The States’ staff number limitation policy may not have achieved its purpose and could be having an adverse affect on services delivered to the public.

The effectiveness of the limitation policy will be one of the areas being looked at by the Scrutiny Committee as part of an investigation into public sector staffing.

The policy, introduced in 1987, was intended to cap public sector staff levels. However, the number of posts actually increased by more than 200 between 2000 and 2004.

The upward trend continued last year, despite the reductions expected under the Machinery of Government changes.
Deputy Jean Pritchard, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, said its preliminary work had already highlighted concerns over the effectiveness of the limitation policy.

‘We have written to every minister to ask what impact the current policy is having in practice. From the responses so far, the indication is that it is having a detrimental effect on the prioritisation and delivery of services to the public,’ she said.

‘Clearly there is a need for strict control on the use of States resources. However it is Scrutiny’s job to ask whether this is the most appropriate and effective policy, and how is it being implemented?’

The ongoing investigation will be the first independent review of the limitation policy in nearly 20 years. It is also expected to cover other aspects of public sector staffing, including prioritisation and efficiency. The findings will be published in a report, possibly later this year.

‘From what we have heard so far, the current policy and its implementation may be the cause of inefficiencies, adding to costs and limiting departments’ abilities to reallocate existing resources and priorities,’ said Deputy Pritchard.

‘Indeed, since Scrutiny raised the issue, some of the recent public comments from States members have indicated there may be a need for a different approach to achieve the desired restraint. That is not to prejudge the results of the review, but it does suggest there is strong support for one to be carried out at this time.’

Deputy Pritchard said the committee would welcome any views from the public or local organisations. These should be addressed to the Scrutiny officer, and can be sent via email to scrutiny@gov.gg or by post to Sir Charles Frossard House.