Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): twelfth amendment. Increase Government transparency, openness and accountability

COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY 2026-2030 (P.75/2026): TWELFTH AMENDMENT

____________

1  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that, on Page 5, after Priority 11 there should be inserted the following new Priority within the summary table of priorities –

2  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words –

",  except  that,  on  Page  19,  after  Priority  11,  there  should  be  inserted  the following Priority –

"12.  Increase  Government  transparency,  openness  and  accountability, proactively support civic and democratic engagement and participation, and strengthen public trust in Jersey's democratic institutions

Actions:

1. Improve transparency of decision-making across Government departments, including through the publication of clearer and more accessible information on policy development, delivery and performance data.
2. Make Government processes, consultations and public information easier to access and understand, allowing Islanders to engage more confidently with decisions that affect their lives, and monitor public trust through regular surveys  to  help  drive  continuous  improvement  in  transparency, accountability and public engagement.
3. Commit to the sustained integration of democratic and political education throughout the school curriculum, and support and promote the work of the States  Greffe  in  enhancing  and  expanding  democratic  and  political education, outreach, public engagement, and civic participation programs and initiatives along with relevant departments and stakeholders, including the Parishes.

4. Ensure  the  long-term  support,  technical  upkeep,  and  funding  of  the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, working collaboratively with the Parishes, the Judicial Greffe, and relevant departments to maintain accurate, secure, and modern electoral data.  

A healthy democracy depends on people understanding how decisions are made, feeling able to participate, and having confidence that Government is acting openly and responsibly.

While trust in public services has increased in the last year, many Islanders still feel disconnected from democratic and political processes or are unsure about how to engage with them. Members of the public can often be left frustrated by complex, unclear communication or a lack of accessible information. If we want people to have confidence in our institutions, we must ensure Government is transparent, approachable and accountable.

We  will  improve  the  way  Government  communicates  by  providing  clearer information about how policies are developed, how decisions are taken and what outcomes are being achieved. Islanders should not have to navigate complicated systems to understand what Government is doing or how decisions affect them. Information should be accessible, timely and easy to find.

We also recognise the importance of listening. Regular surveys and feedback mechanisms  will  help  us  understand  public  perceptions,  identify  areas  for improvement and ensure Government remains responsive to the communities it serves.

We  will  continue  to  support  democratic,  civic,  and  political  education  and engagement initiatives, working with the States Greffe and partner organisations to help people better understand how Jersey's democratic system operates and how they can get involved. Greater awareness leads to greater participation, and stronger participation strengthens our democracy.

Sustaining a modern electoral infrastructure is vital to enhancing civil participation. Following the successful delivery of the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, the Government remains committed to its long-term viability and technical support. We will work in close partnership with the Parishes, the Judicial Greffe, and data-holding departments to ensure that voter data remains accurate, secure, and seamless, safeguarding an inclusive democratic process for all Islanders.

By  improving  Government  transparency  and  access  to  information,  we  can strengthen  accountability  and  ensure  Islanders  feel  informed,  empowered  and connected to the decisions that shape Jersey's future."".

DEPUTY C.S. ALVES OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 18(2)(e) of the States of Jersey Law 2005, to approve the statement of the Common Strategic Policy of the Council of Ministers as set out in the report accompanying this Proposition, except that, on Page 5, after Priority  11  there  should  be  inserted  the  following  new  Priority  within  the summary table of priorities –

and on Page 19, after Priority 11, there should be inserted the following Priority –

"12.  Increase  Government  transparency,  openness  and  accountability, proactively support civic and democratic engagement and participation, and strengthen public trust in Jersey's democratic institutions

Actions:

1. Improve transparency of decision-making across Government departments, including through the publication of clearer and more accessible information on policy development, delivery and performance data.
2. Make Government processes, consultations and public information easier to access and understand, allowing Islanders to engage more confidently with decisions that affect their lives, and monitor public trust through regular surveys  to  help  drive  continuous  improvement  in  transparency, accountability and public engagement.
3. Commit to the sustained integration of democratic and political education throughout the school curriculum, and support and promote the work of the States  Greffe  in  enhancing  and  expanding  democratic  and  political education, outreach, public engagement, and civic participation programs and initiatives along with relevant departments and stakeholders, including the Parishes.
4. Ensure  the  long-term  support,  technical  upkeep,  and  funding  of  the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, working collaboratively with the Parishes, the Judicial Greffe, and relevant departments to maintain accurate, secure, and modern electoral data.  

A healthy democracy depends on people understanding how decisions are made, feeling able to participate, and having confidence that Government is acting openly and responsibly.

