OVER the last few months, the fullest consultative process undertaken by the island has quietly been gathering pace. To date, the Guernsey Tomorrow initiative launched by the Policy Council has involved more than 600 people in various representative roles to try to answer a single question: what sort of island do you wish to leave your children and grandchildren?

There is no single or simple answer and it is a hugely challenging task. Nevertheless, the council is to be commended for its approach on this, a radical departure from traditional policy-making practice. In the past, departments have largely taken a ‘this is what we think you should have/might like’ approach to strategy. In turn, that has left unimpressed islanders or their lobby groups with just two options: outright opposition or to try to amend government thinking at a late stage.

This time, however, political leaders are reaching out and asking how people would like them to manage the community on their behalf.

It is a refreshing change and one that could work as a role model for a much more partnership-based approach to government between voters and the elected in a small, engaged place like Guernsey.

Those who have been involved in the latest phase of the process – and representatives of this newspaper given the opportunity to do so found it fascinating and provoking – have been asked to prioritise some of the key issues so far identified.

That, of course, is central to the process. With limited land and resources, Guernsey will always have to take decisions that are ultimately compromises and, in many cases, a least-worst solution. So the issue might not be whether to build on green field sites but on how few.

The process is basically a return to work started 20 years ago, which evolved into the so-called urban corridor and an attempt to preserve the distinction between rural, open areas and those already built up, and move it forward for the future.

What some delegates found missing, however, was a steer on what they were trying to achieve by balancing issues so far identified.

In short, what sort of Guernsey do you want to hand on? There’s still time to have a say.