Latest news with #PolicyandResourcesCommittee
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guernsey election 2025: What you need to know
Thousands of people are expected to cast their ballots in the Guernsey General Election on 18 June. The poll is the first chance for voters since October 2020 to decide who should represent them to make key decisions for the island. Those heading to the polls or sending in postal votes can cast up to 38 votes - with each vote worth the same. It is the second time there has been an entirely island-wide election - here are some of the key things to know. A new electoral roll was introduced for this election, meaning even if people registered prior to 1 December 2024 they needed to re-register to vote. The applications to register to vote closed at midnight on 30 April with more than 27,000 people signing up. Those who are registered can also apply for a postal vote, which can be done when registering or by resubmitting your registration before 29 May. They must be returned by election day and the voter is responsible for ensuring it is posted on time - and if this was not done they can be put into the Sir Charles Frossard House postbox or given to a polling station official before 20:00 on 18 June. To be able to stand as a candidate at the 2025 election you must be aged 18 and over, registered on the electoral roll and ordinarily resident in Guernsey on the date of nomination as a candidate. Additionally, there are rules with regard to whether you have been sentenced for a crime or imprisoned that may change your eligibility to stand. The electoral system changed to island-wide as a result of the 2018 referendum on Guernsey's voting system. The candidate nomination period opens at 09:00 on Monday 12 May and closes at 16:30 two days later. The top role - known as the chief minister of Guernsey but formally the president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) - comes with an annual salary of just under £85,000. Presidents of committees are paid just over £65,000 and all other deputies are paid about £48,000. Advance polling is open on Sunday 15 June and Tuesday 17 June from 08:00-20:00. Polling on election day also runs from 08:00-20:00. During that time, media coverage is restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts - including #dogsatpollingstations, which has become a British election-day tradition, with social media users sharing snaps of their pooches. When the results will be announced is not an exact science. At the last election - the first contested on an entirely island-wide basis - the results were announced at 01:30 two days after the polls closed. However, rain damaged papers delayed the count because they had to be transcribed onto new ballots so they could be dealt with by the counting machines. This time round counting again starts at 09:00 on 19 June - the day after the polls have closed - so we could have the results at about 21:30 or 22:00 the same day, but we'll have to wait and see. Then there could be a recount called if the difference between the number of votes cast for the candidate elected with the lowest number of votes and the number cast for unsuccessful candidate is less than the lower of 50 votes or 1% of the votes cast for the successful candidate. The unsuccessful candidate or candidates have 24 hours, after the results are announced, to ask for a recount - which will only happen once. The old States officially ends and the new States is due to be sworn in to office on 1 July and at the same meeting the chief minister is due to be elected. On the following day, the other four members of P&R are set to be elected. The remaining committee presidents are due to be elected on 4 July, followed by the members of each committee on 7 July. The first meeting at which business will be discussed is scheduled for 15 July. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Islanders urged to register for general election Polling officers sought for Guernsey election Reminder for islanders to register to vote Guernsey Election 2025 States of Guernsey
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
States approves idea of loan to buy Sark electricity firm
Sark's government could receive up to £1.5m in a loan from the States of Guernsey, politicians have Chief Pleas requested the money to purchase Sark Electricity Limited (SEL) and bring the island's only electricity supplier into public States voted for the plans by an overwhelming majority. Vice President of Policy and Resources Heidi Soulsby said: "We believed we had a moral obligation to support our sister island on such an important matter for them." Deputy Soulsby added: "It will be for Sark to agree the terms as set out."Chief Pleas previously wrote to Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee requesting the loan to purchase States proposed conditions for the loan which included import duties on alcohol, fuel and tobacco being used as a security guarantee in the event of said: "We needed to ensure we did not put Guernsey taxpayers' money at risk and so the loan facility comes with conditions."These include Sark's participation in the Bailiwick Commission to look at our constitutional relationship and its commitment to a full review of its taxation system to ensure financial stability."An interim report is due to return to the States by the end of the year.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Guernsey general election 2025: What you need to know
