WHATEVER the niceties, islanders today know that the Policy Council has had to climb down from its opposition to debating the findings of the highly-critical report on corporate governance produced by the Wales Audit Office.

Having said by a majority as recently as September that ministers saw no value in considering a report that said Guernsey ticked none of the six boxes of proper conduct, they have now given the nod for recommendations to be made to rectify what is a very embarrassing critique of government.

What triggered what they deny is a U-turn is debatable. However, our ‘nought out of 10 for effort’ sticker campaign was a reflection of how islanders saw the council’s feeble response and the recent Institute of Directors debate saw around 600 leading business representatives indicate tackling the deficiencies was the island’s top priority.

In addition, at a time when an international gaze is on Guernsey and its conduct, is it pure coincidence that ministers decided, after all, they would drop their opposition to considering an independent assessment saying the island isn’t well run?

Interestingly, when the auditor-general for Wales was releasing his findings, he urged islanders to make their feelings known to deputies to ensure the report was not ignored – and now it won’t be. To that end, the Policy Council can be congratulated for doing the right thing, even if it is rather belated.

This episode, however, is a good example of the problems the States faces in moving forward and of the lack of discipline identified by the WAO for members to make things work.

While it was self-evident to everyone that this was a critique that couldn’t be ignored, some ministers’ deep-seated opposition to change in the system of government meant that debate on the WAO paper had to be blocked at any cost, even to the reputation of the island.

Rather than compromise – or even merely suspend – what they regard as their principles, a corporate governance blot on the island’s character could continue indefinitely.

Ultimately, however, it is to their credit, and those who helped persuade them, that action will now be taken.