Summary

  • Jersey Children's Services 'spend £800k on agency staff'

  • Guernsey's most senior politician has sent his congratulations to businessman Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States

  • Memorial would mark island's 'blackest day'

  • Guernsey Electricity turns its finances from a loss of £3.5m last year to a profit of more than £4m this year

  • The former Jersey Rugby Club Chairman Bill Dempsey resigns as the Championship club's Director of Professional Rugby

  • Jersey tennis player pulls out of Island Games

  • Seal pup airlifted into care

  • Updates on Tuesday 15 November 2016

  1. 'Future Guernsey' must be inclusive 'for all islanders'published at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Gareth Owen
    BBC Radio Guernsey

    Guernsey's Policy and Resources plan has been branded as "too rightwing" in the States by St Peter Port North Deputy John Gollop.

    He told the assembly the document had been written with young professionals and entrepreneurs in mind and not groups who may be disadvantaged.

    He says the plan needs to be inclusive for all islanders and not just a select few.

    John Gollop
  2. Dutch Consul receives knighthoodpublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    There was a bit of a surprise for Guernsey's Geoff Norman at a reception at Government House last night. 

    The visiting Dutch Ambassador told him he was being given a knighthood in the order of Oranje-Nassau which is bestowed by King Wilhelm Alexander.

    Mr Norman - or Sir Norman as he'll be known in the Netherlands - has been the Dutch Consul in Guernsey for the last 32 years.

    Geoff NormanImage source, Chris George

    If anyone wants to surprise me with a knighthood, that's fine too.

  3. Weather in the Channel Islandspublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    BBC Weather

    Let's take a look at the weather for this evening.

    This is what we're facing in Jersey...

    Weather chart

    And here's the outlook for Guernsey...

    Weather chart
  4. Calls for motoring penalty pointspublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Jersey Evening Post

    A UK-style points system for motoring offences is being seriously considered by authorities, external and details of how it might work could be released before the end of the year, the Infrastructure Minister has said.

  5. Latest headlines in the Channel Islandspublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Jersey

    • The amount of sponsorship from Jersey's government to island rugby has been gradually reducing since it was first paid in 2012
    • Jersey's Health Minister has defended his choice of restructuring the current site to build a new hospital
    • Members are debating whether an elected speaker should preside over States meetings from 2018 rather than the Bailiff

    Guernsey

    • The Future Guernsey plan has been branded as "too right-wing" by Deputy John Gollop
    • The President of the Economic Development Committee, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, says Guernsey has been too ready to accept and adopt outside regulations 
    • A memorial to the Guernseymen who fought and died in the Battle of Cambrai is being erected in France next year
  6. Clayton pulls out due to 'rigorous' schedulepublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Tim Pryor
    BBC Sport

    Jersey tennis player Scott Clayton has pulled out of next year's Island Games because he already has a "rigorous schedule"over the grass-court season.

    Clayton will miss out on a trip to Gotland, but currently has a place at Wimbledon in his sights.

    Quote Message

    It's a really busy time for tennis, there's going to be all the British grass-court events taking place, so I just thought it was time to say that I wasn't going to be involved and now the people that are choosing the team can get on with that."

    Scott Clayton, Jersey tennis player

    Scott Clayton
  7. Memorial would mark island's 'blackest day'published at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Ben Chapple
    BBC News Online

    A memorial marking Guernsey's 'blackest day' will be unveiled in France next year, under plans released today.

    More than 80 islanders died on 30 November during the Battle of Cambrai in World War One.

    Gravestones of two unknown Royal Guernsey Light Infantry

    Russell Doherty, from the Guernsey Military History Company, said it was "the blackest day in the island's history".

    "It put the island on the map the same way Gallipoli did for the Australians, they celebrate the anniversary of the battle as their national day, ANZAC day."

  8. What does the Bailiff do?published at 13:34 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    Politicians are going to decide whether to remove the Bailiff as speaker of the States Assembly and elect their own speaker.

    This would leave the Bailiff as chief judge, but he actually has many more duties than just that.

    Currently the Bailiff's duties include:

    • Head of the judiciary  
    • President of the Royal Court  
    • President of the Court of appeal 
    • President of the States Assembly  
    • Deputy Governor in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor 
    • President of the College of Electors 
    • Responsible for giving permission for certain types of public entertainment
    • Civic head of the island 
    • Guardian of the constitution
  9. Questions to be asked over expenses of civil servantspublished at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    BBC Radio Jersey

    Questions will be asked in Jersey's States meeting today about a report into the cost of travel by Jersey's civil servants.

    Last week the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was highly critical of the way some States departments arranged travel.

    Deputy Andrew Lewis, the PAC Chairman, will make a statement in the Assembly and will answer questions from States members.

