Select a region
The Chief Minister is today due to tell Ministers whether the Government CEO accepts their view that his second job at a UK real estate firm is “not compatible” with his public service duties.
The crunch meeting comes around 48 hours later than the Council of Ministers had initially been promised a response to their demand that Charlie Parker reconsider his Non-Executive Director role at New River.
But, with Tuesday’s talks between Senator Le Fondré and Mr Parker ending without a resolution, discussions extended to yesterday.
Ministers were due to have a meeting on the matter at 18:00 yesterday evening, but that was rescheduled to this morning.
Express understands the delay has only served to inflame frustrations among Ministers - some of whom are considering backing the vote of no confidence against the Chief Minister. It has also led to concerns that today's meeting will see them presented with a 'compromise' rather than a confirmation that Mr Parker will resign from his secondary role.
Backbenchers are equally frustrated at the lack of rapid action on the matter, with Deputy Kirsten Morel tweeting yesterday: "There should be no 'talks'. CM is there to deliver a message. Any resolution that doesn't involve CP leaving his NED role will have tremendous consequences for the CM and CoM."
There should be no 'talks'.
— Kirsten Morel (@KirstenJersey) November 4, 2020
CM is there to deliver a message. Any resolution that doesn't involve CP leaving his NED role will have tremendous consequences for the CM and CoM. https://t.co/EO7M9q41nE
Both the Chief Minister and Mr Parker have already apologised for not ensuring that correct permission for the role was obtained in advance of Mr Parker officially taking up the New River post in September.
Answering questions on the matter during Monday's States Assembly meeting, Senator Le Fondré described the error as a “singular and rare lapse in focus” from the island's top civil servant.
While Senator Le Fondré had agreed verbally to the move, the States Employment Board (SEB) - Mr Parker's official 'Employer' - had not granted written permission as required for second roles under the terms of his contract, which was only made public following a campaign by Express.
However, a "disappointed" SEB retrospectively approved the move last week.
It means that, if Ministers continue to insist that Mr Parker gives up his New River position, he will either have to step down voluntarily or, more controversially, the SEB will have to revoke the newly-granted permission.
Pictured: The relevant part of Mr Parker's contract.
Mr Parker and the Chief Minister have always maintained that there is no problem with the role or potential conflict of interest because the firm has no "operational interests" in Jersey - though it does have a number of subsidiaries registered on the island - and that Mr Parker will not financially benefit because his salary is going to charity.
The pair have also insisted that any work will be conducted in Mr Parker's own time - a commitment estimated to be less than one week per year.
But, as Express reported yesterday, New River's latest annual report suggests the time commitment is likely to be greater than this, and can involve engagements at short notice.
It states that all board members are “required, by letters of their appointment, to devote as much of their time, ability and skills as are reasonably required for the performance of their duties.”
“This is anticipated as a minimum of one day a month,” it read.
The report also noted that the board has been meeting “regularly (at least weekly) on an ad hoc basis” since the start of the pandemic.
Pictured: New River's annual report says the board met weekly during the covid crisis.
The finding emerged after former Jersey Treasurer George Baird, who has since gone on to hold around 20 directorships, warned last week that “the Role of NED is much, much more onerous than ever before with increasing corporate governance rules."
“What [Mr Parker] should be doing is dedicating every second of his time to the wellbeing of the people of Jersey,” he told Express. “…By him taking on a non-executive directorship, he clearly isn’t dedicating the time that he should be to resolving the problems that we have in the island of Jersey, which are astronomical."
He added: “My view is that he should continue in the position of CEO and not take on any extraneous duties and that means effectively resign from that position.”
Government defends CEO's extra £50k job
"The CEO is almost acting independently"
Gov CEO's second job salary 'to go to charity'
Did Gov CEO have correct permission for second job?
Chief Minister and CEO apologise for second job "oversight"
Chief Minister in fight for his future
Ministers tell Parker second job "not compatible" with CEO role
EXPRESS OPINION: Dancing on the head of a pin
Senator brings vote of no confidence against Chief Minister
Chief Minister and CEO locked in second job talks
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.