The hunt for coherent capital
THE next stage of development of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital is likely to go under the microscope soon, and it is also certain that deputies will want, and now is more than likely will have, their say on the project.
It almost seems like the States, under the direction of Policy & Resources, is heading right back to the drawing board on capital projects.
Frankly, although a single page capital programme is contained within the 200-plus pages of the Government Work Plan, there is, to say the least, uncertainty over the island’s capital programme – how much the States might want to spend, when it might do so, what constitutes a priority project, and now more so than ever, how much money is available.
It makes sense now for the States to draw a line and reconfirm its plans for infrastructure investment.
It’s tempting to both to cut, and to continue to invest in the island, but it’s going to be a challenge to do both well.
What will be important is stress-testing current spending plans – it’s not good enough for Health and Social Care to shrug its shoulders and blithely announce that hospital redevelopment phase two appears to have just doubled in price.
Most importantly a coherent, undoubtedly more limited, but realistic and achievable plan, will be required for the rest of this States and beyond.