The new Senator will have only twenty months in office. They will require experience of the States to take opportunities and win the support of back benchers to policy changes. I have that knowledge and experience and will be able to hit the ground running from the very first States sitting. It will also require hard work .My track record proves I can offer both.
My record
I am not a career politician but have worked full time from the age of 16. For twenty-five years I was a senior civil servant in Jersey, thirteen of them as a Chief Officer. I have held senior positions in our finance and legal sectors for seven years as well as being active in voluntary work including Chairman and Treasurer of the Arts Centre. I am now a Planning Officer.
I sat as a Deputy for St Brelade for three years from 2011-14. I chaired the Environment Scrutiny Panel and served on several committees including the Access to Justice group. I successfully brought many private member’s propositions to the States, which
- improved the planning law and introduced a new appeals system;
- secured tax allowances for charitable donations;
- secured budget increases for environmental improvements;
- secured changes to Planning policies including;
- protection for St Brelades bay,
- protection for neighbouring properties from damaging development,
- over 55 housing in all parishes,
- achieved a return to work scheme to upgrade our coastal paths;
- moderated the loss of survivor’s pensions; and
- kept Piquet House in public ownership and use.
The Problem
Since the last election, the Council of Ministers has pursued policies which are out of touch with public opinion. Their isolated approach has eroded public confidence. We need a Senator who can combine honesty with independent thinking and bring about a new approach.
Key Issues
- Public spending is no longer under effective control. The States departmental silos remain intact and the Civil Service is top heavy with layers of management and bureaucracy. Public sector transformation needs a new approach.
- The cuts are hitting the wrong people. The proposed health and hospital charges are disguised tax increases. We should freeze tax increases and halt cuts to front line services, until the States house is in order.
- We need reform of our tax system for greater fairness including taxing the profits of non locally owned trading businesses.
- We need to modernise State Pensions.
- We need to control our population growth to reduce the demand for public services and future investment in infrastructure, and to prevent the need for “town cramming “which damages the quality of life for town residents.
- We need to establish Urban Improvement Areas to regenerate the back streets of town and reclaim the residential streets from traffic.
If elected, I will
- resign my employment to dedicate myself to the public;
- constructively challenge the Council of Ministers;
- work to correct the policy failures;
- work to find better solutions to our problems.