Civil service restructuring plans to face challenges

Tuesday 06 November 2018

Plans to cut 200 jobs within the civil service, saving millions of pounds in the long run, are expected to be challenged by States members today, who have said they're concerned about the wider implications.

The 2019 Budget includes a request for £8million to finance the planned restructuring which will include the cutting of posts at the very top of the civil service within weeks if the States agree.

The States Chief Executive Paul Whitfield said it will save £10million a year going forward though, as his plan to cut 200 roles progress.

While P&R President, Deputy Gavin St Pier, agrees and thinks the States should back the restructuring of the civil service, not all deputies agree. Health and Social Care President, Deputy Heidi Soulsby is one who was worried about the proposed restructuring process but said her concerns have been appeased by a proposed amendment which P&R itself will lodge against the budget.

Pictured: Deputies Gavin St Pier and Heidi Soulsby. 

P&R's amendment "seeks to address some political concern that has been expressed about changes to the civil service leadership structure."

If it's approved by the States today, it will "assure that the restructuring of senior roles within committee offices will be carried out at an appropriate pace in liaison jointly between Policy & Resources and each committee." 

Deputy Soulsby was positive about the proposed amendment to the planned restructuring as she thinks the committees need to be more involved in the process than had previously been suggested.

"This amendment gives assurance from P&R as employer with regards to the pace, design and oversight of structural reform which I as President of a Principal Committee was looking for; namely that any restructuring is carried out in liaison with the relevant Committees having regard to the depth and breadth of their mandates, the challenges they currently face and where they are on their transformational journey."

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, the Policy & Resources Committee member who leads on employment matters, said P&R is now working towards offering assurances that will happen. 

"The Committee acknowledges that concerns do exist among some States Members about the changes to the leadership structure within the civil service and the support which committees receive, at the same time it is important to recognise that the Chief Executive’s plans for the fundamental redesign of the civil service are part of a much bigger ongoing reform programme, with the ultimate aim of improving the operational activities of government for the people it serves. 

"As States Members it is sometimes easy to forget that the primary job of the civil service should be focusing on serving the public, not ourselves. Having said that, some concern around the support committees will receive does exist and the Committee is determined with this amendment to ensure a collaborative, co-operative approach is taken during the restructuring of the civil service senior leadership, recognising that committees do not have identical needs."

Pictured top: Paul Whitfield, who wants to restructure the civil service, from the top down.