St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft said that resources should be re-allocated from expanding what he views as an over-staffed communications team to addressing the reducing number of police officers and the increased waiting times for health services – such as the 385-day wait for community dental services.
Mr Crowcroft said: ‘I am not criticising the States communications team or the work that they do but I am concerned with the [States’] increasing reliance on hiring spin doctors and using communications staff to speak on their behalf.
‘And it is concerning how much money is being spent in continuing to grow the [communications] division, especially when essential public services such as dental services and the police force suffer due to budgetary reasons. Why not re-allocate some of the funds being used in hiring communications staff to help with issues such as dental waiting times and hiring much-needed police officers?’
The previous Treasury Minister Alan Maclean approved what was widely agreed, in Jersey terms, as a radical expansion of communication personnel, by signing off the six-figure sum to expand the States communications unit.
During the last States questions, Mr Crowcroft said he was concerned by Home Affairs Minister Len Norman’s answer in response to his question asking whether he would like him to bring an amendment to try to get more resources for the police.
‘For the moment, leave that to me to have discussions with the police and the senior management team,’ Mr Norman replied. Mr Norman has previously said that police numbers had declined over the past five years because of budget constraints.
In this week’s States questions, Mr Crowcroft is due to ask how many public relations officers, communications staff and media consultants have been employed by States departments over the past five years, and what it has cost.
He will also ask what action the Health Minister Richard Renouf is taking to address the 385-day wait for community dental services.
The States sitting is due to start tomorrow.
