Budget transfers & allocation from General Reserve: Health and Community Services

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A decision made 14 December 2023:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2023-860		Public
Subject: Addressing Health Pressures in 2023
Report Title: WR - Addressing Health Pressures in 2023		Public
Decision(s): The Minister for Treasury and Resources decided to approve in 2023: • the repurposing of up to £3.5 million of growth expenditure in Health and Community Services • the transfer of up to £10 million from the Covid-19 Head of Expenditure to the Health and Community Services Head of Expenditure • an allocation of up to £15 million from the Reserve to the Health and Community Services Head of Expenditure
Reason for Decision(s): Article 18(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that a specified amount appropriated for one head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure that is set out in the government plan. Article 18(4) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the Minister shall give the States Assembly at least 4 weeks’ notice before an amount is transferred under paragraph (1)(a). Article 18(5) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that if a direction under this Article would affect a head of expenditure that relates to the responsibilities of any Minister, that Minister must be consulted before the direction is made. The Council of Ministers has been consulted. Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a Government Plan authorises the Minister to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the plan. The current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve, presented to the States Assembly as R.76/2022, sets out the requirements for allocations from the General Reserve. In this case the Minister has directed that the allocation should be based on the information included in the Financial Recovery Programme. Under the Public Finances Manual, where funding has specifically been allocated in a Government Plan for a defined purpose (for example, through growth or an approved amendment), any change of use will require a Ministerial Decision from the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
Resource Implications: The General Reserve Head of Expenditure will decrease by up to £15 million. The Covid-19 Head of Expenditure will decrease by up to £10 million. The Health and Community Services Head of Expenditure will increase by up to £25 million. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan 2023-26.
Action Required: The Minister’s Private Secretary to advise the Group Director – Strategic Finance and the Heads of Finance Business Partnering for associated Heads of Expenditure that this decision has been approved. In accordance with Article 18(4) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, the Greffier of the States is requested to arrange for the attached report to be presented to the States at least 4 weeks before the transfers are concluded. After the expiry of 4 weeks following presentation to the States the transfer may be concluded.
Signature:	Signed By: Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:	Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):