09/10/2013 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening and welcome to BBC Channel Islands News, on the day

Guernsey unveils its budget for Channel Islands News, on the day

year ahead. The headlines: Tax on alcohol, tobacco, and fuel is on the

up, in a bid fill a massive economic black hole. Whilst we do want to

reduce the budget deficit, if we increased taxation to fast we will

damage the economic recovery. Good Guernsey — they'll get help to get

on the property ladder. One other main headline — over £10 million

will be spent on extending six States primary schools in Jersey, to

cope with rising pupil numbers. It is the opportunity for us to

cope with rising pupil numbers. able to do what we do. We need more

Tax on alcohol, tobacco, and fuel is on the up, as Guernsey's Treasury

Homeowners will also pay more in property tax, but there will be

Homeowners will also pay more in help for first time buyers and

personal tax allowances are going up massive hole in the States finances

— as Penny Elderfield reports. It's Island's books. And when there's a

£27 million deficit to deal with — it's something that has to be done.

You have to balance your budget it's something that has to be done.

your home life. Likewise, the States of Guernsey have to balance the

budget. We cannot spend, spend, spend. The money comes from you

budget. We cannot spend, spend, I, the taxpayer. And to bring in

some extra money, the States are Drinkers will be paying more for

alcohol, with tax up 5%, or a couple of pence on a pint of beer. Tax

alcohol, with tax up 5%, or a couple tobacco is increasing by 5.7%,

cigarettes. And when you fill up your car, you'll be paying two pence

more per litre. Also on the up, increase by 5%. They will not notice

an awful lot, to be truthful. The increase is about £9 per year on

average. They will get an increase on their personal allowances, which

will increase their tax rebate. Overall, most people will be more or

less on balance. So not much that's unexpected, but the Treasury's done

that on purpose, as a full review of tax and benefits is still ongoing. A

review which could lead to some tax and benefits is still ongoing. A

radical changes later on than we're Guernsey's budget should help first

time buyers. Changes mean they will pay less tax to the Government if

they buy a home under £400,000. pay less tax to the Government if

idea is to boost the property market — but is it enough to get more

people on the housing ladder? Pam Working hard to afford his new home.

Warren finally managed to buy his first house in February — but he had

to save up for 15 years. Me and first house in February — but he had

partner were working two jobs. I am still working two jobs. We have

partner were working two jobs. I am continue to do that to pay the

mortgage and payday loans off. You have to do it. Unless you are in a

very well—paid job, first time buyers, it is a massive struggle.

But measures in today's budget should make it easier for others,

and leave them up to £4,000 better document duty mean they'll pay less

tax to the Government on properties priced under £400,000. This estate

agent says it's a step in the right direction — but prices are still too

high. I'm not sure it addresses direction — but prices are still too

overall issue, one of supply of cheap houses for first time buyers.

Statistics suggest a 50% of the transactions below 400,000. We would

suggest it is only about 20% to transactions below 400,000. We would

But the Government believes it will encourage sellers to reduce prices

property ladder. You may drop your price just to get a sale. It will

stimulate the market and it may bring some realistic, as it were,

pressure on sellers to put their houses up at something they can

pressure on sellers to put their it at. But even if this does help

Guernsey's Treasury Minister, Gavin St. Pier, and asked him why, if

finances are so tight, they've not gone further with this years budget?

Well, we are very conscious we are working with an economy which is

still quite fragile, it is still recovering. Whilst we do want to

reduce the budget deficit, if we increased taxation to fast, we are

recovery. We are taking a judgement call which means that we move with

caution. No major changes to tax benefits, but there are changes

caution. No major changes to tax year? Yes, we are about halfway

through a review of the personal tax, pensions and benefits system.

We expect to bring a report next year, which will help us to decide

what the long—term structure of year, which will help us to decide

system should look like. That would feed through to changes this time

next year as we put together the budget then. Big news for first

next year as we put together the buyers. How, in reality, will that

make a difference? We are operating in an environment where the number

of transactions has been down about 20% of this year. We also recognise

that the levels of duty have not been reviewed for ten years. It

that the levels of duty have not also this one—year reduction in

that the levels of duty have not level of duty. We hope that will

help bring forward transactions What in this budget will get the

economy flowing? Well, the key government spending. And next year

there will be a 2.6% reduction in government spending in real terms,

which amounts to about 9.4 million. That enables us to put aside an

additional 10 million into capital reserve, to fund our capital and our

infrastructure spending. Much of that will benefit the local economy.

