logo
Guernsey's core government spending was £44 million in deficit in 2024

Guernsey's core government spending was £44 million in deficit in 2024

ITV News13-06-2025
The States of Guernsey spent £44 million more on core day-to-day activities such as running public services and benefits than it made through income last year.
That overspend includes a £22 million deficit in non-infrastructure projects such as IT changes and a £13 million deficit in social security funds.
In better news, States' investments were collectively £130 million more valuable at the end of 2024 than 2023.
However, this is a valuation rather than a guaranteed return and the funds remain invested in a portfolio that regularly changes value.
Overall, the States ongoing financial position is an underlying annual deficit of around £56 million.
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...
Guernsey's Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Trott, who is not standing in this month's election, says: "The States cannot continue to rely on reserves built up in the past to fund the services of today and tomorrow.
"The new Assembly will need to immediately focus its attention on the issue of improving public finances. I cannot stress enough how important that is to the long-term prosperity of the island."
The outgoing Vice President of Policy and Resources, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, adds: "We are not raising enough through taxes to fund the services our community relies on.
"The value of investments is of course important ... but they don't impact the amount of money we have available to deliver public services and invest in much-needed infrastructure.
"The decision for the next States will not be whether something needs to be done, but what should be done to balance the books."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Guernsey's Chief Minister consolidates power as top committee are elected unopposed
Guernsey's Chief Minister consolidates power as top committee are elected unopposed

ITV News

timea day ago

  • 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.

Plans approved for 69 homes on former CI Tyres site in Guernsey
Plans approved for 69 homes on former CI Tyres site in Guernsey

ITV News

timea day ago

  • ITV News

Plans approved for 69 homes on former CI Tyres site in Guernsey

Plans have been approved for 69 new homes in Guernsey. Two six-storey apartment buildings and a few courtyard houses will be developed on the former CI Tyres site on La Charotterie in St Peter Port. An application for 57 flats in one ten-storey block had already been granted permission but the site's owner, Guernsey Housing Association (GHA), then decided to change its application. The area will now include 60 one-bed and nine two-bed homes, with hopes that it will help address the island's housing crisis. Its Chief Operating Officer, Lisa de Kooker says: "We remain committed to progressing developments that provide high-quality, affordable homes for islanders and this scheme does just that." The plans will now go through a tender process for contractors before final approval by the GHA and Guernsey States. Construction is expected to start in early 2026 and the development could be completed by the end of 2027. The land was bought by the GHA for £1.7 million back in 2022 with initial hopes that up to 25 units could be developed by 2024. 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...

Guernsey Post announces ten redundancies as it restructures freight service
Guernsey Post announces ten redundancies as it restructures freight service

ITV News

timea day ago

  • ITV News

Guernsey Post announces ten redundancies as it restructures freight service

Guernsey Post will cut ten jobs as it restructures to try and make efficiency savings. From September, the company's freight subsidiary HR Air will be split, with Guernsey deliveries brought into the island's main postal operations, while HR Air's customer services and admin will move to Jersey. Guernsey Post Chief Executive Steve Sheridan says they will support all workers affected by redundancy and the HR brand continues to be an important part of the wider business. He explains: "This has been a very difficult decision, but a necessary one to respond to changing market dynamics and ensure we are operating in a way that is both efficient and sustainable. "Our priority is to support our colleagues through this transition while continuing to deliver reliable and high-quality service to our customers." The changes are part of Guernsey Post's 'business transformation programme' which started in 2023 and aims to secure the organisation's long-term future. 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...

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store