Political names confirmed for money saving reviews

Friday 24 March 2023

A review of what services the States should deliver, and how, has gathered momentum with confirmation of who will form the new sub-committee responsible.

It is one of the few actions agreed after the tax debate, when members threw out a GST and many other options to address a looming £100m. blackhole in States finances.

The composition of a separate sub-committee that will review corporate tax options has also been announced.

One of the few areas members did agree on in the tax debate was that by the end of 2024, Policy & Resources needs to find £10m to £16m of savings over five years.

P&R has appointed Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Carl Meerveld and Simon Vermeulen to the committee and Dave Beausire to the sub-committee that will investigate how, according to a press release first tweeted by Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.

Happy to have put my name forward and been selected to join the sub-committee on the Public Sector review proposition, which I helped co-author for the Fairer Alternative tax proposals. pic.twitter.com/G3vW7kFHPN

— Sasha Kazantseva-Miller (@sashakmiller) March 24, 2023

The review of the public sector was one of the elements of the Fairer Alternative propositions which emerged as the main opponent to P&R’s plans.

“Given the decisions made in the Assembly in February, we have a very important task ahead of us and some big decisions to be made,” said Deputy Dave Mahoney, a member of P&R and chair of the sub-committee.

Pictured: The men heading up two reviews that stem from the tax review debate. Deputy Mark Helyar, right, will chair the sub-committee looking at corporate tax options, while Deputy Dave Mahoney, right, will be responsible for an investigation into savings in the public sector.

Deputy Mahoney continued: "I am very grateful to all States members who put their names forward. The Sub-Committee will meet regularly and will engage with all committees to discharge the resolution before us. I am delighted that Mr Beausire, a prominent local business owners, has also agreed to join us and I know he will bring plenty of ideas with him.”

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller was one of the authors of the Fairer Alternative, while Deputy Meerveld led the No to GST campaign.

Deputy Vermeulen is one of two remaining political members of the Guernsey Party, which fought the election campaign on a manifesto of no GST or tax increases this term and delivering public sector savings.

Deputies Yvonne Burford and Lindsay De Sausmarez had previously confirmed they had applied to join the sub-committee.

I’ve applied to Deputy Mahoney/P&R for a seat on this sub-committee. pic.twitter.com/YGLBb7Uqc9

— Yvonne Burford (@YvonneBurford) March 17, 2023

The sub-committee looking at how to raise more money from the corporate sector will be chaired by Deputy Mark Helyar, who is P&R’s Vice-President and Treasury lead.

He will be joined by Deputy Lyndon Trott, who successfully steered through the zero-10 regime, Deputy Nick Moakes and Andrew Niles.

Pictured: Deputy Lyndon Trott.

“I'm very pleased that we have a committee of members who have an excellent understanding of our local business environment, especially our largest industry, which I'm sure will give industry leaders a lot of confidence that this will be a professional and well-informed review that will balance the key considerations of how we ensure local businesses can continue to grow and succeed, while helping to raise more revenue to counter the growing shortfall in public finances,” said Deputy Helyar.

“We did some good work on this during the recent Tax Review, with an independent report setting out options and indicating up to £20m more could be raised.  But of course, we must move that forward in discussion with industry and with our fellow Crown Dependencies.  Maintaining our competitive position and international reputation is paramount."