Issues identified by the Chief Officer
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WQ.465/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 8th DECEMBER 2025 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 15th DECEMBER 2025
Question
"Will the Chief Minister advise what the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has delivered since his appointment, including any cost savings achieved, and will he further advise what issues, if any, the CEO has identified for the Council of Ministers and how these are being overcome?"
Answer
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has responsibility for the administration and management of the public service and the implementation of corporate and strategic policies.
In delivering on these responsibilities and advising the Council of Ministers, the CEO has consistently stressed the importance of prioritising government expenditure and activity; the need to reduce bureaucracy, streamline departmental structures and to address risk; and the importance of sustainable public finances and a competitive economy.
This has assisted the Council of Ministers in the development and delivery of the Common Strategic Policy and the annual Budgets, which curb public sector growth while prioritising capital investment and front- line services. This includes:
• Increased savings – rising from £10m in 2023 to £20m in 2026.
• Revenue growth that is reduced and focused on front-line services – growth as a percentage of base budget has reduced from 5.1% in 2023 to 2.7% in 2026, while ensuring that our health, education and children's services, receive the necessary investment.
• Reduced consultancy expenditure (£29m lower) and a recruitment freeze (avoiding £23m of staffing costs, equivalent to 325 staff).
The CEO has also been commissioned by the Chief Minister to provide analysis on how proposals achieve a smaller and more cost-effective public service. This work is being considered by the Council of Ministers and will be discussed in a States Members Workshop in February 2026.