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t“ I am pleased we were able to put forward


he £44 million fiscal stimulus plan to protect jobs and invest in training to ensure we are ready when the recovery begins.





Deputy SEAN POWER


the sharpest fall in global economic growth for 60 years, I am asked whether the financial crisis means that the States objectives for housing in the Island will be hampered.


The good news is that the financial crisis has not turned into a global depression. Our estimates of the contraction of the economy have proved accurate. Unemployment is a lot lower than the UK, but I realise that figures are meaningless for those who have lost their jobs.


My colleague Deputy Sean Power was elected to take on the Housing portfolio for the Council of Ministers in mid-2010.


Since becoming Minister for Housing, the Deputy has been giving significant thought to the many issues facing the Housing Department and housing in Jersey.


His objectives for the rest of the term of this government, and the policies he intends to pursue, aim to ensure the priorities set out in the Strategic Plan are met.


I know that the Minister is very concerned about the lack of affordable housing, whether that be first time homes for purchase by young people, homes for those wishing to downsize and perhaps release equity for their retirement, or indeed homes for those for whom renting will be a long term or lifetime tenure.


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He reports that social housing waiting lists are increasing. Unfortunately we have inadequate levels of supply to stabilise prices in both the rental and owner occupied markets. Jersey has an ageing population and demand for homes suitable for older people is growing rapidly.


The Housing Minister is confident that there are options for the States and will be discussing several policy options with colleagues in the Council of Ministers, including widening the allocations criteria for social housing to make access more equitable. This will require the stock to grow, but growth can be funded from private finance, which can be repaid from the rental income generated from those new homes.


Fiscal stimulus With Jersey having to respond to


Fear of unemployment was one of the main reasons the Treasury Minister, Senator Philip Ozouf, took a £44 million fiscal stimulus plan to the States in May 2009. It has funded a considerable number of projects aimed at keeping, or getting, people into work, including additional places at Highlands, a States apprenticeship scheme, a scheme to get young people into work (the Advance to Work initiative), direct support for business for Jersey Enterprise services and a boost for Jersey Finance’s vital marketing programme.


A number of essential civil infrastructure projects, urban renewal projects and construction and maintenance work have provided a valuable support to Jersey’s construction and engineering firms and workers, whose industries have been particularly affected by the recession.


As well as providing valuable work, fiscal stimulus money has also benefited Housing tenants as investment has been targeted at social housing. Work has included bringing forward roof replacements and heating installations across the Housing Department’s portfolio. All these projects have provided work for local business and labour, and were programmed to


be undertaken substantially in 2010, which significantly increased public sector spending and investment in social housing stock.


I know that the Housing Minister, Deputy Power, just like his predecessor Senator Terry Le Main, has a commitment to addressing deficiencies in standards across the social housing portfolio. The work was already planned but without the discretionary fiscal stimulus, it would have had to be delivered over a longer time period because of funding constraints.


Making homes more energy efficient by increasing insulation levels and switching from unsustainable fossil fuel heating systems is one of the department’s key strategies in ensuring that the social housing stock is efficient to operate in the long term. This strategy is also in line with the Energy Policies put forward by the Minister for Planning and Environment, Senator Freddie Cohen.


Dealing with the downturn The 2011 draft Business Plan sets out the targets for each States department, and the money allocated to achieve them.


I am pleased we were able to put forward the £44 million fiscal stimulus plan to protect jobs and invest in training to ensure we are ready when the recovery begins. But we also need to put in place the foundations of a sustainable future for our Island. That is why we, the Council of Ministers, set a £65 million savings target by 2013. This is challenging, but in my view achievable.


Good housekeeping is at the heart of our Strategic Plan. We have to live within our means and make tough choices.


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