Select a region
A backbencher is calling on the Chief Minister to “streamline” the Cabinet Office due to “totally unacceptable” headcount and budget growth.
Deputy Max Andrews has lodged a proposition which requests the Chief Minister to review the revenue expenditure of the Cabinet Office and ensure that savings are identified and included in next year’s budget.
It is due to be debated at the end of this month.
Former Chief Minister Kristina Moore brought the combined department into being as part of her action plan for the first 100 days in office.
The body – which includes the Office of the Chief Executive, the Chief Operating Office, and Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance – was intended to better co-ordinate and support the delivery of the new Council of Ministers' objectives.
However, Deputy Andrews argues in a report outlining his proposal that budget and headcount increases for the Cabinet Office were "totally unacceptable in areas of non-frontline services".
Pictured: Deputy Max Andrews has long been vocal about what he deems unchecked growth of the Cabinet Office.
He wrote: "The Cabinet Office remains a bone of contention among Islanders due to recent growth bid approvals."
He highlighted that this year's Government Plan, approved by the States Assembly in December, included budget increases of £12 million for the Cabinet Office, with a total approved budget for 2024 of £79.2m.
Deputy Andrews continued: "What proves rather disconcerting to see is how the Chief Operating Office, Office of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance have seen headcount expand across the period of 2019 to 2023."
These included increases in staffing at the Chief Operating Office from 189 to 374, and the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance from 83 to 194.
He believed such budget increases "give good reason to be concerned" and that "questions ought to be asked as to whether such budget increases provide good value for money".
"I hold the view that the Cabinet Office needs to be streamlined, and rather than seeing consecutive budget increases via growth bids, we should see expenditure reductions be prioritised," he said.
"I believe this headcount growth to be imprudent and unnecessary and, hence, I am proposing the Chief Minister comes up with expenditure savings to the Cabinet Office, to be featured in the next Government Plan."
FOCUS: What does a Cabinet Office do?
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.