We are the Common Strategic Policy Review Panel. We were established with the specific remit to examine the delivery of the Common Strategic Policy 2024 - 2026 and the 13 strategic policies of the government.
What is the Common Strategic Policy 2024 - 2026?
The Government of Jersey’s Common Strategic Policy (CSP) 2024–2026 sets out the Council of Ministers’ key priorities for the remainder of the political term. Approved by the States Assembly in May 2024, the policy provides a focused set of objectives intended to deliver measurable improvements in Islanders’ lives over a two-year period. It is framed within the broader Future Jersey vision and the Island Outcomes framework, which together guide long-term wellbeing and sustainable development. The CSP emphasises that government must not only deliver new initiatives but also maintain efficient, high-quality day-to-day public services.
The 13 strategic priorities contained within the CSP are: Extend nursery and childcare provision Provide nutritious school meals in all States primary schools Increase lifelong learning and skills development Start building a new hospital at Overdale Reduce GP fees Implement Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce recommendations Transition to a living wage Provide more affordable homes and confidence for the rented sector Keep fees, duties, and charges low to ease cost of living Reduce red tape, support business and strengthen reputation Deliver a plan to revitalise Town Reform planning service for sustainable development Meet climate emergency commitments
The Panel's Review
The Review Panel has examined the Government’s progress in delivering the thirteen priorities set out in the CSP and assessed how the Proposed Budget 2026–2029 supports their implementation. The review also considered cross-cutting issues and alignment with the Future Jersey Vision.
Standing panels provided valuable insights into these cross-cutting matters, which included: • The ageing population • Digital infrastructure • Environmental priorities • Diversity, Inclusion and Equity • Workforce training and skills While the Review Panel concentrated on cross-cutting issues and budget implications, individual Scrutiny Panels have conducted detailed reviews on both the budget and specific CSP priorities. Together, this collective scrutiny provided a fuller picture of delivery and challenges across Government.
The Panel found that Ministers were broadly supportive of narrowing the CSP to a focused set of priorities, noting that this approach provided clarity, improved accountability, and reduced the risk of spreading resources too thin during the 28-month term. Overall, the Government has delivered several key commitments, including the provision of nutritious school meals in all States primary schools (priority 2), and the commencement of the transition to a living wage, although support to businesses is ongoing (priority 7). Progress has been made in areas such as lifelong learning and skills development (priority 3), reductions in GP fees (priority 5), affordable housing measures (priority 8), construction of a new hospital at Overdale (priority 4) and planning reform (priority 12). However, some priorities remain only partially delivered, including the implementation of recommendations from the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce (priority 6), town revitalisation (priority 11), and reducing red tape (priority 10). Delivery of nursery and childcare expansion (priority 1) is largely dependent on the approval of the Proposed Budget. Progress on meeting climate emergency commitments (priority 13) has been limited, with delays to environmental projects and the absence of a clear financial strategy.
Our review has resulted in 21 key findings and 11 recommendations. A summary of the Panel's recommendations follows next. To read all of them in detail, click on the full report below.
Delivery of Common Strategic Policy Priorities
Overall Delivery
We found that progress has been made in delivering a number of CSP priorities across education, health, economic, and housing areas. This includes the provision of nutritious school meals in all States primary schools, the commencement of the transition towards a living wage with associated employer support, and the introduction of measures to increase affordable housing and strengthen tenancy protections.
Nursery & Childcare We found that while the nursery and childcare pilot programmes represent important progress, their long-term sustainability is at risk due to workforce shortages and limited site availability. To address this, the Panel recommends that cross-departmental work is strengthened to address workforce and site availability challenges, ensuring the sustainable delivery of the universal nursery offer for 2 to 3 year olds. Revitalising St Helier We found that efforts to revitalise St Helier remain fragmented and lack a unified, long-term direction. To provide the necessary strategic clarity, we recommend that the Council of Ministers establish an integrated revitalisation plan as part of end-of-term planning. This plan should include clear governance arrangements, with cross-departmental representation on the Regeneration Steering Group. Age-Friendly Infrastructure We found that progress on the Age-Friendly Infrastructure Framework requires clearer accountability. To support this, the Panel recommends that the Council of Ministers publish a detailed update by February 2026, outlining progress toward delivering the Framework by July 2026.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Governance
Outcome-Based Performance Metrics
We found that monitoring of CSP priorities is still overly focused on activity rather than outcomes. We therefore recommend the introduction of outcome-based performance metrics across all CSP priorities, with annual public reporting. We also requested that an update on current CSP delivery be published in Q1 2026, ahead of the next election, to provide a transparent assessment of progress.
Cross-Ministerial Governance
We found that cross-Ministerial coordination on strategic priorities remains inconsistent and insufficiently formalised. To strengthen governance, we recommend the creation of formal cross-Ministerial working groups with clear terms of reference, delivery plans, and reporting mechanisms. We have suggested that the Deputy Chief Minister, as with other jurisdictions, be tasked with coordinating certain cross-cutting priorities on behalf of the Chief Minister. This governance structure should be established before the next election and designed to span political cycles, ensuring long-term continuity and accountability.
Financial Sustainability
Long-Term Social Security Planning
We found that long-term pressures on the Social Security Fund require more robust forward planning. We recommend that the Council of Ministers develop a long-term sustainability plan that includes modelling of demographic change and future service needs, ensuring the Fund remains resilient.
Criteria for Reductions to the States Grant
We believe that future proposals to reduce the States Grant require clearer safeguards. We therefore recommend that the Minister for Social Security establish a set of criteria to ensure that any reductions in the grant are used only for capital investment that can generate a return, with explicit protections against the use of such funds for revenue spending.
Annual Reporting on Grant Reductions
To improve transparency, we recommend that the Council of Ministers publish annual reports outlining the impact of reduced grants on both the solvency of the Social Security Fund and the delivery of CSP outcomes. We believe that such reporting is essential to understanding the long-term consequences of funding decisions.
Demographic & Social Policy
Responding to an Ageing Population
Jersey’s ageing population presents some of the Island’s most significant long-term challenges across pensions, the workforce, housing, and care services. We recommend that the Council of Ministers publish a comprehensive report by the end of Q1 2026 detailing actions taken to how demographic changes will affect policies across the board in areas such as pensions, workforce, care, education, housing and other relevant areas. This report should assess progress to date, identify gaps, and present clear recommendations to equip the incoming government with a coherent framework for managing the social and economic impacts of demographic change.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Oversight
We found that responsibility for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) remains insufficiently embedded within government structures. Therefore the Chief Minister should include in his legacy report a proposal to assign DEI oversight to either a dedicated Ministerial portfolio or a cross-government steering group, ensuring consistent leadership and long-term focus in this area.
What happens next?
The Panel has presented its report to the States Assembly on 27th November 2025, following which the Council of Ministers has 6 weeks to respond by publishing a Ministerial Response to the Panel's key findings and recommendations. The response will be published on the States Assembly website.
The States Assembly are due to debate the Proposed Budget 2026 - 2029 at the States' sitting the week commencing 8th December 2025.
Panel membership
Credits:
Created with images by Sandor Szmutko - "Jersey Channel Islands - Noirmont Point - Portelet Beach" • gb27photo - "St Aubin Harbour on the island of Jersey one of the Channel Islands" • Tony - "La Corbière light house on the Island of Jersey" • lovelyday12 - "finance accounting concept.,pen and calculator on table" • onephoto - "Older demographic senior show demographic change and Generations and Aging"