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The States housing maintenance team lost in a "kangaroo court" yesterday as deputies refused to give them any more money.
The Committee for Employment and Social Security had asked the States to give them an additional £670,000 as part of the 2025 Budget.
Deputy Peter Roffey said that although public finances are tight, he felt compelled to ask for the additional money for building maintenance as it is desperately needed.
"Sadly, the budget allocation for this purpose is wholly insufficient to allow proper maintenance of our estate," he explained.
"Now, if this assembly wants to under invest, and I understand times are tight, I understand that there isn't the money around that we would like, if this assembly wants to under invest and allow our housing stock to deteriorate, then ESS will be appalled, but of course, we will accept that democratic decision. What we didn't feel able to do as a committee was simply accept that situation without at least asking the States if they agreed with that approach. Hence this amendment."
One area Deputy Roffey said the money would be focused on is ensuring that people who move in to social housing would have floor coverings.
He explained how States housing tenants still move in to properties with bare floors and he wants to change that. However, his committee officers urged caution in doing anything about that before any additional money was secured to pay for carpets or other floor coverings in the long term.
Pictured: Deputy Peter Roffey.
"I'm aware of families with special needs children going in to concrete floors," said Deputy Roffey. "It really is appalling. So why haven't we done something about it? Well, we have decided, if it was something about it, and we decided earlier, quite a lot, earlier this year, that we wanted to change from that point, but we decided and our officers said, 'well, don't do that until you know you've secured the budget for next year, because we're going to look a bit foolish if you start changing the policy. Start putting down flooring for your your tenants when it's needed. But then you can't carry on in 2025 because the budget isn't there'. Well, that's exactly the position we're going to be in if this amendment isn't carried.
"Decent private sector landlords don't do that. The GHA don't do that. So people on the joint waiting list, if they go one way into the GHA, they're guaranteed to have floors that have got proper coverings. If they go the other direction into States housing, it's a lottery on whether or not the previous people have left carpets that can be retained (at the States expense)."
Deputy Lester Queripel spoke emotively to the debate, backing the amendment, with examples of current States housing tenants living in poor conditions.
"...if buildings aren't maintained sufficiently, they fall into disrepair, which means it not only costs a lot more to repair them further down the line, but also results in a lot more disruption for the tenants. And I think it will show this assembly at its worst if this amendment is rejected. And I ask colleagues who intend voting against this amendment to remember, we're talking about people's homes here, homes they want to be proud of, homes they need to be comfortable and safe in, for the sake of their physical and mental well being, homes that provide a sanctuary..."
However, the amendment ultimately did not win the backing of the States, with deputies including Marc Leadbeater and Neil Inder raising concerns over how the current maintenance budget is spent.
Both gave examples of poor efficiencies within the maintenance budget currently and said they wouldn't back any more money being spent on it until those problems are resolved.
"I'm not going to support this amendment, I'm really not because we need to get our house in order before we chuck more money at it, and until it can be demonstrated that that's what we're going to do I'm not going to support any extra money going towards States' housing maintenance," said Deputy Leadbeater.
Replying to the debate, Deputy Roffey defended the States housing maintenance teams who he says were unfairly criticised.
"I rather feel that the States housing maintenance team and its leadership has been subjected to something of a kangaroo court here today," he said.
"I want to put on record that I think we have an absolutely excellent maintenance team and one that is brilliantly led.
"...What I can say is, we've had the work of the State House maintenance team audited on a number of occasions, and it has always come out extremely well."
The amendment was rejected by 12-21 votes.
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