The Department of Economic Development could be unravelled and many of its functions transferred under proposals outlined in a consultation document.

Meanwhile, power would be centralised in an expanded Cabinet Office and public services would be provided by so-called ‘service delivery agencies’ or ‘community hubs’ operating within the structure of the remaining government departments.

This radical proposal is one of the options being considered as a way of overcoming barriers to turning the Manx government into a single legal entity.

The concept of operating the government as a single legal entity was first explored in a scope and structure report of 2006, and recommended by Sir John Elvidge in his report to the Council of Ministers in 2014. Its aim is to provide more flexibility and a more joined-up approach.

barriers

But there have been barriers to change – including data protection issues, equal pay and the cost of the making the changes.

An internal consultation document produced by a CoMin sub-committee has now been published on the Cabinet Office’s website, ahead of an interim report to be debated by Tynwald in July.

It sets out a range of options – an incremental approach, a single legal entity with a department structure, a single legal entity operating as a single organisation and an executive agency model.

Options for a single legal entity either retaining a department structure or operating as a single organisation would see all functions transferred to the CoMin and then the provision of services either delegated to the departments or directorates.

strengthening

But the radical option for an executive agency model sees scope for more strengthening of policy making at the centre, arguing that the creation of the Cabinet Office has not taken this far enough.

The report says there is merit for many of the functions of the Department of Economic Development and Treasury being combined with those of the Cabinet Office, together with the policy development functions of the other departments. This would operate a single legal entity.

Public services based on the structure of the remaining departments – Environment, Food and Agriculture, Education and Children, Health and Social Care, Home Affairs and Infrastructure – would be provided by executive agencies, operating at least in the short term within the existing departmental structure. Some of the agencies could run services on a regional basis as ‘community hubs’.

agencies

Functions of DED and Treasury not transferred to the Cabinet Office would be provided by other service delivery agencies. The consultation document does not set out which functions would be transferred but does refer to an Economic Development Agency.

Sub-committee chairman Chris Thomas said: ‘We have identified a number of options in support of the continued evolution of the government. We are not conducting a full public consultation as that has been done previously, and bearing in mind the document does not contain any firm policy proposals.’

The DED was set up as part of Tony Brown’s 2010 government restructure.Separately, there is currently a review underway of the department, headed by acting chief executive Mark Lewin.