A Sub-Committee formed to identify savings and cost reductions has begun inviting suggestions as it develops a list of options to consider, which in turn will inform recommendations it intends to bring back to the States Assembly in January.
The Sub-Committee is tasked with identifying essential services and considering if savings can be delivered through 'structural change, cessation, outsourcing and/or commissioning of those services.'
The Sub-Committee has written to all Committees asking for their suggestions for how significant savings can be delivered in their respective service areas, and the associated risks.
Over the coming months it will also invite suggestions from the community and from employees working in the public sector - in other words, those who pay for and use public services and those who deliver them day-to-day.
The aim is to identify cost reductions that can deliver at least £10m - £16m over 5 years.
Details of how the community and public sector employees can contribute to this process will be shared in the coming weeks.
Deputy Dave Mahoney, chair of the Sub-Committee said
"We want ideas from a wide range of people. In the first instance we've invited Committees to contribute, but we'll soon expand that more widely. For Committees, we do believe it's important they recognise the scale of the deficit we face and the very significant amount we need to find through this process, as they put forward their suggestions. It will be those same Committees who will later be tasked with implementing the changes. Difficult and unpalatable decisions will need to be made, and we are on an extremely tight timeframe."
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, member of the Sub-Committee said
"We will be creating opportunities for all Islanders, third sector and business bodies, to input into this process, and we welcome their suggestions. We all have a stake in this because we all contribute towards the cost of public services, we all use services, and we will all be affected if we can't fund services in a way that is sustainable. We know not every idea, whether they are from deputies or members of the community, will be achievable but we want to have a healthy list of suggestions to work through and we believe everyone should be able to contribute. We will be coming back with details on how they can do so, very soon."
