Rent-free accommodation is being offered on an “inconsistent” basis during Government recruitment efforts – with free housing worth £30,000 being awarded to “some senior employees”, according to a new report from the island’s spending watchdog.

Published today, the Staff Recruitment and Retention report was authored by Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) Lynn Pamment – whose remit includes the audit and consideration of public funds to help ensure islanders are getting value for money.

The report revealed that the cost of living and the choice and availability of accommodation are “two of the main constraints” to recruiting people from outside of the island to work in Jersey.

“This has been recognised by the States and a new policy on accommodation benefits linked to job licenses is being prepared by People Services,” the C&AG said.

But Ms Pamment found that rent-free accommodation is being offered as part of recruitment on an “inconsistent basis” across Government.

I am not clear how decisions are made to attach accommodation to jobs, or why some staff are living rent-free and other staff are paying for accommodation

Comptroller and Auditor General Lynn Pamment

The report said: “Some employees are entitled to Government owned and/or managed accommodation as part of their contract.

“However, I am not clear how decisions are made to attach accommodation to jobs, or why some staff are living rent-free and other staff are paying for accommodation.”

The report explained that the Government’s relocation and rewards policy has recently been updated to provide “greater clarity and to support improved compliance”.

But Ms Pamment found that an outdated policy was recently used to give a candidate an “additional allowance” that they would not have been entitled to under the current policy.

She explained: “I found that Health and Community Services was still showing an old and out of date policy on its website, and that this old policy had recently been used in a particular appointment.

“This resulted in the successful candidate being given an additional allowance that, under the new policy, they would not have been entitled to.”

Ms Pamment added: “I found that some departments have no access to Government accommodation.

“Where departments have access, not all have clear accommodation policies – for example I found nothing documented for the accommodation provided for CYPES and HCS staff.”

The report also highlighted a “lack of clear agreement about how the income from the rental of the properties is allocated and where the budgets for maintenance are set out”.

During audit work, Ms Pamment discovered free accommodation worth £30,000 being awarded to “some senior employees” each year as an additional benefit.

“This had not been approved by the States Employment Board, and the award of these benefits is not in accordance with policy requirements,” she said.

The report set out a number of recommendations regarding relocation, accommodation and reward packages in Government.

Ms Pamment urged the Government to “ensure that all departments are advertising and applying the policy regarding relocation expenses on a consistent basis”, and “ensure that a consistent policy is applied for the provision of Government accommodation for employees”

She also recommended that Government undertake a review of the management of accommodation for employees and “consider which option delivers best value for money”.

“In doing so, ensure that there is an agreed alignment of rental income and maintenance budgets,” she added.