Called to account
Thursday 14th January 2010, 3:00PM GMT.
Senator Ben Shenton
TOP civil servants face tough questions about progress on a report identifying almost £8m worth of States savings published 18 months ago.
In May 2008 the States independent spending watchdog, Comptroller and Auditor General Chris Swinson, recommended a series of measures that could save £7.88m per year – but the savings have not been made.
Measures proposed in the report included a review of public sector pay, privatising the Met Office, closing the Western fire station, stopping ‘health tourism’, shutting a primary school and increasing private school fees.
The Public Accounts Committee, led by Senator Ben Shenton, are holding hearings tomorrow with three senior civil servants lined up to answer questions about the ‘Emerging Issues’ report.
States deputy chief executive John Richardson, Education director Mario Lundy and Health finance director Russell Pearson will all face questions.
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keep going ben.
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That’ll be a first then !!!
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Interesting. The classic civil service ploy is to make a big noise and do nothing.
Ben Shenton will need all our support. This is not about wage restraint but about a wholesale elimination of top management and back office staff.
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And these shrinking violets are getting Chris Swinson to plead with us not to criticise them….as their wounded sensibilities may prevent them from being innovative…? sacking might focus their attention more effectively…go on Ben light the gas under them.
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Right, without even using much brain-power, how are these ideas for a start?
1. Get someone to sort out income tax dept. Why do they need to contact me about 5 times a year. Go PAYE. No more contact, no more filling out forms, no more stupid finger in the air, that’s your rate type calculations.
2. Why do we have 12 driving licence authorities? We’re an island of 45 square miles. Why even have 12 parish halls? What is their purpose? Centralise. At most, have an office in town, one in St Aubin/St Brelade, and one in Gorey.
3. Why do we need so many states members? Halve the numbers, double the salary and attract talent. You might say this won’t save money but it will. Better paid doesn’t always equal better talent but it will certainly create competition. Once in those who aren’t efficient will find the door very quickly.
4. Cut down on bureaucracy and red-tape. Decisions in every dept take forever.
5. Decrease landing charges at the airport. Lower charges will increase interest and thus footfall in the island.
6. De-centralise some states depts. Get them out of town where rent is cheaper.
7. Make states reps use public transport going to and from work. Where travel’s required during the day have a pool car that can be used.
8. Remove significant numbers of paid-for parking for states staff except senior employees. It should be a perk to which others aspire. Don’t give it out freely. Rotate it so people only have a space for a few months then pass it on to another. More gain.
I’m tired but that little list took me 2 minutes to come up with. Imagine what we could do with some real thought.
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i know how to save millions of pounds. STOP DIGGING UP THE AVENUE FOR NO REASON. i mean seriously. whats wrong with it? it seems fine to me. as roads go it seems to satisfy the basic criteria required. its relatively flat and it has lines and pavements and that. What exactly is the matter with it? if it aint broke don’t fix it. leave well enough alone. stop playing with it. ITS FINE. PLEASE STOP.
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Truthseeker # 4. I totally agree with your views; the senior management in States Departments need to be accountable if they have failured to meet aims and objectives set for them. They have handsome salaires and benefits for being responsible for their individual departments.
How can they command the respect of their staff, if they discipline their employees for getting things wrong, when they themselves aren’t held to account?
I hope Senator Ben Shenton sticks to his guns and sorts out this mess. Remember ‘Indvisa Manet’ and all that.
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Outsider#5
Some good ideas there
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Good for you Ben but I notice Bill Ogley sends his deputy, and Richard Joualt sends his from H&SS.Accountability stops at the top so get the chiefs in big salaries to show up and answer the questions.
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Oh, I’ve got one!
Looking at the recent Manpower Survery and filling in the ITIS system for employees, why not get me to add one more box to the ITIS software and then the Manpower information can be downloaded at the touch of a button and you can even get the data EVERY month if you want to!
That’s got to save a heck of a lot of money surely?
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Outsider #5 You appeared to have lived in the real world. Totally agree.
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#5 Outsider, I agree with most of your points.
Adding to those and mine at #10:
- Consider the non-Jersey born partners of Jersey-born people equal… People moan that tourism has dwindled, well each non-Jersey born citizen could potentially provide a number of tourists per year. They won’t necessarily help your hotels but in staying with family they will help tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes and other retail outlets. It’s a captive audience, my friends and family would never insist that I always pay a fortune to go visit them, they will come here to visit me also.
- Do not send out letters regarding late payment on the very day that the payment itself is due. Allow a few days to actually check if it has gone into the TOTS bank account, online banking systems do oocasionally have issues (especially of late it seems) and that is a totally unnecessary bit of paper, envelope and stamp! Might seem like nothing but I wonder how many go out each day?
- Automate! Some of the forms that come out from the States seem to be created by not very experienced administrators. A good administrator is worth their weight in gold and can save you a lot of money, an okay one can cost you. It is certainly worth the time and money searching for a great one. A great one will be able to automate so much she/he could do themselves out of a job.
- Make online information more clear. I have had to go to social security to ask what I consider to be fairly basic questions. This is after much searching on the States website and reading of suposedly related documentation. I even ask around people who may have been in the same situation. Some of this informaton could be clearly posted online, cutting the number of staff required in social security.
- Listen to your staff. I don’t doubt that there are staff in the public sector that could point out daily inefficiencies and cash cows. They are one of your best resources for dealing with this issue, use them!
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Thanks for the suggestions.
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Meanwhile we’re paying £10m for a park we do not need or that could have been funded privately and the teachers etc want to strike because they’re not satisfied with their salary.
Saving £8m here for polititans to spend an additional £10m plus there is not saving!
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So pleased Ben has the gumption to come on here and communicate with the electorate….we need more like you Ben.
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