Working together
What would this look like for the key issues?
"I believe stronger partnerships within government and between government and experts in the business and volunteering sector are essential to unlocking more resources and efficiencies to achieve our goals. Existing partnerships have had some successes and some challenges. But I am convinced we can do more and do it much better"
Strong Economy
Economic growth is essential. Investing in infrastructure and our skills will get us there, but we need to make sure we are doing this within a strategic plan. This means agreeing an improved framework where decisions are made, effectively implemented and monitored. We should not be reviewing decisions once made. The new government commissioning officer will improve this process and ensure partnerships are held to account.
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Small businesses and trades people are the backbone of the island's economy. I believe they are an unsung and undeveloped route to the diversification of our economy. They need more support with skills acquisition, assistance in exporting, business development and funding options. The assistance should be available to all. I have ideas how this might be structured and funded.
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Action on Housing
Housing is agreed by all as a problem, but we must be prepared to think outside the box. Lack of funding should not be regarded as a constraint as solutions are available. We need to take the risks together now. The new Housing Committee will need the support of all deputies and stakeholders to rethink how we manage the precious commodity of our land better in the future. My manifesto ideas will help to end homelessness, which is unacceptable in Guernsey.
Smarter, Local Finance
We need to agree the development of a medium-term plan for both financial and social targets with budgets that are balanced over the term rather than fixating on meeting annual deficits through short term fixes. This plan must include the total assets and liabilities of the island and, working together, we need to ensure these are most effectively managed in the best interests of Guernsey.
Education and skills
All Guernsey students deserve a quality education. All education providers on the island need to work together to ensure that standards are raised particular in the core skills of mathematics. Private colleges should partner with public schools to transfer successful skills. Business should be involved in sponsoring programmes to develop the specific skills they need to take the island forward. The proper use of AI must be prioritised as a skill for all students.
Workplace skills have been neglected. Again, stakeholders working together will help those that want to retrain to gain skills that Guernsey needs. This includes AI and entrepreneurship skills, as well as encouraging new areas of opportunity such as our expertise in data and new focus on renewable energy.
Health Care
We need to continue to create efficiencies in HSC working towards leading edge and affordable care. I will support management and staff in using new and existing technology. More joined up thinking is required on support for older patients, post treatment, which will lead to better outcomes. We have to reimagine what health and social care will look like in the medium and long term and see how this can be funded. The Partnership of Purpose is an excellent start and needs accelerating to deliver it aims.
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We have to explore wages and subsidies paid to local nurses and support staff to increase local take up and reduce agency costs wherever possible.
Partnering
Partnering with experts also leads to economic multiplier benefits received by engaging volunteers, encouraging private and corporate sponsorship and loans.
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I support the AGC Charity Sector Manifesto, which means encouraging the States to work with local charities more effectively and collaboratively, helping to strengthen their financial position, by unlocking dormant assets and looking at additional tax incentives for donors, and supporting the value and impact of volunteering.
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Key oversight by government and better two-way communication is an essential part of working together well. The Agilisys Report on the large States’ IT project identified a lack of understanding of oversight and monitoring that led to many problems, delays and additional expense. We must learn to better mandate partnerships and retain local expertise to do so. Should we consider Citizen’s Assemblies, successfully used elsewhere, to inform some of our larger challenges? Several new agencies such as the Guernsey Development Agency, the Tourism Management Board, and the new Innovate Guernsey Board are using local expertise to think in a more strategic way, working for what is best for Guernsey and involving the local community.
Structure of Government
We should review the structure of government to improve the executive function, but this will take time and decisions are required urgently. Nevertheless, in the absence of such a review, I believe better decision-making can be achieved within the existing system with small changes to how responsibility is delegated.
