Public sector pay: Chief Executive framework review

Landscape

13. CEs of Scottish Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) are tasked with advancing Ministers’ priorities, providing top class leadership for public bodies, and improving public services in Scotland all through difficult economic circumstances. CE roles come with a high level of public, media and parliamentary scrutiny. Ministers’ priorities include protecting communities through high quality public services, they regularly reflect how important it is to have the right people in senior jobs to drive delivery of these services.

14. CE roles come with the highest of responsibilities which are continuing to grow, particularly around public sector reform and workforce changes, with ongoing financial challenges. CE’s are usually the Accountable Officers, personably answerable to parliament in relation to the propriety and regularity of the finances for their organisations. They are required to achieve public service reform with a focus on improving outcomes for people, places, and communities across Scotland. With that comes the need for experienced high calibre leaders, with strong strategic and operational skills.

15. In order to have world class cultural institutions we need to ensure that pay is not a barrier and care has to be exercised to ensure that pay rates reflect the required skills and experience, and higher risks and exposure, for the role.

16. CEs across the Scottish Public Sector landscape are covered by a number of differing pay arrangements including the Senior Civil Service pay arrangements which are set by the UK Government. The CE Framework covered by this review applies to a small cohort of around 43 Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) CEs.

17. The other NDPB CEs, around 30 including 14 within Scottish Government Main, are covered by SCS pay arrangements. Deputy Directors, Directors, Directors General and the Permanent Secretary within Scottish Government are covered by SCS pay arrangements.