Yvonne Burford

Policy & Resources Committee Representation on the Education Devolution & Investigation & Advisory Committee

Motion put to the States: Whether, after consideration of the policy letter entitled ‘Policy & Resources Committee Representation on the Education Devolution & Delegation Investigation & Advisory Committee’, dated 14th October 2025, they are of the opinion: To amend the membership of the Education Devolution & Delegation Investigation & Advisory Committee such that the Policy & Resources Committee can nominate its own representative, as follows: “One Member appointed by the Policy & Resources Committee who is a member of the Policy & Resources Committee but not its President.”

Voting Pour delivers this

Amending P&R membership on the Education Devolution & Delegation Investigation & Advisory Committee relates to the governance and devolution of education, connected to school independence.

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: To insert immediately after “of the States” the following: “subject to the following amendment: “To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.".””.

Voting Pour delivers this

This amendment to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance adjusts the Director of Education's attendance role at governance boards, bearing directly on school independence.

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled "The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025" and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States subject to amendments below: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).". To delete Clause 4(7) and replace with the following Clause: “4 (7)The Director of Education (or a person nominated by the Director of Education for this purpose) may attend one meeting of each governance board each academic year, or more frequently only at the – invitation of that governance board, or the direction of the Committee, where the Committee has reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a material failure in governance, safeguarding, financial management, or compliance with applicable law or policy, and has recorded such grounds in writing.

Voting Pour delivers this

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025 establishes governance boards for schools, directly advancing greater independence for schools.

The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: Immediately after ""The Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance, 2025"", insert ", subject to the amendments below" and at the end of the proposition, insert the following: "Amendments: In section 1 - in the section heading for "Constitution" substitute "Purpose and constitution", and after subsection (1), insert – "(1A)The purpose of the governance board of a relevant educational establishment is to – (a)contribute to and promote the ethos and strategic direction of the establishment, (b)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of safeguarding, educational standards, attendance, staff performance and professional development, (c)hold the headteacher and management to account in respect of the use of financial and other resources by the establishment, and (d)facilitate and promote the giving of effective and appropriate communication from parents, staff, learners and the community to the headteacher and management of the establishment.", (c)in subsection (2)(b) for "four" substitute "five", (d)at the end of subsection (2)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (2)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", (e)delete subsection (2)(f), (f)in subsection (3)(b) for "six" substitute "seven", (g)at the end of subsection (3)(d) insert "and", and at the end of subsection (3)(e) for ", and" substitute ".", and (h)delete subsection (3)(f).".

Voting Pour delivers this

Further amendments to the Education (Governance Boards) Ordinance adding purpose clauses directly bear on establishing independent governance for schools.

The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025

Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Projet de Loi entitled "The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025", and to authorise the Bailiff to present a most humble petition to His Majesty praying for His Royal Sanction thereto.

Voting Pour delivers this

The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 directly concerns school governance and independence, bearing on the promise to advocate for greater independence for schools.

Education Governance Board Sursis

Motion put to the States: To sursis consideration of the Projet de Loi entitled ‘The Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025’ and to direct the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture to return to the States with a revised Projet de Loi which— 1. revises and limits the Committee’s regulation-making powers ensuring that powers in respect of the constitution, powers and functions of Governance Boards vest clearly in the States of Deliberation by Ordinance and that the said regulation-making powers remain in-keeping with the scope envisaged by the Policy Letter, being to permit “operational changes to elements of the governance framework” to be made by the Committee for operational efficacy; and 2. sets out in full the proposed constitutional terms of reference of the Governance Boards, including their objectives, responsibilities and delegated and/or devolved powers, to apply from the commencement of the Law.

Voting Contre delivers this

The sursis would have delayed the Education Amendment Law and imposed restrictions on governance board powers; voting against this sursis advanced the Education Law giving schools governance boards.

Why this counts against the promise: Deputy Yvonne Burford, who promised to advocate for significantly greater independence for schools, voted Pour on 3 September 2025 to sursis the Education (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 and require revisions limiting the Committee's regulation-making powers — a vote that worked against delivering greater school independence rather than advancing it.

Proposition 2 As amended

Motion put to the States: 2. To agree the inclusion of the 26 projects listed in Table 2 within the Major Projects Portfolio - Pipeline stage, subject to the following amendment: “In Table 2 of the Policy Letter, immediately after the words “Complex Residential & Education on Island” substitute the words “Committee for Health & Social Care” for the words “Committee for Home Affairs” and immediately after the words “Beau Sejour Leisure Centre ReDevelopment/Rebuild (Beau Sejour Review) substitute the words “Committee for Education, Sport & Culture” for the words “Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure”.

Voting Pour delivers this

Agreeing the pipeline stage projects in the Major Projects Portfolio relates to managing and overseeing major capital projects.

Amendment 1

Motion put to the States: In Proposition 2, to insert immediately after the words “Pipeline stage” the following “, subject to the following amendment: “In Table 2 of the Policy Letter, immediately after the words “Complex Residential & Education on Island” substitute the words “Committee for Health & Social Care” for the words “Committee for Home Affairs” and immediately after the words “Beau Sejour Leisure Centre ReDevelopment/Rebuild (Beau Sejour Review) substitute the words “Committee for Education, Sport & Culture” for the words “Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure”””.

Voting Pour delivers this

The amendment to the Major Projects Portfolio pipeline stage adjusts committee responsibility for complex residential and education projects, relevant to managing major capital projects.

