16/02/2017 Channel Islands News

Big increase in those earning big pay in Guernsey's civil service.

It is just making sure that all our resources are put into the correct

places for the correct price. I have no qualms about paying for the wages

as long as they are value for money. Some by the highest

increase ever recorded. And Jersey school children swap

the classroom for the prison cell. And we have got high pressure in

charge of our weather which can mean dry and bright conditions but can

also bring mist and fog. Join me later in the programme to find out

how the weather is going to behave as we head for the weekend.

There's been a 40% increase in the number of people working

for the States Of Guernsey earning more than ?70,000.

Figures reveal the increase happened between 2010 and 2015.

The Government says it needs the best staff

The States Of Guernsey is the island's biggest employer,

In 2015, its wage bill was more than ?240,000.

When we look at staff pay bands, in 2010 there were 174 people

Five years later, that figure had shot up to 261

And when we peer even higher up the pay scale,

there were five people earning between ?150 and ?170,000.

In 2015, that has shot up to 20 people.

The States Chief Executive says he needs to spend to save.

People talk to me about, we want a lean public sector, high performing

public sector, we don't want waste, we want our pound spent well.

Actually, I need quality people to do that. Otherwise we won't drive

that performance. We need the best we need. But no more than we need.

This deputy is keeping a close eye on where taxpayers'

She says any increase in pay costs must represent value for money.

It is just making sure that all our resources are put into the correct

places for the correct price. I have no qualms about paying people good

wages but as long as they are value for money.

The Chief Executive admits the States hasn't necessarily

kept the closest of eyes on staff pay.

Clearly, I don't think there has been a really good restraint and

discipline and scrutiny on where we have been employing offices. But I

can give lectures on is that scrutiny is now therefore every

single job that we apply for. This is the home to many civil

servants in Guernsey and it appears states pay has over the years been

relatively unchecked. Those days appear to be over especially with

the announcement yesterday of the savings of ?7.5 million. The

challenge now is to ensure savings every year.

Mike Wilkins. Attempts in Guernsey to bring an end

to kerbside recycling, parish collections and recycling

targets have all been rejected. Deputies are debating

whether to proceed with controversial plans to export some

of its waste to Sweden The total bill for dealing

with an off-island solution is estimated to be almost ?300m

for the next 20 years. Police are investigating what they

describe as the unexplained death of a man in his seventies

at St Helier's Old They say there aren't any suspicious

circumstances at this time, Emergency services spent

several hours at the scene after being called there

at lunchtime. The average house price in Jersey

now stands at almost ?470,000, Confidence in job stability

and the housing market has driven up prices,

some by the highest But many young professionals

are still struggling to buy, More than 1,400 properties

were sold last year, 12% more than in 2015,

making it the highest for a decade. A 4% hike in house prices, putting

the average house now at ?468,000. But one area that's not doing

so well is two-bedroom houses Not good news for Jason who's trying

to sell his to buy a new home If we look at property prices

maybe five years ago The places we are looking at now

would have been in reach. But the property values have

increased drastically and it is making it difficult

I think to find the perfect home. And he's not the only one

finding it difficult. Estate agents want more support

for first-time buyers We have many properties

in the ?150,000, ?170,000 price range which can allow people to get

onto the property ladder. But it's the deposit,

you know sometimes between ten and 20% deposit is needed,

and that's a lot of money And with mortgage interest

rates at an all-time low, it's thought the market isn't

going to slow down. We are going to start reaching

a stage where certain sectors of the market will see

a shortage of supply. And when supply is exceeded

by demand, that's when prices And we fear, and I know this

is shared by estate agents and by professional valuers,

we fear prices are going to start going up a bit faster perhaps

than we have witnessed so far. So, although more properties

are changing hands, it isn't always the home buyers have

dreamt of owning. Now, a brief look at some of

the other stories making the news. Up to 1,500 people in

the Channel Islands could have been a small risk propane

cylinders like these may They want anyone who's bought one

since last March to get in touch Retailers in Guernsey

are being warned against fraudsters who are targeting online

or telephone card sales They use a stolen or cloned credit

card, then someone else goes into the shop in person and tries

to collect the items. The States Of Jersey have

given their approval to start the process of repealing the law

linking the island to the EU. It's expected the UK

will announce its intention to trigger the process

of leaving next month. Members agreed to let ministers

start work on removing the 1973 law that extends parts of the UK's

membership to Jersey. There's a call for Sark to work more

closely with Guernsey Industry bosses met to discuss

the outlook and heard the islands should pool their resources

and promote the Channel Islands Secondary school students in Jersey

have been getting a taste of what it's like to be

in a prison cell. It's all part of Prison Me No Way

Crime Week which has been running We sent our reporter

Jon De La Haye back to school. It may look like a soap drama,

but it carries a real message. These Beaulieu pupils

have been learning that actions have consequences,

with prison cells, police We have been learning about alcohol

and drugs, and prison and police. To make sure we don't make the same

mistakes other people have made in the past.

More people are going out and getting junk.

So you don't make bad decisions. If you do something wrong now, and

if you are applying for a job, they can see that. And how it will affect

you when you are older. And the theme of consequences

runs through Crime Week. Aimed specifically at 12

and 13-year-olds who are at an important stage of life,

it's hoped it'll help them They are at a stage in their life

where they are facing challenging decisions. They are struggling with

moving up from being a child to an adolescent. So we think it is time

in year eight to you come in and reinforce those key messages.

Now in its 11th year, the Crime Week messages

are delivered through demonstrations by police officers and fire

If the kids go home and had taken just one part of what ever they have

been taught today, and if that is, I'm not going to get involved in

criminal and seat because I could get bitten by a dog, or get involved

in drugs because the penalties and the chances of me getting caught are

so high, then we have done our little bit.

This Prison Me No Way campaign has been touring round Jersey's

And the hope is that, by spending time with youngsters now,

they won't be spending too long with them in the future.

Well, it all started so well, blue skies and sunshine.

But then the mist and fog rolled causing delays for air travellers.

Holly, can you see the Channel Islands on your radar?

Yes, unfortunately we have had problems with mist and fog today,

brought by high-pressure, bringing poor visibility, this photo from our

weather watcher earlier today. That contrasts sharply with other parts

of the region where we saw sunshine coming through, this is Guernsey.

A mixed picture, a contrast. Tomorrow, more of the same.

Hopefully more of the bright spells, the mist and fog will lift and

break. It should stay dry tomorrow. High-pressure means it will be

stagnant, staying in place over the weekend. Less of a problem with mist

and fog. A little rain at times. Overnight, mist and fog at times.

Poor visibility. Light winds, staying dry.

Some clear spells. These are the typical temperatures.

Some ground frost may be. Tomorrow morning, some of us can expect to

see mist and fog to begin the day. The risk of seeing that. It will

clear, some brightness coming through especially in the afternoon.

It is mild, highs of 10 degrees, a dry day as well.

These are our times of high water. This is the picture out at sea,

mainly a south-easterly direction, there's winds. Any fog patches will

reduce visibility. Over the coming days, fairly

settled, some mist and fog, less of a problem at the weekend. A little

bit of rain, mostly dry, light winds.

Those weather watcher pictures were amazing. Please go to our website. A

quick reminder of our top story in the Channel Islands, a 40% increase

in the number of people working for the States Of Guernsey earning more

than ?70,000, the increase happened between 2010 and 2015, but the

Government says it needs the best staff and that comes at a cost.

That's all from us. Plans for 185 houses and apartments

at the former Dorchester Prison Planning permission for housing

at the site was initially refused last August following concerns

from nearby residents. But today a revised application

for fewer homes was passed.