Eight out of 10 wasted their time
LAST June, when the prospect was raised, this column was deeply sceptical of the value of the offer – nay, the ‘unique opportunity’ – for members of the public to contribute and help the States to save between £10-16m. a year.
‘We hope this different approach will demonstrate our commitment that no idea will be left off the table,’ the sub-committee said in its enthusiastic release.
Members of the sub-committee were then unhappy about what they saw as our negativity towards the genuine plea for assistance. We speculated that the ‘real intent behind this approach is to demonstrate that even the loud-mouthed public, full of bluster on social media, can’t between them, come up with a single idea that’s going to work to help bring down States spending’, which, we cynically concluded, would ultimately only help to pave the way for more tax increases.
And so last week the president of the new Policy & Resources Committee revealed that eight out of 10 of the ideas put forward by 600 members of the public were for raising charges, not efficiency savings, and he now felt, if not empowered, at least not out of touch, to consider raising the prospect again of increased taxation.
We should soon see the publication of the full results of the sub-committee’s work. But at the moment, while we wait, it feels justified to say ‘we told you so’.