Role of Chief Executive of the Civil Service
The new role of the Chief Executive of the Civil Service was created in July 2014 as part of a wider reorganisation which saw the Head of the Civil Service role (previously performed by Sir Bob Kerslake) reabsorbed into the Cabinet Secretary’s duties. The Chief Executive supports the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service in performance managing other permanent secretaries across central government. John Manzoni is the first holder of this post, having joined the Cabinet Office in February 2014 as Chief Executive of the Major Projects Authority. Within the Cabinet Office, the Chief Executive has Accounting Officer responsibility for all functions within the former Efficiency and Reform Group, Civil Service Group and Civil Service Human Resources.
Work of Chief Executive
The Chief Executive works with permanent secretaries to put in place reforms including:
- getting a better deal for taxpayers from commercial decisions and supplier management
- the digital transformation of public services and the way government works
- ensuring we have the best people with the right skills throughout the civil service
- making better use of the government estate (property)
- managing major projects better to deliver on time and on budget
- greater use of shared services across departments.
Evidence session
This evidence session is the first with John Manzoni in his new role as Chief Executive of the Civil Service. It is an opportunity for the Committee to clarify his new remit, and identify his priorities and what he hopes to achieve in the role. It will also allow the Committee to question the Chief Executive on concerns raised in the Committee’s recent report on the Centre of Government. The Committee felt there was a lack of clarity on the role of the centre of government, particularly the respective responsibilities of the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Prime Minister's Office (Number 10), and how they work together coherently. The Committee also questioned the centre’s effectiveness in intervening in high-profile government programmes and the gap in key skills at the centre and across departments. This evidence session will explore how the new role of Chief Executive fits in with the responsibilities of the centre and how John Manzoni can lend his experience from the Major Projects Authority to address the weaknesses of the centre in overseeing major programmes.