SEARCH ON FOR CIVIL SERVICE BOSS
The search for a new chief executive to lead reform of the Civil Service will begin within days even though it is not yet clear exactly what the job will involve.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood denied that David Cameron's decision to effectively reverse the reforms he implemented in 2011 was "management by chaos".
The latest reorganisation of the Civil Service came as Sir Bob Kerslake announced his plan to step down as head of the Home Civil Service in the autumn and to retire as permanent secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government in February 2015.
The role of head of the Home Civil Service will be handed to Sir Jeremy, Downing Street's top official, and the new chief executive will report to him once appointed.
The changes tear up the reforms introduced by Mr Cameron in 2011, when he split the roles of Cabinet Secretary, head of the Home Civil Service and permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office on the retirement of Sir Gus O'Donnell - now Lord O'Donnell - but Downing Street rejected suggestions that it was a sign that the previous changes had failed.
Appearing before the Constitutional Reform Committee, Sir Jeremy said the job advert for the chief executive would be produced "in the next few days" but he was still in discussions with ministers about the full job description and how it would fit with his own role.
Tory committee member Christopher Chope said: "It seems as if this hadn't been properly thought through in November 2011 because it has unravelled. We now have a situation where you have been appointed to an additional position without having a job description because again it hasn't been thought through."
But Sir Jeremy told him: "It has been through through very carefully, it's just that the detail of the job description has not been finalised. That's a different point.
"I think it would be wrong to rush out a job description before all the ministers who have got an interest in this have had a chance to express their view about it.
"But the basic outline of the Cabinet Secretary and head of the Civil Service's role and that of the chief executive are clear on the press releases that have been put forward."
Sir Jeremy said he was "currently in discussions with ministers as to precisely what the demarcation is of the chief executive role so that we can advertise and attract the best possible person".
Asking about the various changes, Labour committee member Paul Flynn said: "Do you think you've got a credibility problem and do you suggest this management by chaos is a model for the rest of the Civil Service?"
Sir Jeremy said: "I don't think I have ever said it was perfect. I said it was an improvement, and I think this will be a further improvement, and I certainly don't accept it's management by chaos.
"I think you should judge by results and I think the results have been a significant improvement in the way the Civil Service has operated over the last two-and-a-half years.
"I hope this further evolution will lead to a further improvement still."
