Sir Gus Calls For Review Of Whitehall Performance

摘要

The head of the Civil Service has asked a local government expert to review Whitehall's performance-assessment regime, so that work undertaken in Westminster produces better outcomes within communities. Cabinet secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, has asked Sir Michael Bichard, former chief executive of Barnet LBC, to study the Departmental Capability Review system, and suggest changes that will 'improve the link with outcomes' across central government and localities. Sir Michael, now executive director of the independent Institute for Government, had also been asked to assess 'how well the various parts of government join up', Sir Gus revealed last week. Sir Michael has already embarked on a separate, Treasury review aimed at making local public bodies more innovative and efficient - a study which is likely to inform his work on DCRs. Speaking on 18 February, Sir Gus said DCRs had been successful in improving departmental performance across central government, but was now in need of reform. Civil Service changes, he said, must reflect wider Whitehall plans to improve links between all tiers of government to tackle cross-cutting issues.