Jersey launches proposed Government Plan and Common Strategic Policy

The proposed Government Plan, which will be debated in December and includes a period of feedback and engagement with Islanders, aims to:

• protect our future by addressing the housing crisis, the population and skills challenges, and the climate emergency
• put the needs of Islanders first and support hard-working individuals and families
• support a strong economy and help ease the pressure on family budgets in these exceptional times.

To do this, the proposed Government Plan aims to invest an additional £61 million in our key public services during 2023. This includes investment in areas such as healthcare and mental health services, children and education, skills training, and emergency services.

Highlights include:

• £20.4 in additional health funding including off island medical care, end of life care, community services and improving health care.
• £16.5 in additional funding for children, young people, education and skills policies (CYPES) including education reform and inclusion review, children’s social care reform, demographic and needs assessment, and social worker recruitment and retention.
• Further funding will be allocated for Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, Police resourcing, victim support and domestic abuse law.

It will also support improvements to public infrastructure through £141million of capital investment in 2023 and gives further assistance with the cost-of-living crisis. Further funding will be allocated for rural initiatives, Jersey Business, and supporting comprehensive international tax measures.

In addition, the Council of Ministers has agreed seven priorities for change as part of the proposed Common Strategic Policy 2023 to 2026, with the shared ambition for Jersey to be a place where everyone can thrive.

These seven interlinked priorities have regard to Jersey as a place to live, a place of work, a place to grow old with dignity, and a place to take pride in and protect. The seven priorities are:

• Housing and cost of living
• Economy and Skills
• Children and families
• Ageing population
• Health and wellbeing
• Environment
• Community.

To deliver real benefit for Islanders, each decision on the priorities will be made with regard to the impact it has on Islanders in three ways: on affordability, on wider quality of life, and on the long-term sustainability of the economy and environment.

Ministerial Plans, which are due to be presented and launched on 11th October, provide further detail as to how the Government aims to achieve its priorities.

Treasury & Resources Minister, Deputy Ian Gorst, said: “The proposed Government Plan has been created with three key ideals: protecting our future, putting the needs of Islanders first, and supporting a strong economy. “The Government must shape its policies to support a strong economy, ease the pressure on family budgets and ensure our success can be shared across the community.

“With sustainable and affordable finances, we know this Government can be ready to respond to any challenges and plan for a prosperous future.”