The Chief Executive of the States of Jersey has outlined his priorities for the future of the public service in a speech to members of Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce.
Addressing the local business community, Charlie Parker set out what he sees as the main structural challenges that will face the island in the years and decades to come. He then identified the ways in which the States needs to improve and modernise its culture and services in order to meet these challenges, and that he would shortly be announcing a major restructuring of the public service.
Mr Parker stressed that any changes to the public sector will be designed in order to make life easier for the people who use States services, rather than for the convenience of the people who run them. He also highlighted the need for a progressive partnership with the private sector and “a grown-up conversation about the contribution that businesses make to Jersey”.
Identifying the future foundations for the States, Mr Parker listed the following five areas:
- economy – housing, property and infrastructure, combined with proactive planning, regeneration and regulation to support all sectors in growing a prosperous, sustainable, internationally-competitive economy
- customers – policies, operations and services with a customer focus, so that all islanders can benefit from, as well as see and feel, what government is doing for them
- people – education and the right skills to support current and future employment needs and to improve the life chances of all islanders, as well as ensuring we have the right people, leadership and culture in the public service
- services – modern, quality, value-for-money public services for islanders, that are effective and responsive to the needs of our community and stakeholders, as well as establishing a ‘right first time’ culture
- place – the institutional and legislative framework to support our society with clear, transparent and responsive national governance, where its policies and processes create the right framework for a modern society that competes internationally.
Mr Parker said: “My ambition, as Chief Executive of the government service, is for all islanders to enjoy a good quality of life, in a fair and balanced society, sustained by a prosperous economy and outstanding, modern public services.”
“What we propose, to support the ambitions of Ministers and the expectations of islanders, is a new, long-term strategic framework for Jersey’s public services to work within. This will enable the machinery of government to support enterprise and other key economic drivers, as well as to protect the heritage and uniqueness of our environment.”
“This will enable us to facilitate a more sustainable society, underpinned by a sustainable economy and delivered by a strong partnership between a modern public service, responsible business and islanders.”
You can read his speech in full here.
