Statement by the Chair of the Parishes and Government Review Panel re the relationship between the Parishes and the Government of Jersey

STATEMENT TO BE MADE BY THE CHAIR OF THE PARISHES AND GOVERNMENT REVIEW PANEL

ON TUESDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2026

The Panel was tasked with examining the relationship between the civic functions and services delivered by the parishes and those delivered by Government. We considered how collaboration currently operates, how Island-wide strategies are implemented through the parish network, how administrative and regulatory functions are exercised, and how the rates system functions in practice.

At the outset, I want to be clear about both our approach and our conclusion. The parish system remains a distinctive and valued part of Jersey's civic and constitutional framework. The evidence consistently demonstrated its strengths: deep local knowledge, continuity, and a strong community ethos delivering tangible benefit to Islanders.

However, our central conclusion is equally clear.

If the parish system is to remain trusted, resilient and effective in a modern Jersey,  it must modernise.

The foundations are historic and robust. But many of the processes, governance arrangements and legislative frameworks have not kept pace with modern expectations of transparency, accessibility, consistency and accountability.

Modernisation is not centralisation.

It is not the erosion of parish autonomy.

It is about safeguarding the system for the future by ensuring that it operates to contemporary standards and continues to command public confidence.

In examining the relationship between parish functions and Government administration, we found it generally constructive but largely informal. Too often it depends on personal relationships and goodwill rather than structured mechanisms. While that flexibility can work, it also creates inconsistency and limits coordinated delivery of Island-wide priorities.

Service delivery remains a core strength of the parish system. Many parish-led services are well regarded and embedded within their communities.

However, we identified significant variation in capacity, funding and long-term sustainability across parishes. We also found fragmentation and duplication in certain areas particularly in refuse and recycling arrangements despite Jersey's small geographic size.

In relation to play provision, we observed marked variation in scale, quality and forward planning. That variation creates a risk of geographic inequality in access to high-quality and inclusive facilities.

With regard to honorary policing, the system delivers substantial public value and cost efficiency. But it faces recruitment, training and funding pressures that raise legitimate questions about long- term sustainability and Island-wide resilience.

The Panel also examined how Government engages with parishes in delivering Island-wide strategies including priorities relating to children and young people, environmental sustainability, community safety and preventative health.

Parishes are well placed to support delivery of these priorities. However, engagement is variable and frequently informal. This limits the ability to embed coordinated delivery through the parish network, particularly given demographic differences and capacity variation.

We therefore recommend more structured and consistent engagement between Government and the parishes through the Comité des Connétable s when developing and implementing Island- wide strategies, while fully respecting local democratic decision-making.

In several administrative and regulatory areas including roads, parks, beaches, and firearms licensing we found that key arrangements rely on guidance that is non-statutory, not consistently applied, and not supported by clear assurance mechanisms. In a modern regulatory context, this creates risks of inconsistency and weak accountability.

The report therefore proposes staged reform: strengthening governance and consistency in the near term, and considering longer-term structural reform where evidence indicates the current model is no longer optimally aligned with modern expectations.

Turning to the rates system, we found that public understanding is low. There is widespread confusion about terminology, responsibilities, what rates fund and how assessments are determined. Differences in accounting practices and limited comparability between parish accounts further undermine transparency and public confidence.

Our recommendations focus on improving public understanding, strengthening comparability and establishing a proportionate baseline framework for parish accounts  without mandating centralisation or undermining parish autonomy.

This report is published at the end of the current Assembly term and ahead of the 2026 elections. The issues identified are structural and long term. Most recommendations are not capable of immediate implementation. They are intended to inform prioritisation and reform in the next Assembly term.

In closing, I reiterate the Panel's core position. Jersey's parish system remains vital to Island life. But to remain strong, it must evolve.

Modernisation is not about losing what is distinctive.

It is about protecting it, strengthening public confidence, and ensuring the parish system remains trusted, resilient and effective for future generations.