Letter - to Chief Minister re R.63.2020 - 13 July 2020

 States Greffe: Scrutiny

Senator John Le Fondré Chief Minister

By email

13th July 2020 Dear Chief Minister

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel

Consultants: Reporting on their use by the Government of Jersey (P.59/2019) – Report of the Chief Minister – December 2019 (R.149/2019) and June 2020 (R.63/2020)

I write in relation to the above proposition and reports regarding the use of consultants. The Panel has identified a number of questions which are as follows:

Consultants: Reporting in their use by the Government of Jersey (P.59/2019) – Report of the Chief Minister – December 2019 (R.63/2020)

Table 1: Consultancy Services Provided by a Supplier – expected end dates

1. In R.149/2019 various specified suppliers had an expected end date to be included in R.63/2020. However there appears to be no crossover for some of the suppliers into R.63/2020. Could you clarify what has happened to these suppliers?  
2. In the Proposition (P.59/2019) it was requested that the final total cost of the engagement be specified. This information does not appear to have been provided for those contracts which have finished in R.63/2020 or R.149/2019. Would you be able to provide this information in the spreadsheets for those contracts which were completed in 2019?  

Table 1: Consultancy Services Provided by a Supplier – Note 3

3. All technical specialists such as architects and doctors have been excluded. Could you clarify why these specialists have been excluded as this would appear to contradict the requirements laid out in the Proposition (P.59/2019) which requested that the total number of consultants employed or engaged by the Government of Jersey for a contract value of £20,000 or greater be specified?  

Table 1: Consultancy Services Provided by a Supplier and Table 2: Consultancy Services Provided by an Individual – travel costs

4. Can you clarify if the travel costs are included in the total cost specified in each table?  

a.  If not, could the Panel understand the total travel cost for suppliers and individuals for the report duration?  

Table 1: Consultancy Services Provided by a Supplier and Table 2: Consultancy Services Provided by an Individual – Structured Needs Assessment and Post Consultation Analysis  

5. Could the Panel review the criteria which is in place to define the Yes or No outcome?  

Table 3: Fixed-Term Roles, By Department, For Individuals Paid at or Below Civil Service Grade 15.4 Salary- December 2019 total

6. Appears to include thirty-three additional roles specified in the departments than the total specified. Please could you confirm the correct figure and if this alters the amount paid column?  

Table 4: Fixed Term Roles, By Department, For Specific Roles above the Civil Service Grade 15.4 Salary – Note 3

7. The note confirms that earnings exclude employer pension contributions, where applicable (not all fixed-term employees have opted to join the pension scheme). Could you clarify the breakdown on those employees who have opted to join and those who have opted not to join the pension scheme?  

a.  for those who have opted not to join the pension scheme can you confirm what the alternatives are which have been offered?  

Table 5: Local Agency Staff – Total on Island Agency Cost H1 2019

8. Appears to reflect an addition of £9,910 in total costs. Please could you explain the reason for the increase?  

Table 5: Local Agency Staff – Local Agency Nurses costs or HCS costs H1 2019

9. Appears to reflect a reduction in total costs against R.149/2019 calculations. Please could you explain the reason for the reduction?  

Table 5: Local Agency Staff – Social Worker Agency Costs H1 2019

10. Reflects an increase of £557,519 against R.149/2019. R.63/2020 confirms this was calculated incorrectly in the prior return at £823,501 and now includes adult mental health social workers. Please could you confirm to the Panel if any other Social Worker agency costs have been omitted from the calculations?  

Proposition (P.59/2019)  

11. Specifically requested information on the projects/engagements on which consultants are working or have worked in the preceding six-month period. Unfortunately, it appears that this information has not been included in the reports?  

a.  Could you clarify the timeline for implementation into the report for this information?  

Report Data

12. The Reports appears to be defined by user interpretation in various fields would it be possible for this to become more generic in content to assist the comparison of data?  
13. R.63/2020 refers to COVID-19 which appears irrelevant to these reports as they were prepared for December 2019 should this be removed?  
14. Could you clarify the quality assurance process which the reports underwent prior to release?  
15. Could you clarify the retainer category criteria regarding reviews and assessments?  
16. In the future is it possible to provide the Panel with the spreadsheets of the data prior to the report being released in order that Scrutiny can review content?  

I look forward to receiving the answers to these questions in due course. Yours sincerely

Senator Kristina Moore

Chair  

Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel  

States Greffe: Scrutiny | Morier House | St Helier | Jersey | JE1 1DD Tel: 01534 441080 | Fax: 01534 441077 | email: scrutiny@gov.je

Website: statesassembly.gov.je/scrutiny