Seven roles cut from government saved nearly £1.2m

Redundancy packages for three of the removed roles cost just over £250,000, the government's leading civil servant said

The removal of several posts from Jersey's government has saved about £1.2m, according to a leading civil servant.

Andrew McLaughlin, the interim chief executive officer and head of public service, was asked in a letter from Public Accounts Committee chair Deputy Inna Gardiner about government restructuring and long-term savings.

In response, Mr McLaughlin said the savings from seven senior positions removed since he became interim CEO in March 2023 represented savings of £1,194,101.32.

He added redundancy payments totalling £254,672.27 were required for three of the roles removed from government.

Mr McLaughlin said the following roles had been removed from the government:

• Chief education officer and director for education

• Chief of staff

• Director of delivery and improvement, Cabinet Office

• Director of financial crime strategy

• Director of improvement and transformation, Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department

• Group director of customer services

• Group director, Economy

He added the removal of the roles did not represent a "significant restructure" in his view.

"These changes are more in line with my published objectives to curb the growth of the public service, reduce the number of staff in the most senior roles where opportunities arise, and trying to achieve less tangible synergies, such as bringing together similar functions or removing some senior posts to reduce expenditure," he said.