Government of Jersey
Government of Jersey | |
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Jèrriais: Gouvèrnément d'Jèrri | |
![]() ![]() Logos of the Government of Jersey in English and Jèrriais | |
Overview | |
State | Jersey |
Leader | Chief Minister (John Le Fondré) |
Appointed by | Chief Minister, with approval from the States Assembly.[1] |
Main organ | Council of Ministers |
Responsible to | States Assembly |
Headquarters | 19-21 Broad Street, Saint Helier |
Website | www![]() |
Politics of Jersey |
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The Government of Jersey (Jèrriais: Gouvèrnément d'Jèrri) is the executive body of the States of Jersey and is the central government of the Bailiwick of Jersey.[2] The government is led by the Chief Minister (currently Senator John Le Fondré, since 2018), who nominates all the remaining ministers, all elected by the States Assembly.
All Ministers of the Government are required to be elected States members and are accountable to it.[3] They make statements in and take questions from the assembly. The government is dependent on the assembly to make primary legislation, however ministers can make secondary legislation, such as Orders and Regulations. The government is not formed of one single party, but made of multiple independent members.
The 'Government of Jersey' is the official identity of the executive and administrative arm of the States of Jersey. The government no longer uses the term States of Jersey in reference to executive and administrative departments.[2]
History[]
Under the uncodified constitution of Jersey, executive power lies in the Council of Ministers, formed of the Chief Minister and his ministers. Before 2005, the States of Jersey held both legislative and executive power through committee-led government
Since the implementation of the States of Jersey (Jersey) Law 2005,[3] the executive and legislative functions have been split between the Council of Ministers and States Assembly respectively. In 2019, the Council of Ministers formally adopted the identity of the 'Government of Jersey' for the executive responsibilities of the States.[2]
Ministers[]
The decision-making body for the island's government is the Council of Ministers. The Council lead the island's executive and administrative governance. The ministers are nominated by the Chief Minister or by any States member and confirmed by the States Assembly. The States of Jersey (Jersey) Law 2005 establishes the role and function of ministers.[3]
The administration of the Government is made up by a number of departments that may have more than one minister. The Ministers are responsible each for an area of policy. The Ministers provide policy direction to civil service officers, having given fair consideration and due weight to informed and impartial advice from such officer.[3]
A new (or existing) Chief Minister is (re-)appointed after:
- every ordinary election of Deputies
- the previous Chief Minister ceases to be a States member
- the previous Chief Minister resigns, is incapacitated (for a period exceeding 8 weeks) or is deceased
- the States have no confidence in the Chief Minister or the whole Council
Departments - 'One Government'[]
Under the 'One Government' structure implemented by former Government Chief Executive Charlie Parker, there are nine government departments.
Department | Group | Group Director | Minister |
---|---|---|---|
Office of the Chief Executive | CEO and Head of Public Service | Paul Martin
Interim from March |
Chief Minister |
Chief of Staff | Catherine Madden | Chief Minister | |
Financial Services and Digital Economy | Richard Corrigan | ||
Economy | Dan Houseago | ||
Communications | Dirk Danino-Forsyth | ||
External Relations | Kate Nutt | Ian Gorst | |
Partnerships | TBD | ||
Customer and Local Services (CLS)
Director General: Ian Burns |
Customer Services | Sophie Le Sueur | |
Customer Operations | Steve Jackson | ||
Local Services | Paul McGinnety | ||
Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES)
Director General: Mark Rogers |
Children's Services | Susan Devlin | |
Education | Seán O'Regan | ||
Young People, Further Education, Skills and Learning | Saboohi Famili | ||
Health and Community Services (HCS)
Director General: Caroline Landon |
Group Managing Director | Rob Sainsbury | |
Group Medical Director | Patrick Armstrong Interim | ||
Chief Nurse | Rose Taylor | ||
Health Modernisation | Hilary Lucas | ||
Infrastructure, Housing and Environment (IHE)
Acting Director General: Andrew Scate |
Natural Environment | Willie Peggie | |
Operations and Transport | Ellen Littlechild | ||
Regulation | TBD | ||
Property | Tim Daniels | ||
Capital Projects | TBD | ||
Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
Director General: Julian Blazeby |
Public Protection and Law Enforcement | Kate Briden | |
Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance
Director General: Tom Walker |
Policy | TBD | |
Strategic Planning and Performance | Dr Anuschka Muller | ||
Strategy and Innovation | Steve Skelton | ||
Statistics Jersey | Dr Duncan Gibaut, Chief Statistician | ||
Medical Officer of Health | Dr Ivan Muscat
Deputy |
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Treasury and Exchequer
Director General: Richard Bull |
Comptroler of Revenue | Richard Summersgill | |
Strategic Finance | Alison Rogers | ||
Performance Accounting and Reporting | Steven Mair | ||
Treasury and Investment Management | Simon Hayward | ||
Risk and Audit | Mike Thomas | ||
Chief Operating
Chief Operating Officer: John Quinn |
People and Corporate Services | Mark Grimley | |
Commercial Services | Maria Benbow | ||
Modernisation and Digital | Gary Bowles |
In April 2018, the States approved changes to the Government machinery. The Chief Executive was appointed the Principal Accounting Officer for public finances, giving them the control and responsibility for government spending. The Government states this change has improved funding allocations and government transparency.[5] In February 2022, the Democratic Accountability and Governance Sub-Committee.[6]
The same proposition also proposed to make the Government a single legal entity. Currently, each Minister forms a single corporation sole, however when the changes are implemented (as they have been approved), 'Jersey Ministers' as a single entity will become legally responsible for all areas of government. The argument in favour of this is that it will allow more cross-Ministerial working. However, some are worried that this move would lead to more centralisation of power in the Chief Minister and Chief Executive.[6]
The OneGovernment structure has been criticised for blurring the lines of accountability in the Government and that the introduction of the reforms 'have had a negative effect on governance' because departments are no longer necessarily have one political lead.[6]
Common Strategic Policy[]
The Common Strategic Policy[7] is the Government's high-level ambitions for the island. It contains five strategic priorities, 8 common themes and 5 ongoing initiatives. It was started in 2018 and lasts four years.
The strategic priorities are:
- Put children first
- Improve Islander's wellbeing and mental and physical health
- Create a sustainable, vibrant economy
- Reduce income inequality and improve the standard of living
- Protect and value our environment
Local government[]
Jersey is divided into 12 parishes, which are further divided into vingtaines (or, in St. Ouen, cueillettes), divisions that are historic. Today they are used chiefly for purposes of local administration and electoral constituency. Each parish has their own Assembly.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jersey, Government of. "How the Council of Ministers works". www.gov.je. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Jersey, Government of. "Council of Ministers adopts 'Government of Jersey' identity". www.gov.je. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b c d "States of Jersey Law 2005". www.jerseylaw.je. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "About the Government of Jersey structure". Government of Jersey. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chief Executive Office, Government of Jersey (2019). ONEGOV: One Year On. Government of Jersey. 4 April 2019 [Accessed: 21 February 2022].
- ^ a b c Privileges and Procedures Committee (2022). R.2022/23 - Democratic Accountability and Governance Sub-Committee [Report]. States Greffe. Presented: 18 February 2022 [Accessed: 21 February 2022].
- ^ "Common Strategic Policy 2018 to 2022". Government of Jersey. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links[]
- Government of Jersey
- Executive branches of government
- Political organisations based in Jersey
- European governments
- Jersey stubs