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Compromise Agreements-Following up the Investigations of C and AG - Ministerial Response - 6 September 2012

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STATES OF JERSEY

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COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS: FOLLOWING UP THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL (P.A.C.1/2012) – RESPONSE OF THE STATES EMPLOYMENT BOARD

Presented to the States on 6th September 2012 by the States Employment Board

STATES GREFFE

2012   Price code: A  P.A.C.1 Res.

COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS: FOLLOWING UP THE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL (P.A.C.1/2012) – RESPONSE OF THE STATES EMPLOYMENT BOARD

Ministerial Response to:  P.A.C.1/2012

Review title:  Compromise Agreements: Following up the

investigations of the Comptroller and Auditor General

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

 

Recommendation

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

3.1 A recognised and structured succession planning strategy for all senior positions including the Chief  Executive  Officer  and Chief Officers' posts must be put in place (see 6.11).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept

It  is  agreed  that  a  clear succession  planning methodology should be in place  to  support  States- wide  succession  for  all Corporate  and  CO  posts and their direct reports. In the  longer  term,  such  an approach can be extended to the whole organisation.

6/13

2

3.3 The  States  Employment Board must reconsider the role of the  Chief  Executive  Officer  so that it is clearly defined in light of the significant changes to that post  due  to  the  adoption  of P.124/2004 Amd.(3).

Alternatively,  that  Amendment should be rescinded (see 6.23).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept

An  immediate  review  of the  existing  role  and responsibilities of the CEO has  occurred,  and amendments  have  been implemented to support the public  sector  reform programme  over  the  next 3 years.  Longer  term,  as part  of  the  Machinery  of Government  Review,  the relationship  between Ministers  and  the CEO/COs  will  be reviewed,  and  any decisions  about  the  future shape  of  roles  and responsibilities  can  be considered. If legislation is merited,  it  will  be developed at that time.

12/15

 

 

Recommendation

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

3

3.5 The  Chief  Minister  must bring  an  amendment  to  the Employment of States of Jersey Employees  (Jersey)  Law  2005, compelling  all  employees  to conform to a performance review process.  This  should  include political  oversight  of  the  Chief Executive  Officer  and  Chief Officers'  performance  review and appraisals (see 7.24).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Reject

Performance  management should not be subject to a legal requirement. It is best management  practice  to ensure  that  all  staff  have regular  performance management  reviews which  are  meaningful, honest and motivational.

Such  an  approach  should be established in a manner which is simple to execute but  powerful  in  outcome. This should be led from the top,  by  the  Organisation having in place meaningful Strategic  and  Business Plans, from which the CEO and  CMB  can  implement clear  objectives  and establish  a  clear  outcome delivery  framework.  Such objectives  can  be  both qualitative  and quantitative,  and  will  set the cultural context.

Accordingly,  the  existing performance  management methodology  will  be re-designed  to  reflect  a supportive  framework  for Public  sector modernisation.

This is a fundamental piece of  work  which  cannot  be completed in isolation from other  key  pieces  of  work such  as  Reward Modernisation.  The  SEB will  establish  a  transition plan  which  can  be reviewed  from  time  to time.

12/13

Page - 3

P.A.C.1/2012 Res.

 

 

Recommendation

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

4

3.6 Serious concerns relating to behaviour  must  be  acted  on promptly,  whether  involving  a Minister  or  public  employee  or both;  appropriately  recorded within  personnel  files,  and accompanied  by  an  explanatory note  on  how  it  was  resolved (see 7.45).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept

A  procedure  will  be developed which will fulfil this need.

It  should  be  noted  that there are dependencies. For example,  a  revised ministerial  and  Civil Service  Code  of  Conduct will  be  necessary –  see Recommendation 3.9.

3/13

5

3.7 An  independent  mediator should  be  identified  before  the end  of  2012  to  work  with  the States  Employment  Board  and the  Privileges  and  Procedures Committee  whenever  serious concerns  are  expressed  by  the Chief  Executive  Officer  and Chief  Officers  in  respect  of working  relationships  with Ministers (see 7.46).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept (in part)

A  clear  policy  will  be developed to manage such issues.

The  policy  will  need  to have  joint  sign-off  from both the SEB and PPC. At this  stage,  the  concept  of the  independent  mediator needs to be reflected upon in  order  to  clarify  role, responsibilities  and expectations.

12/12

 

3.10 The  Chief  Minister  must provide  the  Corporate  Services Scrutiny Panel with a timeline as to when he intends to change his policies  in  respect  of  the recommendations  contained within  the  reports  of  the Comptroller and Auditor General (see 9.14).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept

A plan will be presented to the SEB on 18/9/12 which will provide for integrated transition  planning  of  the recommendations that have been accepted contained in the  report.  This  will facilitate future monitoring of activity by CSSP.

9/12

 

3.11 The  business  case submitted  by  the  Human Resources Department should be considered  favourably  by  the Council of Ministers in order to create value for money across the whole organisation (see 9.35).

Chief Minister's Dept.

Accept

The business case has been included  in  the  2013–15 MTFP.

12/12