Scrutiny will examine the Government Plan for 2021 to 24 following the Plan’s release by Government today. The Government Plan aims to support the sustainable economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of our Island.
In order to coordinate a full and detailed examination of the latest Government Plan, the ‘Government Plan Review Panel’ has been established. The Panel will work with all Scrutiny Panel’s to examine the Government Plan over the next nine weeks via thorough engagement with stakeholders, a review of all proposed initiatives, and evaluation of the progress of existing programmes. The Panels will then produce a series of reports making recommendations for amendments, improvements and changes, which will be debated in December 2020.
At first glance of the Government Plan 2021-2024, the Panel has already identified a number of matters that it will follow up, such as:
Borrowing a considerable sum of money instead of using the Strategic Reserve (Rainy Day Fund) – including utilising £336 million in 2021 from the Revolving Credit facility of £500 million obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources in May 2020;
The approach to and level of efficiencies and the potential impact on delivering services to Islanders, and;
The robustness of the evidence which underpins many of the assumptions on which the Government Plan is based – including presently the absence of the Income Forecasting Group’s report.
Senator Moore, Chair of the Government Plan Review Panel, highlights the importance of the work being undertaken, saying, “Scrutiny of the Government’s plan for the next four years is of vital importance, especially following the impact that COVID-19 has had on all our lives during 2020.
“Although we only have nine weeks to scrutinise all elements of the Plan, report our findings and lodge amendments where appropriate, we will do our best to make sure the budget allocations for all capital and revenue projects are sufficient for all islanders’ wellbeing and economic recovery.
“I look forward to engaging with stakeholders and the wider public in the coming weeks.”
The Government Plan Review Panel will hold public hearings with the Chief Minister on 16 October and 20 November, and with the Minister of Treasury and Resources on 19 October and 23 November. Members of the public can stay up to date with all of the Scrutiny Panels’ Government Plan public hearings with Ministers by following the States Assembly Twitter feed.
Scrutiny Press Release.