Development Agency debate

In short:

If you just want to get up to speed quickly on the Development Agency, read these items:

The idea: P&R wants a development agency to run Guernsey’s east coast (1 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Where it came from: Heated harbours debate in Guernsey States (17 Jun 2021, Island FM)
What it could mean (thread): IoD: Public/Private Partnerships breakfast panel (17 Feb 2022, IoD)
Questions raised: Development agency to be debated with eight amendments (24 Mar 2022, Bailiwick Express)
Additional amendments: ‘States of action’ needs to take tough decision (28 Mar 2022, Guernsey Press), Tunnel vision for Town seafront (29 Mar 2022, Bailiwick Express)
Result of States debate: States approve new development agency (1 Apr 2022, Bailiwick Express)
Analysis of States debate: Focus: The East Coast – what did the States actually decide? (5 Apr 2022, Bailiwick Express)
Board recruitment: Talent wanted to guide east coast development plans (8 Nov 2022, Bailiwick Express)
Change of plans: Future of harbours to be left to next States Assembly (7 June 2023, Bailiwick Express)

In detail:

Here’s the full story –

On Monday 31 January 2022, the Policy and Resources Committee published a policy paper proposing the creation of a Development Agency to plan and deliver the development of Guernsey’s East Coast. Read the policy paper.

The impetus to create a development agency came as a result of a contentious P&R amendment to STSB’s ‘Future Harbours’ proposals in June 2021.

The agency will be independent of the States, but will be overseen by three senior Deputies. It will have three staff, a board of six and seed funding from the States of £1m to cover its first two years.

The proposals for a development agency were debated and agreed at the Wednesday 30 March 2022 States meeting. Voting records on propositions and amendments.

Stuart Falla CBE was appointed as Chair-designate in July 2022 and board recruitment began in November 2022.

In April 2023, P&R informed Deputies that the role and budget of the agency were being cut back while the Development and Planning Authority draws up local planning briefs for the harbours.

Stuart Falla stepped down as Chair-designate in June 2023 and was proposed to be replaced by Peter Watson, one of the three new Board directors. The change of plans and the names of the new directors were published pending States approval. Read the policy paper.

The major decision on Guernsey future harbour requirements will not now happen until the next States term.

Initial media reaction

States to launch development agency to progress harbours (1 Feb, Guernsey Press)
P&R wants a development agency to run Guernsey’s east coast (1 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Guernsey Party deputies and Chamber welcome east coast plans (1 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Warm welcome from business groups for east coast agency (2 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Local development agency ‘must look beyond profit’ (18 Feb, Guernsey Press)

Media stories in advance of the debate

Deputy doubts public are fully aware of east coast development debate (15 Mar, Bailiwick Express)
Development agency to be debated with eight amendments (24 Mar, Bailiwick Express)
P&R works with its former president (24 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Deputy wants agency to fall under Freedom of Information Code (24 Mar, Guernsey Press)
‘States of action’ needs to take tough decision (28 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Tunnel vision for Town seafront (29 Mar, Bailiwick Express)
Opinion: Time to decide (29 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Amendment seeks to drive traffic away from seafront (30 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Comment: Fogging the vision for the East Coast (30 Mar, Guernsey Press)