Government reform group shelved by P&R

The sub-committee was looking at ways to improve the way Guernsey's system of government operates

Plans to change Guernsey's system of government have been shelved by the island's top political committee.

Policy and Resources (P&R) created a sub-committee to look at how the States could improve the way it operates.

But P&R said it had been "challenging to find a consensus" and it had therefore "paused" the group.

The most recent reforms to the system of government in 2016 saw the number of politicians cut from 45 to 38 and a reduction in committees.

Review promised

Earlier this political term it had been expected P&R would bring forward proposals for executive government alongside other reforms such as further reducing the number of deputies.

Those aims were recently watered down after the committee announced it would only publish a green paper for debate.

P&R said it may revisit the work later this term but it added "meaningful resolutions" were unlikely.

The sub-committee consisted of deputies Jonathan Le Tocq, Carl Meerveld and Liam McKenna.

P&R said "it intends to review this decision again later in the year when there is more clarity on the remaining issues".

Analysis

There are some within the States who hoped this could be a crowning achievement of this term - making the government work better and more efficiently.

It could have been a move towards towards executive government or slimming down of number of deputies.

The "challenges" the committee had in coming to a consensus highlighted divergent views within the States.

It means we are now unlikely to see a debate on any changes this term, which will disappoint politicians who had argued Guernsey's system of government was holding back reform.