Common Strategic Policy

The Council of Ministers has proposed a Common Strategic Policy 2018 to 2022. As usual there are some welcome words, but as yet it is unclear how much commitment and resources are to be put behind the policies. The headline commitments to children, the environment, health, standard of living, and economy are, naturally enough to be applauded (but they are so general that no-one could possibly oppose them or propose the opposite).

Still, there are some details within the bland proposals worth holding the CoM to (if they ever get it through the States).

There's a commitment to Saint Helier:

• "We will make St Helier a more desirable place to live, work, do business and visit"

 - whether this will be worth any more than the last government's promises to the Parish remains to be seen. For a start, they could stop trying to build on our parks, for example.

Some positive mentions for Jersey's actions on the international stage, including:

• "Build on our existing engagement programme with EU institutions and nations, including our nearest neighbour, France"

And some environmental points of interest:

• "We need to design and deliver ‘great liveable communities’ where everyone has access to high-quality and affordable accommodation, open and play space, and active travel and transport networks, in order to achieve a vibrant, inclusive and healthy Island."
• "Our roads, cycle, foot and bridle paths enable Islanders and visitors to get around our beautiful Island, to exercise and to get to and from work."
• "Review options for a coordinated and consistent Island-wide recycling programme"

Infographics were put out in English and Portuguese and Polish, but strangely for a document supposedly committing to identity and culture, not in Jèrriais. So I did versions myself: