States votes to form new Housing Committee

The committee takes over responsibilities currently split between three committees

Deputies have voted to set up a Housing Committee to develop policies on the planning, building and management of houses in Guernsey.

The decision follows more than a day's debate in the States of Deliberation where deputies discussed how to deliver and manage housing most efficiently.

An amendment to establish a Housing Commission instead was lost.

The committee will be made up of deputies and begin work in July 2025.

'It's time to just get on with it'

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller put forward the proposal

The committee will take on the responsibilities for housing currently dealt with by Environment & Infrastructure, Employment & Social Security and Policy & Resources.

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller led the campaign for it to be established.

She said: "The focus of the requete was to sort out the political fragmentation and lack of accountability around housing, and I think that's what the States needs."

The motion faced criticism in the States Chamber that it would take too long to establish, would cost the States more money and wouldn't lead to more homes being built.

Kazantseva-Miller argued it would involve minimal changes in the civil service, will save money, and will be in action from July 2025.

"It's time to just get on with it".

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez's amendment to set up a Housing Commission was lost

An amendment to set up a Housing Commission instead of a committee narrowly lost.

It was put forward by Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez to be an arms-length body made up of deputies and industry leaders responsible for delivering housing.

De Sausmarez said setting up a commission would have been the "most efficient and streamlined" way of dealing with the housing crisis, but it was rejected by deputies who believed another body would not lead to further action.

She said the tone of the debate was "unbecoming for parliamentarians" and may have been accepted had someone else put the amendment forward for debate.