Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): twenty-second amendment. Subsequent Common Strategic Policy

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

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1  PAGE 2 –

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

", except that, in paragraph 3 on page 2 of the report, the words "for the next four years" should be deleted, with any subsequent references in the report to a four- year term for the proposed Common Strategic Policy to be amended or deleted accordingly"".

2  PAGE 2 –

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

", except that on page 5 of the report, after the words "drive forward and be held accountable  for  as  a  Council."  there  should  be  inserted  the  following  new paragraph –

"To ensure that the Common Strategic Policy is a deliverable and measurable plan, the Council of Ministers will bring forward the legislative changes required to allow for a new or updated Common Strategic Policy to be lodged and debated before the 2028 Budget is debated, with the Policy's priorities and actions aligning with the timeframe of that Budget."".

DEPUTY C.J. REBINDAINE OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER

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 in paragraph 3 on page 2 of the report, the words "for the next four years" should be deleted, with any subsequent references in the report to a four-year term for the proposed Common Strategic Policy to be amended or deleted accordingly", and on page 5 of the report, after the words "drive forward and be held accountable for as a Council" there should be inserted the following new paragraph –

"To ensure that the Common Strategic Policy is a deliverable and measurable plan,  the  Council  of  Ministers  will  bring  forward  the  legislative  changes required to allow for a new or updated Common Strategic Policy to be lodged and debated before the 2028 Budget is debated, with the Policy's priorities and actions aligning with the timeframe of that Budget.".

REPORT

Purpose

This amendment is intended to ensure the Council of Ministers ("CoM") submits a new or revised Common Strategic Policy ("CSP") to the Assembly next year alongside the budget proposals for 2028 to 2030 (three-year budget as proposed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources).

Members would therefore be able to assess CoM's priorities alongside the resources proposed for their delivery and approve any changes needed for the remainder of the term. The amendment wording commits to the existing priorities whilst removing the reference that they relate to a four-year period. It also acknowledges the legislative changes that will be required to bring forward a subsequent CSP.

Background

Article 18 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 requires CoM to lodge its CSP within four months  of  appointment,  and  no  later  than  its  first  Budget.  The  proposed  CSP (P.75/2026) covers the period from 2026 to 2030.

The Government has described 2027 as a transitional Budget year while "the Council of Ministers develops a more strategic three-year programme for 2028–2030"[1]. There is already acceptance within the CSP that certain financial decisions will be postponed –

"Deferring a wider debate on reserves until summer 2027 will provide time to assess the medium-term financial position, the capital pipeline and the strength of the economy before making decisions about the long-term use of strategic funds.[2]"

This is a prudent decision, but arguably it applies equally to the decision to bind the Assembly to a four-year CSP.

At the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel hearing on 16th October 2026, the Chief Minister acknowledged that short-term CSP priorities were funded, but further work was needed on the longer-term priorities and their funding. That work may significantly change the spending plans reflected in the Budget's forward estimates.

The Assembly should therefore have the opportunity to reconsider the CSP alongside the resulting programme and financial proposals. Currently Members are being asked to endorse a short to medium term direction of travel before there is full visibility of the funding arrangements and budget decisions that will underpin delivery.

Consequently, while the CSP sets out the Government's ambitions and priorities, it cannot yet provide assurance regarding how objectives will be resourced and either commenced or achieved over the four-year period.

Agreeing priorities alongside the resources to deliver them will give Islanders greater confidence that the CSP will be delivered, creating a more dynamic and responsive policy framework while preserving democratic oversight.

Aligning commitments and resources

The CSP should establish whether the commitments for 2028 to 2030 can be delivered within the resources proposed for those years, and identify any changes needed to align the  policy  and  Budget.  This  would  allow  Members  to  consider  adjustments  to commitments or their timing where the funding position requires them.

Amongst  other  things,  a  new  or  updated  CSP  would  provide  Ministers  with  an opportunity to –

• Review progress against existing commitments;

• Remove commitments that are no longer realistic;

• Introduce new priorities arising from emerging circumstances.

The amendment also explicitly includes the wording deliverable and measurable', pushing CoM and the Government to make the CSP an active document with real effect on policy and procedure rather than a tick box at the beginning of the political term, that is quickly forgotten.

Timing and the Assembly decision

Strategic  priorities  are  increasingly  affected  by  changing  economic  conditions, demographic pressures, technological developments, and emerging public expectations. The policies currently under discussion are unlikely to fully reflect the position of the Government throughout their term.

Policies  should  be  reviewed  in  conjunction  with  the  financial  proposals  lodged alongside them, and as such, should be debated before the relevant Budget. This would allow Members to consider commitments and resources together while there is still an opportunity to influence the financial choices.

The CSP approved in 2026 would continue to provide direction until the Assembly takes that further decision.

Conclusion

Agreeing to this amendment would ensure that the Assembly can reconsider CSPs when the Government's full financial proposals are available. It would provide opportunity to align the commitments for 2028 to 2030 with the resources proposed for their delivery.

Finally, the  proposed  amendment would strengthen strategic governance, enhance financial planning, and establish a clearer link between political priorities and public expenditure.

Financial and staffing implications

Officer time would be required to redraft the CSP against the proposed resources and prepare the policy and accompanying report for the Assembly. Integrating this work with the preparation of the Budget in 2027 should reduce duplication.

The legislative drafting required to allow for the lodging of a subsequent CSP could be combined with the work currently being undertaken by the Minister for Treasury and Resources to amend the States of Jersey Law 2005 to implement his proposed 3-year budget cycle. Preparing and debating these two items together would reduce on drafting time and on Assembly time.

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.

[1] Proposed Budget 2027-2030 P-73-2026.pdf

[2] Common Strategic Policy 2026-2030 P-75-2026_1.pdf