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.