States too "risk averse" to make progress

Saturday 03 October 2020

States processes are too "risk averse" and have led to an Assembly that "lacks courage", according to an outgoing deputy who says the States cannot go on this way.

Castel deputy Richard Graham entered local politics in 2016 following a career in military service.

"I was aware that government was a slow grind but I didn't realise it was quite this bad," Deputy Graham remarked. 

"The whole process of conceiving of a project and getting through to the building phase has become almost impossible. The process is far too risk-averse, there is a mental problem where every 'i' has to be dotted, every 't' crossed and every penny counted before we hand the shovels to someone to actually do something."

Pictured: Deputy Graham representing Guernsey at the Battle of Amiens site in France. 

As the Vice-President of Education, Sport & Culture, Deputy Graham has witnessed one of his own policy letters 'paused and reviewed' after the States convincingly approved the original, high-level proposals.

Education is one of the specific policy areas where there is clear need for a States resolution. "The next States has got to resolve secondary and post-16 education," he said.

"They have also got to either confirm or come up with an alternative for a special committee to lead the seafront modernisation. That is going to be such a key part of economic recovery that it has got to be a success."

That will feed into what Deputy Graham regards as the major strategic challenge facing our generation.

"The biggest strategic issue is the recovery from the covid economic emergency," he said.

Pictured: Castel deputies Barry Paint, Chris Green and Richard Graham will not participate in the island-wide election.

"There was going to be a problem anyway, as the States had to address its fiscal policy in order to balance the books, however covid has accentuated that."

"We are really going to have to work out how raise sufficient funds for that recovery work and to also catch up on some of the decisions the States has made, such as NICE drugs whitelisting, without having sufficient funding in place."

On the other hand the Capital Reserve for major projects has been "virtually untouched" this term, indicating a lack of capital investment in key infrastructure. 

"Expenditure from the Capital Resrve has got to be for a purpose and it has got to contribute to the Revive and Thrive which, at the moment, only exists at a high level."

While the States is facing a significant fiscal review, Deputy Graham said he was proud that the current assembly has balanced the books. In 2016, the States was staring down the barrel of budget deficits, however budget surpluses have been achieved and the economy has grown year-on-year since. 

"That is not a uniquely political achievement - I believe it is the role of politicians to help people to grow the economy."

Pictured: Deputy Graham was the vice-president of Home Affairs before resigning over a very negative governance report that he said he could only challenge the findings of from outside the committee. 

In summarising the role he has occupied for the last four-and-a-half years, he said there are three main aspects:

1. Constituency work

2. Committee work

3. Work in the States' Assembly 

Of those areas, it is the constituency and committee work that the Castel representative derived the most satisfaction from. 

"There is a lot that goes on in committee that is not grandstanding in the States," he said. 

"For example, two years ago, ESC was approached by the Sports Commission about a partnership that would see properly trained and qualified professionals going into primary schools two or three days a week. 

"They were asking us for funding of £200,000, which they would match with £200,000 of private money. We didn't have the funding at the time, but we found the money  and it has been a brilliant success, with each primary school getting a professionals sports instructor three days a week.

ESC and Guernsey Sports Commission agree £1 million five-year partnership to deliver high-quality sport programme in primary schools. Read more at: https://t.co/FJaDuc5SUt pic.twitter.com/NAxUqZlCsT

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) August 12, 2020

Pictured: The partnership was finalised this summer with a five-year agreement.

"It is a brilliant example of the States, a third party organisation working together with a private enterprise also contributing some money."

Although Deputy Graham will exit local politics with fond memories of his committee work, the same cannot be said of his time in the States Chamber.

Even accounting for differences of opinion and the need for scrutiny, he says the States has "lacked the will to work together" and warned that unless the next States tackles that, those problems will persist.

"Before I became a States Deputy in 2016, I was used to being in an environment where there was a collective will to succeed - either you go on with it, or you got out. That ability to work together has been lacking in the States this term."