Scrutiny questions Chief Minister on new Government’s priorities
3 May 2024
On Friday 3 May, the Common Strategic Policy Review Panel questioned the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, on the Common Strategic Policy in a public hearing.
The Common Strategic Policy Review Panel is chaired by Deputy Inna Gardiner and is made up of the Chairs of the five Scrutiny Panels and the Public Accounts Committee.
The Review Panel questioned the Minister and gathered evidence in relation to the Proposed Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026, which has been published by the Council of Ministers and sets out 12 priorities for delivery over the next two years.
Job Losses
The Panel asked about curbing public sector growth and heard that the Chief Minister will be looking at internal structures and reprioritising non-essential work. The Panel was concerned to hear that job losses might be possible and hopes to be informed promptly of more detail around areas and sectors where this might be the case. The Chief Minister cited the Cabinet Office and management structures across the public sector as examples of possible areas for job losses.
Short-Term and Long-Term Visions
The Panel heard that the CSP focuses on deliverable priorities for the remaining two years of this term of office and raised questions around about how this feeds into a longer-term vision for the Island. The Chief Minister informed the Panel that the Future Jersey work, which sets out the community's ambitions for Jersey's future over the next 20 years, had been used as the foundation for the CSP.
The Panel hopes to receive more detail on how the short-term CSP priorities feed into the long-term vision required to tackle future challenges faced by the Island.
Health
The Panel questioned the Minister on the ageing population of the Island and why this is not addressed specifically within the twelve priorities of the CSP. The Chief Minister noted that the CSP focuses on work which can be achieved during this term, such as starting work on building the hospital.
The Panel expressed concern that longer-term issues must remain at the forefront of Ministerial work.
Government Plan
Following questions about how the various priorities within the CSP will be funded, the Panel was informed that the Government Plan process has started. The Chief Minister informed the Panel that the proposed Government Plan 2025-2028 will be lodged on 9 July for debate in November.
Commenting on the hearing, Deputy Inna Gardiner, Chair of the Review Panel, said:
"The Panel welcomes the fact that the Future Jersey work was used to underpin the CSP – whilst the CSP focuses on work that can be achieved over the next two years, the Panel wishes to emphasise the importance of maintaining focus on longer-term strategies for preparing for the Island's future challenges, such as the ageing population, sustainable health finance, and the future economy."
"The Panel is keen to receive the updated reprioritisation of the 2024 budget and to be kept informed of any further developments around the potential job losses mentioned by the Chief Minister during the hearing."
The recording of the hearing is available here.
About the Common Strategic Policy Review Panel
The Common Strategic Policy Review Panel is chaired by Deputy Inna Gardiner, with Vice Chair Deputy Helen Miles, and panel members: Deputy Montfort Tadier, Deputy Louise Doublet, Deputy Catherine Curtis, and Deputy Hilary Jeune.
The Common Strategic Policy Review Panel has been established to examine the Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026 lodged by the Council of Ministers on the 9th April 2024. This Policy sets out 12 priorities that the Council of Ministers believe will deliver meaningful and measurable progress.
