GUERNSEY’S machinery of government desperately needs an overhaul. Two independent reports released by the Policy Council urge the States to change the way it operates, deals with public sector staff and how departments communicate with one another.
Consultant Chris Shepley, in his review of the planning service, refers to the lack of cohesion and cooperation in the machinery of government as a paramount concern.
‘The fundamental issue which the States needs to address is the way the States and its departments operate, the way decisions are made – or not made – at member level in the centre of government and the political structure which leads to conflict,’ he said.
Referring to the 2000 Harwood Report, which led to the 2004 reforms, he said that the concerns outlined, ‘reluctance on the part of many politicians to engage in the establishment of strategic policy’ and ‘the near absolute autonomy that each committee possesses often leads to conflicts between committees’, still apply today.
‘I feel bound to observe that the absence, firstly, of some kind of strong ministerial system and, secondly, members who represent the interests of the island as a whole rather than individual parishes are inimical to good and effective decision making,’ he said.
He acknowledged that the Government Business Plan strived to address these problems through political leadership and teamwork.
‘This process has the potential to resolve many of the issues, but it can only do so if the culture changes and I do not have the impression that it has yet done so.’
He also refers to a ‘blame culture’ and the ‘unpredictability of decision making.’
Dr Graham Robinson was commissioned by the Policy Council to review the role of the States as an employer and its wider human-resources responsibilities.
He found considerable confusion as to how the States assigns and exercises its responsibility as an employer.
He also said that the political and executive structures of the public sector were complex and lacked clear leadership focus.
Dr Robinson recommended a public employment board be established to take on the States’ HR functions.
It would take responsibility for pay negotiations and terms and conditions, among other things, from the Policy Council, the Public Sector Remuneration Committee and Treasury and Resources.
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