The use of consultants has been a source of concern among Islanders – with Chief Minister John Le Fondré and States chief executive Charlie Parker regularly facing criticism for the amount of money spent on short-term appointments.
Last week, External Relations Minister Ian Gorst told a Scrutiny panel he would not have employed so many interims had he remained as Chief Minister, while a major bone of contention among public sector staff throughout the pay dispute has been the number of highly paid executives against the perceived depreciation of their real-term wages.
However, Senator Le Fondré has defended the use of interim appointments saying they will deliver savings to the public purse. He added that the number of interim appointments had already dropped significantly since the end of last year.
‘What we need to see is quite significant change and really driving down into what we can do. I am keen that we do, as efficiencies are bedded down and are more demonstrably the case, that we start explaining what is happening.
‘If we look at what is being delivered – if someone is on a large contract but delivers savings of £2 million that would be worthwhile. The expenditure will be more than recouped through the savings.
‘I think that is the message we should be putting out there. In Jersey terms, the States is a big organisation. We are bringing in the expertise to achieve the change from people who have the experience of that.’
A full breakdown of the amount of money spent on interim appointments has not been revealed although the States are due to debate a proposition which would outline all consultants employed by the States, their daily rates and a description of the projects they are working on.
Deputy Kirsten Morel wants Senator Le Fondré to produce a report every six months outlining the use of consultants. That proposition is due to be debated on Tuesday 16 July.
Senator Le Fondré added: ‘Where we are now is that we are at ten interims. I believe the number of interims at the end of 2018 was 33 so the number of those types of people is significantly falling.
‘Others have been brought in because we have a short-term issue that needs addressing. Sometimes it is easier to bring in effectively a temp.’
He added that the proof would be in the ‘delivery of savings’ and that previous attempts to make sweeping changes to the public sector had failed because staff were trying to juggle reforms with their day-to-day jobs and ‘haven’t necessarily had the time or the ability to focus on achieving change’.
