Scrutiny in the dark over States staffing

FOUR years after a revised staff number limitation policy was introduced, it is still not clear whether it has worked.

The Scrutiny Committee originally reviewed the policy in 2006 and concluded that it was not an effective way of controlling public sector staffing levels.

That led to an alternative policy based on a cash-limit model being introduced in 2008. But four years on, Scrutiny has been unable to obtain definite information about its operation.

‘The absence of consistently clear explanations for the reasons for changes to staff numbers and expenditure… has meant that while it is possible to gain some understanding of the staffing figures provided in the annual reports, this is disjointed and far from comprehensive.

‘In this regard, the committee believes it cannot be stated that the States of Guernsey is effectively controlling staffing numbers and costs.’

Treasury minister Charles Parkinson has previously expressed concern about the political oversight given to changes in employee numbers, but the committee said it was not the role of Treasury to micro-manage departments. (from thisisguernsey)