Economic Stimulus Plan: Budget allocation to Education, Sport and Culture in relation to a grant for Beaulieu School renovation project

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 23 August 2010 regarding: Economic Stimulus Plan: Budget allocation to Education, Sport and Culture in relation to a grant for Beaulieu School renovation project.

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2010-0123
Decision Summary Title:	Discretionary Fiscal Stimulus – Allocation to Department for Education, Sport and Culture – grant to Jersey Beaulieu School		Date of Decision Summary:	19th August 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Interim Treasurer of the States		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Discretionary Fiscal Stimulus Funding to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture in respect of a grant award to Beaulieu School		Date of Written Report:	19th August 2010
Written Report Author:	Acting Fiscal Stimulus Programme Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Economic Stimulus Plan: budget allocation to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture in relation to a grant for Beaulieu School in respect of a renovation project.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the allocation of £67,500 to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (“ESC”), in respect of a grant to be awarded to Beaulieu School to be transferred to the department’s budget in 2010. The Minister further instructed the Chief Officer of ESC to report on spend of all stimulus monies, and project progress/performance on a monthly basis in accordance with guidelines set by the Treasury and return any unspent grant monies without limit in time.
Reason(s) for Decision: A discretionary fiscal stimulus allocation from the Stabilisation Fund of £44m has already been approved. The approved funding of £67,500 to ESC will enable grant payments to be made to Beaulieu School, which together with the funding raised by the school, will enable the project to proceed to tender in accordance with the critical path for delivering this stimulus project on a timely basis.
Resource Implications: No financial resource implications other than those explained above and in the accompanying report. No manpower resource implications.
Action required: Head of Financial Performance to be informed of decision to release necessary funds to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture’s budget. Chief Officer, ESC requested to consider conditionality of funding before full allocation is progressed.
Signature:		Position: Senator P F C Ozouf, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Economic Stimulus Plan: Budget allocation to Education, Sport and Culture in relation to a grant for Beaulieu School renovation project

Treasury and Resources

Ministerial Decision Report

Allocation of Discretionary Fiscal Stimulus Funding to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture in respect of a grant award to beaulieu school

1. Purpose of Report

The report summarises the evaluation process and resulting recommendation of the Fiscal Stimulus Steering Group (the “FSSG”) to the Minister for Treasury and Resources in respect of an allocation of funding to the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (“ESC”) for a grant award to Beaulieu School. The grant of £67,500 is to be awarded in respect of the renovation of the upper floor of the former convent building so that an appropriate facility for students with learning support needs is available. This allocation of funding will enable the scheme to proceed to tender, after which the FSSG will evaluate the results of the tender process and evaluation and consider a recommendation to the Minister for Treasury and Resources for a further allocation of funding for the total project cost, which will then be known with certainty. The project will give a boost to the construction industry by way of releasing a project which would not take place without fiscal stimulus funding.

2. Background and fiscal stimulus rationale

As recommended by the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel the total programme of fiscal stimulus projects includes schemes to be undertaken by both States departments and non-States organizations. This scheme represents a partnership between one of Jersey’s fee paying schools and ESC in respect of a project aligned with one of the department’s strategic objectives in respect of social inclusion and equal opportunity. The scheme also delivers around a one third multiplier on the States of Jersey spend and will place a construction contract in the market which will not, in the absence of fiscal stimulus funding, go ahead.

The bid was evaluated under the fiscal stimulus criteria which resulted in its inclusion in the provisional programme. As part of the FSSG evaluation underlying this recommendation those criteria were revisited and it was concluded that the project, in particular the estimated cost and planned programme, remain acceptable to merit the progression of the project through to tender, when the next funding decision (for the contract costs) will be considered.

3. Recommendation from the Fiscal Stimulus Steering Group

The Fiscal Stimulus Steering Group (the “FSSG”) recommends to the Minister for Treasury and Resources that a sum of £67,500 is allocated to ESC’s 2010 budget to enable onward grant payments to Beaulieu School for funding the pre-contract costs of the project in proportion to the proposed States’ contribution to the whole project. In accordance with procedure for those schemes proposed to be fully funded with fiscal stimulus monies, the FSSG and the Minister for Treasury and Resources recognise that the majority of the total funding, around 75%, is proposed to come from the fiscal stimulus allocation and as a result intend to consider the allocation of the full project cost once tenders have been received and evaluated.

5. Reason for Decision

A discretionary fiscal stimulus allocation from the Stabilisation Fund of £44m has already been approved. The project meets the key criteria for fiscal stimulus being timely, targeted and temporary and will benefit local business and individuals. The £67,500 allocation to ESC will enable grant payments to be made to Beaulieu School to progress delivery of this stimulus project, providing work for the construction and maintenance sector.

6. Resource Implications

No financial resource implications other than those explained above.

No manpower resource implications.