Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): seventh amendment. Home Ownership

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

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After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words – ", except that, on page 13 of the report –

1. there should be inserted a new action 6.2 as follows, with the subsequent actions redesignated accordingly –

"6.2 Prioritise home ownership in Jersey to support the economic wellbeing

and social mobility of Islanders"; and

2. after the words "quality of life", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"In order to improve the economic wellbeing and social mobility of Islanders, we must ensure that the rate of home ownership in Jersey is improved over the long-term. We must commit to inclusive education and the creation of high-value and high-income roles to support Islanders wishing to become homeowners."".

DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST. HELIER NORTH

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 13 of the report –

1. there should be inserted a new action 6.2 as follows, with the subsequent actions redesignated accordingly –

"6.2 Prioritise home ownership in Jersey to support the economic wellbeing

and social mobility of Islanders"; and

2. after the words "quality of life", there should be inserted the following paragraph –

"In order to improve the economic wellbeing and social mobility of Islanders, we must ensure that the rate of home ownership in Jersey is improved over the long-term. We must commit to inclusive education and the creation of

high-value and high-income roles to support Islanders wishing to become homeowners."".

REPORT

I  am  lodging  this  amendment  to  the  Common  Strategic  Policy  to  prioritise homeownership. As there appears to be a lack of detail on how the Council of Ministers will  support  homeownership  and  given  that  I  stood  on  a  mandate  to  increase homeownership. I have decided the best way forward is to seek States Assembly approval  of  this  CSP  amendment  to  commit  the  States  Assembly  to  support homeownership during this political term of office.

We need a long-term plan to increase the homeownership rate which stood at 54 percent in the 2021 Census. We cannot fulfil this objective via government funding alone to support Islanders entering homeownership. We must embrace the need to reform the education system to ensure that the education system gives every single Islander the best chance to excel in life.

In essence, the role of human capital should be central to government policy to improve equal opportunities and lifelong outcomes regardless of one's family background. We must achieve structural upward social mobility rather than individual mobility, as this defeats the objective of aspiring to achieve equal opportunities and improved equality of outcomes for all.

As politicians, we know the cost of housing is forcing Islanders to emigrate. We must ensure housing becomes more affordable for Islanders and therefore we must strive to improve structural upward social mobility and incomes. Should this be accomplished, then we will be better placed to increase the homeownership rate in the long-term.

With average incomes remaining disproportionate to property values, this has impacted many Islanders who cannot afford to get onto the property ladder. We must strive to improve the economic wellbeing of Islanders to support them into more advanced roles in  the  economy.  In  the  long-term,  should  this  be  achieved,  Islanders  who  enter homeownership and service their mortgage will be in a better financial position.

There remains no comprehensive and joined up strategy linking education to  the promotion of improved lifelong outcomes such as increasing homeownership. Should the States Assembly accept this amendment; the Council of Ministers should prioritise reforming the education system, alongside the creation of opportunities for structural change in the economy, to promote high-value and high-income roles to achieve improved growth and outcomes. This work will also indirectly promote homeownership as more Islanders could afford to buy properties.

While government funding can be useful to support Islanders entering homeownership. Such schemes do not address the origin of the problem, to create more high-value and high-income roles to improve housing affordability. We must recognise that this is not financially sustainable, nor should we be dependent on such schemes. We need to make a firm commitment to promote human capital, inclusive education, and structural upward social mobility to support  Islanders to realise their potential and become homeowners.

Financial and staffing implications

There will be no direct financial implications because of this CSP amendment. There will, however, be a need for officers in the department of Education and Li felong Learning to investigate prospective reforms to the education system to deliver a more inclusive  and  robust  curriculum,  to  promote  equal  opportunities  and  equality  of outcomes.

Additional work will be needed to focus on high-value and high-income roles in the economy to create more opportunities for islanders which will also support their ability to  enter  homeownership.  Where  possible,  if  spare  funding  is  available  then  the government can continue financial support for the First Step Scheme.

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.