Delays haunt appointment scrutiny

And in the case of Scrutiny’s attempts to investigate the levels of political interference in the head of curriculum and standards appointment, delivering it in a timely fashion is another step again.

More than 50 days since the committee confirmed it would carry out an independent review it is still waiting for full disclosure from Education, Sport & Culture and Policy & Resources – the former has been at particular pains to point out how it would help anyone that wanted to look at the matter while protesting there was nothing wrong and erecting roadblocks and diversions. Actions speak loudly.

This whole sorry tale dates back to mid-April and has been marked by a reluctance of those involved to move towards a swift resolution that would go some way to re-instilling confidence in States recruitment. Currently there remains the impression that the process is not open, that it has indeed been politicised in a way that should concern anyone who wants public sector staff to be able to work without fear or favour.

There has been a refusal by ESC to fully answer written political questions and those posed in the States, followed by a lengthy defence which mostly answered accusations that were never made. There was a stop-start-stop ‘fact-finding’ exercise by Policy & Resources and a much-delayed investigation by the population management office. The States early in September blocked Scrutiny’s bid to hold a tribunal of inquiry, arguing that the committee could do the job quicker for less money.

One of the main thrusts of Scrutiny’s case for that tribunal was always that it does not have the power to compel witness or evidence – to be able to do a thorough job, it relies on the goodwill and honesty of those being investigated.

All the time the clock ticks on and on.

Scrutiny is determined to act, but there is every chance now it will be nearly a year since the original job interview and the first official complaints before we have moved to any type of resolution.

That does no one any favours and speaks volumes about what happens when things go wrong.