THE new Policy Council has been elected by the States.

Deputy Lyndon Trott succeeded with eight of his 10 nominations – as both his predecessors did – in the House.

His preferred candidates were defeated in the elections for Commerce and Employment – where Carla McNulty Bauer, previously the deputy minister, narrowly overcame Jack Honeybill’s nomination – and at Culture and Leisure, where previous department member Mike O’Hara beat Leon Gallienne to the seat.

There was some compensation for Deputy Gallienne, with a return to the chairman role at the Public Accounts Committee.

Three nominations were returned unopposed – Geoff Mahy at the Home Department, and Policy Council newcomers Hunter Adam at Health and Charles Parkinson at Treasury and Resources.

The closest competition for a seat was at Environment, where four candidates were whittled down to two, and Peter Sirett, the Chief Minister’s nomination, squeezed past incumbent minister David De Lisle by just one vote.

Deputy Dave Jones was returned at Housing, with Bernard Flouquet coming back to the Policy Council after 15 months out at Public Services, Mark Dorey entering as a new face at Social Security and Carol Steere, after eight years out of the States, earning the ministry at Education.

Committee chairman roles went to Father of the House Ivan Rihoy at the House Committee, Barry Brehaut at Scrutiny, John Gollop at the Legislation Select Committee and Al Brouard at the Public Sector Remuneration Committee.

Deputy Trott said that he would have a different style in his new role as Chief Minister.

‘I am going to be much more relaxed in my approach,’ he said. ‘My role now is to chair a cohesive unit delivering policy determined by the States and moving forward as one.

‘Departmental responsibility rests now with the elected ministers and their teams. My role is easier in many respects apart from on the international stage, where the majority of my focus will need to be.’