Major plans to reform the department are currently being discussed by ministers, who unions fear are putting hundreds of jobs at risk by plotting to outsource the entire department to the private sector.
The plans are being discussed in an effort to meet savings targets in the States’ Medium Term Financial Plan.
Transport Minister Eddie Noel told the Assembly yesterday that he, like any other minister in any other department, did not need to come back to the House to discuss outsourcing if it was decided that that was the best option.
Earlier this month the department announced plans to shed 61 jobs and outsource some services. And on Tuesday the JEP revealed that all sections of TTS, which has about 500 full-time employees, were under review.
Nick Corbel, of Jersey’s largest union Unite, said he feared that ministers were planning to implement a proposal from business expert Kevin Keen to outsource the entire department.
During States questions, St John Constable Chris Taylor asked if Deputy Noel would bring the principle of outsourcing to the States, or simply make a ministerial decision.
Deputy Noel replied: ‘We have been tasked by this Assembly to reduce costs in payroll by £70 million over the next four years. I am afraid we cannot do that without some people moving on from States employment.’
Mr Taylor then repeated his question, to which Deputy Noel said: ‘We are here to provide services in the most efficient way. It does not need any department to come back to this Assembly if it is decided to outsource those services and provide them to the public in a more efficient and less expensive way.’
The minister also reiterated that TTS was in the process of carrying out reviews of its services that were due to be completed next year and into 2017.
‘Only when each review is completed will the department be able to say whether it intends to reduce, cease or outsource the services in that area,’ he said.
