Latest news with #LindsaydeSausmarez
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey could benefit from UK-EU Brexit reset on youth mobility
Guernsey could benefit from a youth mobility scheme under a new UK government deal with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said as part of a "reset" with the EU post-Brexit there could be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two her first speech to the States, President of Policy and Resources Lindsay de Sausmarez said Guernsey officials had been speaking with UK counterparts. As part of the new UK-EU relationship de Sausmarez said: "This could give young people more opportunities to experience living and working in Europe for a time." Prior to Brexit, young people in the Bailiwick of Guernsey had the right to travel and study freely, without a visa, in the rest of Europe and vice versa under an arrangement called Protocol 3. A new deal could see a return to a similar state of affairs. 'More goods from France' De Sausmarez told deputies any new arrangement would not mean any change to fishing rights, as those are settled. However she said there could be changes to border controls for goods."It could provide a good opportunity to diversify our imports and bring in more goods from France," she said."In doing so it could increase our food security, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve affordability as well."She went on to explain where she thought the other advantages of the new UK-EU relationship may fall. "We could see benefits. Our young people could access the proposed youth mobility scheme, the Erasmus scheme could also give our young people opportunities in training and learning," she added.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
States to buy Leale's Yard for £4.5m, Policy & Resources says
The States of Guernsey is set to buy the Leale's Yard site on The Bridge for £4.5m, the island's top political committee has this year, the States pulled out of a deal to spend about £35m on the project to support the Channel Islands Co-Op and developer Omnibus with the scheme. Omnibus had planned to build more than 300 new homes on the site, with outline planning permission for the project granted in her first speech to the States, Policy and Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "This site is essential in terms of its strategic importance." De Sausmarez stressed the importance of an improved traffic network in the area to facilitate the building of new housing. "The first priority is to improve the transport network in the area, both around and through the site, as that's crucial for its long-term success in addressing the traffic impact," she said."We are very keen to deliver the best mix of housing that the island needs, alongside other aspects that will support the regeneration of The Bridge, and won't waste any time in moving this forward." Channel Islands Co-Op chief executive Marc Cox welcomed the decision."We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the States of Guernsey for them to purchase the substantial part of the Leale's Yard site," he said. "This agreement will enable the Co-op to focus on our core business, free of the distractions that a complex property development like Leale's Yard entails."The agreement will also see the States free to progress the delivery of much-needed new homes and employment opportunities for the island of Guernsey."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who has been elected to Guernsey's committees?
The people set to shape Guernsey's government policies and projects for the next four years are being presidents with strong personalities and particular policy platforms can make a big difference to the direction of travel, but at the end of the day they remain just one vote in an assembly of vote will also be another indicator of how much power the new President of Policy and Resources, Lindsay de Sausmarez can wield. Will her nominees be elected, or will the States start to cut its own path after a big show of support for the poll-topper? You can listen live to the meeting of the States of Guernsey.
ITV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Who are the runners and riders for Guernsey's next committee presidents?
The next big bit of business facing Guernsey's freshly elected deputies is to choose who, other than Policy and Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez, will hold the balance of power in the new States. The island has 13 political committees that devise policy on everything from housing to law enforcement. They are led by presidents, who are seen as the public face of their decision-making. That can come at a cost. In the last election, four committee presidents lost their seats, including the President for Education, Sport and Culture, Andrea Dudley-Owen. It's believed that the Policy and Resources Committee will look to propose certain candidates for top jobs, which, if successful, will further strengthen their grip on the Assembly as a whole. Politicians will vote for the positions on Friday (4 July) and while there could be some surprises, here is who we expect to stand in the different races: Economic Development Even before the election, the race to succeed Neil Inder as President of Economic Development was well in motion. Sasha Kazantseva-Miller has made clear her desire to succeed her colleague and is the clear favourite. Serving as Inder's vice-president in the last term, she is well-positioned to get the job. However, she may face competition from a key proponent of the offshore wind farm, Chris Blin, who is also targeting the role. With the departure of Carl Meerveld, who was the chair of the group that led on the project, Blin will consider his commitment to what he describes as the "biggest economic enabler the island has ever seen" as fundamental to the office. Marc Laine, a long-established businessman, is also eyeing up a bid. Education, Sport and Culture It's referred to as the 'poisoned chalice' of Guernsey politics. So much so, you have to go back 20 years to see the last time a president from the committee was re-elected. Aidan Matthews, who is in his second term as a deputy, is looking to avoid the same fate. In his manifesto, he wants to repair the relationship between private colleges and the Government. A returning deputy at the election, Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel, is also interested in leading the committee. She wants to reform Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support and modernise the Education Law. Despite ruling it out on air, I've also heard rumours that Guernsey's National Education Union (NEU) representative and teacher Paul Montague is now interested in leading this committee. He finished higher in the poll than any of the other newly elected deputies, so he could be a popular choice. Employment and Social Security We may well see an uncontested election for this presidency with Tina Bury looking to succeed Peter Roffey for a place on the top bench. According to her manifesto, she wants to look again at long-term care funding, something that dominated discussion towards the back end of the last