing public finances with providing for the genuine needs of the people of Guernsey who require support,’ he said.
‘Since joining, I have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of focus to identify and deliver meaningful savings.’
He said he expressed his concerns in writing to the committee and pushed to set up a savings working group within ESS which was tasked with reviewing all outgoings and identifying practical opportunities to reduce spending.
‘I have come to feel that members of the ESS Savings Working Group have been fighting an uphill battle, with a lack of willingness to make the difficult decisions which I believe are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the support that the States is able to provide through the committee,’ he said.
‘I have taken the difficult decision to step away from the committee and sincerely hope that my replacement is able to have greater success in influencing decisions on spending while supporting the important work of the committee in a sustainable way.’
ESS president Tina Bury said she was ‘disappointed and a little surprised’ that Deputy Dorrity was resigning. She said he had made a valuable contribution, particularly given his professional expertise in pensions.
‘The work of ESS, which involves balancing support for the lowest earners and most vulnerable in our community and being financially responsible overall, is no mean feat and, at times, very challenging. This is the difficult task of a deputy – how to deliver the services our community wants and needs, versus the overall financial picture,' she said.
‘All of our committee members are committed to the savings work the States is undertaking, which is why the ESS savings working group has recently begun its work in earnest. It has already identified around 30 actions that could be pursued. This work must be thorough though.
‘We must understand the savings that could potentially be made but also carefully consider the consequences of any changes, and that will take some time.’
Deputy Dorrity remains a member of the Housing Committee.
His resignation opens an opportunity for newly-elected Ross Le Brun to secure a committee seat immediately. Mr Le Brun was a non-voting member of the committee from 2020 to 2025.
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