Deputy St Pier publishes a letter to States Members outlining decisions made during the second Policy and Resources Committee meeting.
Dear all,
The Policy & Resources Committee met for the second time yesterday, and among other things, a series of decisions were formally agreed on the roles of members of the Committee about which I now wish to inform you.
- Deputy St Pier - President of the Committee; lead on fiscal matters; lead on strategic connectivity (including transport and digital infrastructure); lead on public service reform and transformation; lead representative at British-Irish Council
- Deputy Trott - Vice-President of the Committee; leveraging and dovetailing existing role as Chairman of Guernsey Finance, lead on international matters relating to commerce and regulation, including international organisations; committee liaison with business
- Deputy Stephens - lead on social policy; committee liaison with community organisations and the charity and voluntary sectors
- Deputy Brouard - lead on environmental policy; lead on Bailiwick matters, including the Alderney Liaison Group and the Bailiwick Council; representative to the British-Irish Parliamentary Association; lead on parish and douzaine matters
- Deputy Le Tocq - lead in representing the Policy & Resources Committee in its role as employer; support on social policy issues; formal lead1 for external affairs, including constitutional and external issues relating to Whitehall, Westminster, the European Union, and Jersey and the Isle of Man
- The Rules require that: "The Policy & Resources Committee shall designate its President or one of its members to be the States' lead member for external relations."
- The use of titles in guernésiais, when appropriate, is intended to help reinforce our unique heritage and identity
Members may recall that the States agreed, following debate of the States' Review Committee's second policy letter in July 2015, that the States could adapt titles and offices held within the States, where appropriate, when working outside of the island so that the politician's role is more readily understood. The States' Review Committee's policy letters emphasised the need for a degree of flexibility when using titles for those conducting business outside of the island. Accordingly, the Committee having discussed various alternatives, have decided to use the following nomenclature externally:
- President: Chief Minister (or in guernésiais2, 'Le Prumier de Giernesi')
- Vice-President: Deputy Chief Minister (or in guernésiais, 'Le Vice-Prumier de Giernesi')
- Lead for external affairs: Minister for External Affairs (or in guernésiais, 'Secrétaire des Affaires Extérieures')
In addition it was agreed that:
- Deputy St Pier, Deputy Trott and Deputy Brouard would be members of an investment and bond sub-group which will provide: oversight of the investments managed by Policy & Resources on behalf of the States; the on-lending of the proceeds received from the bond and its repayment, without recourse to taxpayers, through the bond reserve
An International Advisory Group will be established to provide oversight of international business, reputation and constitutional issues (including taking forward the work of the former Constitutional Investigation Committee) comprising Deputy St Pier as Chair, Deputy Trott, Deputy Le Tocq, Deputy Ferbrache as President of the Committee for Economic Development and one or two other Deputies with long standing experience and expertise in international relations (to be confirmed in the next few days.)
I am delighted that members of the Committee have actively agreed to share responsibilities across our mandate - particularly in external affairs - in a way that balances skills and expertise whilst utilising experience and providing continuity. We are all immensely looking forward to working together and with other States' Committees, to strengthen our economy and build confidence from the community in their government.
Other matters that we discussed today included the 2016 financial position - which will the subject of a Statement in the Assembly on 8 June, subject to consent from the Presiding Officer - the 2017 budget, the establishment of the Social Policy Partnership Forum and the methodology by which we will, with all members, develop the Policy and Resource Plan, the first phase of which we are due to bring to the States' Assembly in November 2016.
With regard to the development of the Policy and Resource Plan, as previously advised, two members' workshops are being held on the afternoons of 13 and 22 June, and I hope that all members will be able to attend.
For information, the following meeting dates are confirmed:
- Bailiwick Council - 3 June 2016 in Alderney
- Alderney Liaison Group - w/c 20 June 2016 in Alderney
- Third Sector Policy Partnership Forum - 28 June 2016
- Investment and bond sub-group - June 2016
- International Advisory Group - July 2016
It was also agreed that I and Deputy Stephens would represent Guernsey at the British-Irish Council summit in Glasgow on 16-17 June, where one of the subjects for discussion will be social inclusion.
Finally, if any member would be interested in at some point attending a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee as an observer, please let Denise Board know at denise.board@gov.gg , in order that we can plan accordingly.
As ever, if you like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Gavin St. Pier
President, Policy & Resources Committee