While trust in public services has increased in the last year, many Islanders still feel disconnected from democratic and political processes or are unsure about how to engage with them. Members of the public can often be left frustrated by complex, unclear communication or a lack of accessible information. If we want people to have confidence in our institutions, we must ensure Government is transparent, approachable and accountable.

We  will  improve  the  way  Government  communicates  by  providing  clearer information about how policies are developed, how decisions are taken and what outcomes are being achieved. Islanders should not have to navigate complicated systems to understand what Government is doing or how decisions affect them. Information should be accessible, timely and easy to find.

We also recognise the importance of listening. Regular surveys and feedback mechanisms  will  help  us  understand  public  perceptions,  identify  areas  for improvement and ensure Government remains responsive to the communities it serves.

We  will  continue  to  support  democratic,  civic,  and  political  education  and engagement initiatives, working with the States Greffe and partner organisations to help people better understand how Jersey's democratic system operates and how they can get involved. Greater awareness leads to greater participation, and stronger participation strengthens our democracy.

Sustaining a modern electoral infrastructure is vital to enhancing civil participation. Following the successful delivery of the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system, the Government remains committed to its long-term viability and technical support. We will work in close partnership with the Parishes, the Judicial Greffe, and data-holding departments to ensure that voter data remains accurate, secure, and seamless, safeguarding an inclusive democratic process for all Islanders.

By  improving  Government  transparency  and  access  to  information,  we  can strengthen  accountability  and  ensure  Islanders  feel  informed,  empowered  and connected to the decisions that shape Jersey's future."".

REPORT

"Islanders rightly expect Government to be efficient, responsive and transparent."

The words of our Chief Minister in his candidate statement. And words with which I don't think anyone in the States Assembly would disagree.

Strong democratic systems rely upon an informed public, transparent institutions and accessible mechanisms for participation. This is summed up clearly in the OECD commentary on Open government and citizen participation –

"Open government policies and practices are widely recognised as important avenues to reinforcing democracy and strengthening trust in public institutions. OECD Trust Survey data confirms that open government is a key driver of citizens' confidence in their government. People who have a feel that they have a say in what the government does report higher trust in government. This highlights that governments must do better in both giving and responding to the voice of people to meet evolving expectations."

OECD figures show the low levels of trust in national governments worldwide –

Source: Drivers of trust over time: Lessons from the third wave of the OECD Trust Survey: OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions 2026 Results | OECD

Jersey is not an exception to low public trust. Whilst trust in the Assembly and Government departments have increased since 2024, this trust remains at worryingly low levels

Priority 12

What this Amendment seeks to achieve through the implementation of Priority 12 is two part, the first of which is to fundamentally embed the principal of transparency in the  priorities  of  Government.  Transparency,  openness  and  accountability  should underpin all actions of Government in order to maintain and build public trust and participation.

The second part of the Amendment is fundamentally linked to the first. The Assembly needs to increase public trust in Jersey's democratic institutions – equally there needs to  be  a  commitment  from  Government  to  democracy  and  to  supporting  civic participation, in order to regain the faith and democratic engagement of Islanders.

Priorities 12.1 and 12.2 Public trust

Jersey's  review  of  Freedom  of  Information  arrangements  concluded  that  greater proactive publication of information could reduce unnecessary requests and strengthen transparency and accountability, stating that –

"The Government of Jersey aims to reduce the administrative and financial burden of responding to Freedom of Information requests by taking a more proactive approach to transparency

The overarching goal is to shift from a reactive to a proactive model of information release improving efficiency, reducing duplication, and ultimately enhancing public confidence in open government."

These are aims that tie in directly to the proposed Amendment – which merely seeks to focus the attention of Government on following through with oft cited proposals and intent.

For example, the Government's commitment to the Open Data programme went live in 2015, following the UK's example of best practise. However, there is a need to be mindful of not only access, but audience, and accessibility.

Here I am reminded of my former colleague Deputy Southern 's ongoing frustration at trying to access Social Security information in the same format it had previously been provided in their full annual report (last published in 2017). The information is all now published in Open Data – however it is available in large excel files which are not easily accessible and can lead to difficulties in extracting the relevant data.

Whilst Open Data is important, my amendment also asks Government to commit to "publication of clearer and more accessible information", allowing us to build public trust through clarity and openness.

It should also be noted that the Comptroller and Auditor General has highlighted that effective  public  reporting  enables  citizens  to  understand  government  priorities, expenditure  and  performance,  whilst  providing  the  information  necessary  to  hold decision-makers accountable.

Consultations

Government consultation is an important process for building public trust but also for developing policy in a way that includes the public voice. Consultations are most effective when the public can easily understand proposals and see how their views influence decisions.

