Jersey government savings plan: Parking charges extended, college course price hike and workforce to shrink

Drivers in Jersey could soon have to pay for parking between 7am and 6pm, as part of new proposals to save £100 million.

Under the Efficiencies Plan published by the government, drivers would see the period where they are charged for parking extended by one hour either side of the current system.

The government says the policy could raise £700,000 a year and would encourage more islanders to use sustainable forms of transport.

The Efficiencies Plan outlines how the government intends to make £100 million worth of savings between 2020 and 2023 - including £40 million in 2020.

Almost £30 million of savings will be found from reducing government spend, with £7.4 million from better income collection and an additional £2.4 million from recovering costs. £1.1 million will be raised through new forms of income.

The plan is due to be debated in the States Assembly this week.

Prices of courses at Highlands College could also be increased to raise more than half a million pounds. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Also in the Plan are proposals to increase the costs of courses at Highlands College, to generate a further £570,000.

Private planes landing at Jersey airport could face a charge, with a potential return of around £40,000.

A review of the costs of stationery, food and refreshments, travel and other day-to-day government spending, which stood at around £7 million for 2018, could return around £340,000 to the public purse.

The government says it has no plans for job cuts but that it will not replace all the staff who leave their posts.

The government also hopes that a move towards more automated systems will reduce the workload on staff and help make savings in the future.