States Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014 (P.52/2009): eleventh amendment .

STATES OF JERSEY

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STATES STRATEGIC PLAN 2009 – 2014 (P.52/2009): ELEVENTH AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 21st May 2009 by Deputy G.P. Southern of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2009   Price code: B  P.52 Amd.(11)

STATES STRATEGIC PLAN 2009 – 2014 (P.52/2009): ELEVENTH AMENDMENT

1  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in the Priorities on page 8 –

1. in  the  first  introductory  paragraph,  after  the  words  "will  be delivered.", insert the words "The single overarching priority shall be to take concrete and measurable steps to actively promote the creation of a more equal society.";
2. in the second paragraph, after the words "main aim of the Plan.", insert the words "In the application of these priorities, due attention must be paid to the creation of greater equality.";
3. for Priority 3 substitute the following Priority –

"3.  Maintain the level and delivery of public services in an

efficient and effective manner.";

4. for Priority 5 substitute the following Priority –

"5.  Limit population growth.";

and make consequential changes to the wording of the Priorities where they appear in other parts of the Plan.".

2  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 3 on page 14, in the section entitled "Why we must do this" –

1. in the second bullet point, for the words "the possibility of reduced income as a result of worldwide recession" substitute the words "in responding to increased individual and community needs due to the impact of recession.";
2. delete the third bullet point;
3. delete the fourth bullet point;
4. in the fifth bullet point, for the word "it" substitute the words "his or her government to take its proper responsibility to maintain the welfare of all residents.";
5. after the last bullet point insert the following new bullet point – "We recognise that whilst there may be some small savings

to be made from the reduction of some minor peripheral activities, after several years of efficiency savings there is little  scope  for  major  savings  in  what  are  core,  essential services.".".

3  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 3 on page 14, in the section entitled "What we will do" –

1. delete the second bullet point;
2. delete the fourth bullet point;
3. in the fifth bullet point, after the word "staff", insert the words "in consultation  with  representatives  of  public  sector  employees  to ensure good recruitment and retention levels".".

4  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

",  except  that  in  Priority 3  on  page 14,  in  the  section  entitled  "Key Indicators" –

(a)  in the first bullet point, for the words "the cost of" substitute the words "value-for-money (VFM) in".".

5  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 4 on pages 15–16, delete the second introductory paragraph and insert the following two paragraphs –

"The  intention  is  to  continue  the  work  to  create  an  efficient, effective and motivated public sector that puts the customer at the heart  of  everything  it  does,  and  to  maintain  levels  of  service through the economic downturn. This will be achieved through appropriate use of funding from the Stabilisation Fund.

In maintaining sustainable public finances, we are aware that we have failed properly to assess all potential sources of income which will add to the overarching priority given earlier in this document. That requires us to re-examine fiscal planning measures. We shall examine  the  options  available  to  reduce  the  need  for supplementation. Furthermore we shall examine the options for the introduction of progressive taxation measures".".

6  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 4 on pages 15–16, in the section entitled "Why we must do this" –

1. delete the first bullet point;
2. in the second bullet point, for the words "The public continues to demand" substitute the words "We recognise that it will be difficult to maintain", and delete the words "With ever spiralling costs of

providing  essential  services,  such  as  health-care,  this  is  not sustainable.";

3. delete the fourth bullet point;
4. in the fifth bullet point, delete the words "and consider alternatives for service delivery".".

7  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 4 on pages 15–16, in the section entitled "What we will do" –

1. in the second bullet point, delete the words "No additional spend unless matched by savings or income;";
2. in the fifth bullet point, for the words "with low taxation will be addressed through sound planning and improved communication. This will mean being realistic about what is affordable" substitute the words "will require a hard look at progressive alternatives in taxation measures".".

8  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 5 on page 17, in the first introductory paragraph, after  the  words  "form  part  of  this  Strategic  Plan."  insert  the  words "However  there  is  no  agreement  over  what  level  of  population  is sustainable, and little consensus even over what this means.".".

9  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 5 on page 17, in the section entitled "What we will do" –

1. in the first bullet point, delete the words "there is" and after the word  "levels"  add  the  words  "is  brought  to  the  States  for agreement  within  6 months  of  the  acceptance  of  the  Strategic Plan";
2. in the second bullet point, delete the word "100,000" and substitute the words "levels set by the States";
3. in the second bullet point, delete the words "between 150 and 200 heads of household per annum in the long term" and substitute the words "agreed by the States";
4. in  the  second  bullet  point,  delete  the words  "rolling  five  year average of no more than 150 heads of household per annum (an overall increase of circa 325 people per annum)" and substitute the words "level agreed by the States";

5. in the third bullet point, for the words "through the Migration Policy" substitute the words "through a Migration Policy";
6. in the fourth bullet point, delete the word "an" and insert the words "any agreed".".

10  PAGE 2 –

After the words "attached as Appendix 1" insert the words –

", except that in Priority 8 on pages 20–21 –

1. at the end of the first introductory paragraph, insert the words "This can only be done by building incentives to work and to save into our benefit structure.";
2. in the section entitled "What we will do" in the first bullet point, after the word "themselves" insert the words "In order to do so we shall conduct a major restructuring of Income Support to ensure that  it  contains  effective  measures  to  encourage  work  and saving.".".

DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER

REPORT

This amendment inserts one overarching Priority into the Strategic Plan; that of taking concrete  and  measurable  steps  to  promote  the  creation  of  a  more  equal  society. Growing research suggests that societies where the levels of equality are highest across the world are those which are the most successful. This is true on almost every measure one takes. Where equality is high, then levels of health are better, educational achievements are higher, crime is lower.

This essentially has a number of consequences for the Plan overall. The first is that this Priority means that any reduction in public services is largely ruled out on the grounds that it is the least well-off in our society who are most dependent on those services. Reductions in delivery of services will inevitably serve to make levels of equality worse.

Similarly, our tax structure is neutral at best and has major elements of the package which are regressive. This is spectacularly marked in the structure of Social Security Contributions, which is crying out for review. In addition, the ever-growing burden of supplementation needs to be addressed. An examination of progressive taxation is called for.

In creating a more equal society, we need to have fully debated and agreed a policy on the level of population and migration in order to understand the impact of these policies. It is simply not sufficient to include targets for population levels far into the future in the overall Strategic Plan without full agreement of the current population.

Finally, in order to promote equality, urgent reform needs to put in place in the Income Support system to incentivise both work and saving for those who remain in need of benefits.

Financial and manpower implications will be put to the States Treasury for assessment and  brought  forward  in  specific  policy  proposals  and  Annual  Business  Plans  as required.