Contracted expert on communications

Summary

The request sought details on a contracted communications expert, including their name, brief, tender process, and costs. The Cabinet Office disclosed the consultant's name, the scope of work, and current costs, but withheld specific tender details citing a procurement exemption.

Key Facts

• The appointed consultant is Mr Craig Tregurtha.
• The brief involves bridging the gap between ministerial aspirations and current communication delivery through coaching and mentoring.
• An exemption from financial regulations around procurement was approved to allow for a quick appointment of an on-Island expert.
• Discussions were held with two other potential providers before selecting the contractor.
• To date, one invoice of £8,500.00 has been submitted and paid.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-09-03
• 2024-10-24
• 4098769
• W-202401-1123
• £8,500.00
• IM1 3PN
• 16

Exemptions Cited

• Exemption from financial regulations around procurement approved due to business need to move quickly

Original Request

Further to Tynwald written question W-202401-1123, please can you provide: 1. The name of the contractor appointed on a part-time limited-term basis? 2. The terms of their brief to assess government's engagement and communication? 3. Details of any tender process to appoint the contractor? 4. The total expected cost of the contact?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244
Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 4098769 24 October 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 3 September 2024, which states:

"Further to Tynwald written question W-202401-1123, please can you provide:

1. The name of the contractor appointed on a part-time limited-term basis?
2. The terms of their brief to assess government's engagement and communication?
3. Details of any tender process to appoint the contractor?
4. The total expected cost of the contact?"

I have responded to each aspect of your request accordingly, below:

1. The name of the contractor appointed on a part-time limited-term basis?

The appointed consultant is Mr Craig Tregurtha.

1. The terms of their brief to assess government's engagement and communication?

Please see attached for a document entitled “Schedule 1”. This document sets out the remit of the consultant.

1. Details of any tender process to appoint the contractor?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. However, by way of advice and assistance, Cabinet Office can advise that an exemption from financial regulations around procurement was approved as there was a business need to move quickly and a unique opportunity to contract the services of an on-Island expert with experience of working in a very senior position for a UK news organisation. Discussions were held with two other potential providers before a decision was taken to proceed with the selected contractor.

1. The total expected cost of the contact?

Costs are ongoing however, to date one invoice of £8,500.00 has been submitted and paid.

Please quote the reference number 4098769 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

16 SCHEDULE 1 SPECIFICATION

Situation:

There is currently a significant gap between Ministerial aspirations for government communications and the perception of the communications government are currently able to deliver as an organisation.

Aspirations include a desire to be more proactive, to get ‘good news stories’ out, to have a consistent narrative across government, to correct perceived inaccuracies, to build closer relationships with journalists, and to increase direct public communications.

Deliverables:

The Department’s Communications Team (“the Team”) has recently started an exercise to reflect on and clarify its functions and as a result expert support is requested to help the Team to bridge the gap above.

The Consultant will work in close partnership with the Team in the first instance to:
- Define the perceived problems quickly together, drawing on the Consultant’s experience and insights in combination with those of the Team - Together with the Department agree a short-term plan, alongside longer-term questions/ideas
The Consultant should act as an active member of the Team, operating as an interim coach and mentor as well as picking up some tasks in order to effect change, in partnership with the Department and not by way of a ‘consultancy report and recommendations’.

If agreed by the Chief Operating Officer, Head of Government Communication and the Consultant, there may then be a second phase of work to support the Team to implement the short term plan. This phase of work will need to be scoped and specific tasks and deliverables defined.

Days:

The anticipated days of work are:

Initial phase: up to 10 days of work over 3-4 weeks during the Term, days to be agreed between the Department and the Consultant both acting reasonably - Subsequent phase: c. 2 days per week over 3-4 months (24-32 days) – to be agreed between the parties