Letter - Proposed Budget 2027-30 Review Launch - 14 October 2026

States Greffe

Senator Mary Le Hegaret Minister for the Environment

BY EMAIL

14th October 2026

Dear Minister

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel Proposed Budget 2027-2030 Review

I write to inform you that the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel has agreed to undertake a review of the Proposed Budget 2027-2030 [P.73/2026]. Attached to this letter are the Terms of Reference for the Panel's review.

We intend to begin our work immediately and have scheduled a public hearing with you to be held on 2nd November 2026. To inform our review, we will also be seeking the views of industry professionals and the general public.

For the workstreams in your remit, where any key supporting documentation has not yet been shared with the Panel or has changed, we request to receive this updated information without delay. Specifically, the Panel requests the following information in respect of your ministerial portfolio:

1. The Proposed Budget 2027-2030 establishes a standalone Environment Head of Expenditure. During previous discussions, the Panel noted that a number of functions and budgets have transferred into the Department as part of the revised Ministerial structure. The Panel wishes to understand how the Department's resources are allocated and how the proposed budget will support delivery of its responsibilities.

Please provide:

1. A breakdown of the Environment Department's principal functions and service areas.
2. Details of functions and budgets transferred into or out of the Department as part of the departmental restructure.
3. An explanation of the principal changes between the 2026 and 2027 budget allocations.
4. How the proposed budget will support delivery of the Department's priorities during the period covered by the Proposed Budget 2027-2030.

2. During the quarterly hearing, concerns were raised regarding the impact of recruitment restrictions and the reliance on specialist staff within relatively small service areas. The Panel wishes to understand whether the Department has sufficient capacity to deliver its statutory responsibilities and planned work programme.

Please provide:

1. The number of posts currently vacant within the Department.
2. The number of vacancies that are subject to recruitment restrictions.
3. Details of any functions or service areas currently operating below intended staffing levels.
4. Any significant workforce or resource risks identified by the Department.

3. The Water Strategy was identified as a key ministerial priority by the previous Minister for the Environment. Given the continued importance of water quality, water resource management and long-term water resilience, including ongoing work relating to PFAS contamination, the Panel wishes to understand how this work will be progressed during the Proposed Budget 2027-2030 period.

Please provide:

1. The current status of the Water Strategy.
2. The anticipated timetable for publication and implementation.
3. The key objectives and proposed workstreams, including any measures relating to PFAS and water quality improvement.
4. The current status of the Government's consideration and implementation of recommendations arising from the Panel's PFAS review.
5. How delivery of the Water Strategy, PFAS-related work and associated water quality initiatives will be funded during the Proposed Budget 2027-2030 period.
6. Whether the Minister considers the funding available within the Proposed Budget sufficient to deliver this work, and if so, how these priorities will be accommodated within the department's existing funding envelope.

4. The  Common  Strategic  Policy  includes  a  commitment  to  deliver  practical improvements to Jersey's countryside, coast and biodiversity. The Panel wishes to better understand the specific initiatives that are proposed and how success will be measured.

Please provide:

1. Details of the practical improvements intended during the period covered by the Proposed Budget 2027-2030.
2. The funding allocated to support these initiatives.
3. The outcomes and performance measures that will be used to assess success.

5. During  the  quarterly  hearing,  reference  was  made  to  a  revised  Carbon  Neutral Roadmap delivery plan and an increased focus on adaptation measures. The Panel wishes to understand how this work will be progressed and funded during the budget period.

Please provide:

1. The anticipated timetable for publication of the revised Carbon Neutral Roadmap delivery plan.
2. The principal changes currently under consideration.
3. How climate adaptation measures will be reflected within the revised delivery plan.
4. How funding available through the Climate Emergency Fund will be prioritised across the measures contained within the revised delivery plan, including the extent  to  which  climate  adaptation  measures  will  be  funded  alongside decarbonisation initiatives.

6. The Panel notes that the development of a Fuel Duty Replacement Policy has been referenced in successive Government Plans as a response to the expected long-term decline in fuel duty revenues associated with changes in vehicle usage and the transition to lower-emission transport. While the policy is primarily intended to address future revenue sustainability, the Panel wishes to understand whether environmental considerations have also informed its development, particularly in relation to the Island's carbon reduction ambitions and objectives to encourage more sustainable travel behaviours.

Please provide:

a)  Details of any assessment undertaken of how a future Fuel Duty Replacement

Policy  could  support  the  Island's  environmental  and  carbon  reduction objectives, including encouraging the uptake of lower-emission vehicles and sustainable transport choices.

We would be grateful to receive this information by a formal response no later than 21st October 2026. Please be advised that it is the Panel's intention to publish the response it receives on the States Assembly website.

We hope that the evidence we gather, and our final output will help inform the work of Government for the Proposed Budget 2027-2030. I would be happy to address any questions you may have regarding the Panel's work for this review.

Yours sincerely,

Deputy Hilary Jeune

Chair

Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

Proposed Budget 2027 – 2030 Review

Terms of Reference
Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel

1. To review components of the Proposed Budget 2027-2030 Proposition [P.73/2026] (with a focus on 2027) as relevant to the remit of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel to determine the following:

1. The impact of the Budget proposals on departmental budgets, savings and staffing levels.
2. Whether the revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects are appropriate and likely to have a positive impact on Islanders.
3. How the proposed revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects align with the Common Strategic Policy to deliver on the priorities, and in line with Departments' plans for delivery.
4. Whether the resources allocated to revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects are sufficient, ensure value for money and demonstrate the best use of public funds.

2. To assess the impact of the Budget proposals on the States Funds relevant to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel including the Climate Emergency Fund, Jersey Car Parking Fund, Jersey Fleet Management Fund, and Jersey Capital Investment Fund.