Latest news with #StatesofGuernsey
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey States 'faces trust challenge' in revenue service
A director at an accountancy firm says the States of Guernsey faces a challenge to build public trust in the revenue follows the States' decision to axe a contract with IT infrastructure company Agilisys by the end of July - halfway through its 10-year of accountancy firm TCS Guernsey, Tim Chilestone, said: "The trust of the public in the revenue service is very, very low. That's the biggest task they have making the public trust them again."Policy and Resources Committee said the decision to terminate the contract was unanimous and in the "best interests of the States, and the wider community". Mr Chilestone said people had faced difficulties finding out said: "A lot of people are losing track of where they are... Do they actually owe the revenue service any money? Does the revenue service owe them?"Mr Chilestone said the system made it easy for people to make minor mistakes, especially for those who conducted their own bookkeeping. Agilisys signed a £200m contract for the delivery of the majority of States IT services in Group was in the tender process for the revenue service contract alongside Group CEO and chairman Robert Sillers said "it's obviously important for them [the States] to get it right going forward". For any future contracts Mr Chilestone said it was important the States was clear about what it wanted to be said: "If they make a mistake, cause delays, overruns or extra costs then that cost needs to be borne by the company, not by the taxpayer."The whole point of using commercial external entities to do this kind of work instead of just recruiting in-house, is to reduce the risk to the States and therefore the taxpayer - and with Agilisys it doesn't feel like they've done that."I'm optimistic now they have the opportunity to resolve those issues but I'm also a little cautious. Will they actually achieve that?"Agilisys refused to comment.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Blue badge spaces to return after Edward T Wheadon House repairs
Blue badge spaces at a government office in Guernsey are due to be reinstated as repair work to the building has been blue badge parking spaces at Edward T Wheadon House have been suspended since January while scaffolding was in place as part of repairs to its States said the scaffolding will be taken down in phases beginning on 21 May, with blue badge parking reinstated from 26 Truchot road will be closed while scaffolding is removed between 21 and 23 May, from 08:00-16:00 BST. The States created three temporary blue badge spaces as a replacement while the work was thanked people for their patience while the scaffolding was in place.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Island volunteers 'save 45 years of bat research'
A survey of Bailiwick bat species would have taken more than 45 years to complete without the help of hundreds of local volunteers, according to the States. The now completed Bailiwick Bat Survey was a volunteer-led initiative organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the States of Guernsey and Bailiwick La Sociétés and wildlife trusts. Between 2021 and 2024, 420 volunteers collected more than 16 million bat sound recordings, which included six bat species never previously recorded in the Bailiwick. Julia Henney, the States' senior natural environment officer, said the survey would have taken one researcher decades to complete and would have cost up to £2m. Volunteers who signed up to the survey were able to borrow sound recording equipment, which was installed in areas across the Bailiwick for up to seven nights. The recordings were uploaded to the BTO's Acoustic Pipeline for analysis, providing initial results within hours. "This survey has changed and broadened our understanding of bats across the Bailiwick of Guernsey," said Ms Henney. "This has all been possible thanks to keen volunteers getting stuck in, increasing community awareness of nature, as intended through Guernsey's Strategy for Nature." She added: "It would've taken one researcher over 45 years to gather this amount of data, potentially costing up to £2m, which serves to highlight the value of our community's efforts in gathering this insightful data." Volunteers conducted 9,426 nights of recording at 2,364 locations, collecting more than 16 million triggered sound recordings. Four million bat identifications were confirmed, including the presence of 14 bat species, six of which were never previously recorded in the Bailiwick. Four of the six newly recorded species, serotine, Leisler's bat, common noctule and parti-coloured bat, are rare visitors to the islands. While the lesser horseshoe bat and whiskered or Brandt's bat appeared to be rare residents, according to the survey results. The study also found that underground tunnels from the Nazi German occupation were important roosting and hibernation sites for several of the rarer species of bats. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey BTO and the States of Guernsey worked in partnership with La Société Guernesiaise, Alderney WIldlife Trust and La Société Sercquaise on the project. Sarah Allez, project coordinator of the Bailiwick Bat Survey said: "The survey highlights the importance of citizen science in large-scale biodiversity monitoring and engaging the community in nature conservation." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Finished bat survey has 'revolutionised' knowledge Thirteen species of bats confirmed in survey Millions of bat calls analysed by AI Completed bat survey report
