‘NO formal grievances’ have been raised – or investigations undertaken – into ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by ministers or senior civil servants in the current government, the Chief Minister has said.
But Deputy Kristina Moore admitted that she was ‘aware that from time to time relationships can get strained, as they do in any organisation’, but added that ‘these are usually resolved informally, often with the support of the chief executive or other senior officers’.
She made these comments in a letter dated 6 April – published on 11 April – in response to requests for information from the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel about the resignation of the former government chief executive Suzanne Wylie.
In the letter, Deputy Moore said: ‘In terms of positive and constructive working relationships between ministers and civil servants, this is an area I intend to address personally with ministers and the senior leadership team within government directly.’
The Chief Minister added that the SEB had recently taken part in a workshop to explore how to ‘apply the values and behaviours of the organisation’, which ‘identified further areas to improve everyone’s understanding of creating a safe, constructive work environment’.
The Council of Ministers and senior leaders were also due to take part in the workshop process.
In a response to the Chief Minister’s letter, the Corporate Services Security Scrutiny Panel have now requested additional information about concerns regarding allegedly unacceptable behaviour in the senior levels of government during the Chief Minister’s term of office.
The panel’s chair, Deputy Sam Mézec, asked the Chief Minister to disclose ‘an overview of all concerns (not only “formal grievances”) raised by ministers and government civil servants regarding unacceptable behaviour that have been resolved informally during your term of office’ or ‘have fallen short of being classed as formal complaints’.
