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Policy and Resources are said to be "asleep at the wheel" as they preside over "half-cock" ideas which have left the transformation of secondary education in an "utterly shambolic" state.
Deputy Gavin St Pier has shared his latest thoughts on the capital project to redevelop key infrastructure within the post-16 sphere while moving around students within the secondary sector.
The current plan sees the sixth form centre relocated to the current La Mare de Carteret High School site from September 2025
By then, all secondary students would have been moved to lessons at the Les Varendes site meaning their former school would be empty - ready to be demolished.
Pictured: The Sixth Form Centre is currently planned to relocate to the La Mare de Carteret site.
The delays to the rebuild of Les Ozouets campus have forced the change of plans for the use of La Mare as the new sixth form centre will not be ready as planned.
RG Falla was dropped as the contractor to build the new campus late last year and a new builder has not yet been appointed.
This worried Deputy St Pier, and others, who tried to ask the Education, Sport and Culture President questions about the change to her education transformation plans during the final two States debates of 2022. When those were left unanswered due to States protocols, Deputy St Pier used the Rule 14 written question policy to ask Policy and Resources what's going on.
Pictured: The Policy and Resources Committee has oversight for all major capital spends.
He asked P&R that "having regard to the Committee's mandate for the oversight of the capital programme, in relation to the development of the new Sixth Form Centre, what ongoing rights, obligations and risks does the States of Guernsey have following the purported termination of a contract by the States with RG Falla?"
P&R came back saying that essentially it could not comment at this time. It did reiterate that it is confident that everything is in hand and it trusts ESC's handling of the situation and risks.
"The Policy & Resources Committee has responsibility for the oversight of the capital portfolio and not the management of the individual projects and programmes within it," a spokesperson said.
"As such, the Committee has had detailed discussions with the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture to understand the impact of the recent developments and the risks and issues they pose to the Transforming Education Programme and the States more broadly. The Policy &Resources Committee is confident that everything is being done to manage the situation and mitigate risks.
"Given the ongoing contractual and legal review, it would be inappropriate to say anything further at this stage."
Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier.
Deputy St Pier gave a scathing reaction to this response when asked about it by Express.
“I was disappointed with this response," he said, adding: "Not for the first time I’m afraid, Policy & Resources seem to be asleep at the wheel.
"As they note, they are responsible for oversight of the capital programme. This project is the single largest project in that programme this term – and it’s hit the buffers with the cancellation of the contract with RG Falla.
"The whole project is running at least two years late and it is clearly going to be well over budget.
"In the meantime, Education have responded with a half-cock idea of ‘temporarily’ moving the Sixth Form from its purpose built location to an unsuitable building at La Mare which they have earmarked for closure.
"It is utterly shambolic and P&R are looking away with nothing to say. It’s the taxpayer that is going to have to pay for this mess and its no wonder P&R think they need to introduce GST to do so.”
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