Wednesday 11 April 2012
How well is the States of Guernsey controlling its staffing numbers? The Scrutiny Committee has followed up its 2006 review of the Staff Number Limitation Policy to find out.
When the Committee reviewed the Staff Number Limitation Policy operating in 2006, it identified that the then policy was not the most effective or efficient way of controlling public sector staffing levels. The resulting report made a number of recommendations, accepted by the States of Deliberation, which led to a revised policy being introduced in January 2008.
The revised policy incorporated the majority of the recommendations made by the Committee, and placed accountability for approving staffing increases firmly with the political boards of departments and committees. It set out clear strategic objectives that the policy was to achieve, which aimed to effectively control staffing numbers in the public sector.
Through its monitoring review, the Committee wished to assess whether these objectives had been accomplished, how effective the implementation and monitoring of the policy had been and whether any changes to the policy were required.
Deputy Rhoderick Matthews, Scrutiny Committee lead panel member, said:
"From the information available, the Committee believes the strategic objectives of the policy remain sound, and the policy, if implemented and monitored correctly, is a suitable means of seeking to control staffing numbers within the public sector, and a preferable replacement to the previous Staff Number Limitation Policy."
The key finding from the Committee's report is that it is difficult to take a view as to whether the strategic objectives of the replacement policy have been achieved in the absence of quality information being published.
Deputy Matthews said:
"The information available on staffing numbers is disjointed and far from comprehensive. Departments have provided assurances that the mechanisms are in place to ensure appropriate oversight of staff numbers and expenditure. However, the transparency and quality of the data available has to improve before it will be possible to judge how effectively the States of Guernsey is managing its staffing numbers."
The Committee's report shows that there have been issues in the data collection and reporting to date, which it hopes will be resolved through the introduction of a SAP HR module in December 2012. The Committee has made further recommendations that seek to improve the oversight and reporting of the figures.
The publication of this report comes immediately prior to the 2012 Elections. The Committee is therefore recommending its successor committee formally consults with Treasury and Resources, and all other departments and committees, in making improvements to the operation of and reporting on this important policy.
-ENDS-
Contact Information
Christine Foster, Scrutiny Projects Officer
Tel: 01481 717 133
