08/07/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

Hello, good evening. That's all from us. Now

Guernsey's politicians have begun debating changes to the way

They include replacing the chief minister and the Policy Council and

Luxmy Gopal reports on what the changes include.

A shake`up of government, starting right at the top.

Policy Council meetings would be no more.

Instead a new Policy and Resources Committee would take on the work,

There'd be just five members instead of the current elevdn.

And none of them would sit on any other States departmdnt.

They'd basically oversee wh`t the States do, and how to pay for it.

Alongside that, a new senior Policy and Resources Committee.

There would be up to nine other principal committees taking

on the jobs of departments like Health and Education.

And a scrutiny committee to check up on what everyone's doing.

And we'd say goodbye to the current Ministers and Chief Minister,

and instead have Presidents of each of those committees.

If this does all get the go`ahead, the States could look very

different come the next election ` and not just because

Well, the debate started today and will continue tomorrow.

Sophie Sulehria went to meet two of the politicians supporting the move.

Joining me now are two of the politicians behind the proposal

deputy Matt Fellowes and Deputy Jonathan Trott. Why does Gudrnsey

need this change? We have c`rried out this review of the way the state

operates, and we have identhfied some fairly major weaknesses in the

resident arrangements, so wd are proposing a series of

recommendations which deal, one by one, with each of the major

shortcomings that we have identified.

How will it serve the peopld of Guernsey better? It will provide for

better co`ordinated and of policy and resources. That will serve the

people of Guernsey, perhaps not in the immediate future but certainly

over the long`term. Let's t`lk about leadership and that can improved.

The proposals provide two things, greater tools to the senior

politician and the senior committee, which is very important, because in

my role at the moment, I haven't got very many tools at my disposal. But

also flexibility, because at the moment, there is a certain rigidity

in the way we have to work which precludes us working effecthvely in

certain areas. That includes policy coordination, but also the `bility

to be able to manage the budget effectively adduce that is ` tool.

The proposal will see the ntmber of politicians reduced. In the last

election, many people said to me that they wish there were fdwer

politicians. So it will enable us to see a reduction in the numbdr of the

politicians, maybe not as mtch as people want, but it will help to

streamline and make our state effective and fit for purpose in the

21st`century. The states of set`aside four days to

decide a very different look to the future of Guernsey's governlent

Guernsey's Education Departlent has defended the progress made

in its reform of the island?s school systdm.

It comes after non`voting board membdr and

education expert Denis Mulkdrrin resigned from the board yesterday

because of a lack of progress on key issues such as teacher recrtitment

It is quite strange. I have had several deputies coming to le and

saying that we are going to quickly. We have to work within the political

constraints, and within the states constraints, so it is not lhke in my

business I can make a decishon and get it done instantly. It is

frustrating, but we have done a huge amount of good work, and I would

like to finish by saying th`t everything we do is for the benefit

of our education of our children and our students. That is what ht is all

about. A proposal to allow same`sex

couples to marry in Jersey has Politicians spent most of the day

debating the idea, but said they needed more time to consider the

consequences of bringing in the law. This is what deputy wants to see in

Jersey, same`sex couples marrying. He argued that islanders deserve the

quality in all aspects of their lives `` equality. We know that gay

people deserve to be treated with equality before the law and to have

exactly the same chance at happiness as everyone else, and that hs my

motivation. But the states didn t get to debate his proposal. Instead,

they chose an amendment, asking the chief minister to investigate and

report on any unintended consequences and on public opinion.

It is particularly about getting consolidation and examining things

first. It is a significant decision for the island, and it is vdry fair

that we should use at first before signing up to a particular rate I

think the politicians are h`ving to balance their own faiths and their

own personal beliefs with what they are trying to achieve for the island

in terms of equality. Effectively, this group of politicians h`ve

delayed making a decision until after the elections in October. It

will be up to the new house to decide on same`sex marriage is, and

the electorate will decide hf they will support those who voted for and

against it today. And that's the news tonight. I shall leave you with

a weather forecast. Good night. Good evening. We continue to see a

few showers this evening, again into clear now to leave us fine `nd drive

tomorrow. Here is the big s`tellite picture with quite an amount of

cloud. Further to the west, high`pressure building, keeping

things settled for us tomorrow. The situation as we go into tonhght

most of the showers have cldared, we might see one or two, but gdnerally

it is dry overnight tonight. A fairly breezy night, with the

Northwest wind picking up. No real chances of seeing any missed first

thing for top. Sunshine could be becoming a little hazy tomorrow

afternoon with high`level cloud Temperatures could reach thd low 20s

in places. Thursday, another generally dry day with sunshine but

increasingly we will see cloud pushing informing East. Dashed in

from the east. In a moment, the full UK forecast,

but first, the summary. through the next few days into the

weekend. Hot on Saturday with thundery showers.

Good evening, the rain in Rio is matching the mood, I suspect, this

evening. Here, we will take a day off from the rain tomorrow, at least

most of us. There will be sunshine around. The showers will be back for

the end of the week. Dry over night virtually everywhere. Winds easing

down in many places except towards the North Sea coasts. The south west

will keep a breeze going. Not a cold night, temperatures holding 12- 4

degrees typically. A dry day virtually everywhere tomorrow. Cloud

breaking up to allow good spells of sunshine coming through,

particularly to Scotland, northern England, Wales and the south of had

west. Rain will