States director who was based in UK leaves role

A top civil servant in Guernsey has left his role after he was criticised for being based in the UK.

Politicians had raised concerns that Gary Salter, who was the director of population management for the States of Guernsey, was not living locally.

In recent months the Population Management Office has also faced criticism over a backlog of employment permit applications.

States chief executive Boley Smillie said a temporary replacement for the role had been approved by the Committee for Home Affairs and the department would reviewed by an internal audit team.

Smillie said: "The role is important, and I am clear that it needs to be based in Guernsey.

"We have made efforts during recent months to achieve this but, unfortunately, that has not been possible and, as a consequence, the role has become vacant.

"Our priority now is to ensure the Population Management team has the leadership and support it requires."

He said the review would "ensure we have a clear and independently assured understanding of the backlog of permit applications and the plans in place to address it".

Home Affairs President Marc Leadbeater had said it "wasn't a good look" that Guernsey's director of population management was based in the UK.

Scrutiny Management Committee President Andy Sloan said the arrangement "kind of reinforces the perception that the civil service has been accountable to no-one, not least the Guernsey public".

Former Deputy Chief Minister Mark Helyar also criticised the arrangement.

A seperate review of the States of Guernsey's work from home policy is set to be completed before the end of the year.

Deputy Leadbeater has also committed to completing a review of the island's population management regime before the end of 2027.

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