With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) chief executive Oliver Morley takes part in our annual perm secs round-up
What was your highlight of 2016?
This has been a bit of a “behind the scenes” kind of year, but we’ve been incrementally improving service across our business. We’re free of the old-school commercial IT arrangements that held us back from a technology perspective, and have seen really impressive successes digitally, with new services allowing people to submit their medical application online, pay their fines, and do more with their personalised registrations.
What has been the most significant change at DVLA this year?
It has been getting the organisation into a really good place operationally – our big-volume simple transactions are now being dealt with in three or four days, which makes for a much improved experience for the citizen. Where things are a bit more complex we are investing considerably to make things easier as well.
"When you’re with colleagues on the ground, the reality of the continued 1% pay increase really hits home"
What will be the biggest challenge of 2017 – and how are you preparing to meet it?
Keeping people motivated: I’ve been on record talking about some of the challenges on competitive pay, but when you’re with colleagues on the ground, the reality of the continued 1% pay increase really hits home.
What was the best Christmas present that you’ve ever given or received?
The best Christmas present I’ve received was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum: life-changing. The worst was a 4ft by 3ft print of Constable’s Hay Wain with an ornate gilt frame. Odd choice for a 13-year-old boy.
More: Perm secs round-up 2016: Britain's top civil servants review the year and look ahead to 2017