26 October 2010
Regular meetings between Guernsey’s Commerce and Employment (C&E) and Jersey’s Economic Development Department (EDD) continued with a video-conference meeting on Friday 15 October.
The departments discussed a range of common issues from tourism marketing, sea links, financial services, competition and regulation. EDD was represented by Senator Alan Maclean and C&E by its Board. Significant progress on pan-Channel Island co-operation was achieved in a number of key areas including:
- agreement for a joint consultation later this year on the creation of a financial ombudsman
- a joint feasibility study in the creation of a Channel Island Aircraft Register
- agreement for exploring ways for closer co-operation between Jersey's Skills Executive and Guernsey’s Skills Development Group.
Further updates on these 3 areas of interest will be made available in due course as the matters are progressed.
In addition C&E and EDD considered a preliminary assessment of the responses to the joint consultation process on car and passenger ferry services. It was agreed that the preliminary assessment and summary of responses should be published. It was also agreed that meetings will be held with Condor to get the company’s views on issues raised in the consultation responses and how it would propose to address them. There will also be liaison with the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) and the Office of Utility Regulation (OUR). The departments will then consider what action needs to be taken immediately and in preparation for expiration of the current permits and agreements at the end of 2013.
Minister C&E Department, Deputy McNulty Bauer,said “These regular meetings between the departments are proving to be extremely valuable in developing our relationship with our Jersey counterparts and identifying opportunities for sharing costs for the benefit of tax payers across the Channel Islands. We have already seen the benefits of closer co-operation with the pooling of resources within the OUR and the JCRA which has been favourably received by licensees and we will continue to monitor how these arrangements work.”
Minister for Economic Development, Senator Maclean, said:“As the appointment of the joint head of the JCRA and the OUR in Guernsey, has demonstrated, there is much to be gained from increasing co-operation between Jersey and Guernsey. At the very successful video conference, the EDD and C&E teams agreed further areas for joint working that I am sure will deliver new services to both islands with efficient and cost effective delivery, saving tax payers' money.”
gov.je