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Appointments to Non-Departmental Public Bodies in Scotland
INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS SYSTEM
COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS IN SCOTLAND
Arising from the Executive's public consultation on modernising Scotland's system of public appointments and as set out in the policy statement "Public Bodies: Proposals for Change", the Executive plans to establish a separate Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (CPAS) with a role and responsibilities similar to those of the current UK Commissioner.
This proposal forms part of the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Bill that was introduced to Parliament on 17 June. The Bill's passage through Parliament was concluded on 5 February 2003 and it is hoped that the Bill will receive Royal assent by March 2003 so that the CPAS will be in office by the end of the year.
The key functions of the CPAS will be to:
- regulate the appointments process, by prescribing and publishing a Code of Practice for Public Appointments;
- oversee compliance with the Code by Ministers, including the power to inform Parliament if the Code is breached;
- monitor the appointments process, by appointing, training and evaluating the performance of Independent Assessors;
- conduct ad hoc inquiries into appointing policies and practices;
- investigate complaints;
- promote diversity, by drawing up a diversity strategy for public appointments in collaboration with the Executive, the Parliament and others, raising awareness and running development programmes for staff, and reviewing targets for under-represented groups in collaboration with the Executive; and
- report annually to Parliament.
The CPAS will be a Royal Appointment, made on the recommendation of the Scottish Parliament. Independence from Ministers is crucial, since the CPAS will be regulating and monitoring Ministerial powers of appointment.
The creation of a Scottish Commissioner is central to the Executive's plans to provide Scotland with an independent, accountable, fair and open public appointments system, based on merit. The work of the Commissioner, together with powers of Parliamentary scrutiny, will ensure public confidence in the public appointments system. The Commissioner's role in promoting diversity also underlines the Executive's commitment to ensuring that a wider cross-section of people come forward to serve on boards.
In preparation for the appointment of a new Scottish Commissioner, Dame Rennie Fritchie, the current Commissioner for Public Appointments for England, Scotland and Wales proposed the setting up of a transitional OCPA office in Scotland. Following agreement with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, this office was set up in October 2002. The office is staffed by one member of staff currently on secondment from the Scottish Executive and is also given accommodation and administrative support by the Executive. It is designed to provide a full operational base for the appointment of the new Scottish Commissioner and allow a seamless transfer of responsibility.
PARLIAMENTARY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Scottish Ministers are fully committed to ensuring that all relevant appointments comply with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice and that the highest possible standards are attained and maintained in order to ensure public confidence in the process of appointment and the actual appointments made.
As part of this general commitment, the Parliamentary Notification system was introduced to secure a greater degree of transparency for the appointments process, more effective compliance with the Code of Practice and to promote a wider awareness of vacancies. The system covers all Ministerial appointments to Scottish public bodies within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and all appointments to cross-border bodies made by Scottish Ministers and also within the Commissioner's remit.
The system went live on 13 May 2002 and ensures that the Parliament is notified of all relevant non-executive vacancies and subsequently advised of the outcome of the appointment rounds. A wide range of external organisations is also notified of the vacancies.
The system has proved a worthwhile addition to the arrangements for publicising appointments. The Executive's Public Appointment's Team keeps its operation under regular review.
PUBLIC BODIES AND APPOINTMENTS WEBSITE
www.scotland.gov.uk/government/publicbodies
The Public Bodies and Appointments website was successfully launched on the 3 July 2002. It has proved extremely popular, with the latest statistics for January 2003 showing that there is an average of 603 "hits" per day.
The website, contains a directory of all the NDPBs sponsored by the Scottish Executive and includes such information as:
- Contact details
- NDPB's website address (where appropriate)
- Status of Body
- Sponsorship Division
- Establishment date and Terms of Reference
- Chairman, Board Member and CEO details, including salary where appropriate
- Staff employed, where appropriate
- Budget and audit details
- Current vacancies for appointments
The website also has links to relevant publications and websites as well as explanatory text and general information for viewing by a wider audience.
The website is regularly updated by the Public Body and Executive Agencies Team, using material provided by sponsor teams throughout the Executive.
CALL CENTRE
The Scottish Executive has also made a commitment to centralise certain aspects of the public appointments process. The Public Appointments Team is responsible for implementing and managing this exercise which includes the award of a contract for the delivery of key administrative tasks relating to the initial stages of the recruitment process. The key aims behind the plans to streamline public appointment procedures and the decision to outsource the handling of part of the application process are:
- to increase the efficiency of the process by maximising economies of scale;
- to ensure all customers receive a seamless and high quality service;
- to bring consistency of approach
- to reduce the administrative burden placed upon Scottish Executive Departments when administering public appointment campaigns; and
- to ensure compliance with the OCPA Code of Practice for Public Appointments.
The main tasks of a central call centre will include:
- Handling telephone enquiries;
- Logging expressions of interest;
- Mailing information packs;
- Acknowledging and checking completed application forms;
- Forwarding application forms to departments across the Executive; and
- Collating certain statistical information for the Public Appointments Team.
SECOND WAVE OF THE NDPB BOARD SHADOW INITIATIVE
Andy Kerr MSP launched the second wave of the NDPB Shadow Initiative in May 2002, following the considerable success of the first initiative in 2001. The Executive set up 37 shadows (18 men and 19 women) in Scotland. This compares favourably with the 115 shadows OCPA placed in the rest of the UK. Feedback from the participants demonstrated that the initiative was an overwhelming success.
The aim of the initiative is to give people from a range of non-traditional backgrounds the opportunity to see what holding a public appointment really involves and to judge whether they are ready to accept the challenge, responsibility and commitment that go hand in hand with the role.
The Executive has invited a wide range of business, ethnic minority, disabled and women's groups across Scotland to take part in the initiative. All the groups were asked to nominate individuals who, in their opinion, have the potential to participate fully in the activities of NDPBs and who would appreciate the responsibilities and accountability that goes with such appointments. So far, 47 shadows have been arranged with board members from various NDPBs in Scotland. The shadow period lasts for a maximum of two days during which time the shadows participate in the preparation and attendance at a pre-meeting, board meeting and debrief meeting.
As the initial feedback demonstrates, this initiative is an effective means of promoting public appointments to under-represented groups. Because of this, the Executive will continue to offer interested individuals the opportunity to shadow NDPB board members across Scotland to see for themselves what is really involved.
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