Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): seventeenth amendment. Responding to demographic change

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

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1  PAGE 2 –

After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words – ", except that –

1. on page 4 of the report, after the words "connected and supported", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"Jersey's ageing population and falling birth rate are among the most significant long-term challenges facing the Island. They affect the size of our workforce, demand for health and care services, housing needs and public finances. We will take account of demographic changes across all priorities of the Common Strategic Policy."

2. on page 9 of the report, after the words "where the Island can compete", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will work with businesses to maximise the opportunities created, and address the challenges posed, by an ageing workforce, and support social inclusivity throughout the economy."

3. on page 13 of the report –

1. there should be inserted the following new action 6.5 –

"6.5  Introduce  and  implement  the  Age-Friendly  Infrastructure Framework as agreed by the States Assembly";

2. after the words "an ageing public estate" there should be inserted the words ", an ageing population,"; and
3. after the words "more resilient places" there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will present the Age-Friendly Infrastructure Framework to the States Assembly and begin implementing it during this electoral term, so that new homes, transport, public spaces and public buildings work for Islanders at every stage of life."".

CONNÉTABLE OF ST. HELIER

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 –

1. on page 4 of the report, after the words "connected and supported", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"Jersey's  ageing  population  and  falling  birth  rate  are  among  the  most significant long-term challenges facing the Island. They affect the size of our workforce, demand for health and care services, housing needs and public finances. We will take account of demographic changes across all priorities of Common Strategic Policy."

2. on page 9 of the report, after the words "where the Island can compete", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will work with businesses to maximise the opportunities created, and address the challenges posed, by an ageing workforce, and support social inclusivity throughout the economy."

3. on page 13 of the report –

1. there should be inserted the following new action 6.5 as follows –

"6.5  Introduce  and  implement  the  Age-Friendly  Infrastructure Framework as agreed by the States Assembly";

2. after the words "an ageing public estate" there should be inserted the words ", an ageing population,"; and
3. after the words "more resilient places" there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"We will present the Age-Friendly Infrastructure Framework to the States Assembly and begin implementing it during this electoral term, so that new homes, transport, public spaces and public buildings work for Islanders at every stage of life.".

REPORT

This amendment seeks to establish a clear focus on the Island's ageing population to ensure that this long-term challenge facing the Island, which affects the size of our workforce, demand for health and care services, housing needs and public finances, receives the attention and support it requires.

It is important to consider that –

• the  Joined-up  public  infrastructure  framework  for  an  ageing  population (P.50/2025) was approved as amended in July of 2025, by 39 votes to 1, yet the proposed Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030 (CSP) makes no mention of it;

• the Common Strategic Policy 2024–2026 and the Ageing Well Roadmap both reference Jersey's ageing population; and

• the Chief Minister has acknowledged in the Common Population Policy Annual Report 2025 (R.14/2026) that ageing is one of the Island's most serious future challenges –

"Jersey continues to experience the same demographic challenges faced by many other advanced economies: lower birth rates, an ageing population, and global competition for skilled workers." (p. 3)

Further, Statistics Jersey's Population and migration (December 2024) notes that the number of Islanders aged 65 and over grew by 12% between 2019 and 2024 (p. 1), against overall population growth of only 1% (p. 8).

According  to  the  Common  Population  Policy  Annual  Report  2025  (R.14/2026), whatever the level of future migration, the number aged 85 and over is projected to more than double (p. 27). In 2024, 14,200 Islanders were living with two or more long-term health conditions, and these become far more common with age (p. 28).

At the same time, fertility in Jersey is at its lowest recorded level, and in 2024 there were more deaths than births (p. 6). More than a quarter of all workers are now aged 55 and over, and more people are reaching 65 and leaving the working-age population than are turning 16 and joining it (p. 15).

The Annual Report warns that "Without action, Jersey will face a reducing labour force, with potentially serious economic impacts" (p. 16).

The  proposed  CSP  contains  commitments  on  healthcare,  housing,  infrastructure, economic growth and skills, all of which will be significantly affected by these changes. It refers to an ageing public estate and to anticipating future healthcare demands, but it does not recognise population ageing as a strategic challenge in its own right. This is why demographic changes should be reflected in the Common Strategic Policy 2026- 2030.

An age-friendly approach to all policy considerations is a social imperative and a financially sound investment in Jersey's future, since supporting older Islanders to remain independent, active, and connected would deliver measurable savings to our health and care systems. Furthermore, encouraging employers to better support an

ageing workforce will have significant economic benefits for the Island and older people themselves.

While an ageing population can be seen as a challenge it is also an opportunity to consider strategic approaches to support older people to –

• stay healthy and mobile longer;

• delay or avoid residential care;

• connect and contribute to their community; and

• remain in employment if they wish to;

all of which ensures better lives for our older Islanders and Jersey as a whole.

The amendment does not create significant new areas of policy. It builds on work the Council of Ministers has already recognised through the Common Population Policy, and on the Age-Friendly Infrastructure Framework the Assembly has already agreed and ensures that both are reflected in the Government's primary strategic planning document.

Financial and staffing implications

In  the  long-term  adopting  and  implementing  the  Age-Friendly  Infrastructure Framework may have an impact on government capital projects as the Framework would need to be factored into all ongoing projects as part of the business case.

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.