Guernsey States plans to cut 50 jobs to save money

Fifty administrative posts could be cut at the States of Guernsey in an attempt to save money.

The plans, brought forward by the Treasury and Resources Department, include establishing shared services across the States departments.

It hopes to avoid duplication, increase automation and introduce new business and asset management systems.

The plans will be discussed by the States in October. If agreed, the project would save £1.7m a year.

Treasury and Resources said the proposals, which are part of the Financial Transformation Programme (FTP), would include a reduction in staff numbers, a reduction in overheads and pension costs and improved access to better quality information.

Evidence-based decisions

It said it would also offer improved ability to get more volume-based discounts from suppliers and allow 16 other FTP projects to be more effective in saving money.

The programme was launched after a 2009 report by consultants Tribal said the States could make millions of pounds of savings.

One of its main recommendations was investing in consolidating the in-house or back-office services currently carried out separately by the various departments.

The department said it would also help address a criticism made by the Wales Audit Office, in its 2009 report on the States, which said "decision making within the States is often... not supported by an adequate evidential base".

The States is the island's biggest employer, with figures for 2009 showing it employed just less than 6,000 people.

If the proposals are agreed by deputies in October the changes would be rolled out across all 10 political departments, the four political committees, the Policy Council and the Courts and Law Officers.