1 Gd 2020/0058
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GD 2020/0058 2020/21 1 Programme for Government October 2020 – July 2021 Introduction The Council of Ministers is pleased to bring its revised Programme for Government to Tynwald. The Programme for Government was agreed in Tynwald in January 2017, stating our strategic objectives for the term of our administration and the outcomes we hoped to achieve through it. As we enter the final year of this parliament, the world finds itself in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other external factors, such as the prospect of a trade agreement between the UK and the EU, will undoubtedly continue to influence the work of Government in the coming months and years. What the Isle of Man has achieved over the past six months, in the face of COVID-19, has been truly remarkable, especially when compared to our nearest neighbours. The collective response of the people of our Island speaks volumes of the strength of our community and has served to remind us of the qualities that make our Island so special. At the beginning of the pandemic the Council of Ministers suspended the Programme for Government, and any work within it, to bring to bear the complete resources of the public service in the fight against coronavirus as we worked to keep our island and its people safe. Through the pandemic we have seen behaviour changes in society and in Government, and unprecedented times seem to have brought unprecedented ways of working. It is important for the future that we learn from the experiences of COVID and carry forward the positive elements of both what was achieved, and how Government worked together to achieve it. Identifying what is most import at this time for our Island is crucial and Council of Ministers has reviewed the Programme for Government through the prism of COVID. This document restarts this important body of work, setting out clearly the new priorities in the wake of the pandemic. This review has provided an opportunity to also consider what other significant challenges face Government, and our Island, in 2020 that have increased in importance since 2017. Four key areas have been highlighted as areas of priority for Government delivery in the remaining 10 months (and beyond). For the forthcoming year our community, health, or climate and economy will be the focus of delivery. We are pleased that the Programme for Government continues to set out an ambitious but achievable vision of a nation that strives to be inclusive, tolerant and sustainable. It continues to set the agenda for delivery and will monitor the achievements of this administration. 2 ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT The four focus areas for delivery for the remainder of this administration are described, on the following pages with actions highlighted as relevant to these areas; our community, health, climate and economy. All actions in the Programme for Government 2020/21, as agreed by the Council of Ministers to help government to achieve its overall objectives, are detailed at the end of this document. 3 OUR ECONOMY The COVID-19 pandemic and the required response from Government has hugely effected the economy of the Island, and whilst the health situation is currently under control the risks posed by the economic consequences of controlling COVID-19 are considerable and affect all aspects of Island life. A group has been established to lead a coordinated response to this economic impact. It will see investment in business support and stimulus measures which will also ensure our people have opportunities as part of the recovery. The programme of work will help to restore confidence to our domestic economy and build on the many aspects of our Island that make it a special place to live and work. The Economic Recovery Group has identified and set up five programmes to help facilitate the Island’s economic recovery: Our Business; Our People; Our Domestic Economy; Our Island; and Our Future. The “Our Domestic Economy” programme has been created to help businesses that serve our domestic economy to recover from the lockdown through projects that incentivise spend, stimulate demand in local businesses and boost confidence. In doing so, the programme will ensure Manx businesses feel supported and nurtured and will work to bring about a change in consumer behaviour, encouraging a switch to spend more on-island and in the process contribute to a thriving local economy. Actions in the Programme for Government: Treasury and Department for Enterprise to jointly prepare and implement medium term economic stimulus programmes by Dec 2020, ahead of a long term economic strategy framework Partner with business to offer skills, training and accreditations Enable the delivery of ultrafast fibre broadband to over half of the Island's residents and businesses, should they want it, as part of a broader 5 year plan to enable the majority. To establish a Development Corporation to be tasked with urban regeneration and the redevelopment of unoccupied urban sites Deliver the actions of the Locate Strategy Implement an overarching marketing campaign to promote the Island’s Financial Services Sectors to an international audience Investigate the potential e-sports proposition and develop a strategy to capitalise on this sector 4 OUR COMMUNITY When the Programme for Government was developed, one of the three strategic objectives for this administration was to create an inclusive and caring society, and this objective remains a priority for the final year of delivery. Experiences through COVID-19 highlight the strengths of our community as we saw neighbours taking care of each other, community groups being established for support and charities providing an invaluable role in helping our communities through the difficulties. Our caring society was certainly seen in action. Government played its role too, providing a contact centre for our community to offer information and access all the support that existed and working with the third sector and businesses to provide additional support for those who needed it. Those that were asked to shield, those struggling with their mental health, and those without a secure and safe place to ‘stay at home’. Continuing to build on the good work seen through the pandemic, the Chief Minister’s Committee for Community and Public Engagement will be delivering a series of reports over the coming months, reviewing topics such as charities and volunteering on our island and community hubs. Work continues across all areas of Government to develop a fully inclusive and caring island, and progress in areas of housing, rates modernisation and education will be a priority. Actions in the Programme for Government: Deliver a series of reports, through the Chief Ministers Committee for Community and Public Engagement that will bring together the needs of the community Develop an all Island Housing Strategy, encompassing all elements of Housing work underway, and planned. Consider the strategic approach required and how this would be delivered. Implement the action plan for homelessness, hunger and cold Implement the plan for rates modernisation as agreed by Tynwald in October 2019 5 OUR CLIMATE In just January of this year the Council of Ministers presented to Tynwald the first phase of an action plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In the action plan, approved by Tynwald, the Chief Minister stated that to achieve net zero by 2050 will require a fundamental change in the way we live in the Isle of Man. It will mean changes to the way we source our energy, how we heat our homes, how we travel and many other choices we make in our day-to-day lives. The resilience of our Island and its people came to the fore during the pandemic. The Island saw a rapid change in behaviour, on a scale likely not seen since the Second World War. This was because the pandemic was a threat to life and a threat to our way of life. The same is true of climate change. We must work to energise and mobilise our community in our fight against climate change, harnessing the indomitable Manx spirit and spurring our community on so that the Isle of Man can play its part in tackling this threat. The Isle of Man Government Climate Change Action Plan, which includes a Climate Bill for sustained changes and the development of a long term plan, is a priority for delivery. In addition, the considerations of climate change will be part of Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan. Challenges also to be addressed in the forthcoming 12 months include putting in place actions arising from the devastating flooding in Laxey as well as considerations for drought management / prevention. Actions in the Programme for Government: Introduce a Climate Change Bill that will provide the legal framework to enable to the delivery of net zero emissions by 2050 Deliver Phase 1 of the Climate Change Action Plan, reporting to Tynwald on progress in July 2020. Carry out further research and analytical work to understand the complexities and impact of Professor Curran's report upon our economy, our environment and across all sectors of our community, reporting to Tynwald with Governments Phase 2 Climate Change Action Plan Develop a long term funding strategy for the Climate Change Action Plan 6 OUR HEALTH AND CARE Since the development of the Programme for Government in 2017 the Council of Ministers commissioned Sir Jonathan Michael to chair an independent review of health and social care on the Island, and received a report in April 2019 recommending a programme of transformation. The Council of Ministers was in agreement with the findings which were also endorsed by Tynwald. For the past 12 months the Department of Health and Social Care, the Treasury, and the Cabinet Office, led by the Chief Secretary, have been developing the transformation programme required to deliver this package of recommendations.