Historical Child Abuse Committee of Inquiry: Central Contingency Funding

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 10 February 2015:

Ministerial decision reference MD-C-2015-0010
Decision summary title Central Contingency funding request for Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse Departmental Costs
Decision summary author	Finance Manager, Corporate Group	Is the decision summary public or exempt?		Public
Report title
Report author or name of person giving report		Is the report public or exempt?		Public
Decision and reason for the decision The Chief Minister requested a transfer of £1,543,932.83 in 2014 from Central Contingencies being the total allocation approved by the Council of Ministers to fund the estimated costs to be incurred and administered by the Chief Ministers Department associated with the Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse. In addition the Chief Minister agreed to transfer from the above approved allocated funding the amounts of £72,334.33 and £262,927.09 to the Law Officers’ and Home Affairs Departments respectively in respect of additional costs incurred, above forecasted estimates, due to the administrative processes of the Inquiry and the scale of the material being prepared for disclosure.
Resource implications Central Contingency will decrease by £1,543,932.83 in 2014 and the Chief Ministers revenue head of expenditure will increase by a net amount of £1,208,671.41 and the Law Officers and Home Affairs Departments will increase by £72,334.33 and £262,927.09 respectively. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for the period of the current MTFP 2013 to 2015.
Action required Research and Project Officer to notify the Finance Manager – Corporate Group that the decision has been approved.
Signature			Position Senator I J Gorst Chief Minister

Date signed			Effective date of the decision

Quality Assurance

Signature

Position

Paul Bradbury

Director – Corporate Policy

Chief Ministers Office

Historical Child Abuse Committee of Inquiry: Central Contingency Funding

Chief Ministers Department

Ministerial Decision Report

Central contingency Funding Request for Committee of Inquiry into Historical CHILD Abuse Departmental costs

Purpose of Report

To enable the Chief Minister to request the transfer of £1,543,932.83 in 2014 being the approved allocation of Central Contingency funding in order to fund the estimated costs to be incurred by the Chief Ministers Department associated with the Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse.

In addition to enable the Chief Minister to agree to transfer from the above approved allocated funding, the amounts of £72,334.33 and £262,927.09 to the Law Officers’ and Home Affairs Departments respectively in respect of additional costs incurred, above forecasted estimates, due to the administrative processes of the Inquiry and the scale of the material being prepared for disclosure, in order to ensure the above mentioned Accounting Officers do not close the year with an overspend.

Background

Following consultation with departmental accounting officers, a summary of updated costs was produced and it was identified that the Chief Minister’s Department required £1,543,932.83 in 2014 from Central Contingency to fund the costs incurred and administered relating to the Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse.

At a meeting of the Council of Ministers on 30th July 2014, the Council, having noted the departmental funding proposals, concluded that it was content to agree an increase of funding from £6 million to £9 million and considered that it was appropriate for accounting officers to manage the expenditure in the manner agreed.

Recommendation

The Chief Minister is recommended to request a transfer of £1,543,932.83 in 2014 from Central Contingencies being the allocation approved by the Council of Ministers to fund the estimated costs to be incurred and administered by the Chief Ministers Department associated with the Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse.

In addition the Chief Minister is recommended to agree to transfer from the above approved allocated funding the amounts of £72,334.33 and £262,927.09 to the Law Officers’ and Home Affairs Departments respectively in respect of additional costs incurred, above forecasted estimates, due to the administrative processes of the Inquiry and the scale of the material being prepared for disclosure.

Reason for Decision

The transfer is required in order to achieve a balanced budget as at 31 December 2014 relating to costs associated with the Committee of Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse.

Resource Implications

Central Contingency will decrease by £1,543,932.83 in 2014 and the Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure will increase by a net amount of £1,208,671.41 and the Law Officers and Home Affairs Departments will increase by £72,334.33 and £262,927.09 respectively. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for the period of the current Medium Term Financial Plan 2013 to 2015.

Page 2 of 2