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Looks like we'll talking Cabinet Secretaries for the next little while.
The role is a complex mix of duties and different levers of power.
The late Jeremy Heywood went over his duties in a speech to @instituteforgov in 2015. He even had a pie chart of how he spent his time...
The role is a complex mix of duties and different levers of power.
The late Jeremy Heywood went over his duties in a speech to @instituteforgov in 2015. He even had a pie chart of how he spent his time...
Heywood on how the role shifts depending on the PM, though some of the basics stay the same:
“It doesn’t particularly change as one person succeeds another… but rather depends on the circumstances. It changes according to the tastes and preferences of the Prime Minister.”
“It doesn’t particularly change as one person succeeds another… but rather depends on the circumstances. It changes according to the tastes and preferences of the Prime Minister.”
1. The role of secretary to cabinet. "The one irreducible task of being Cabinet Secretary”
It might seem the most routine part - helping prepare agenda and papers, writing minutes and circulating action points - But from this the role as fulcrum in Cabinet Govt flows.
It might seem the most routine part - helping prepare agenda and papers, writing minutes and circulating action points - But from this the role as fulcrum in Cabinet Govt flows.
2. From the role as secretary, and the closeness to the PM, the second role flows: senior adviser on everything from policy and the machinery of government to constitutional matters.
This is about unlocking problems. Success in it depends on your advice being worthwhile.
This is about unlocking problems. Success in it depends on your advice being worthwhile.
Heywood was considered particularly good on the adviser role. It is why successive PMs valued him being in the centre:
“It is basically everything that is important, that is on the PM’s mind and is Number 10’s concern, where a senior civil service voice is needed.”
“It is basically everything that is important, that is on the PM’s mind and is Number 10’s concern, where a senior civil service voice is needed.”
3. Guardian of propriety and ethics
Supported by a team, the Cab Sec formally oversees investigations into everything from leaks to ministerial impropriety and advising depts on all manner.
It is also a lever of power
Heywood: “There is a lot of casework under this heading.”
Supported by a team, the Cab Sec formally oversees investigations into everything from leaks to ministerial impropriety and advising depts on all manner.
It is also a lever of power
Heywood: “There is a lot of casework under this heading.”
4. Implementation of policies.
This is where it gets complicated. There's a host of ways govt can try to tackle it.
Cab committees and central machinery are part of it, but PM will also simply want to know why things aren't working. So its also about overall gov performance
This is where it gets complicated. There's a host of ways govt can try to tackle it.
Cab committees and central machinery are part of it, but PM will also simply want to know why things aren't working. So its also about overall gov performance
5. Leading the civil service.
This is the job that comes with being Head of the Civil Service. It has been split from Cab Sec in the past, including for a time under Heywood:
“For many people this would be one of the biggest things they did; it is just number five on my list.”
This is the job that comes with being Head of the Civil Service. It has been split from Cab Sec in the past, including for a time under Heywood:
“For many people this would be one of the biggest things they did; it is just number five on my list.”
Many past Cab Secs agree that the two go best hand in hand.
As one put it to me, being close to the PM as Cab Sec gives you more clout to be a successful Head of the Civil Service. Being HCS gives you more levers to do what the Cab Sec does.
As one put it to me, being close to the PM as Cab Sec gives you more clout to be a successful Head of the Civil Service. Being HCS gives you more levers to do what the Cab Sec does.
6. Managing senior civil servants.
The Cab Sec performance manages many perm secs, but are nuances here. Perm Secs have to account to their Sec of State and to Parliament as Accounting Officer. Its a bit of a primus inter pares that reflects Cabinet Government.
The Cab Sec performance manages many perm secs, but are nuances here. Perm Secs have to account to their Sec of State and to Parliament as Accounting Officer. Its a bit of a primus inter pares that reflects Cabinet Government.
There are still performance reviews to do. And its the Cab Sec who has to try and resolve any falling out between Perm Sec and minister (see Rutnam).
They also oversee a lot of the recruitment and moves of senior civil servants, with various boards to manage it.
They also oversee a lot of the recruitment and moves of senior civil servants, with various boards to manage it.
7. Encouraging innovation and reform.
The civil service has a Chief Operating Officer (previously a chief executive) and their remit includes the reform agenda.
But Cab Secs also play a role. The q is whether their vision for reform is the same as others.
The civil service has a Chief Operating Officer (previously a chief executive) and their remit includes the reform agenda.
But Cab Secs also play a role. The q is whether their vision for reform is the same as others.
8. Representing the civil service externally.
This was the area Heywood was initially reluctant to take on. But as he acknowledged: “This is a much bigger part of the job than I realised, but it is an important part.”
This was the area Heywood was initially reluctant to take on. But as he acknowledged: “This is a much bigger part of the job than I realised, but it is an important part.”
Some Cab Secs prioritise getting around to the various bits of the civil service spread around the country.
It includes select committees, supporting civil service awards and conferences. But also it is sometimes about championing and defending the role of the civil service.
It includes select committees, supporting civil service awards and conferences. But also it is sometimes about championing and defending the role of the civil service.
And diversity. Heywood, 2015: “At the moment, I’m much more worried on BME representation at senior levels, and the harassment and bullying data we get from our people survey from people with disabilities. We really need to understand why we are getting such bad figures on that.”
The huge responsibilities of the Cab Sec (and haven't talked about the National Security Adviser role) are one reason why Cab Secs delegate various aspects. You can't do it alone.
The key is working out which bits of the job only they can do.
The key is working out which bits of the job only they can do.
Heywood also delegated aspects. In particular the civil service leadership parts:
Heywood: “I simply couldn’t do everything required now in my job, John [Manzoni]’s job, and be Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. It’s not possible in my view.”
Heywood: “I simply couldn’t do everything required now in my job, John [Manzoni]’s job, and be Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. It’s not possible in my view.”
If you want to know more about the job....
Read our explainer here: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/cabinet-secretary
Watch our event with all six then living cabinet secretaries in 2016 https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/100-years-cabinet-secretaries-six-conversation
Or listen to our podcast with 3 former Cab Secs talking about crises https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/leading-emergency-cabinet-secretaries-crises
Read our explainer here: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/cabinet-secretary
Watch our event with all six then living cabinet secretaries in 2016 https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/100-years-cabinet-secretaries-six-conversation
Or listen to our podcast with 3 former Cab Secs talking about crises https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/leading-emergency-cabinet-secretaries-crises