The airline, Jet2, is starting direct flights between Jersey and

Manchester from next summer. It direct flights between Jersey and

fill the gap left by Blue Islands after it scrapped its Manchester

route earlier this year. They'll Motorists in Jersey are facing more

road closures and diversions in Motorists in Jersey are facing more

from next week. A rock fall at Mount Bingham last month led to long

tailbacks, as it coincided with Bingham last month led to long

by Jersey Electricity on South Hill. To ease ongoing congestion through

the tunnel, transport authorities will implement a daily changing

travel plan. Traffic signs and honorary police officers will be in

The contractor is hopeful to have November. That may very well change

as the rock anchors are installed. They will need another couple of

You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later on Spotlight,

the sailors going their separate Over £10 million will be spent on

extending six States primary schools in Jersey to cope with rising pupil

numbers. The project will provide an millions of pounds spare for a new

sports strategy. Amy Harris reports. As the birth rate in Jersey rises,

demand for primary school places is outstripping supply. In order to

cope, over the next three years outstripping supply. In order to

extra 14 classrooms are to be built at States schools across the island.

absolutely great, D'Auvergne is already a thriving school with an

excellent staff team, so it's the opportunity for us to do what we do

with even more children. There were plans to build a new primary school

in St Helier, but a suitable site couldn't be found — so instead,

in St Helier, but a suitable site schools are to be extended and

improved, providing extra classrooms where they're most needed, like

improved, providing extra classrooms at D'Auvergne. The project will

improved, providing extra classrooms just over £10 million — that's about

five million less that what was originally earmarked for the new

school. The spare cash is expected Education Department, with the bulk

strategy. In 2015, we have an Island games in Jersey and we need to spend

money on that. What it means is games in Jersey and we need to spend

can look at the whole of the sports facilities, and we're in the process

of building a new sports strategy, so we're asking the Treasury and the

States if we can use some of this money. These Year One pupils will be

eight when the extension project is complete in 2016. And with more

pupils, more classrooms and more outdoor playing space, their school

good evening. Turning colder. That has already started to happen with

the brisk breeze we have seen to date. That continues through tonight

and the day tomorrow. It would be a windy day tomorrow. There will be

some sunshine and the small chance of a shower. The greatest threat of

showers will be overnight tonight. Two lines of cloud on the satellite

picture. This lump of cloud here is producing some showers. It will

cross the Channel shortly. It will move away in the second half of

cross the Channel shortly. It will night. By the time we get to the

middle of the day tomorrow, with brisk northerly winds, a lot of

middle of the day tomorrow, with afternoon. Thicker cloud creeping

our way as we move into Friday. afternoon. Thicker cloud creeping

—— showery outbreaks of rain will move away to light. Then we will

have some clear skies. It will turn quite chilly. Temperatures in single

figures. As for tomorrow, some morning sunshine replaced by more

cloud in the afternoon. A cold day. 13 degrees will be the maximum

temperature. The breeze will add to the effect. The coastal waters

forecast is a northerly force five, occasionally six, mainly fair with

good visibility. The Times of high water: any beach facing north will

Let's look at the weekend forecast. We have an area of low pressure

Let's look at the weekend forecast. southern France that will creep

Let's look at the weekend forecast. little bit closer. By the time we

get from Saturday to Sunday, a lot of cloud, thick enough for outbreaks

of rain. Showers on Saturday. More persistent rain on Sunday. On the

temperatures. Weekend temperatures struggling up to 14 or 15 degrees.

As we move into Sunday, we keep struggling up to 14 or 15 degrees.

cold easterly wind. That would be a feature of the weather from Friday

struggling. Daytime temperatures made worse by the wind. Good news.

