Government to focus on cost of living, hospital facilities and housing

09 April 2024

The Council of Ministers has set out 12 priorities in the proposed Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026, which was lodged on Tuesday 9 April 2024. It outlines benefits for:

Households – transitioning to a living wage, reducing GP costs, and keeping Government fees, duties, and charges as low as possible.
Families – making nutritious school meals available in all States primary schools, as well as extending nursery and childcare provision.
Patients and care providers – delivering urgent improvements in our health services and beginning construction of a new hospital at Overdale.
Islanders – provide more affordable homes, deliver a new licensing scheme for rented accommodation, a new Residential Tenancy Law to improve arrangements for both tenants and landlords, and a review of the social rents policy to prioritise those in greatest need.
Businesses – removing unnecessary bureaucracy, focusing on skills development, improving the planning processes, and creating incentives to strengthen Jersey’s reputation as a stable and well-regulated place to do business.
Community – delivering a plan to revitalise Town and implement measures to adopt the recommendations of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce report.

Alongside these priorities, business as usual activities will continue across the public sector, including meeting our commitments to address climate change through the Carbon Neutral Roadmap.

Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, said: “The Council of Ministers is proposing sensible, practical solutions that can be delivered during this term of office, whilst maintaining sound public finances and preventing unnecessary expenditure. This includes curbing the growth in the public sector and redirecting monies saved to areas where it is needed most.

“Islanders want the Government to provide stability, operate quality essential services and always act in the best interests of Jersey. This Government will work in an inclusive way to deliver the best outcomes for Islanders.”

The Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026 is scheduled to be debated by the States Assembly on 21 May. The 12 priorities are aligned with the long-term vision set out in the Future Jersey report and the ten Island Outcomes arising from it.