States budget freeze defeated

Deputy Mark Helyar wanted to freeze the States budgets at their 2024 level

Proposals to freeze the States budgets for 2025 have been thrown out by deputies.

Only six politicians voted to support the scheme from former Deputy Chief Minister Mark Helyar, with 27 voting against it.

Deputies did support, in principle, proposals from next year that "ensured new employees are appointed on a static pay rate" and the closure of any post left vacant in the States for six months.

Following the vote Helyar said he was "delighted" some of his proposals were supported.

'Demoralised and humiliated'

He added: "Unfortunately there was little support for spending restraint - it’s clear to me that the public wants more evidence of savings being made, hopefully that message is getting through."

The two successful proposals could be voted down when the final propositions in the 2025 budget are voted on by deputies.

During the debate a number of politicians criticised the number of civil servants employed by the States.

One civil servant, who wanted to remain anonymous, said following the debate they felt "demoralised and humiliated".

They added "it has made me think about leaving the service".

'Significant challenges'

The BBC has approached Prospect, the union which represents most of the island's civil servants for comment.

In a letter to deputies before the debate, the island's public sector unions urged deputies against voting for some of the proposals from Helyar.

They warned that closing posts after they are vacant for six months could have the "unintended consequence that managers will feel obliged to recruit any candidate out of fear of the role being deleted".

They also warned approving the proposals could "exacerbate" the "significant challenges in recruiting and retaining staff" currently faced by the States.

Deputy David Mahoney who seconded the proposal said: "The amendment was a useful debate that highlighted just why the assembly has to come away from this debate with revenue raising measures.

"Just as important though is that the assembly took the first baby steps to showing that it is prepared to look at the other side of the coin by reducing costs and we thank the assembly for their support".