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Political Oversight Group (POG): Establishment

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

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  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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A decision made on 13 February 2019

Ministerial decision reference:  MD-C-2019-0021 

Decision summary title:  Establishment of the Political Oversight Group (POG)

Decision summary author

Private Secretary to Chief Minister

Is the decision summary public or exempt? 

Public

Report title: One Government Political Oversight Group (OGPOG)

Report author or name of

person giving report

Chief of Staff

Is the report public or exempt?

Public

Decision and reason for the decision

The Chief Minister approved the terms of reference for the Political Oversight Group (POG). The purpose of the POG is to oversee the governance, development and delivery of the One Government Modernisation Programme of activity, as outlined in the Group’s objectives.

Resource implications

There were no additional resource implications arising from this ministerial decision.

Action required

To establish the Political Oversight Group, as set out in its terms of reference.  

Signature

 

 

 

 

Position

 

Senator J. Le Fondré

Chief Minister

 

 

 

Date signed

 

Effective date of the decision

 

Hide report
Political Oversight Group (POG): Establishment

ONE GOVERNMENT

POLITICAL OVERSIGHT GROUP (OGPOG)

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

Purpose

To oversee the governance, development and delivery of the One Government Modernisation Programme of activity and any other related matters that POG deems necessary, in line with the decisions of the Council of Ministers (COM) and States Assembly.

Objectives

  • To provide oversight, on behalf of the Council of Ministers, on the One Government Programme.
  • To receive reports on the One Government Programme and provide progress updates to the Council of Ministers in a timely manner.  
  • To determine the appropriate decision making and reporting procedures (see Appendix 1) for each of the specific tasks/projects attached to the Programme.
  • To inform, where appropriate, Scrutiny, PAC and States Assembly on progress and decision-making.

 

Background

In March 2018, the Chief Executive announced the fundamental restructuring and modernising of the public service in the One Island, One Community, One Government, One Future consultation. The final structure was launched in June 2018 (table 1).

 

Table 1

However, the One Government Programme is not just about new, simplified structures.  One Government is about how we operate.  Being customer focused; cross cutting and agile; clear, transparent and accountable and much more business-like in the way we work.

 

To this end, a set of early priorities have been identified as part of the One Government Programme, as follows:

  • Supporting skilled, motivated and visible leaders
  • Creating a culture of teamwork and collaboration
  • Undertaking and committing to invest in workforce capability and capacity
  • Establishing digital-by-default services, facilitated by
  • Modern IT infrastructure and
  • Replace outdated information and finance systems
  • Establish the Jersey Standard
  • Consolidated office estate
  • Bring together Customer Services under ‘one front door’ programme
  • Introducing seamless front-office and back-office operations

 

Alongside these changes, the State Assembly passed the first part of the P1 ‘strengthening accountability’ changes, under which the Chief Executive was made the Principal Accounting Officer for the government, and delegates accountability functions to Directors General, in place of the previous arrangements where each departmental Chief Officer was, independently, an Accounting Officer.

 

On 4 December 2018, the States Assembly approved Proposed Common Strategic Policy (CSP), which identified five priorities:

  • Putting children first.
  • Improving Islanders’ well-being and mental and physical health.
  • Creating a sustainable, vibrant economy and skilled local workforce for the future.
  • Reducing income inequality and improve the standard of living.
  • Protecting and valuing our environment.

 

The CSP has set the direction to move from the commitments given in the CSP to the development of a long term strategic framework for the Island which includes the 2019 Transitional arrangements, the lodging of a Government plan (2020-23) and the development of an Island Plan from 2021-2030 

 

 

Scope

Initiatives and projects included in the One Government Modernisation Programme are:

  • Departmental Target Operating Models
  • Finance Transformation Programme
  • Efficiencies Programme
  • Government Plan
  • Team Jersey Programme
  • Jersey Standard
  • Office Modernisation Programme
  • ICT and Digital Transformation Programme
  • Island Communication and Engagement Programme

Membership

Membership will be drawn from the Council of Ministers (COM) and the Assembly to take oversight of the activity of the One Government Programme:

  • Chief Minister (Chair)
  • Deputy Chief Minister (Deputy Chair)
  • Treasury Minister
  • 3 x States/COM Members
  • 2 Lay Members
  • Scope for 1 independent advisor (similar to SEB)

 

In attendance

  • Chief Executive
  • Director General States Treasury and Exchequer

Additional invites may be extended at the request of the Chair. 

Record Keeping and Reporting

Minutes of meetings will be taken to ensure that a proper record is maintained.  These minutes may be confidential where key work streams and projects are commercially sensitive.

 

Progress reports will be provided on a quarterly basis to the Council of Ministers; and the States Assembly, Scrutiny and PAC where appropriate.

 

Administrative Arrangements

 

  • The Chair will approve agendas.
  • Meetings will take place bi-monthly.  The first meeting will be in February 2019.
  • Any additional meetings that may be required will need prior approval from the Chair.
  • Under the direction of the Chief of Staff, officers from the Office of the Chief Executive will provide the secretariat support to the OGPOG. 

1

 


 

 

Appendix 1

Political Oversight and Governance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

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