The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

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The Quarry - Independent news from GuernseyNick Mann

In other news...

• Phase 2A of hospital modernisation scrapped after costs soar to £273 million, more than double the £120 million approved by the States in 2023
• Phase 1 Critical Care and Post Anaesthetic Care Units built but not in use due to fire safety issues, with total costs now forecast at £39.3 million
• Late and incomplete Electronic Patient Record programme transitioning to closure with approximately £22 million of £23.711 million budget spent, remaining projects transferred to Digital & Technology team
• Committee spent £5.5 million on Phase 2 development including design work and business cases before deciding project unaffordable
• Future approach will focus on smaller, targeted projects rather than large-scale programmes, with health system facing £5 million annual increase in underlying pressures

• The Policy & Resources Committee has purchased property next to Leale's Yard for £2.12 million to allow new road infrastructure
• The acquisition includes a plot of land, part of a garden, two houses and Atec Engineering's workshop
• A previous planning application for a road through the Saltpans site will be withdrawn in favour of more comprehensive plans
• Demolition of existing structures at Leale's Yard is now underway as part of wider regeneration plans for the Braye du Valle area
• Ridge and Partners has been appointed to develop a masterplan for the area, working alongside local firm CCD Architects

• Brittany Ferries to increase Portsmouth service from six to seven days per week from 1 November, with new triangular route via Cherbourg
• New Cherbourg link provides 3.5-hour connection to France and access to freight rail services to southwest France, Iberian Peninsula and Ireland
• Freight costs said to be 14% lower than neighbouring jurisdictions 18 months into 15-year contract, with daily freight service to strengthen supply chain
• Passengers on Cherbourg-routed sailings will require passports for UK re-entry; direct Portsmouth services and Voyager operations unchanged
• Guernsey now connected to five ports: Portsmouth, Poole, Cherbourg, St Malo and Jersey, with discussions underway with French supermarket

• Scrutiny Management Committee will hold public hearing with Employment & Social Security on 6th October 2026
• Benefits spending accounts for more than a quarter of total States expenditure
• Personal social security contribution rates will have risen by a third to 8% over 15 years
• Committee chair says annual ESS uprating reports are approved without sufficient scrutiny
• Hearing will be held at St Martin's Parish Hall between 10am and 12pm, with live streaming available

• Independent Bailiwick Commission has published interim report calling for major reforms to governance arrangements between Guernsey, Alderney and Sark
• Commission identifies 1948 Agreement as outdated and no longer fit for purpose, with lack of financial transparency and no formal dispute resolution process
• Public survey shows strong support for change in decision-making balance and calls for greater financial transparency and stronger voice for smaller islands
• Commission rules out constitutional changes including independence or becoming UK territory, favouring strengthening current arrangements with substantial reforms
• Final recommendations expected in September 2027 include Service Level Agreements, formal Inter-Government Council and clearer funding arrangements

• Body discovered in area known as The Guns in Alderney during early hours of this morning
• 44-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and is receiving hospital treatment while in police custody
• Emergency services including RNLI lifeboat attended the scene
• Formal identification has not yet taken place and circumstances are being established
• Police confirm they are not looking for anyone further in connection with the incident

• Replacement pipe for Fort George outfall has been fabricated and moved to the harbour
• Installation by Guernsey Ports' dive team awaits suitable tide and weather conditions
• Repair follows discovery earlier this year that outfall was not discharging in intended location
• Work expected to be completed within the next few weeks once conditions allow
• Guernsey Water will increase inspection frequency on the outfall following repair

• CGi urges States to increase income tax temporarily and cut spending rather than introduce goods and services tax
• A 3% income tax increase three years ago would have raised £45 million by 2026, helping to narrow the funding gap
• Updated modelling shows GST at 3% would now raise £36 million, down from £39 million previously estimated
• CGi warns Revenue Service cannot manage new tax system whilst dealing with significant backlog worsened by individual taxation
• Four States committees forecast overspends this year, with HSC seeking tens of millions for Raymond Falla House relocations

• Independent actuarial firm validates States of Guernsey's 3% GST modelling, confirming calculations are accurate across all 66,021 individuals and 25,529 households
• Household GST estimated at £38.3 million (range £36-41 million), visitor GST at £3.5 million, and International Services Entity fees at £11 million, totalling approximately £53 million
• Two refinements identified during review resulted in net 4% reduction from earlier £41 million household GST estimate to £38.3 million
• Six different validation methods all support the States' figures, and model successfully reproduced Jersey's actual GST receipts within 10% when rescaled
• Review praises Guernsey's register-based census linked to tax records as leading approach among Crown Dependencies, eliminating sampling error and enabling full-population modelling

• Economic development officials from Jersey and Guernsey met to discuss improving inter-island transport links
• Both parties acknowledged current connectivity challenges and committed to exploring options with ferry operators
• Cruise tourism identified as area for greater cooperation between the islands
• Short- and medium-term options to be explored with further announcements planned
• Officials emphasised importance of reliable transport for communities, businesses and tourism

• Nine new sites proposed for approximately 267 affordable homes, with planning permission expected by end of 2027
• Controversial Vazon local centre designation recommended despite independent inspector's opposition over infrastructure and character concerns
• Affordable housing surplus stands at just 72 units after proposed allocations, whilst private market has 665-unit surplus
• DPA rejects five of inspector's 16 recommendations, including additional affordable housing sites on agricultural land
• Major employment land changes include redesignating Saltpans for mixed-use development and switching Belgrave Vinery to industrial use

• Guernsey Electricity reports operating profit of £3.3 million and profit before tax of £1.43 million, with net debt reduced to £42.7 million
• Further interconnection identified as top strategic priority, with business case to be presented to States Trading Supervisory Board in 2026 and final investment decision expected in 2028
• 5 per cent revenue cap increase approved, effective July 2026, with average price per kilowatt hour rising to 22.02 pence from 19.85 pence
• Company marks 125th anniversary since first supplying electricity in 1900, with new chair Julian Critchlow warning next 25 years will see more change than previous 125
• Customer survey receives 3,617 responses showing cost as main concern, with tariff reform planned to link fixed costs to electrical demand rather than consumption

• Over 6,000 school admission records from the 19th and 20th centuries and nearly 9,000 prison records from 1854 to 1896 have been added to Findmypast
• Civil births and deaths for Alderney and Sark are among the new records published online
• The digitisation is part of a partnership between Findmypast and Guernsey's archives to make Bailiwick records accessible worldwide
• All scanning work has been carried out on-island at the Priaulx Library, Island Archives and Greffe
• The collection continues to grow annually as the 100-year cut-off advances, with births and baptisms from 1926, marriages from 1941 and deaths from 2001 released this year

• Free cinema event on 10 October 2026 will feature four films exploring homelessness across four screens to mark World Homeless Day
• Event organised by Action for Children's Guernsey Youth & Housing Project and Caritas Guernsey with sponsorship from The Bachmann Group and Mallard Cinema
• Advance booking required with option to donate to Action Mentoring, supporting young people at risk of homelessness
• Organisers highlight that homelessness includes hidden forms such as sofa surfing, unstable accommodation and family breakdown
• Deputy Garry Collins notes event comes during housing crisis, with projects to increase affordable homes now in pipeline

This week's audio briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

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Guernsey Gazette

The GCRA is proposing modifications to a telecommunications licence for public consultation.

The Coach House on Rue D'Aval in St Sampson has been added to the protected buildings list.