P&R warns of rising costs as it backs sports strategy review

Monday 21 August 2023

Rising costs of funding the States’ sports strategy were behind Policy & Resources’ bid to cut its funding.

Education, Sport & Culture will make an attempt in the States to get £300,000 a year for the next seven years allocated for Active 8, which is delivered by the Guernsey Sports Commission and Health Improvement Commission, which supporters say do the work for much less than the public sector could achieve.

The Government Work Plan will be debated in October, when the funding decisions will be finalised.

Active 8 was only funded for three years by the last Assembly, but members have since unanimously said it should continue.

Policy & Resources does not want to give it any more money, but backs a review instead.

In the GWP policy letter, it said that the revised request of £300,000 a year was £2.1m. over the seven year period, an increase of £1.48m. compared to the plan considered by the last States.

It “acknowledges the benefits of sport and early intervention in developing health lifestyles” and the general support to invest in sport from States members.

P&R said it agreed with ESC that “as Active 8 plan was agreed by the States in the previous term it should be reviewed in order to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose”.

“Nevertheless such a review with stakeholders including the Guernsey Sports Commission and the Health Improvement Commission can be undertaken within the current resourcing and the funding limit previously requested. On this basis no additional funding provision has been made at this time.”

ESC member Andy Cameron has been campaigning to maintain the funding.

“I’m disappointed by P&R's decision to cut funding for Active 8,” he said.

“It seems clear that the majority of States members do not support this move, and it feels like a waste of valuable time and resources debating an amendment to reinstate it when it shouldn’t have been cut in the first place. 

“The only rationale I can see behind this is a strategic move to pressure members into accepting P&R’s GST proposals.” 

The Government Work Plan emphasises the urgent need to redefine the government's role, including "enhancing the use of effective commissioning".

“Despite the ESC Committee's change of direction on funding cuts, P&R has still chosen to eliminate funding for one of the most impactful commissioning services.

"Reducing funding for commissioned services will ultimately lead to higher costs for the States. These services are vital, and without commissioning, the States will have to shoulder the responsibility of delivering them without the private funding support provided by our Commissions.”