Independent complaints body plans ditched

Some deputies expressed concerns about whether the States was focussing its resources in the most important areas

Deputies have voted to scrap plans for a new body that would look at complaints against Guernsey's States.

President of Policy and Resources (P&R) Lyndon Trott described it as a "luxury too far".

It was estimated a new body in collaboration with Jersey would cost have cost £170,000 every year compared to £215,000 for a Guernsey-only service.

Deputies voted instead to look at the plans again in 2026 as part of a planned review of finances.

Mr Trott said "I think there are huge concerns about Guernsey's fiscal position we are doing our best to arrest that and I think we are doing a fairly good job.

"Ocassionally in politics you have to say not yet, not at this time."

Former P&R leader Deputy Peter Ferbrache had asked the States to throw out plans for the creation of a new public sector pan-island ombudsperson.

During debate on the matter he described a new watchdog as "something fanciful we can't afford, we should kill the baby before it is born".

Deputy Peter Ferbrache descibed the plans for a new watchdog as "something fanciful we can't afford"

Former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier suggested P&R could talk to the Isle of Man's government about how their ombudsman service worked and come back with new plans, with updated costs before November 2024 to progress the project.

His proposal was rejected.

Work to create the new body started in 2022 in tandem with the States of Jersey (SoJ).

The States of Jersey (SoJ) had previously said despite P&R's intention to scrap the plans for a new body it was moving forward with it.

In December the SoJ said "a public service ombudsperson will be introduced in Jersey".