Proposition 4

Motion put to the States: 4. To approve the inclusion in the delivery stage of the Guernsey Dairy Essential Works project with a funding envelope of up to £6.0m; and to note that the States' Trading Supervisory Board will bring forward a separate policy letter, requesting approval for the inclusion in the delivery stage of the QEII Marina Gates Replacement project.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving inclusion of the Guernsey Dairy Essential Works project in the delivery stage of the Major Projects Portfolio relates to managing large capital projects.

Proposition 3

Motion put to the States: 3. To agree the Assessment Criteria (as detailed in Appendix 2 of the Major Projects Portfolio Report 2026) against which the Policy & Resources Committee will prioritise new schemes into the Pipeline stage of the Portfolio.

Voting Pour delivers this

Approving assessment criteria for prioritising schemes in the Major Projects Portfolio directly advances better management of large capital projects.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: To insert an additional proposition as follows: “To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to publish a report on the progress of the Major Projects Portfolio, including relevant information and metrics on each project’s performance against plan and budget, in a format that is publicly available and easily accessible, no later than 1st July 2026, with updates provided at least every six months thereafter; and to note the Chief Executive shall report on major workstreams underway in the public service as part of an annual Chief Executive’s report.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This motion directs P&R to publish progress reports on the Major Projects Portfolio with metrics on performance against plan and budget, directly advancing better management and accountability for large capital projects.

Government Work Plan 2026-2029

Motion put to the States: To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to publish a report on the progress of the Major Projects Portfolio, including relevant information and metrics on each project’s performance against plan and budget, in a format that is publicly available and easily accessible, no later than 1st July 2026, with updates provided at least every six months thereafter; and to note the Chief Executive shall report on major workstreams underway in the public service as part of an annual Chief Executive’s report.

Voting Pour delivers this

Same as 2500 - directs publication of Major Projects Portfolio progress reports including performance against plan and budget, directly advancing oversight of large capital projects.

Amendment 1

Motion put to the States: To delete all propositions and to substitute therefor: “1. To agree a goods and services tax shall not be introduced, and: (i) to rescind Resolution I. 1B. and Resolution I. 1C. of Billet d’Etat No. XIX dated 14th October, 2024 made on 8th November 2024; and (ii) to direct the Policy & Resources Committee to cease all preparations for the introduction of any goods and services tax.”. View this proposition's information page on gov.gg

Voting Contre delivers this

Amendment 1 would delete all tax reform propositions and cease work on GST; voting against preserves the tax reform package which includes low-earner protections and safeguards the deputy supports.

Proposition 3

Motion put to the States: 3. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee to give detailed consideration to the requirement for a two-thirds parliamentary majority to approve any future increase in the rate of GST, and present this for consideration by the States in the second quarter of 2026.

Voting Pour delivers this

Directing P&R to consider requiring a two-thirds parliamentary majority to approve future GST rate increases directly delivers the promise of safeguards against future tax increases.

Proposition 1a

Motion put to the States: 1. To agree that, should the States decide in the second quarter of 2026 to adopt Workstream 1 of the Tax Reform proposals, a. the individual standard rate of income tax shall be reduced to 15%, with 20% becoming an individual higher rate of income tax; and the higher rate will apply at a defined threshold (£32,400) as agreed on 8 November 2024, with appropriate adjustments to reflect the impact of inflation between that date and the date of implementation;

Voting Pour delivers this

Proposition 1a agrees to reduce the standard income tax rate to 15% with 20% as a higher rate at a defined threshold, directly bearing on the promise to protect low and middle earners through tax reform.

The States of Guernsey Annual Budget for 2026

Motion put to the States: 1. To agree that the amount of tax relief in respect of mortgage interest paid on a principal private residence remains at its present level of £3,500 and cease the phased withdrawal of tax relief provided on mortgage interest in respect of principal private residences.

Voting Pour delivers this

Maintaining mortgage interest relief at £3,500 protects homeowners, particularly middle earners, from a financial burden increase, relevant to protecting low and middle earners.

The States of Guernsey Annual Budget for 2026

Motion put to the States: To delete Proposition 1 and insert a new proposition: “1. To agree that the amount of tax relief in respect of mortgage interest paid on a principal private residence remains at its present level of £3,500 and cease the phased withdrawal of tax relief provided on mortgage interest in respect of principal private residences.”.

Voting Pour delivers this

This earlier amendment also concerned maintaining mortgage interest relief, bearing on protecting middle earners.

Why this counts against the promise: Deputy Burford promised to only support tax changes that protect low and middle earners and include safeguards against future increases to their burden, yet on 4 November 2025 she voted Contre on a motion to halt the phased withdrawal of mortgage interest tax relief for principal private residences, a vote that worked against preserving a financial protection for those homeowners she had pledged to shield.

The Open Market Housing Register (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 (Commencement) Ordinance, 2025

Motion put to the States: Whether they are of the opinion to approve the draft Ordinance entitled "The Open Market Housing Register (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2025 (Commencement) Ordinance, 2025" and to direct that the same shall have effect as an Ordinance of the States.

Voting Pour delivers this

The Open Market Housing Register Amendment commencement ordinance implements inscription policy bearing on who can access housing in Guernsey, directly touching population and housing access policies for islanders.

The States of Guernsey Annual Budget for 2026

Motion put to the States: 16. To agree that the project for site clearance at Leale's Yard is added as a delivery project in the current Major Projects Portfolio.

Voting Pour delivers this

The motion adds Leale's Yard site clearance as a delivery project in the Major Projects Portfolio, which is a brownfield/urban regeneration site directly relevant to prioritising brownfield development.