New look at selecting top civil servant

Dame Janet Paraskeva, chairman of the Jersey Appointments Commission, said that she was waiting to view documents relating to the appointment of John Richardson as the States chief executive in 2012 to ‘double-check’ that the process had been appropriate.

She said there was nothing to suggest that it had been anything other than proper, but that she would be reviewing the paperwork.

The JEP revealed yesterday that normal processes were not followed when the chief executive – who had been acting in the role since the departure of Bill Ogley in 2011 – was given the job permanently.

There are conflicting accounts about who gave the advice to depart from normal procedures – the Appointments Commission as a whole or its then chairman, Brian Curtis, acting alone.

Mr Curtis denies that it was the latter and says the process followed was one of the most robust he had ever been involved with.

Dame Janet, who took over as commission chairman in September last year and has since strengthened its remit and processes, also warned that if States Members were to back a proposition from Deputy Tracey Vallois relating to the chief executive’s role, there would be legal implications.

The Deputy wants the Assembly to agree to ask the States Employment Board, which deals with public-sector employment matters on behalf of the government, to cancel a 2½-year extension to Mr Richardson’s contract and instead have an ‘open and fair’ recruitment process.

She argues that there has not been an open recruitment process for the role since 2003 and that Mr Richardson, who was granted the extension this summer, should be tested against other candidates if he wishes to apply.

Dame Janet Paraskeva: 'There is no reason to doubt it, but I have just asked to double-check'

However, Dame Janet said that as Mr Richardson’s 2012 contract included the option of an extension, there would be legal implications if the States backed Deputy Vallois’ proposition.

‘The chief executive has a contract which allows an extension, provided his role is fulfilled satisfactorily,’ she said.

‘So they are absolutely within their rights to give him that extension.

‘Of course, when eventually the contract runs out, there must be full and open competition.’

She added: ‘What Deputy Vallois is suggesting, you can’t just do that with the stroke of a pen.

‘It would have legal implications.’

Mr Richardson was one of three States of Jersey chief officers interviewed for the chief executive role in 2011.

However, no one was appointed following that recruitment.

A year later Mr Richardson was formally appointed.

Asked if she believed that the process followed when he was formally appointed in 2012 had been appropriate, Dame Janet said: ‘There is no reason to doubt it, but I have just asked to double-check.’

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