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STATES OF JERSEY
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STRATEGIC PLAN 2006 TO 2011 (P.40/2006): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT
Lodged au Greffe on 6th June 2006 by the Connétable of St. Helier
STATES GREFFE
STRATEGIC PLAN 2006 TO 2011 (P.40/2006): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT ____________
After the word "Appendix" insert the words –
", except that,
(a) in Commitment Two, after Outcome 2.3 insert the following new Outcome –
" 2.4 R egulatory services are appropriate and are independently, impartially and efficiently delivered.
In d ic ated by:
• r e d u ction in unnecessary regulatory red tape'
• p o s it ive result from benchmarking of service quality and standards
• m a in tenance of high standards in public services
• e f fi c iency savings achieved by joint working with Guernsey
W h a t we will do:
2 .4 . 1 I n 2007 bring forward proposals to ensure that such regulatory functions as are carried out by the
States are appropriate, independent and impartial (CoM)
2 .4 . 2 I n 2007 investigate the feasibility and potential efficiency savings of providing regulatory services
in partnership with Guernsey and report back to the States (CoM)",
and renumber accordingly.".
CONNÉTABLE OF ST. HELIER
REPORT
Examples of the follies of over-regulation by government are legion. Naturally, the most absurd ones are only half true or less (the recent case of Health Protection officers allegedly insisting that sizzling French sausages on sale at the Foire de Jersey bear individual stickers being a case in point) but there is likely to be a grain of truth in the majority. Examples range from how the States regulates the construction industry, the hospitality industry, day nurseries and residential homes, vehicle standards, and so on.
I believe that it is consistent with the objectives of the Draft Strategic Plan that the Council of Ministers undertakes a review of how the States regulates business to determine in particular whether it is doing so appropriately, fairly and efficiently. The need for a level playing field' is particularly important if the Council of Ministers is serious about encouraging the private sector to provide services such as residential and day nursery care that will otherwise have to be paid for by the taxpayer.
The name of our sister island appears but once in the Council of Ministers' first Strategic Plan in relation to investigating the potential for shared meteorological services (6.2.9). I believe that the net should be cast much wider, given the proximity of the Islands to each other and the potential for achieving common Channel Islands regulatory standards.
Such an outcome would have the additional benefit of making the activities of our regulators be seen to be independent and not influenced by the political masters of the Departments concerned, which can hardly be said to be the case at present.
Financial and manpower implications
The financial and manpower implications of this amendment, were it to be successful, would require more administrative resources to be devoted to investigating the Island's delivery of regulatory processes and meetings to be held with relevant parties in Guernsey. I would argue that this work can be achieved by a proportionate reduction in administrative posts in the lower priority activities being carried out by the States, on the direction of the Council of Ministers, and that the implications are, therefore, neutral. Were reformed regulatory regimes to ensue from this investigation there could be significant resource savings made by both Bailiwicks.