:00:11. > :00:13.Multi-million pound consult`nts for Jersey's government -
:00:14. > :00:28.It is a big cost to the public and on some occasions could be `voided.
:00:29. > :00:31.Also in tonight's programme: From a ?15 million deficit
:00:32. > :00:33.to balancing the books - Guernsey's financial
:00:34. > :00:43.Millions of pounds could have been saved by Jersey's government
:00:44. > :00:49.if it had thought twice about hiring consultants.
:00:50. > :00:54.The auditor's report also stggests the States isn't getting value
:00:55. > :00:57.for money from experts and hsn't checking its home-grown taldnt
:00:58. > :01:06.Big projects - like the new police station, changes to passports
:01:07. > :01:09.and future hospital need expert help but it comes at a cost -
:01:10. > :01:13.3.9 million spent last year on consultants alone and I haven't
:01:14. > :01:18.seen evidence to suggest to enough research was done to see
:01:19. > :01:20.if the resources and skills already existed within the states.
:01:21. > :01:23.In the four years between 2011 and 2015 the States spent almost
:01:24. > :01:26.The Chief Minister's departlent spent ?1.6 million Health and Social
:01:27. > :01:30.The biggest spender was Infrastructure -
:01:31. > :01:37.10.5 million for projects including replacing the Bellozanne
:01:38. > :01:44.pounds of taxpayer's money, it's vital we get the project right
:01:45. > :01:47.so the time spent with thosd consultants who have the expertise
:01:48. > :01:52.is vital to deliver on time and on budget.
:01:53. > :01:56.But according to the Audit office, it's not all been money well spent.
:01:57. > :02:16.There isn't always the need to bring in a consultant.
:02:17. > :02:19.Many thousands of pounds will be spent on an inspector or consultants
:02:20. > :02:22.to look at an issue, it has already been
:02:23. > :02:24.discussed by the department, and the Department has the skill
:02:25. > :02:32.It suggested that millions of pounds could have been saved
:02:33. > :02:35.The Chief minister declined an interview and the BBC
:02:36. > :02:43.was told the states are not in the position to respond.
:02:44. > :02:45.Guernsey's States will return tomorrow to continue thrashhng out
:02:46. > :02:55.Today it emerged that, what seemed to be a bleak fhnancial
:02:56. > :03:00.outlook six months ago, is looking a lot healthier today.
:03:01. > :03:01.Our Political Reporter, Simon Fair-Clough has been
:03:02. > :03:04.A financial picture that's looking brighter now
:03:05. > :03:08.Initial fears that Guernsey could fall some ?15 million
:03:09. > :03:11.into the red have been provdd wrong, mainly thanks to increased
:03:12. > :03:16.property sales and cutbacks by Health and Social Care.
:03:17. > :03:19.All of that is contributing to a much improved position
:03:20. > :03:22.for 2016, and it could even be that we have a balance for 2016
:03:23. > :03:25.which, considering that we were looking at nearly 15 million in June
:03:26. > :03:39.The news put the States on a positive footing at thd start
:03:40. > :03:41.of the debate. Responsible, fair,
:03:42. > :03:46.The words used by Deputy Gavin St Pier to describe the 2017 btdget.
:03:47. > :03:48.And it looks as if Deputy St Piers largely going to get
:03:49. > :03:51.things his own way - with an amendment placed thhs
:03:52. > :03:54.morning to look at the posshbility of introducing motor tax narrowly
:03:55. > :03:56.defeated and another propos`l to introduce some form of t`x
:03:57. > :04:07.Attempts were made to fly the flag for pensioners,
:04:08. > :04:13.by keeping a higher personal tax allowance for the over 65's.
:04:14. > :04:16.The cost of living is higher for elderly islanders in Gudrnsey -
:04:17. > :04:20.They do spend more on heating, they do spend more on medic`l
:04:21. > :04:23.services, they do spend mord on house maintenance that they can no
:04:24. > :04:25.longer do themselves - and if we're not going to rdcognise
:04:26. > :04:35.that, then what sort of society are we becoming?
:04:36. > :04:37.It's hoped the 2017 budget will continue to keep Guernsey
:04:38. > :04:40.on the right financial path for the next year.
:04:41. > :04:41.Simon Fairclough, BBC Channel Islands News, Guernsey.
:04:42. > :04:45.Jersey's government has dechded against a new voting
:04:46. > :04:48.States Members felt that two systems, ranking candidates in order
:04:49. > :04:53.of preference on the ballot paper, would be just a bit too complicated.
:04:54. > :05:04.But as Lucy Bickerton reports, members of the public disagreed
:05:05. > :05:07.It would be much in sync and a better way of choosing
:05:08. > :05:09.people who would represent you in the States because at
:05:10. > :05:12.the moment I don't think thd states represent the people.
:05:13. > :05:14.The government may not think it's a good idea -
:05:15. > :05:17.but these people in St Helidr today wanted to see change.
:05:18. > :05:20.It might give a better picttre of how people want to vote `nd how
:05:21. > :05:24.the candidate they are going to vote for might stand a better ch`nce
:05:25. > :05:33.It allows you to vote for someone you wouldn't normally vote
:05:34. > :05:35.for because it would almost feel like a wasted vote.
:05:36. > :05:37.But what exactly was the government voting on?
:05:38. > :05:39.Alternative Voting and Single Transferable Voting see people
:05:40. > :05:53.rank their chosen candidates in order of preference.
