12/03/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening. That's all from us.

Good evening. Guernsey's new Chief Minister says

he'll improve communication with islanders. Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq

was elected by a narrow margin at today's States meeting. He takes

over from Deputy Peter Harwood who resigned last month following a

magazine article about his positions with the Channel Island Stock

Exchange and Guernsey's financial services regulator. Mike Wilkins

reports. Arriving at the Royal Court with

their political future about to be decided. The social security

Minister versus the home Department Minister Jonathan le Tocq. For the

man about to relinquish the role of Chief Minister, it was a sad day.

I'm very disappointed, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.

Hopefully, can still have some engagement. After a quick handshake,

it was into the States chamber and after almost two hours of Westerns,

the vote was in. Deputy Jonathan le Tocq won by two votes, a fine margin

considering that for States members were absent. I think when deputy

hardwood was elected and I stared at that time, for votes would have made

a difference. You can analyse that to death. We have a strong policy

Council. For the loser, today marks the beginning of the end for his

political career. My career politically will end in April 2016,

as I have said. I have a lot to do, I have fewer responsibilities on

track if you responsibilities on the policy Council. As he settled into

his role, former ministers have had plenty of advice. Anyone who has

held the office will know it is very difficult, you need a lot of skills.

You need a strong personality. Both candidates have that. Sometimes,

that strength of personality can be interpreted as arrogance or

something of that nature. The Chief Minister has to show leadership

which I am sure that Jonathan le Tocq can provide. He has two take

people with them. I used to call myself not the man in charge, but

the first among equals. There not much time for settling in the

population policy and the islands `` Island's deficit a sum of the issues

that the chief Mr will have to steer.

A little earlier I spoke to Deputy le Tocq from our Guernsey newsroom

and asked what he would do for islanders.

One of my top priorities that I have stated is improving communication.

That is both within the States, within the assembly, but also in the

way that we communicate and share policy decisions and policy

proposals with the electorate. That has begun. What about policies? How

will you change how the islands are run? I am just one vote among

others, we have a lot of decisions to make. We have an ageing

demographic, that affects our pensions, it affects benefits, it

affects employment, it affects taxation, all of those issues will

come to the fore. You won by a very slim margin, how will you control

and get the rest of the assembly to support you? I think this is an

example of a consensus Government. This has happened before. We have

pulled together a good counsel, that are largely remains and the deputy

has done a good job. I was not his choice for deputy Chief Minister, we

worked well together and shows that Guernsey can do it.

I am pleased that he has been elected. I know both of the

candidates and we have a constructive relationship. He is a

supporter of the working journal `` Jersey and Guernsey working closer

together. New figures show around half of working households in Jersey

can't afford to buy a home. In 2012 this figure was two fifths. This

year that figure has risen to nearly half ` 49% of people. Jersey's

Housing Minister, Deputy Andrew Green, says a lack of housing at the

cheaper end of the market has pushed prices up, and he'd like to build

more homes. We are going to build more social rented housing and that

increases supply generally. As part of that, 80% will be rental, and 20%

will be affordable first time buyer. That will increase supply. It

is supply that will actually have an effect on price, as well. It...

Money saved by Jersey States departments will be spent on

unemployment projects, facilities for schools, and new signal masts at

Fort Regent. Departments under`spent by nearly ?23 million last year. The

Treasury Minister says allowing them to reinvest that saved money gives

departments an incentive to manage their budgets carefully.

Parents of Guernsey's St Andrew's Primary School now know where their

children will be placed for the new term. 113 children are affected,

with around 40 moving to new schools this September, and the remainder

starting at their new school next year. The majority of parents

accepted the department's suggested new school but some will have to

accept their second or even third choice.

Jersey have beaten Guernsey in World Cricket League Five in Malaysia. The

victory means the islanders have won all of their games in the round

robin stage of the competition, whilst Guernsey have lost all of

theirs. Jersey will now face Malaysia in the final tomorrow, with

both sides guaranteed promotion to World Cricket League Division Four.

That's it from me. David is here next with the weather, and with some

fog tomorrow morning likely to disrupt a few flights.

The fog is a thin layer, so should clear inland through the day. It

could be stubborn. The wind but will fall light during the night and low

cloud and mist will begin to appear in the second half of the night. We

could get as low as five or six Celsius. It will be around for a

good part of the day tomorrow. It will gradually lift away and it is

inland for the two large islands that we should see a nice clearance

of that. Temperatures will respond, possibly 15 Celsius. As for the

outlook, it is another reasonable day on Friday with some sunshine.

Some mist and fog early in the day, generally cloudy and cooler

conditions as we go through the weekend. Top temperature of just 11

Celsius on Sunday with a north`west breeze. In a second, there will be a

full UK forecast. Alas, it is good night. `` from us.

Friday but fog less of a problem over the weekend.

Good evening. Step outside in the morning and it feels a bit fresh.

Reassure yourself, it could be a lot worse. Exactly a year ago it was

extraordinarily cold and snowy. These were some of the scenes. This

march is very different. A very pleasant in the sunshine, once the

fog has cleared. The fog is re-forming again right now. Nasty

patches developing through the night, becoming widespread across

England and Wales. In the north-west, rain across Scotland.

Temperatures well below these