Performance Report 2024, Dr Andrew McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer

As we reflect on the achievements of the Government of Jersey over the past year, we can take pride in the significant strides made towards enhancing public services, curbing growth in the public sector, and delivering on the priorities of the Council of Ministers (approved in May 2024 as part of the Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026).

In education, we made nutritious hot school meals available in all non-fee-charging primary schools, ensuring that every child receives a healthy meal as part of their day. The support for this included extensive logistical and infrastructure works across 16 schools and the recruitment and training of additional Catering Assistants.

Healthcare has also seen tremendous progress with the approval of funding for the new healthcare facilities programme as part of the 2025 Budget. We’ve demolished the outdated and unused healthcare buildings at Overdale and submitted the planning application for the new Acute Hospital, which has already been approved. Construction is set to begin in 2025, with the new facility expected to be completed by the end of 2028.

Islanders’ health and well-being has been supported through initiatives like the GP fees subsidy, which reduces the cost of consultations, especially for low-income households and full-time students. Likewise, significant progress has been made in addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) through the implementation of key recommendations from the VAWG Taskforce, including legislative reforms, awareness campaigns, and support services for victims.

Notably, the launch of the First Step Assisted Home Ownership Scheme, aimed at helping Islanders purchase their first home, has been a vital step in supporting affordable housing initiatives.

We also made significant progress in planning service reform and infrastructure development with new projects like the La Passerelle Secondary School Scheme, the Oakfield Sports Centre extension, sewage treatment works, and the Elizabeth Harbour development. Each of these projects will help shape a brighter, more sustainable future for Jersey, and they are just the start of much larger regeneration plans benefiting both current and future generations.

Jersey’s commitment to fighting financial crime was also recognised with the release of the MONEYVAL report, which affirmed that our anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures are among the most effective globally.

While we’ve seen strong performance in customer satisfaction, we are always looking for ways to improve, and we continue to listen to feedback to ensure that we meet the needs of all Islanders. This has been particularly evident with the move to our new offices in Union Street where more Government services are accessible and available from one place than ever before. And I am pleased to report the highlights of our service performance show how we are continuously improving in critical areas such as mental health services, emergency response times, housing, and business support.

Finally, as part of our broader financial stewardship, we have taken decisive steps to curb public sector expenditure and growth, including reducing the reliance on consultants and temporary workers, an external recruitment freeze for civil service positions at Grade 11 and above, and several senior-level redundancies. This fiscal responsibility ensures that we continue to deliver essential services while managing public finances effectively.

As we look ahead, the Government of Jersey remains focused on delivering progress, curbing growth, and building a sustainable future for all Islanders. Thank you to all our dedicated civil servants, frontline colleagues, partners, and the public for your ongoing support and collaboration, as we continue to help improve Islanders’ lives.