  10. Tributes paid to former deputypublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    BBC Radio Guernsey

    Guernsey's Bailiff has paid tribute to former deputy and island-wide Conseiller Tony Bran whose funeral takes place today. 

    Sir Richard Collas paid a warm tribute to Mr Bran who led the construction of Beau Sejour Leisure Centre in the 1970s. 

    In the assembly today, Sir Richard said Mr Bran fully embraced island life both politically and in the arts.

  11. Donald Trump's book dedication...published at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Whatever your opinion of Donald Trump may be, if I was writing the President-elect of the United States a message, I'd use my best handwriting.

    If this is Deputy Gavin St Pier's best, I think my old English teacher might want a word.

    Donald trump book dedication
  12. States to debate dual role of the Bailiffpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    Politicians in Jersey have rejected calls to delay a vote on the dual role of the Bailiff. Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst wanted the Privileges and Procedures Committee (PPC) to review the proposition first.

    PPC chairman, Constable Len Norman, said a review would not add anything new and so it should be debated.

    Members will now move on to debate whether the Bailiff should stop being both chief judge and speaker of the States Assembly.

  13. Gifting of the sea bed a highlight for departing Lieutenant Governorpublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Jersey's Lieutenant Governor says the Queen gifting the seabed to the people of the island is one of the biggest changes during his time in the role. 

    His Excellency Sir John McColl is leaving the island at the end of the month as his term as the Queen's Representative in Jersey comes to an end.

    The Lieutenant Governor said he hopes the gifting of the sea bed will benefit the people of Jersey.

    Quote Message

    It was right and proper that it should be available to the people of Jersey to look after their own wellbeing in the long-term. I think that is a significant change, and I hope in due course that the sea bed will create opportunities for the people of Jersey."

    His Excellency Sir John McColl, Jersey's Lieutenant Governor

    Sir John McColl
  14. States sponsorship of Jersey Reds will be 'reviewed as normal' next yearpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    BBC Radio Jersey

    The amount of sponsorship from Jersey's government to island rugby has been gradually reducing since it was first paid in 2012.

    Jersey RedsImage source, Jonathan Huelin

    This season the States spent £18,375 on sponsorship, falling from £75,000 when Jersey Reds first played in the Championship.

    Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for Economic Development, said it would be reviewed as normal next season but added it would be up to the Treasury Minister whether the States would step in to help the club's finances.

  15. Guernsey sends congratulations to Trumppublished at 11:36 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Chris Quevatre
    BBC News Online

    Guernsey's most senior politician has sent his congratulations to businessman Donald Trump on being elected President of the United States.

    Donald Trump

    Deputy Gavin St Pier sent President-elect Trump a copy of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", as a reminder of the shared history, values and connections between Guernsey and the USA.

    Potato Peel Pie book
  16. Jersey tennis player pulls out of Island Gamespublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Tim Pryor
    BBC Sport

    Jersey's top tennis player Scott Clayton will not compete at next summer's Island Games in Gotland.

    He's withdrawn from the selection process, choosing to focus on the British grass-court season instead as he tries to qualify for Wimbledon.

    Clayton is the latest leading local sportsperson to pull out of the 2017 event, following in the footsteps of cyclist Kim Ashton and archer Lucy O'Sullivan.

    Scott Clayton
  17. States pass budget motionpublished at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Gareth Owen
    BBC Radio Guernsey

    The States of Guernsey have passed a motion which - if finally approved - would see deficits in budgets dealt with through cuts in spending and more revenue raising measures.

    The Assembly is debating the first phase of the Policy and Resources Plan, or 'Future Guernsey', which aims to make the island "the happiest and healthiest place in the world".

    During debate West Deputy Emilie Yerby says the island can't wait for the economic storm to pass anymore. 

    Emilie Yerby
  18. Broadband speeds 'not good enough'published at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    BBC Radio Jersey

    The Channel Islands competition watchdog says broadband speeds customers receive across the Channel Islands aren't good enough given the way they're advertised. 

    CICRA went on to say that the variation in broadband quality raises social and economic questions around fair access to technology. 

    It's asking for input on a new telecoms plan of action.

    The plan can be found on CICRA's website, external and views need to be made by 30 November.

  19. Dual role of the Bailiff could be split if States agreepublished at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2016

    Ryan Morrison
    BBC News Online

    Politicians in Jersey are once again debating the duties of the Bailiff who currently acts as chief judge and speaker of the States.

    Bailiff

    The proposition by Deputy Montfort Tadier calls for those two roles to be split, leaving the Bailiff as chief judge and "first citizen". 

    Politicians would then elect a speaker in a similar way to the House of Commons in the UK.  

    The idea of splitting the role has been on and off the agenda since a review of the machinery of government in 2000.