I'm back at eight o'clock. Goodbye. detention with the Russian

ambassador in the UK. The BBC has tracked down one of the owners of

two Plymouth care homes which were effectively closed down by the

authorities. An Inside Out South West investigation found that South

View and Park View failed to meet a number of Care Quality Commission

standards. The homes were owned by Nick and Anna Chapman. But Mrs

Chapman refused to comment on why the homes were run so badly, when we

caught up with her this morning. Sam Smith reports. Anna Chapman, I am

from the BBC. I am here on behalf of your former residents and staff.

Anna Chapman arrives back home at her luxury home. It is very

different to the care homes in Plymouth she ran with her husband.

Sell to view and Park View were effectively closed by the council

after failing to meet a number of essential standards. Former staff

showed Inside Out South West stained bents and told how residents had

been unable to take a bath because there was no hot water. It was

claimed that residents complained about the carer. We repeatedly asked

the Chapmans for their side of the story but got no response. It. Get

out of my way! I am here on behalf of former residents and staff. You

have no reason to speak to me. You're not denying yourself any

comforts here, you denied those to your residence. No shortage of

heated water for the Chapmans, a hot tub in the grounds. Anna Chapman is

the director of the company which ran the care homes. Mr Chapman is

the former assistant director of care for older people at Devon

County Council. These two former staff members are still awaiting

compensation that they were awarded from the Chapmans company for unfair

dismissal. According to the CQC, food suppliers, tradesmen and the

gas company are also owed money. The parents of an injured baby say they

had to make their own arrangements to get him to a specialist burns

unit. Twenty—two—month—old Corey Duffield, who was badly scalded in

an accident at home, was taken to the hospital in Truro by ambulance.

Doctors there asked his parents, who don't drive, to arrange the 170 mile

trip to Frenchay hospital in Bristol. The Royal Cornwall

Hospitals Trust say such requests are part of an agreed protocol. You

may find some pictures in David George's report distressing. Toddler

Corey Duffield will be two next month. He has recovered well from

the scalding accident which happened three weeks ago when he pulled over

at hand of boiling potatoes. I did not see, but I think he has tried to

stir it and brought it on to himself. A paramedic was sent in an

search of an emergency call and the baby was given morphine and taken to

the Royal Cornwall Hospital by emergency ambulance. His head and

neck were badly scalded. These pictures were taken by his parents.

They were asked to make their own arrangements to take him to a

special burns unit in Bristol. As he was given morphine, he should have

been monitored in an ambulance. We were in the back of a car and he had

open wounds. Looking back, I think it was crazy to expect us in that

state and Cory as well, he was in pain and had had a horrible trauma,

to expect him to sit in a car for hours ——: Smith. The hospital said

his condition was fully assessed by the emergency department doctor and

our records show he was not displaying any signs of undue pain

or distress. In line with protocols agreed with the team at Frenchay

Hospital it was considered appropriate for him to travel by

car. At his parents raised any concerns about the difficulty of

getting to Bristol, we would have organised transport. His parents say

they told hospital staff they could not drive and they did not ask for

an ambulance because they were upset and distressed and believed they had

no choice. A project being piloted in the South West is cutting crime

and ensuring people with mental health problems get the treatment

they need. The Liaison and Diversion scheme involves psychiatric nurses

who are based in police stations. In Cornwall, the service has

dramatically reduced reoffending. Here's our Health Correspondent

Sally Mountjoy. James has had a mental health problems for years.

This summer, deeply depressed, he reached a crisis. I barricaded

myself in my bungalow. Put petrol over myself. I set alight to the

bungalow. He was arrested, but in court his luck changed. He met Jim

Beresford, and nurse with the Liaison and Diversion Scheme and he

assessed him, spoke up for him in court and helped avoid a prison

sentence and ensured he got the medication and support he needed. I

went from despair and not seem like at the end of the tunnel to

basically, when I met Jim, everything every —— ever thing

turned around. Research showed that 25% of people coming into police

custody centres in Cornwall and 40% of those in regular contact with the

police were known to have a history of mental illness. For many, the

criminal justice system was the wrong place. Inspector Mark Bolt who

is based in Camborne helped set up the pilot scheme one year ago. As

well as two psychiatric nurses, three are now based in police

stations across Cornwall. When officers in custody centres or the

community think someone is mentally unwell, they are referred for

assessment. The neighbourhood teams can refer people in. If they commit

an offence or are suspected of an offence, officers can refer them to

the team and see if their behaviour is due to mental illness and if it

is, the team can offer them support and hopefully, that support will

make them better so they will not commit further offences. The service

has reduced crime and saved police time. Pilot schemes also operate in

Dorset and Somerset and from last month, in Devon. Those involved want

government funding to continue the scheme which improves individual

lives and is good for society. The community at large benefit from

someone whose circumstances are stabilised under social

circumstances are stabilised, they are less likely to offend.