The Government of Jersey's Consultation Code emphasises that consultations should enable Islanders to contribute to policy development and improve decision-making. It also highlights the importance of providing information in accessible formats.

The amendment seeks to maintain the terms of the Code, but also to improve the accessibility  and  reach  of  consultations,  with  the potential  to expand  deliberative engagement mechanisms, for example through community engagement forums and consultation events.

It also seeks Government to take the next step forward in monitoring and surveying consultation  engagement,  in  order  to  improve  accountability  and  democratic engagement.

Priorities 12.3 and 12.4

Democracy functions most effectively when citizens understand political institutions and feel empowered to participate.

Education

The States Greffe has invested significantly in education and outreach resources, with democratic and political education as one of its strategic priorities. This work includes dedicated  Education  and  Outreach  Officers,  youth  engagement  programmes  and curriculum support. In this way the Greffe provides learning opportunities for students ranging  from  primary  education  through  post-16  learning,  helping  young  people understand parliamentary processes and democratic participation

However,  when  it  comes  to  the  mainstream  curriculum,  despite  the  inclusion  of Citizenship with PSHE classes, Island politics remain a very small part of school

learning. Including the priority requested within this amendment is not necessarily asking the Education Department to make wholesale changes to the curriculum, but to take steps to ensure democratic and political education remains an important and integral part of learning.

Political Outreach

During the election period the Government was silent in relation to election activities. This was a choice and not an obligation – the Government eventually agreeing to put out some very basic' information on their channels at the last election. In fact as the Chief  Minister  stated  during  question  time  for  his  nomination  as  Chief  Minister delegate, as the world did not end, we can get better at it for the next election'.

The reach of Government in the Island is extensive and could have been used to positively reinforce the democratic and electoral process by actively supporting the work undertaken by the States Greffe and Vote.je.  Whilst it is important for the Government to stay neutral in the election, it is equally important for them to utilise their platform to promote democracy and public information.

Support of Automatic Voter Registration

Automatic  Voter  Registration  (AVR')  represents  one  of  the  most  significant democratic reforms undertaken in Jersey in recent years.

Introduced  in  March  2026,  AVR  automatically  registers  eligible  voters  using Government-held  data,  reducing  administrative  burdens  and  removing  barriers  to electoral participation. The reform was designed to improve accessibility, modernise electoral administration and reduce costs.

The system operates collaboratively between Government Departments, the Parishes and electoral administrators, while allowing members of the public to verify and update their electoral information.

The concern here arises if Government decide that their part is done. The system relies on financial support and maintenance of accurate data – notwithstanding any system upgrades or technical maintenance. It must remain a priority not only for the Jersey Electoral Authority and the Parishes, but for Government, to ensure that democratic accessibility is maintained.

The intention here is to maintain accurate electoral registers, to reduce voting barriers and to improve confidence in the electoral process.

Conclusion

The inclusion of Priority 12 presents an opportunity to strengthen Jersey's democratic infrastructure  by  embedding  transparency,  accountability,  participation  and  civic education at the heart of public administration.

Existing  initiatives,  including  enhanced  States  Greffe  outreach  programmes, consultation frameworks, and the introduction of Automatic Voter Registration, provide a strong foundation. However, long-term success will require sustained investment, institutional commitment and continuous evaluation.

Priority  12  complements  the  other  11  priorities  by  reaffirming  that  strengthening democratic and political engagement requires a long-term commitment. Achieving this ambition will depend on collaborative working, supported by evidence-based research.

This  policy  direction  is  also  strongly  supported  by  recent  research  and  evidence examining youth engagement, hard-to-reach segments, and voter journeys in Jersey and wider jurisdictions (Pich, 2023; Pich et al., 2025; Pich, 2026). Integrating Priority 12 ensures  that  future  policy  actions  remain  grounded  in  rigorous,  context-specific research.

By improving transparency, making public information more accessible, expanding civic education and safeguarding electoral modernisation, Jersey can build a more informed,  engaged  and  confident  public  and  strengthen  trust  in  its  democratic institutions for future generations.

Financial and staffing implications

The additional work required to support this priority should be minimal. Priority 12 seeks to embed best practise and prioritise transparency within processes – there should be no further costs to releasing information than to not doing so.

Ongoing costs in relation to support and maintenance of AVR should already be factored into the budget for Digital Services.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

I consider that this amendment has no direct or indirect impact on children and that the duty to have due regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child does not arise. Accordingly, a Children's Rights Impact Assessment is not required under the Children (Convention Rights) (Jersey) Law 2022.