Guernsey MyGov Investigation: £21m Spent, No Benefit

Tuesday 21 April 2026

The Chief Executive & Head of the Public Service has laid bare the failings of the original MyGov programme, which resulted in more than £21m being spent with no meaningful benefit to taxpayers.

The investigation into MyGov, announced in November 2025, found that the programme suffered from weak governance, poor financial control, and an over‑reliance on external contractors.

Boley Smillie said the review makes clear that while no intentional wrongdoing was identified, the programme was characterised by poor leadership and a failure to act decisively when warning signs emerged. Optimism was allowed to override evidence for far too long.

The review found that MyGov was never properly defined, with projects repeatedly rebranded and rescoped. Governance arrangements became increasingly complex, with more than 20 boards and groups referenced in programme documentation. Reporting was often polished but unreliable, limiting the ability of Deputies to provide effective oversight.

The programme also became heavily dependent on external contractors, particularly Agilisys, which sat as part of the Board accountable for the programme. This created a conflict that weakened scrutiny.

In response, a wide‑ranging programme of reforms is already underway. This includes, but is not limited to:

• leadership changes
• strengthening the Board which oversees the delivery of all major projects, with independent expertise
• publishing a new annual report with transparent updates on major programmes
• introducing Chief Officers aligned to Principal Committees to ensure clear accountability
• rebuilding internal control of technology following the decision to end the Agilisys contract.
• simplifying governance; streamlining exercise done by end of year
• reducing reliance on external contractors
• strengthening accountability at senior leadership level Mr Smillie said:

'The original MyGov project did not deliver what the people of Guernsey were promised, nor what they deserved. This review has required us to look squarely at a programme that failed on multiple levels.

'Among the many failings identified, it is clear that we placed too much reliance on external suppliers, including giving them influence within the most senior decision-making forum that had ultimate accountability for the programme. Concerns were raised by our own staff but these weren't given enough weight, and the programme was allowed to continue. The issues were serious and persisted long enough to require earlier and more decisive leadership intervention.

'This report shines a harsh light on the MyGov programme, highlighting significant issues that need addressing. However, these findings do not define the civil service as a whole. The majority of our public servants are professional, highly effective, and deeply committed to serving our community. By addressing the issues within MyGov, it is my belief we can then start to build public trust and highlight the dedication and values that define the rest of the civil service.

'I will now take the actions needed to ensure these failures are never repeated. Several of the issues seen in MyGov have been repeated across other transformational programmes. The time for analysis has passed; the focus now is on action. Some changes have already been implemented, others are underway.

'In the face of such a significant failure, I want to assure the community that this review was not an exercise in "lessons learned" but rather it identifies where tangible action is needed, and will be delivered.'

What was MyGov?

The MyGov programme was the collective name given to a group of projects intended to deliver customer and workforce improvements as part of public service reform. It became closely associated with the digitalisation of government services and a redesign of how those services were structured and delivered. The programme committed publicly to delivering modern, efficient, user-centred digital services and significant financial savings.

For more information regarding the investigation, and the report itself, go to: gov.gg/mygovinvestigation