Government of Jersey

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

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.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

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

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made (01/06/2007) regarding: States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006 - Remuneration of States Employees.

Subject:	States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006 – Remuneration of States Employees
Decision Reference:	MD-C-2007-0035		Exempt clause(s):	Public
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	N/A
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	E-Mail		Report File ref:	FHW/MJP
Written report – Title	States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006 – Remuneration of States Employees
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Mr M. J. Pinel Head of Employee Relations, Chief Minister’s Department
Decision: To provide an explanation to States Members on the movement in staff remuneration in 2006 as presented in the States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006.
Reason(s) for decision:. To enable States Members to understand the movements in staff remuneration in 2006 as presented in the States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006
Action required: Officers to forward the report to the Greffier of the States and Publications Editor to arrange for it to be presented to the States on the same day as the States Financial Report and Accounts are presented.
Signature: Chief Minister		Date of Decision: 1 June 2007

States Financial Report and Accounts, 2006 – Remuneration of States Employees.

Remuneration of States Employees:2006

In accordance with normal practice, the States Treasurer has included Notes regarding the remuneration of States employees in the Financial Report and Accounts for 2006. (Appendix A).

In order to provide more information to States Members, the States Employment Board is providing details of the types and numbers of posts to be found within the remuneration bands used by the Treasurer in the Notes to the Accounts (Appendix B).

During 2006, 310 Public Sector Employees earned in excess of £70,000 representing 5.17% of the total Public Sector. These earnings include overtime, standby and other allowances in addition to basic salary. They also include the employer’s pension contribution of 15.6% which is applied to basic salary.

These figures include an amount of 2.75% of salary with effect from 1 June, 2006, with regard to that years pay award. This was not the case for Prison Officers, who had an award of 2.4% from that date; Police Officers, who received 2.5% and Hospital doctors who received a maximum of 2.4% award.

Analysis shows that there has been a net increase in the number of employees who earned more than £70,000 of three compared to 2005. This represents an increase of 0.05% in the total number of Public Sector employees.

If the pay award had not been applied, the net increase would have been nil. However, this is partly explained by the Postal Department being incorporated in 2006 and therefore no longer included in the Treasury figures.

From Appendix A, it can be seen that there were 10 additional employees from non-trading departments earning £70,000+ in 2006 compared with 2005. These 10 are explained as follows:

· 4 as a result of salary inflation (i.e. 2.75% award);

· 4 because they were appointed in 2005 to senior posts in replacement of others but did not earn as much as £70,000 that year because of part year service;

· 1 new Chief Officer appointment for Property Holdings;

· 1 manual worker engineer whose overtime earnings in 2006 took him into the £70,000+ bracket.

Employees who earn in excess of £70,000 include Senior Civil Servants, Chief Officers, States/Judicial Appointments, Doctors/Consultants/Specialists, Senior Fire, Police and Prison Officers, Head Teachers, Highlands College Management, Law Draftsmen, Legal Advisers and two Manual Workers earning high levels of overtime pay.

It should be further noted that the term ‘Civil Servant’ includes a number of professions such as States Vet, Official Analyst, Senior Ambulance Officers, Air Traffic Controllers, Meteorologists, Engineers, Accountants, Customs & Immigration Officers, Modern Matrons, Physiotherapists, Pathologists, Microbiologists, Radiologists and Pharmacists.

M J Pinel

22 May 2007