Diane Mitchell

Manifesto

In my professional life I am experienced in change management in large organisations.  I have good personal skills and get on with most people in a positive way.  I am skilled in budget management,  delivering essential services with reducing budgets. I work well with business and charitable trusts to achieve service reform.

Voluntary Experience:

I am Senior Constable, Procureur of the Poor and Douzenier in St Peter Port.

I commissioned the recent accounting and auditing services, led on the Parish Plan and re-organisation of the Douzaine.

I have led on Planning and Drop-ins, enabling better connections with parishioners and highlighting the services available.

I recently joined the Charitable Trust for St Peter Port lights.

As a volunteer in St Peter Port as Senior Constable I have championed team working with my fellow Constable, the Dean and Vice Dean and ensured that we have the right mix of skills to deliver services.

Views on Four Key Issues with further detail below:

I believe that what we need to do, at pace, is prioritise what is viable in the next term and concentrate on those issues whilst making it clear that some actions will be short, some medium and others long term.

1. Seek to address Education, Health and Social Care gaps.
2. Support sustained economic and business growth particularly support for small and medium businesses.
3. Seek to address taxation gaps,  address long term housing issues and high costs of living for families, youngsters and those who are not wealthy.  Support workforce retention and recruitment.
4. Sustain global connectivity, tourism and transport with a priority early on for ports and airports in a climate of environmental stability.

I don’t have all the answers and I won’t make any promises.  Individual Deputies need to achieve consensus.  I believe that an Assembly that is committed to working together with others, can and should find both long term solutions and some outcomes resolved at a faster pace particularly when much of the ground work has been achieved.

I am in favour of government and civil service reform with a view to reducing costs, more joined up thinking and would support making better use of the expertise and willingness found in businesses, charities and the Douzaines.

1. Seek to address Education, Health and Social Care gaps:

I have been a teacher here and in the UK.  I opened a school for autistic youngsters and developed strategic policy and practice in Portsmouth as a Director of Education working across children’s services.

The Children’s Trust in the UK was a mix of health education and social care staff, with joint budgets for some projects.  We found that support for vulnerable families with teams from each of the disciplines began to make a big difference.  Identified families received support from some or all three disciplines.  I would favour a move to joint services for children, adults and families with joint budgets.  I would favour strategies to reduce agency costs and gaps in service.  I welcome the on island training offered by the Guernsey Institute (TGI) and its ‘can do’ attitude providing alternatives for people rather than leaving the island.

I have been a non voting member on the committee for Education, Sports and Culture (ESC) and have been congratulated on the service I have given to the committee.  I have been a member of two school committees and eight school interim governance boards (IGB) helping to develop the strategy, with a view to further devolving of services.  I would welcome leading on projects, I can be instrumental in reviewing Primary Provision in the light of falling roles and do more to devolve funding to Headteacher and governing bodies as they bed in to the new system.

Our population is increasingly aging and my own mother is 92, in Bournemouth and suffering from dementia.  Our family have struggled to find appropriate care and have made many sacrifices to ensure she is well looked after.  Our demographic here is aging with falling birth rates. We should design a digital strategy that supports a healthy aging population who contribute to the islands economy. and encourages young families to live and stay here.

2. Support sustained economic and business growth including support for small and medium businesses:

We need to work together and stop undermining our island talent and beauty!

We should be an attractive proposition for businesses, and yet retention and recruitment, particularly in Healthcare and Education and the service sector are struggling.  Wages are higher, taxes are lower, there is less crime and the lifestyle available to support families is second to none and we should advertise this more comprehensively when recruiting.

I would encourage partnership working to advocate for Guernsey’s unique strengths and heritage as a group of islands. The Finance industry is crucial for us economically.  We have some skilful people working hard to retain and attract business, but there are too many projects, each with too little money to achieve their ideals in a constantly changing and costly market.  Prioritisation of projects is essential, early on, in the new Assembly.

As Constable, I have been encouraging work with local partners in town to provide innovation spaces for those that are self-employed or running a small to medium enterprise (SME’s) and looking to grow and expand.

