Further supplementary memorandum from Communities and Local Government (DAR 09 - 05)

 

I am writing following the Select Committee's request for an explanation of the increase we reported in the Department's staff numbers. In our Annual Report Core Table 6 (DAR Annex C, p.217) reported that the Department's permanent staff numbers had increased from 1,942 on 31 March 2008 to 2,148 on 31 March 2009, a total of 206 (11%).

I have to apologise to the Committee and report an error in the calculation of these staff numbers. After a detailed re-analysis of the data available, we have established that overall numbers of staff in post within Communities and Local Government have in fact fallen from 2272.1 on 31 March 2008 to 2266.2 on 31 March 2009, a decrease of 5.9 or 0.26%. These numbers are higher than those originally reported as a result of strict adherence to the Treasury and ONS definitions of staff to be included in the count.

Our Internal Auditors have confirmed the validity of the approach used in calculating the revised set of figures, as has the National Audit Office.

This discrepancy should have been spotted earlier in our validation process for data in the Annual Report and I apologise to the Select Committee for this oversight. We have taken the necessary steps to improve the reconciliation of data between HR and Finance systems and to our management information reporting. A comprehensive improvement plan is in place to ensure that staffing data is accurate in the future.

Once again my apologies for this error.

 

The Committee also asked where staff cuts are going to be made in 2009-10, how they will be achieved and what effect this will have on the work of the Department.

Consistent with our need to ensure we remain within our administration budget (which, as set by CSR07, declines by 5 per cent year on year over this spending period), we have put in place strict vacancy control measures. These entail filling vacant positions using internal staff to a greater degree than has been the case in the past. Vacancy control is intended in particular to manage down our use of contractors and other temporary staff. Thus we expect the reduction in post numbers to fall primarily on temporary positions.

 

October 2009