Therefore, they will not come to the attention of police. I am lucky.

But, better late than never. People are getting wise to everything. And

I am a good example of someone who has got the help that they needed,

because I would not have got it in prison. Plymouth Argyle bowed out of

the Football League Trophy last night when they were beaten 2—1 at

Swindon Town in the second round. The Pilgrims actually led through

Andre Blackman's first goal for the club after only seven minutes. But

the Wiltshire team responded soon after and won the tie just after

half—time with a second goal. It's now five league and cup games

without a win for John Sheridan's side. Exmouth—based Olympic sailors

Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes may have announced they're to go their

separate ways, but thoughts now turn to their future. Will the former

49'er skiff world champions stay in the sport? Both of them are with us

this evening in the studio to tell us more. Welcome to the programme.

Why the decision at this point to go your separate ways? Ultimately we

are in our results based business. We have looked at our results. We

have had some real highs in our career, but we have perhaps

plateaued a little bit. We have looked down several avenues to

improve ourselves, but it has not quite happened. We have been doing

it a long time. It is probably time to move on. Looking back on your

career, what are the highlights? It was incredible. We had minimal

backing at that point. That was our springboard. That was amazing. The

sport of sailing is on a high after the Olympics, then with the success

of Ben Ainslie in the America's Cup. What does the future hold for

you? Obviously the America's Cup captured the imagination and made

sailing more understandable but the amazing broadcast that happened. We

were lucky to have someone like Ben Ainslie. He has spearheaded sailing

around the country and around the world. The America's Cup, it

originally started out in Britain, unfortunately we lost that first

race, and we have never won it back. Right now, we have an unbelievable

wealth of talent in the country and if Ben Ainslie can drum up that

financial interest that ultimately you need, then it would be amazing.

Unfortunately, the sport is moving towards a high—performance end which

is were we come from, so less of the slow boats and more of the faster

spectacular boats, which is the pace we are used to working out. Thank

you. Good luck. Let us take a look at the weather.

Good evening. We have had a drop in the temperatures and it has felt

colder and some of us have not got any higher than 12 degrees. A cold

day in store tomorrow. It will be breezy and there will be some

sunshine off and on and we will need to wrap up warm. It is much more

autumnal and that change is here to stay. Quite a lot of cloud on the

satellite picture. It is big enough to give us some outbreaks of rain

this evening. Not a huge amount of wet weather, but it does herald a

change later this evening. A cold night as the weather systems move

out of the way and the high—pressure sits to the west of Ireland,

northerly winds, giving us lower temperatures and it will feel chilly

tomorrow morning with overnight temperatures well into single

figures. By the time we get to Thursday and Friday, there is a

subtle change, with this low—pressure drink —— dragging in an

easterly flow. There will be less cold air and there will be showers.

There is that satellite picture, a fine line of blue across the Bristol

Channel. That is the second in a line of showers and that will have

the clear air behind it. Overnight figures could be as low as four or

five degrees. That is a lot colder than it has been, the coldest nights

so far this autumn and the winds are brisk and will remain from the North

West slowly clearing northerly. There are the temperatures. Tomorrow

morning, apart from a few showers in the Isles of Scilly, it will be a

good day with plenty of sunshine, the sunshine giving us some decent

lengthy spells and also giving us very good visibility. Lovely clear

air coming from the Arctic. Excellent visibility, the risk of a

few showers, but it is cold, 12 or 13 degrees will be the maximum

temperature. For the Isles of Scilly, breezy and cold day, a

higher risk of showers. Times of high water. For surfers... Coastal

waters forecast... Freddie's forecast is similar, a bit less

cold, early in the day, there may be some patchy rain —— Friday. Into the

weekend, it remains cooler and also more unsubtle. Have a good evening.

That is the news and weather for now —— unsettled. From everyone here,

have a very good night.