Progress against Strategy
Ambition
In last year’s Annual Report the Commissioners outlined our strategy for the period 2007-10. This was an ambitious programme of work with the aim of ensuring that the Commissioners work collectively as an exemplary regulator to ensure that all appointments are made on merit and to preserve the political impartiality of the Civil Service.
Legislation
When the strategy was drawn up it was not foreseen that there would be a draft Constitutional Renewal Bill published within the first year. As outlined elsewhere in this report, the Commissioners warmly welcomed its publication. A key element of the Bill is the creation of a Civil Service Commission. The role of the Commissioners and the core Civil Service values are to be placed on a statutory footing for the first time.
Relevance
The publication of the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill has inevitably shifted some of the Commissioners’ priorities. The objectives articulated in the four year strategy remain relevant and valid. However, some of the means of delivering the strategy have shifted as a result of the very welcome proposals in the Bill.