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Island volunteers 'save 45 years of bat research'
A survey of Bailiwick bat species would have taken more than 45 years to complete without the help of hundreds of local volunteers, according to the States. The now completed Bailiwick Bat Survey was a volunteer-led initiative organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the States of Guernsey and Bailiwick La Sociétés and wildlife trusts. Between 2021 and 2024, 420 volunteers collected more than 16 million bat sound recordings, which included six bat species never previously recorded in the Bailiwick. Julia Henney, the States' senior natural environment officer, said the survey would have taken one researcher decades to complete and would have cost up to £2m. Volunteers who signed up to the survey were able to borrow sound recording equipment, which was installed in areas across the Bailiwick for up to seven nights. The recordings were uploaded to the BTO's Acoustic Pipeline for analysis, providing initial results within hours. "This survey has changed and broadened our understanding of bats across the Bailiwick of Guernsey," said Ms Henney. "This has all been possible thanks to keen volunteers getting stuck in, increasing community awareness of nature, as intended through Guernsey's Strategy for Nature." She added: "It would've taken one researcher over 45 years to gather this amount of data, potentially costing up to £2m, which serves to highlight the value of our community's efforts in gathering this insightful data." Volunteers conducted 9,426 nights of recording at 2,364 locations, collecting more than 16 million triggered sound recordings. Four million bat identifications were confirmed, including the presence of 14 bat species, six of which were never previously recorded in the Bailiwick. Four of the six newly recorded species, serotine, Leisler's bat, common noctule and parti-coloured bat, are rare visitors to the islands. While the lesser horseshoe bat and whiskered or Brandt's bat appeared to be rare residents, according to the survey results. The study also found that underground tunnels from the Nazi German occupation were important roosting and hibernation sites for several of the rarer species of bats. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey BTO and the States of Guernsey worked in partnership with La Société Guernesiaise, Alderney WIldlife Trust and La Société Sercquaise on the project. Sarah Allez, project coordinator of the Bailiwick Bat Survey said: "The survey highlights the importance of citizen science in large-scale biodiversity monitoring and engaging the community in nature conservation." Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Finished bat survey has 'revolutionised' knowledge Thirteen species of bats confirmed in survey Millions of bat calls analysed by AI Completed bat survey report
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IoD urges States to fund independent colleges
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has warned deputies against voting in favour of proposals that could see funding cut for independent colleges in the island. Blanchelande College, Elizabeth College and The Ladies' College are expected to receive funding of £2.85m for 2025/2026. But if deputies vote in favour of proposals, funding for independent colleges could be phased out and reinvested in the States-maintained education system. A spokesman for the IoD said it was "critical for deputies to consider the economic contribution and benefits of independent education". They added: "We must acknowledge the risks to economic growth, confidence, competitiveness and therefore our future success from removing some or all of the funding." The committee for education, sport and culture has said it wants to phase out financial support for the colleges as is "not the best use of taxpayer money". It adds that funding private education is an "unfair allocation" of funding which widens inequality and that it is not necessary for the colleges to continue running. However, the IoD maintains the independent colleges represent value for money, delivering high-quality educational outcomes at a low cost to the States. The IoD said: "Guernsey would be putting itself at a distinct disadvantage at exactly the moment when ensuring educational stability and outcomes is vital for long term economic growth and success." The grant given to the colleges was £723k in 2019/20, which has increased to an expected cost of £2.85m by 2025/26. The issue will be debated by the States of Deliberation on 19 March. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Independent colleges could lose taxpayer cash Colleges to be exempt from some education changes Catholic college buys large estate for £1.4m States of Guernsey
