Newcomers make their mark on States Committees

Thursday 22 October 2020

Almost every committee president has achieved their chosen team for the States term ahead.

Very few committees have retained members from the previous assembly, as the incumbent deputies have shuffled into new positions, and a number of new deputies have made an early mark on the 2020 Assembly.

One of the most successful new candidate is former political journalist Deputy Simon Fairclough, who earned a place on three committees - Scrutiny, E&I and Sacc, all at the proposal of their respective presidents.

The Guernsey Party find themselves well-represented across the committees, including Deputy Nick Moakes, who has a seat on Economic Development and the STSB, and Simon Vermeulen, who has been elected to Economic Development and Home Affairs.

Newcomer Deputy Tina Bury has made it onto HSC and ESS, while Deputy Andrew Taylor has bounced back from his unsuccessful bid for the E&I Presidency by securing a seat on Home Affairs with a leading 32 votes. Deputy Sasha Kazantzeva-Miller has also found success as a new member of Economic Development and the D&PA.

That much is clear. I’ve offered myself in 3 roles. This Assembly has no immediate use for me. Times will change. Meantime will serve from the (non-existent) ‘backbenches’ - holding others to account to deliver on their manifesto promises and to explain their deviations therefrom

— Gavin St Pier (@gavinstpier) October 21, 2020

Pictured: Gavin St. Pier was the Island's most senior politician in the previous assembly - but has failed to secure a seat on any of the States' Committees for the current term.

Meanwhile, few incumbent deputies have retained their positions from the previous assembly, with the exception of Marc Leadbeater's return to Home Affairs and Gollop's return to ESS. Many have found other positions, including Charles Parkinson, who returns to the States' Trading & Supervisory Board.

Scrutiny and Home Affairs are the only Committees to not be staffed by the President's top picks. Deputy St Pier lost his Scrutiny bid to Deputy John Dyke, and Deputy Leadbeater beat Deputy Susan Aldwell to a seat on Home Affairs.

Deputy Al Brouard's HSC Committee was the last to be selected, after he asked the decision be deferred. Initially he only had three nominations for the committee, but later offered four names who were elected unopposed to create an entirely new board. 

Pictured: The Guernsey Party have made significant gains in the 2020 States' Assembly, with at least one member sat on eight committees. The Partnership of Independents, on the other hand, is represented on six committees. 

THE NEW COMMITTEES:

Policy & Resources:

Peter Ferbrache (President),

Heidi Soulsby (Vice President), Jonathan Le Tocq, Mark Helyar, David Mahoney

Economic Development:

Neil Inder (President),

Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Steve Falla, Simon Vermeulen, Nick Moakes

Health & Social Care:

Al Brouard (President),

Tina Bury, Marc Leadbeater, Aidan Matthews, Alexander Snowdon (Alderney Representative)

Education, Sport & Culture:

Andrea Dudley-Owen (President),

Susan Aldwell, Bob Murray, Sam Haskins, Andy Cameron

Home Affairs:

Rob Prow (President),

Simon Vermeulen, Chris Le Tissier, Marc Leadbeater, Andrew Taylor

Employment & Social Security:

Peter Roffey (President),

Steve Falla, Tina Bury, John Gollop, Lindsay de Sausmarez

Environment & Infrastructure:

Lindsay de Sausmarez (President),

Andy Cameron, Simon Fairclough, Adrian Gabriel, Sam Haskins

Development & Planning Authority:

Victoria Oliver (President),

John Dyke, Andrew Taylor, Chris LeTissier, Sasha Kazanteva-Miller

States' Trading & Supervisory Board:

Peter Roffey (President),

Charles Parkinson, Nick Moakes

Scrutiny & Management Committee:

Yvonne Burford (President),

Simon Fairclough, John Dyke

States' Assembly & Constitution Committee:

Carl Meerveld (President),

Lester Queripel, Liam McKenna, Simon Fairclough, John Gollop

Transport Licensing Authority:

John Gollop (President),

David De Lisle, Chris Le Tissier, Chris Blin, Steve Roberts (Alderney Representative)

Overseas Aid & Development Commission:

Chris Blin (President)