The Government Work Plan 2021 - 2025 was discussed at this Meeting.
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Original Propositions
- The States are asked to decide:-
- Whether, after consideration of the 'Government Work Plan - stage 2' Policy Letter dated 17th June, 2021, they are of the opinion:-
- 1. To agree that -
- a. the Government Work Plan is the approach to recovery that the Assembly has adopted for this political term to provide a framework for determining, developing and resourcing the most critical actions to be completed by government; and
- b. all Committees of the States should advise and consult with the Policy & Resources Committee on emerging issues critical to the Island's economic competitiveness and success, and the health and wellbeing of Islanders, and that are likely to require resource and funding within the Government Work Plan this political term;
- 2. To approve the top ten recovery actions for the first six months as set out in section 1.8 and the wider actions to be progressed in 2021 and 2022 as set out in the four priorities of the Government Work Plan framework in Annex 1;
- 3. To agree that Committees of the States will work with the Policy & Resources Committee to prioritise and resource the progression and completion of the actions in the Government Work Plan;
- 4. To agree, in principle, the actions to be progressed and resourced in 2023 and 2024 as set out in the four priorities of the Government Work Plan framework in Annex 1, and direct the relevant Committees of the States to work with the Policy & Resources Committee to further explore the resource requirements, and the impact against the Assembly's agreed outcomes[1], to inform the consideration of the Government Work Plan by the Assembly in June 2022;
- 5. To agree that the actions identified in Annex 2 are held in abeyance and kept under review as part of the monitoring required to maintain the focus and relevance of actions prioritised annually by the Assembly in the Government Work Plan as set out under Rule 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the States and their Committees;
- 6. To agree the governance arrangements for the workstreams within the four priorities of the Government Work Plan as set out in Annex 3.
- 7. To agree the monitoring framework and recovery action reporting approach set out in Annex 4, and to note that the Policy & Resources Committee will continue to develop this framework for annual reporting purposes in accordance with Rule 23;
- 8. To agree that the Funding & Investment Plan sets the framework within which funding will be secured and financial resources allocated during this political term and direct the Policy & Resources Committee to prepare annual Budget Reports within this framework.
- 9. To direct all Committees of the States to prepare annual budget submissions and other funding requests to deliver actions prioritised within the Government Work Plan and agree that funding should not be made available for non-prioritised service developments.
- 10. To agree that the Committees of the States are collectively responsible and accountable for delivery of the savings set out within the Funding & Investment Plan which are integral to funding; baseline pressures; the revenue impact of capital expenditure; and the ongoing costs of the government priorities as defined through the Government Work Plan.
- 11. To authorise the Policy & Resources Committee to approve transfers of funding from the Budget Reserve and General Revenue Reserve to Committee budgets and make specific allowance in recommended Cash Limits for 2022-2025 in order to resource:
- i. Managing the effects of Brexit and meeting international standards (ongoing expenditure) over the period 2021 - 2025 for the specific initiatives detailed in Appendix 11.5;
- ii. Recovery actions (ongoing expenditure) over the period 2021 - 2025 for the specific initiatives detailed in Appendix 11.4;
- iii. Revenue impact of capital expenditure (ongoing) over the period 2021 - 2025 for the specific schemes detailed in Appendix 11.7
- iv. Recovery actions (one-off expenditure) over the period 2021 - 2025 for the specific initiatives detailed in Appendix 11.4; and
- v. Reshaping government initiatives (transformation) (one-off expenditure) over the period 2021 - 2025 for the specific initiatives detailed in Appendix 11.6.
- 12. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to include proposals in the annual Budget Report for each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to generate an additional real-terms increase in revenues for each of these years of £1million per annum.
- 13. To approve the schemes detailed in Figure 20 as the capital portfolio for the period 2021-2025, acknowledging that the portfolio value is £200million in excess of the funding available and, consequently, funding the portfolio will require the States to enter into new borrowing facilities of a maximum of £200million.
- 14. To agree the assurance and approval pathways for capital projects set out in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.10 in the Funding & Investment Plan at Annex 5, including delegating authority to the Policy & Resources Committee to approve the opening of capital votes for all schemes in the capital portfolio or to enter into alternative delivery arrangements, subject to the overall capital portfolio being delivered within a total of £568million.
- 15. To agree that the balance of the Bond Reserve as at 30 June 2021 shall be transferred to the General Revenue Reserve.
- 16. Notwithstanding the Resolutions of the States of 1 May 2020,
- To authorise the Policy & Resources Committee:
- a to continue with a maximum of £200million of the existing £225million short-term borrowing facility, and to increase or decrease its term; and
- b to enter into new external borrowing facilities up to a total maximum of £200million for a period of up to 40 years, on such terms and conditions as the said Committee shall deem appropriate.
- 17. To agree that the Policy & Resources Committee may by resolution authorise the President of that Committee, or a delegate nominated by him for the specific purpose, to sign any document necessary for the purposes of entering into or otherwise in connection with the borrowing facilities referred to in proposition 16.
- 18. Notwithstanding the Resolutions of the States of the 8 October, 2014 on Article I (propositions 27 and 28) of Billet d'Ėtat no. XXII of 2014 and the 16 January, 2020 on Article V (proposition 1) of Billet d'État no. I of 2020, to agree that:
- a The proceeds of the 2014 States of Guernsey Bond issue; and
- b The capital raised by external borrowing facilities taken up pursuant tor proposition 16b
- can only be used for:
- i. on-lending to States owned entities including subsidiaries thereof, trading accounts and funds, the Guernsey Housing Association, the Alderney Housing Association, the Ladies College and / or to sporting organisations or playing field authorities to support the provision of sporting facilities on such terms and conditions as the Policy & Resources Committee shall deem appropriate; and
- ii. financing capital expenditure which is part of the States capital portfolio, including on-lending to schemes progressed under alternative delivery arrangements, with the interest charged on that amount and any associated expenditure for arranging the facilities and their ongoing administration to be funded as "Financing Costs" from the General Revenue Account.
- 19. To rescind or rescind and replace extant Resolutions as set out in Annex 6;
- 20. To agree to adopt an approach consistent with the management of the work of government when prioritising legislative drafting and therefore approve the proposed Schedule of prioritised drafting of legislation as set out at Annex 7, noting that where possible during this term of government every effort will be made to reduce the requirement for future legislation by ensuring that legislation is only recommended where there is no practicable alternative solution; and
- 21. To agree the revisions to Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees, as set out in Annex 8 and direct the States' Assembly & Constitution Committee to amend the Rules accordingly.
- The above Propositions have been submitted to Her Majesty's Procureur for advice on any legal or constitutional implications in accordance with Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees.
Final Propositions and their Voting Records
- Amendments 1, 4, 9, 10 and 11, were successful. The resulting Propositions (as amended) that were voted on are available to view in the downloads area of this page.
- Procedural Motion (Guillotine motion under Rule 26(1) to close general debate)
Amendments and their voting records
Propositions 1 to 4 [167kb]
