The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

Dig This - Live at Guernsey Arts Sunday

We were delighted to be on stage live in conversation with new Guernsey Arts head Rebecca Booth on Sunday. Watch or listen for more insights into what the organisation does and its fresh shorter term focus.

In other news...

• Policy & Resources unveils tax package including 3% GST starting 2028, lower than previously proposed 5% rate, expected to raise £55m annually
• New 15% income tax rate introduced for earnings up to £28,000, with raised personal allowances and social security protections for lower-income households
• Corporate sector faces increased contributions: 10% rate extended to regulated businesses and prescribed firms, plus International Services Entities scheme
• Vehicle tax returns with fuel duty cut by 25%, new weight and emissions-based annual tax, and £2,500+ surcharge on luxury vehicles over £50,000
• Implementation costs estimated at £10m with £20m annual spending cuts pledged by 2029, though package still doesn't fully close projected £80m deficit by 2027

• Employment & Social Security disappointed by dropped unearned income proposals in social security restructure
• Policy & Resources excluded bank interest, rental income, and dividends from contribution calculations
• Committee believes including unearned income would make system more equitable. P&R fears impact on private rental market and employment.
• The change represents one element of a larger, complex tax package
• Committee will consider its position on the restructure in coming weeks

• Royal Guernsey Light Infantry LBG has transferred £46,000 to purchase historic house at 16 La Rue Verte in Masnieres, France, where Guernsey soldiers sheltered during battle
• War diary records 453 Guernsey soldiers were lost, missing or wounded over three days of fighting for the town
• Fundraising appeal for £350,000 has raised £236,000 in eight weeks, with £114,000 still needed for preservation work
• Trust has restructured as limited by guarantee company and established French charity to hold the property
• Property will become living memorial and cultural facility to strengthen ties between Guernsey and France

• Economic Development grants £75,000 to Islands Unlimited for marketing support during summer season
• Funding aims to boost passenger growth from Guernsey and Jersey and attract more visitors to Channel Islands
• Islands Unlimited launched in 2025 with £150,000 start-up support and carried over 27,000 passengers in first year
• Additional funding follows discussions about route development and ensuring resilient inter-island connectivity
• Committee maintains wider commitment including weekly Brittany Ferries rotations under 15-year contract

• GCRA proposes new numbering framework after Ofcom discovered it lacked legal powers to allocate +44 numbers in Crown Dependencies, leaving Guernsey operators unable to obtain new numbers since mid-2024
• Legislative amendment passed in March 2025 enables GCRA to establish formal arrangements with Ofcom through a Memorandum of Understanding and new Guernsey Numbering Scheme
• Free access to 116 services of social value mandated, with billing suppression to protect privacy of vulnerable persons contacting support hotlines including missing children services
• 14 telecommunications licence holders affected, with consultation deadline of 5pm on Friday 3rd July 2026 for public comments and representations

• GradRoutes Guernsey hosting free event on 30 June for students and graduates considering returning to the island
• Routes Home event at Les Cotils will address career pathways, economic prospects and affordability concerns
• Programme includes sessions on graduate opportunities, entrepreneurship, housing costs and professional networking
• Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and Steve Williams to discuss housing availability and affordability
• Initiative created by The Guernsey Institute as part of Adult Skills Strategy to retain home-grown talent

• Les Bourgs Hospice and Grow charity have partnered to rejuvenate gardens at Andrew Mitchell House
• Project funded through Coop Community Fund, secured by hospice fundraiser Liz Stonebridge
• New planting scheme features perennials and pollinator-friendly plants for year-round interest
• Gardens provide tranquil space for hospice patients, families and staff
• Both charities plan to work together on future projects

• Environment & Infrastructure approves bus timetable changes
• They include include retention of some early morning journeys and routes based on public feedback
• Further consultation seeks views on Route 61 changes and retention of two-hourly service for Routes 93 and 94 connecting Airport to hospital.
• IP2 parish link to end.
• Final feedback deadline is 5pm on Sunday 21st June, with changes expected to take effect in September

• Health & Social Care has launched an updated Hospital Passport to improve care for autistic people and those with learning disabilities in Guernsey
• The passport shares vital information about communication needs, health requirements, and personal preferences with hospital staff
• Developed by a working group including people with lived experience, family carers, and health professionals
• Features a traffic light system (red, amber, green) to help staff quickly identify the most important information
• Should be taken to all hospital appointments and reviewed at least annually or when needs change

This week's audio briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

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Guernsey Gazette

Creature Comforts (Guernsey) Limited has entered voluntary liquidation with joint liquidators handling the wind-up process.

Dominion (Guernsey) Limited plans to relocate and re-register as a company in the Cayman Islands.

A second public consultation on proposed bus route changes affecting west coast services and hospital access is underway until 21 June 2026.

The GCRA proposes modifications to telecommunications licences for 15 operators including Sure, JT, and Starlink.

GFSC notices

Investment Statistics Summary - First Quarter 2026

Commission publishes 2025 Annual Report