I have engaged with small and large businesses and have started to encourage niche shops, whilst recognising that risk can be high and costly for those who are self employed.  My partner was self employed and I have experienced the feast and famine nature of income generation particularly when sickness intervenes or a break is required.

I would support this initiative by giving grants, phased tax breaks and encourage owners of empty premises to reduce rents until businesses were up and running.

3. Seeking to address taxation, address long-term housing issues and high costs of living for families, youngsters and those who are not wealthy impacting on workforce retention and recruitment:

‘nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes’ Benjamin Franklin

Taxes are inevitable and complex.  Council tax in the UK for a three bedroom home in a good area could be from £2000 per annum (PA) upwards.  Income tax over an income of £50,271 is 40% PA and VAT is 20% on goods and services.  We are so lucky over here but funds are running low.  Cost of living is higher than some jurisdictions in some parts of life but lower in others. Housing costs for buyers and renters is proving a block for recruitment and retention with high agency costs as a result.  I applaud the work of the Guernsey Housing Association (GHA) but affordable housing is almost impossible with the high costs of land and its clearance.  I would favour more States owned land released for public or private enterprise to build either high cost properties releasing houses at the lower end, more over-55 villages releasing family houses and some cap on rents whilst ensuring a fair return for landlords with tax relief for property maintenance.

How do we increase funds?  GST and GSTplus has appeared unpopular but if not those, potentially small income tax rises, scales of payment depending on income or corporation tax.

I would favour a mix of measures with priority for those on low income.  We need to agree and act together to sustain or implement change.  There are different views on Zero 10 and corporate taxes but I’m mindful that we need to be careful in the current climate about forcing a mass exodus of the very industries that are our heart and lungs, whilst attracting investment.

I would support the scrutinising of contracts to ensure better value for money and start conversations about business rates to help start ups.

We should ensure that our global reach, connectivity and reputation will benefit our Bailiwick. The rollout of fibre in our homes and the digital strategy in our schools is to be applauded and we must keep up the pace to compete in a modern world.  We should take advantage of the latest thinking inclusive of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  I have a Masters degree in information technology and have kept up with my skill set.  I am innovative and enjoy sharing ideas with others and helping them come to fruition.

4. Sustain global connectivity, tourism and transport with a priority early on for ports and airports cognisant of environmental stability:

We should update the comprehensive 10 point plan already in place for Guernsey tourism published in 2020, to champion our tourism and culture industry.

Our policies are clear but we need to focus on encouraging and rewarding fewer journeys by car making it easier and more enjoyable to be out and about in our island, whilst accepting that an aging population may not be able to travel far on foot or by bicycle.

The recent won contract for our ferries is proving to be successful but there are gaps in provision. Our airplane reliability is not yet secure for this island or Alderney and must still be a priority to service businesses, sport and tourism.

The cost of family holidays to the island is certainly unfavourable when compared to the low cost of package holidays and there is considerable work to be done in this area.  We have some of the most beautiful landscapes, beaches, cliffs and historic buildings with a stunning entrance to the harbour surrounded by our picturesque islands.  Let’s market this more effectively.  The notable increase in French visitors has been welcomed with Brittany ferries advertising and scheduling day trips.

As a Douzaine our plan is to make town a more attractive place.  We are replacing the festoon lighting, have refurbished the old quarter sign and Candie Cemetery gates.  Our unique Pissoire and our water pumps are on a schedule to be refreshed.  We are working with partners including the prison, to refurbish, replace and provide more seating for those who find it more difficult to walk from one end of town to the other.  I am part of the trust to sustain the town lights and hoping to attract small businesses into town.

I have been part of the planning for Liberation Day and worked with the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry (RGLI) linking to Masnieres in France.  I am a good team player.  I am well versed in researching and assimilating facts and focused on the priorities identified for Guernsey.  I would be a new Deputy so would be ready to learn from those who are more experienced but sitting on ESC as a non voting member has given me a good insight into next steps. I am ready to take them.

Finally if you think I could make a difference, Vote for me, vote for experience and ability, enthusiasm and energy that seeks to make a difference.