UK government sets out details of ‘fundamental review’ of civil service performance
The review of the UK civil service will focus on strengthening delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity and will inform related reforms
The terms of a wide-ranging review of how to create the vision for the future of the UK civil service as a world class institution has been set out by government.
The review, to be led by cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo, was first announced as part of the King’s Speech in May. The details announced last week confirm it will focus on strengthening the delivery, accountability, innovation and productivity of the civil service.
It will also consider proposals to reform how the service is constituted, organised and performs, as well as how to safeguard civil service impartiality and core values, and enhance trust and confidence.
The review will produce a report setting out a vision for the future civil service, making specific recommendations to ministers on reform.
What the review will cover
In particular, the review will focus on three key areas:
- Strengthening accountability and capability to deliver for the country and for citizens, now and for the future, with a focus on delivery, innovation and productivity, and pride and trust.
- Safeguarding its impartiality and core values, including refreshing the Civil Service Code.
- Enhancing trust in the service by ministers, parliament and the public.
To make recommendations in these areas, the review will consider a range of evidence, including analysing global best practice from civil services around the world, as well as undertaking interviews with relevant individuals within and outside government. An external expert advisory panel will be established to inform the review.
Read more: UK announces civil service reforms to ‘move fast and fix things’
Outputs and reporting
The review will culminate in a report setting out a vision for the future civil service as a world class institution, to be published before summer 2027, but alongside this, what was described as “swift work to reform the civil service to improve delivery, performance, innovation, productivity and pride will continue”.
A host of recent announcements by the UK government have focused on, in the words of chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, building a government that can “move fast and fix things” through embracing digital transformation and improved performance management.
The government has also set out efforts to clear up the government “sludge” of “consultation culture” that ministers say traps government in outdated regulations and overlapping consultations. Ministers are working with Romeo to speed up decision-making and tackle the issue through steps including a higher bar to require consultations in legislation, and using artificial intelligence to identify existing disproportionate reporting and consultation duties that are slowing down delivery.
In a speech in January, “For too long, government hasn’t worked the way it should,” Jones said. “Everybody agrees that the status quo in our public services is not working.”
He said the answer is investment and “a new consensus on what the state does and how it does it”.
Overall, the review will consider nine key elements:
- Size, shape, and structure of the future service.
- AI and technology as enablers of delivery and transformation.
- Current and future capabilities.
- Performance management.
- Accountabilities and reporting lines.
- Reward, remuneration, and incentives.
- Recruitment systems to attract and retain the best talent in all regions across the country.
- Core values and the code.
- Statutory basis of the civil service.
Read more: UK government creates new ‘future civil service’ role to lead on transformation
Global Government Forum research: five pillars of a modern civil service
As the leading global forum for discussions on the future of government, GGF’s research has reviewed a number of these key themes.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report – which was compiled following interviews with 12 senior civil service leaders from around the world – revealed the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities including leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
It found that relationships between civil servants and ministers are becoming increasingly strained, with populist politics often making it difficult to speak truth to power. Officials find themselves torn between serving the requests of ministers seeking quick political solutions and upholding their “stewardship” function as public servants working in the nation’s long-term interest. Meanwhile, global pressures – such as conflicts, ageing populations, the transition to net zero and post-Covid economic recovery – are placing huge strain on public services.
Drawing on these interviews with government leaders – as well as an extensive body of wider Global Government Forum work – the research identifies five pillars that are key to making government work:
- Strong leadership with mutual respect and alignment between ministers and senior officials.
- Building a highly skilled, inclusive and thriving public sector workforce.
- Fostering an agile, digital, and risk-taking culture focused on delivery.
- Implementing working structures that transcend organisational silos.
- Cultivating a service trusted by its users and the public.
Read in full: Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service
Rewiring the state: insights on driving transformation
A second major Global Government Forum study examined how to drive transformation in the UK government. Informed by the most senior UK civil servants, it revealed the key enablers to accelerating progress and the barriers that must be tackled if the government is to achieve “a complete rewiring of the British state”.
Based on interviews with 12 permanent secretaries and led by former Cabinet secretary and head of the civil service Lord Gus O’Donnell, the Rewiring the State: Unlocking Government Transformation report sets out four priorities that government should focus on to create the conditions for reform:
- Making digital a core part of government leadership and driving a culture of delivery.
- Building transformational capability at every level, including among senior leaders.
- Unlocking the full power of data and AI through reuse of proven tools, removing the blockers to data sharing, and smarter procurement.
- Driving joined-up government through mechanisms that enable coordination and peer learning across departments.
Read the report to find out the key recommendations here.
The recommendations included streamlining approvals for high-impact digital projects; linking senior civil servant performance more clearly to the delivery of measurable citizen outcomes and government priorities; and introducing a digital training programme for all civil servants.
It also called for the formation of groups including HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, 10 Downing Street and key departments to “sit together and resolve issues that cross departmental boundaries”.
Global Government Forum will be showcasing the insights from the research programme to help inform the review in the weeks ahead. Sign up to the Global Government Forum newsletter to make sure you receive all the insights.
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