KEY workers brought into Guernsey could get deals on housing even if it was seen as unfair to locals, the Housing minister has admitted. Deputy Dave Jones said key workers were called that because they did jobs without which the community could not function.
And while guest workers and licence holders are denied access to some housing which locals can have - including low-rateable-value, shared equity and Housing Association properties - they should receive other help with housing.
Deputy Jones said he was unashamed about that approach.
‘There are some people in a society which the community cannot live without. Even if we lost the finance industry tomorrow, we would still need these people.’
Health and Social Services wants to move ahead of work being done to create a strategy for key-worker housing by allowing local low-grade qualified nurses to live in its properties, enjoying a subsidised rent.
Deputy Jones said his department was behind the principle but wanted time to assess the extent of the problem.
‘I don’t want Housing to end up with egg on its face by promising something that we cannot deliver financially or within a certain time frame.
‘Let’s see the size of the problem before we give an absolute yes, not just for health workers but for all key workers.’
Five-year housing licences for States-employed key workers were also under review, he said. The ministers from the employing departments had approached Deputy Jones for a meeting and raised this issue.
‘For me, it’s a question of flexibility,’ said Deputy Jones. ‘Should departments enjoy more flexibility than they currently do in order to manage their staff in a much more effective and cost-efficient way?’
He saw merit in an overhaul of States systems which would allow departments to control their own budgets and staffing within that, though that would be some way off.
‘I will see in the meantime what we can do to get over some of the problems for departments,’ he said, ‘if we can have more flexibility without giving up the five-year policy.
‘We have to make sure we don’t set precedents that could be used by others to blow the housing control laws wide open.’
Article posted on 9th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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