Thousands of people are expected to cast their ballots in the Guernsey General Election on 18 poll is the first chance for voters since October 2020 to decide who should represent them to make key decisions for the island. Those heading to the polls or sending in postal votes can cast up to 38 votes - with each vote worth the same. It is the second time there has been an entirely island-wide election - here are some of the key things to know. Who can vote? A new electoral role system was introduced for this election, meaning even if you registered prior to 1 December 2024 you must re-register to can be done online or by using the household registration form which has been sent to every residence in must be received by 00:00 BST on 30 be eligible to vote, you must be at least 15, but you will not be able to vote until you are 16. You must also have been ordinarily resident in Guernsey for at least two years immediately preceding the date of registration, or at any time before the date of registration for at least five years in who are registered can also apply for a postal vote, which can be done when registering or by resubmitting your registration before 29 must be returned by election day and the voter is responsible for ensuring it is posted on time - and if this was not done they can be put into the Sir Charles Frossard House postbox or given to a polling station official before 20:00 on 18 June. Who can stand? To be able to stand as a candidate at the 2025 election you must be aged 18 and over, registered on the Electoral Roll and ordinarily resident in Guernsey on the date of nomination as a there are rules with regard to whether you have been sentenced for a crime or imprisoned that may change your eligibility to electoral system changed to island-wide as a result of the 2018 referendum on Guernsey's voting candidate nomination period opens at 09:00 on Monday 12 May and closes at 16:30 two days top role - known as the chief minister of Guernsey but formally the president of the Policy and Resources Committee (P&R) - comes with an annual salary of just under £85, of committees are paid just over £65,000 and all other deputies are paid about £48,000. What happens while polling is under way? Advance polling is open on Sunday 15 June and Tuesday 17 June from 08:00-20: on election day also runs from 08:00-20: that time, media coverage is restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts - including #dogsatpollingstations, which has become a British election-day tradition, with social media users sharing snaps of their pooches. When will we get results? Once the votes have been counted, we will know who the new deputies are. There could be a recount called if there is a difference of 2% or less between the number of votes cast for someone who got elected and the number cast for someone who did not. The unsuccessful candidate or candidates have 24 hours, after the results are announced, to ask for a recount - which will only happen old States officially ends and the new States is due to be sworn in to office on 09:30 on 1 July and at the same meeting the chief minister is due to be the following day, the other four members of P&R are remaining committee presidents are due to be elected on 4 July and followed by the members of each committee on 7 first meeting at which business will be discussed is scheduled for 15 July.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dean of Guernsey warns of implications if rectory funding axed
The Dean of Guernsey says a proposal to stop ratepayers funding rectories will lead to "significant implications". The States of Guernsey is due to debate a Policy and Resources Committee report on Wednesday linked to a dispute involving Torteval and St Saviour parishes over the maintenance costs of a Church of England Guernsey's parishes are required to provide housing for rectors with the costs covered by ratepayers, but two deputies have proposed ending the policy from Very Reverend Tim Barker said he respected the "clear resolution of the States", but he cautioned work was needed to "consider the consequences". 'Difficult to justify' An amendment from Deputies Al Brouard and Susan Aldwell to the Parochial Church Property (Guernsey) Law 2015 called for a requirement for parishes to provide and cover clergy housing costs to be stopped from deputies said they felt the obligation to provide rectories free of charge had become "difficult to justify" in the 21st Barker said: "There will be significant implications, primarily for the clergy and their families who will be directly affected by the decision, but also for the Deanery of Guernsey and the work and ministry of our churches."We need to work carefully with the parishes and others to consider the consequences of the States resolution and what happens next."
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deputy chief minister to stand down at election
Deputy Chief Minister Heidi Soulsby has announced she will stand down at the 2025 general election in Guernsey. After 13 years in the States, Soulsby, vice-president of the Policy and Resources Committee, said she was ready to "look for new challenges outside of politics". Soulsby said there had been "frustrating and disappointing moments" during her political career, but it had been an "honour and a privilege". "I have always believed that politicians should serve a maximum of three consecutive terms before taking a break and, as I have approached the end of this one, I feel it is the right thing for me to do," she said. Soulsby added: "I have put my heart and soul into the role of people's deputy, but I am ready to take time out to look for new challenges outside of politics where I hope I can make a positive impact." She began her career as chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee before progressing to become the president of the Committee for Health and Social Care and subsequently deputy chief minister. "It is quite possible that I will stand again in the future but, for now, it is for others to come up with new workable ideas, try to solve current and future problems and be held accountable for their decisions. It won't be easy," she added. "I wish those who are elected in June all the best in the next term. I will be watching with interest." The next Guernsey general election will take place on 18 June 2025. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Future Guernsey 'movement' launches its policies Guernsey charities set out election priorities Polling officers sought for Guernsey election Guernsey general election proposed for June 2025 Guernsey Election 2025 States of Guernsey