States' term. Environment and Infrastructure In another potentially uncontested election, Adrian Gabriel will be seen as the frontrunner to succeed de Sausmarez as E&I President. Serving as her vice-president in the last term, he wants to introduce incentives for private developments and enable modular construction options for housing. Health and Social Care With another outgoing president, Health and Social Care will see a new name at the helm. It appears this may well be a battle between two deputies - Marc Leadbeater and George Oswald. Leadbeater served as Al Brouard's vice-president in the last term. He's long supported a relaxation in restrictions around cannabis. Oswald, another newcomer to the States, worked as a doctor and co-founded the Medical Specialist Group. Housing Housing is one of Guernsey's most pressing issues but, as of yet, there is nobody desperately seeking the presidency of the newest States' committee. There is talk of Steve Williams being interested in becoming its first president. According to his manifesto, he wants to review all of the large housing projects and see how they can progress faster. Given that the committee was her brainchild, Kazantseva-Miller may well be seen as the person who should lead it. Home Affairs The sitting Home Affairs president, Rob Prow, lost his seat at the last election. His vice-president in the last Assembly, Simon Vermeulen, is positioning himself to take over from Prow. An experienced States' member, he may well receive a lot of backing. He could be challenged by new deputy Jayne Ozanne, who finished 28th in the public poll at the election. Scrutiny Management Committee The last President, Yvonne Burford, has decided not to put her name forward again. Instead, newcomer Andy Sloan has said he's interested in the job. He was the former chief economist to the States and served on the Fiscal Policy Panel. Father of the House, John Gollop, is also an interested party. A member for nearly 30 years, his experience could win the backing of his colleagues. Development and Planning Authority John Gollop is also interested in serving here if he isn't successful elsewhere. Burford, who finished second in the poll behind De Sausmarez, is also keen to take on the role. States Assembly and Constitution Committee Following the ousting of Carl Meerveld, a new deputy will take on the role of managing the rules and procedures of the Assembly. Burford says she may well stand for this job. She could face competition from Sarah Hannsman-Rouxel and potentially John Gollop. States Trading and Supervisory Board Despite making his candidacy a significant part of his manifesto, it's been reported that Neil Inder may not fancy this position but that could change. Following his unsuccessful bid to become President of Policy and Resources, Mark Helyar is also looking to stand. There will also be elections for head of the Overseas Aid and Development Commission, and Transport Licensing Authority, but members who are interested in those roles seem to be keeping their cards close to their chest for now. Following the committee president elections, all the other committee members will be decided on Monday (7 July). Then, they will all take their seats in the first meeting of the new States on Tuesday 15 July. Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Guernsey's Chief Minister consolidates power as top committee are elected unopposed
Following her historic election as Guernsey's first female Chief Minister, Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez has received another strong mandate from the States Assembly, as all four of her preferred candidates were elected onto the island's most powerful political committee. In a States' meeting that lasted just under an hour, de Sausmarez took her seat on the top bench and no speeches were needed as members did not challenge her nominations for Policy and Resources (P&R). It means Deputies Gavin St Pier, Charles Parkinson, Steve Falla, and Jonathan Le Tocq will join the top table. St Pier is a previous president of P&R and topped the poll in the 2020 General Election, he also backed de Sausmarez in Tuesday's vote for Chief Minister. Parkinson withdrew from that battle for the top job and says it seems to be a more cohesive start to the States after the last political term, which saw deputies often divided. He explains: "I think the States have indicated they want to move forward in a consensus style, given we were all elected unopposed. "I have a lot of experience to bring to P&R, so I will seek to help everywhere I can. "People think of me as a fiscal policy specialist, but actually my interests are very wide." Le Tocq is expected to continue in his role as Lead Member for External Relations - a job he has held for the past five years. Meanwhile, Falla, who was the fourth most popular candidate in last month's election, is in his second term as a deputy. All of de Sausmarez's nominations were seconded by Deputy Mark Helyar, who she defeated in the P&R presidency vote on Tuesday. Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee: Lindsay de Sausmarez (President) Gavin St Pier Charles Parkinson Jonathan Le Tocq Steve Falla Their briefs, including who will serve as de Sausmarez's Vice President, have not yet been announced. Deputy Neil Inder lodged an amendment to allow politicians to question each of the candidates as part of a hustings. However, the motion failed, only receiving the backing of 11 deputies. Speaking after the States Meeting ended, Inder said: "We've effectively had a coronation today. We've had one member proposing all four. There were no speeches and no questions or answers. "At the moment, we are in a sort of love-in period where everything's fantastic. "We will get into far more scrutiny once people actually understand that their job is to scrutinise." If Tuesday was de Sausmarez's coronation, Wednesday saw the start of her consolidation of power. All of her nominations are, in some ways, political allies. They are fairly progressive and big political figures on the island who have lots of experience. They're also popular - each of them finished within the top ten of last month's election voting results. Right now, the respect for de Sausmarez, as well as the authority she carries, seems to know few bounds. However, there are contrasting views on some of the big policy areas within the new senior committee, especially fiscal policy which is the group's main mandate. For example, Parkinson will no doubt want to use his position to push ahead with a review into corporation tax policy, whereas Le Tocq was an architect of the GST+ package. So, it's not just in the Assembly where De Sausmarez's 'unity' status will be tested, but in the island's top political committee which she now leads. The P&R members can also no longer put themselves forward for other committee positions, so all eyes will be on the committee presidency elections, which will take place on Friday (4 July). There will be 13 to decide, including the newly formed Housing Committee, with many expected to be fiercely contested. The remaining members of each of these committees will then be decided on Monday 7 July.
