States Strategic Plan: annual debate on progress.

STATES OF JERSEY

STATES STRATEGIC PLAN: ANNUAL DEBATE ON PROGRESS

Lodged au Greffe on 18th February 2011 by Deputy P.V.F. Le Claire of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2011   Price code: B  P.27

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to debate on an annual basis whether or not they are satisfied with the progress made by Ministers in achieving the aims of the States Strategic Plan, and in order to achieve this –

1. to request the Chief Minister to present to the States within 30 days of the  adoption  of this  proposition  an annual  performance report  for 2010, in the same format as that used in previous years, to allow members and the public to measure progress in achieving the aims of the current States Strategic Plan and to then present an updated annual performance report of this nature in January each year in the future;
2. to agree that they are satisfied with the work and progress made by each of the 10 Ministers in achieving the aims of the current States Strategic Plan to date, namely –

1. the Chief Minister;
2. the Minister for Economic Development;
3. the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture;
4. the Minister for Health and Social Services;
5. the Minister for Home Affairs;
6. the Minister for Housing;
7. the Minister for Planning and Environment;

(viii)  the Minister for Social Security;

9. the Minister for Transport and Technical Services;
10. the Minister for Treasury and Resources;

3. to request the Chief Minister when presenting the annual performance report in future years to lodge at the same time a proposition asking the States to agree whether or not they are satisfied with the work and progress of Ministers in achieving the aims of the States Strategic Plan in the same format as in paragraph (b) of this proposition.

DEPUTY P.V.F. LE CLAIRE OF ST. HELIER

REPORT

Last year I asked the Chief Minister where the progress report on the Strategic Plan had gone and asked him if he would bring an update back to the States – he agreed to do so.

When he presented his report R.7/2011 (Strategic Plan: progress against Priorities as at 31st December 2010) I noticed it was not in the format of previous reports, with key indicators removed and indeed the report itself was, for all intents and purposes, something entirely new.

The previous reports appeared on the States website (www.gov.je) like this at this URL –

http://www.gov.je/Government/PlanningPerformance/StrategicPlanning/Pages/Annual PerformanceReports.aspx

Annual performance reports

The Chief Minister's Department produces an annual performance report to measure progress in achieving the aims of the Strategic Plan.

The report is an insight into performance across a range of economic, environmental and social objectives. It offers a long-term view of the impact of policy decisions and shows how effective the public sector is in putting those policies into place.

Measuring performance like this gives ministers the information to judge whether their policies are effective and whether public money is being used wisely.

• Download States Annual Performance Report 2008 (size 1.73mb)
• Download States Annual Performance Report 2007 (size 1.01mb) The page for the Strategic Plan which appears at this URL –

http://www.gov.je/Government/PlanningPerformance/StrategicPlanning/Pages/Strateg icPlan.aspx

appears like this.

If members review the differences it is easy to see much has disappeared.

I am beginning to think that the Council of Ministers could make anything disappear, except perhaps the projected deficit.

Strategic Plan

Find out about the progress made against the Strategic Plan priorities in an updated progress report

The Strategic Plan is developed by Jersey's Council of Ministers. It sets the overall direction for Jersey, concentrating on long-term policy aims and priorities, taking into account the challenges and strengths of Jersey today, and in the future.

After debate in the States Assembly, these aims and priorities are translated into departmental objectives through the business planning process.

The  Strategic  Plan  2009 – 2014  addresses  a  range  of  social,  environmental  and economic priorities in order to maintain Jersey's special way of life.

The Council of Ministers is optimistic that, through working together with all sections of our community, the challenges that face the Island can be tackled. The plan focuses on 5 main areas:

• enabling people to reach their full potential
• meeting our health, housing and education challenges
• preparing for the ageing society
• protecting the countryside and our environment
• creating a responsive and efficient government

• Download the Strategic Plan 2009 - 2014 (size 1.40mb) Progress report

The Council of Ministers has also presented an update that records progress against the priorities agreed by the States in the Strategic Plan. This provides information on the key initiatives that have progressed along with some of the activities planned for 2011.

• Download Strategic Plan progress report (size 249kb)

The above report when downloaded is a progress report and does not show any indicators, leaves much out and is not a States Annual Performance Report.

As you can see, the last one we had worth its salt was published in 2008.

I wonder what the budget increase for the Chief Minister's Department has been in this time and why it has not been done?

I can see that progress on progressing the reports is nowhere to be found. I believe this is unsatisfactory.

Whilst I appreciate some information may be in the Annual Business Plan, that is not the place to debate and hold to account the Ministers on the Strategic Plan, especially when the Chief Minister, in his foreword to the States Strategic Plan (below) states the following –

"The Strategic Plan put forward by the Council of Ministers is the States most important public document".

I agree with him, as did the former Chief Minister Senator Frank Walker , who was far more open and accountable and tabled one every 6 months.

This proposition is also an opportunity for members to give a report on the Ministers themselves and their ability to deliver (or otherwise).

Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014

I am pleased to present this, the second Strategic Plan since Jersey's new system of ministerial government was introduced in 2006.

The Strategic Plan put forward by the Council of Ministers is the States most important public document, our vision for Jersey's future, and I hope you will take the time to read it. It sets the agenda for the next five years and beyond, and in following on from the previous Strategic Plan, it encapsulates this moment in our history and details our hopes for the next stage in the progress of this proud Island.

We want to work together to meet the needs of the community – and by together' I do not just mean Ministers, or even States Members. I mean everybody. All of us in Jersey need to work together if we are to make the most of what I am sure we can all agree is the best place in the world to live.

This  Strategic  Plan  is  being  brought  forward  at  a  time  of  unprecedented change in recent times, and we are facing significant challenges over the coming years. This plan sets out how we can best tackle those challenges. We will support the Island through the economic downturn, we will reform the public service to maximise efficiency and reduce costs, we will protect those who  are  most  vulnerable  in  our  society  and  we  will  take  care  of  our environment and strive to fulfil our global responsibilities.

But we have to live within our means, and that will mean tough choices. We cannot fund new initiatives without saving or raising the funds to pay for them.  We  cannot  pay  for  the  nice-to-haves  when  there  is  a  real  need  to maintain essential services. We want to look after vulnerable children and families,  we  want to support  people to  help  themselves,  and  we  want to preserve and protect our unique environment. But we also have to maintain and develop our infrastructure, plan for an ageing population and provide adequate  housing  for  everyone.  We  need  the  resources  to  look  at  major strategic issues and plan to deal with them accordingly.

We have come a long way since the previous Strategic Plan was agreed in 2006. We have developed and sustained a strong economy, we have made progress with many of the social issues identified three years ago and we have provided a firm foundation for Jersey's future. Now we have to take that extra

step, and must work to create a community in which every Islander, no matter what their background, has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

I  look  forward  to  developing  a  partnership  between  government  and  the people  of  Jersey,  so  that  we  can  work  together  with  the  acceptance  that government cannot provide everything. What government can do is set up the systems and support which will enable all Islanders to thrive, and I hope we can move closer to this goal over the next three years.

Senator Terry Le Sueur Chief Minister

The States of Guernsey has a similar website page where every year this is updated.

I think it is worthwhile comparing the reports they produce with ours. The URL for their page is –

http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/government/facts---figures/sustainable-guernsey/ Financial and manpower implications

There are none, the money was there before and more is there now, together with the staff. Given that the Chief Minister's statement that: "The Strategic Plan put forward by the Council of Ministers is the States most important public document" they should ensure this is done as a priority.

Note:  If States members wish me to e-mail them the links in this document I would

be happy to do so for ease of reference.