Changing Costs and Goal Posts

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/09/19/over-%c2%bdm-to-be-spent-on-jerseys-image/

A MOVE to give the Chief Minister's department over £570,000 to improve the Island's international image was approved by the States yesterday. Politicians voted by 33 to 13 to endorse a plea from Chief Minister Frank Walker for money for a range of new positions - including a £50,000-a-year 'change officer' position to oversee a programme to increase States efficiency. Senator Walker proposed an amendment to his own Council of Ministers' spending plans seeking funding for positions that also included a part-time media adviser based outside the Island. Another part of the package was £100,000 a year for a social policy development executive and also £70,000 for a deputy to the Emergency Planning Officer.

Hang on a moment, wasn't part of the remit when Bill Ogley was appointed Chief Officer to the Council of Ministers that he had successfully been involved in a local government change programme, and he was ideally suited as a candidate for the change to ministerial government because he had experience in "managing change", and making efficiencies when it came to "joined up government" (as he had done in local government)? That was part of the selling point of his appointment in all the press releases at the time.

A few years down the line, and Mr Ogley is clearly too tied up with other matters and needs someone else to do part of his job. The goal posts have moved! Isn't life wonderful! A pity the £50,000 couldn't be taken from his salary to cover it.