A STATES determined to show that it can live within its means has slashed a wish-list of 60 projects down to just eight as part of the States Strategic Plan.

At a stroke, more than £10m. was knocked off next year’s costs. It should be a landmark moment in States accounting as ‘only the most essential initiatives’ get any cash.

That means tough decisions and the Policy Council is keen to show its teeth.

Unfortunately, any sense of relief quickly disappears when the list of eight approved projects is examined. With 52 projects cast aside, the remainder should be copper-bottomed winners sure to get islanders’ approval.

The first project on the list is anything but: a sixth of the total budget is to be spent on raking over the coals of the airport firefighters dispute.

To States members who want to give the chief minister a bloody nose over his intervention, this might seem like £250,000 well spent. To those awaiting the appointment of a disability officer or the provision of a wheelchair service – both projects put aside by the Policy Council – it may seem less worthwhile. Either could have been funded out of that money.

Ministers will doubtless argue that important constitutional principles are at stake. But can this really outweigh the importance of developing a domestic abuse strategy or helping people get back into work (two other casualties)?

More follows. Having indulged deputies’ interests over the airport, the council backs spending an astonishing £175,000 on hosting the British-Irish Council meeting.

Ministers may value the kudos of rubbing shoulders with politicians from the UK and Ireland but it has to be questioned whether the value to the island exceeds developing a strategy for older people or an annual business survey.

And stretching the golden thread to snapping point is the £200,000 to be spent on external relations in the EC.

Not because it has no value, but because up until today ministers refused to give any idea  what is planned. Even now it’s far from clear.

So much for transparency.