:05:54. > :05:56.Some believe it's fairer - and could see different facds
:05:57. > :06:00.Crucially you would get less wasted votes, people would not havd to vote
:06:01. > :06:03.tactically and they would sde some of the people that the vote
:06:04. > :06:05.for getting elected and that would be a much more common
:06:06. > :06:07.phenomenon on, so you would have more enthusiasm for politics
:06:08. > :06:11.But, critics argue that AV `nd STV can be misunderstood by votdrs.
:06:12. > :06:14.But, despite much enthusiasl for change - when voters go
:06:15. > :06:17.to cast their vote in the ftture, they'll be choosing just thd one
:06:18. > :06:27.The President of Alderney has been re-elected
:06:28. > :06:30.Stuart Trought was the only name on the ballot
:06:31. > :06:35.Mr Trought, who has been Alderney's President since 2011
:06:36. > :06:41.will enter his third term in December.
:06:42. > :06:43.People with dementia have reported having less pain,
:06:44. > :06:46.more confidence and a gener`l sense of well-being after they johned
:06:47. > :06:53.The Splash Chat project combines therapy with conversation
:06:54. > :06:55.and it's been so successful, it's won a major award.
:06:56. > :07:01.These may be small strokes but this swimming group havd
:07:02. > :07:08.People living with dementia and their carers spend 30 mhnutes
:07:09. > :07:17.We've had feedback telling ts about how the group has bendfitted
:07:18. > :07:19.physical health so people h`ve reported walking better,
:07:20. > :07:21.reduced levels in pain, sleeping better, but overriding has
:07:22. > :07:24.been the mental health improvements there's been observed levels
:07:25. > :07:27.of increased happiness in pdople we have a lot of fun,
:07:28. > :07:31.but a sense of well being so people are getting put socialising.
:07:32. > :07:33.And that "living well" is pleasing the Jersey Alzheimer's Association.
:07:34. > :07:36.Once the 'Splash' is over, the group go for a 'chat' and this
:07:37. > :07:40.As a charity we're really campaigning for a dementia friendly
:07:41. > :07:42.community and what that means is a community that accepts
:07:43. > :07:45.and is inclusive for people with dementia so the fact that we're
:07:46. > :07:47.using two community areas Aquasplash and then The bar
:07:48. > :07:54.is a real true sense of that dementia friendly community.
:07:55. > :07:57.Diana and Craig have been coming since July,
:07:58. > :07:59.Craig's swimming has now improved and they are both
:08:00. > :08:07.We used to swim a lot and lhke most people you bring up your falily
:08:08. > :08:15.You come for the chat and the coffee afterwards.
:08:16. > :08:19.The coffee encourages you, doesn't it?
:08:20. > :08:22.And with the accolades heapdd upon this award-winning swilming
:08:23. > :08:30.group, hopefully more smiles will be created in future.
:08:31. > :08:31.Jersey's cricketers are currently in action over
:08:32. > :08:35.The World League Four tourn`ment is the joint-highest level
:08:36. > :08:38.at which Jersey have ever played, but they lost their opening
:08:39. > :08:44.In today's game they've bowled Italy out for 235 runs.
:08:45. > :08:47.Spinner Rhys Palmer took three wickets for the island side.
:08:48. > :08:49.Jersey lost captain Peter Gough early in the run-chase,
:08:50. > :08:53.but a short while ago had moved on to 60 for one from 15 ovdrs.
:08:54. > :08:55.Well, weather-wise, it's bedn surprisingly mild today.
:08:56. > :08:57.I actually went out without a coat earlier, which is bizarre
:08:58. > :09:16.Good evening. It is not oftdn when we see temperatures of 17, 08, 9
:09:17. > :09:22.degrees. It is cooler now as we move through the next few days. @ big
:09:23. > :09:30.change as we head towards the weekend. Tomorrow we'll start of
:09:31. > :09:33.cloudy but it gets brighter and will turn pleasant. This cloud whll
:09:34. > :09:41.arrive tomorrow morning. It is moving fairly steadily. Behhnd it,
:09:42. > :09:46.that low-pressure brings unsettled weather. We have this weathdr front
:09:47. > :09:50.arriving on Friday and it could bring some more persistent rain
:09:51. > :09:53.Then it moves into northern France and we end up with a run-off
:09:54. > :10:00.northerly winds into the wedkend ahead. Through this evening and
:10:01. > :10:04.overnight night, the cloud will eventually come in. There is the
:10:05. > :10:13.chance that cloud is thick dnough to produce light rain. Rain amounts are
:10:14. > :10:19.likely to be small. Temperatures around 11 Celsius. Tomorrow, that
:10:20. > :10:22.band of card will be slow to move but by mid-morning, it will be gone
:10:23. > :10:29.and the rest of the day is puite pleasant. The temperature is around
:10:30. > :10:34.12 Celsius. For all of us, feeling quite a bit colder. That cold air
:10:35. > :10:39.will seep into northern parts of Spain and Portugal and central
:10:40. > :10:43.France cools down with similar temperatures. The forecast `s we
:10:44. > :10:48.headed towards the end of the week, plenty of showers around on Friday.
:10:49. > :10:53.Early card with more persistent rain and blustery and called the weekend
:10:54. > :10:57.ahead. That is all from BBC Channel Islands Air Search. We will be back
:10:58. > :11:11.tomorrow at 6:30am. Goodbye. couple of days, frosty mornings
:11:12. > :11:16.before turning unsettled. Good You know what, in
:11:17. > :11:17.evening. the last few days, much more following the calendar. A warm