‘Charlie’s Angels’ take on full-time roles in top-level salaries

Friday 04 May 2018

Two of the ‘interim’ UK consultants brought in to support the new States Chief will stay on in year-long contracts – both of which are worth more than £100,000.

Chief Executive Charlie Parker has announced that his specially-appointed ‘Transition Team’ – jokingly referred to by Mr Parker in a Chamber of Commerce speech as “Charlie’s Angels” – would be stepping down from their current roles, but that three would continue to work on special projects throughout the rest of the year back in March.

Today it has been confirmed by the States of Jersey that two of those three will take on contracts lasting one year: interim director of communications and former Labour adviser Stephen Hardwick and interim director of organisational transformation Jacquie McGeachie.

A spokesperson confirmed to Express that both will be on top-level civil service pay – over £100,000 per annum – but would not give the exact amount. This will be published in 2019, when the States Accounts for 2018 are finalised, they said.

The remaining two will remain on their previous consultancy pay.

Anna Daroy, the former Highways England Executive Director, will keep her role as Chief Operations Officer. Figures released in the most recent States Employment Board report placed her salary at £1333.33 per day.

Pictured: New States Chief Executive Charlie Parker announcing his 'One Government' plans, with which the consultants are helping, in a briefing in March.

Camilla Black, who has experience working in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham as Chief Finance Officerand Commercial Director, remains contracted as a consultant for ‘finance transformation’. The SEB report stated that her rate was £1,350 per day.

A States spokesperson said that the new appointments constituted “value for money” for the States, as they will help Mr Parker achieve his ‘One Government’ plan.

The news comes in the week that the next phase in the government transformation programme was unveiled following a 45-day consultation with senior leaders – many of whom will have to reapply for their top roles under the new government structure.

Mr Parker will be interviewing internal candidates for the Director General roles, whilst also advertising externally.

The States also allocated funding from a pot of £26million in 2017 underspends to a number of projects across the States. £12million of that was put into departments to fund ongoing projects, including the pupil premium, Digital Jersey, Data Protetion, sports travel grants, and skills development for the retail and construction sectors. Health and Social Services will benefit from an additional £5million, meanwhile.

The Children’s Services will receive funding for three interim operational managers to “speed up the pace of change” to better protect young people following the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry’s publication, as well as an Ofsted report on Children’s Services.

A review of financial management is also being undertaken in order to update what are considered to be “outdated practices and structures.” The funding will help to establish a small team to implement the first changes being made.

The remaining £10.4million will be placed into reserves and contingencies.