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States Greffe
Chief Minister URGENT: BY EMAIL 18 March 2020
Dear Chief Minister,
CEO's Responsibilities to PAC
I am writing to you in your capacity as the Chair of the States Employment Board (SEB) and therefore the Chief Executive Officer's employer.
Please find enclosed a letter that I recently received from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) which has left me shocked and disturbed by its tone. I also enclose, for context, the letter sent to him, advising of the PAC's request that he reconsider his decision not to appear before the Public Accounts Committee prior to his ultimate departure as CEO on 31 March 2021.
To the Chief Executive's point about his reasons for not attending on 29 March, I of course recognise that any employee is entitled to their annual leave, this is the reason that on 9 March the PAC officer asked if the CEO would have any time available for the week commencing 15 March – the CEO responded that he didn't have any time available until the end of his term of office.
The PAC has attempted to be flexible, understanding that the CEO has many competing priorities in the short time left between now and the end of the month. As you are aware, the Principle Accountable Officer (PAO) is answerable to the Public Accounts Committee under Article 41 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 and several issues have arisen since we saw him at the last public hearing of 8th February 2021. He has not offered any alternative times that he might make himself available to the PAC.
I am aghast that the interpretation of my letter has been described as threatening' when referencing the press statement – I was advising that a press release was to go out regarding the upcoming hearing and that I would mention that the CEO would not be in attendance.
The response from the CEO appears to be aggressive, and I would like to know from you as the Chair of SEB what consideration will be given to ensure that the responsibility and answerability of the Principal Accountable Officer to the Public Accounts Committee are recognised and understood. It is imperative that there are no negative repercussions on the culture and productive working across the public sector and we wish to form a positive and productive working relationship with the incoming interim CEO.
In keeping with Scrutiny policy and in the interests of full disclosure, this and the related correspondence will be published in due course on the Scrutiny website.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Inna Gardiner , Chair, Public Accounts Committee