New chief executive Paul Martin succeeded Charlie Parker in March after Mr Parker stood down as Jersey’s top civil servant following a backlash over his decision to accept a second role as non-executive director of UK real-estate trust New River.
Mr Martin, who is interim chief executive on a one-year contract, said: ‘It was the pace of events and the unexpected turns that led to the need for, understandably, rapid decision-making.’
He added: ‘There is evidently learning from this situation. That is absolutely clear.’
The new head of Jersey’s civil service was being questioned by the States spending watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee. PAC chairwoman Deputy Inna Gardiner asked why consultation required by the public-finances manual did not take place regarding the £500,000 payment to Mr Parker. The manual ensures ‘effective, efficient and responsible financial management of public resources’, she said.
Comptroller and Auditor General Lynn Pamment previously drew attention to an independent auditor’s report in the government accounts, highlighting that a requirement the Treasury Department was consulted before the severance package was agreed was not met.
Mr Martin said his understanding was that ‘events were moving very quickly’ in an ‘unplanned way’, and there was a ‘need for rapid decision-making’. This sometimes meant processes were not adhered to as they would be in the ‘more ordinary, calmer environment in which we normally work’, he said.
States Treasurer Richard Bell said the requirement was a ‘technicality’ and that he did not think the severance sum would have differed. He added: ‘I think the organisation will learn from this.’
However, panel member Senator Tracey Vallois raised concerns over the ‘substantial sum of public money’.
This was the first public PAC meeting with Mr Parker’s replacement. During a recent investigation into whether Deputy Gardiner breached the States Members Code of Conduct in correspondence with Mr Parker, Commissioner for Standards Paul Kernagham highlighted ‘a regrettable breakdown of constructive communication’. Deputy Gardiner was cleared of breaching the code, after she referred herself over an exchange with the former chief executive, which he took exception to.
The government’s estates strategy was also discussed at Monday’s hearing. Mr Martin said he welcomed the PAC’s review into the government’s property portfolio, which he admitted was ‘an area of concern’.
‘It has been an area of historic weakness that has needed addressing,’ he added.
Moving the government headquarters to one site at Cyril Le Marquand House and ‘possibly’ the move to the new hospital would see ‘progress in estate rationalisation at a speed that has not been seen before’, he said.
