Friday 10 January 2014
Environment Department response to media enquiry from Guernsey Press.
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
In regards to the contract Environment has with Guernsey Met Office, which it announced it wants to cancel, it now wants Public Services to have the contract instead. Can the department please answer the following questions:
- Can it confirm it wants PSD to have the contract?
- If so, why? What is the benefit to the island of the contract switching from one department to another?
- Is Environment just trying to rid itself of the contract in a money-saving exercise, when it still finds the data provided by the Met office useful?
- Will Environment have a contract with the Jersey Met Office?
- What is the current price of the contract with the Guernsey Met Office? What data does the department use and how will it get this data if it decides to end the contract?
- Does the department expect PSD to share the information free of charge?
This is planned in for tomorrow's paper so if you could please respond by 3.30pm today, I would be grateful. Can you also please confirm receipt of this email.
Environment Department Response:
Following a consultation exercise with States Departments, it was concluded that Community Meteorological Services provided by the Public Services Department's Meteorological Department and Jersey Meteorological Department remain beneficial to various Departments and the island generally.
However, the Environment Department has questioned whether it is best placed to manage these Community met services in the longer term and has requested that the Policy Council give consideration to the transfer of the service to the Public Services Department. This recognises the importance the Public Services Department places on Community met data but it also recognises that it is the Public Services Department that employs the staff that are qualified in delivering the met services. It is those staff that have the expertise to optimise the service delivery and manage and advise on future developments. The Public Services Department also owns and manages the met services facilities and equipment. The Public Services Department also carries out the met functions required to operate the airport and already has contracts with the Jersey Met service in this respect.
The Environment Department considers that there is no benefit delivered by the current arrangement whereby one States department contracts with another but it is that other department that has all the knowledge, experience, equipment, facilities and delivery ability. There is little if any added value in the Environment Department being involved in the procurement of Community met services from the Public Services Department and Jersey when those services are an integral element of the other met services provided by and managed by the Public Services Department.
Whilst the issue originated as a cost one, the review of the service delivery has highlighted the logic in rationalising the service delivery under one Department.
This is a unique situation and is different from other contracted out services where the Environment Department has the knowledge ability and expertise to set the policy and service delivery objectives and service levels but elects to contract out the actual labour rather than employing in house staff.
The total cost of the services for 2014 will be £337,900 which sum would be transferred to PSD if the movement of the service is agreed.
Contact Information:
Environmental Services Unit
Environment Department
Tel: 717200
