Report questions management�s �clarity of vision�
By Paul Hutcheon, Scottish Political Editor

Holyrood's top official may have to consider his future options after a report by troubleshooters made a series of criticisms of the parliament's leadership.

The report noted concerns about the performance of the parliament's senior managers and directors, led by chief executive Paul Grice.

The official, who earns more than £100,000 a year, is thought to be mulling over his position at Holyrood as his colleagues launch their own probe into the governance problems. The parliament's internal workings have repeatedly been criticised in the wake of the Holyrood building scandal and other fiascos.

Management consultants Turner and Townsend were paid £23,075 to look into the parliament's leadership structure and make recommendations.

The firm issued its report earlier this year and did not hold back in its analysis of Holyrood's management failures.

A minuted meeting of the parliament's Directors' Group noted the report flagged up underperformance in five areas, such as concern about "clarity of vision and priorities for the organisation".

It also criticised "levels of delegation" among the parliament's senior staff, as well as reflecting on the "rigidity of procedures, particularly in terms of project governance".

The report highlighted "built-in barriers to innovation" and reported concerns about "internal communications".

The minute made clear the parliament would not accept every finding of the report, but it did state that "the clerk/chief executive has accepted the clear message that improvements need to be made in the leadership and governance arrangements".

Several parliament sources have told the Sunday Herald that Grice is considering his future as chief executive, a post he has held for nine years.

One Holyrood insider said: "Grice's future is a talking point just now. Nobody would be surprised if he was to seek a fresh challenge." Another parliament source said: "I don't think he Grice sees himself doing the job in the long term."

Grice's tenure as chief executive has been marred by criticisms over his role in the bungled Holyrood project, which was four years late and around 10 times over budget. The Fraser inquiry, set up to investigate, concluded that Grice had not been "as personally engaged with the project in his capacity as project owner as I might have expected".

Another report into Holyrood, penned by Auditor general Bob Black, found that Grice and his team had failed to "get to grips" with the project. Rows surrounding Holyrood's collapsing roof, MSP allowances and the controversy over the parliament's legal advice to former Labour leader Wendy Alexander have all occurred on Grice's watch.

The parliament is now conducting its own review, dubbed the "Change Agenda", of its own senior management. It is being led by senior parliament official Carol Devon, who has been tipped as a future chief executive at Holyrood.

Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald said: "These are serious criticisms and Paul Grice cannot duck out of the report. I felt that during the Holyrood project he was not on the same side as the rest of us. Since then, there have been several issues on which I have questioned his leadership and judgment."

A Scottish parliament spokesperson said: "Alongside considerable strengths identified in the consultant's report, a number of areas for further improvement were highlighted. As devolution approaches its 10th anniversary, our aim is to build upon our successes to date as we look to meet the future demands of the Scottish parliament."