Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund: Grant to fund the re-launch of the disabled respite holiday centre Maison Des Landes

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A decision made on 24 November 2021

Decision Reference: MD-HSS-2021-0042
Decision Summary Title:	Grant from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to fund the re-launch of the disabled respite holiday centre – Maison Des Landes		Date of Decision Summary:	29th September 2021
Decision Summary Author:	Finance Business Partner supporting HCS		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Grant from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to fund the re-launch of the disabled respite holiday centre – Maison Des Landes		Date of Written Report:	29th September 2021
Written Report Author:	Finance Business Partner supporting HCS		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Use of Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund to provide a grant of up to £1m to Maison Des Landes to fund the development of a respite holiday centre for the elderly, vulnerable and disabled. The Ministerial Decision is seeking a grant of up to £1m from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund to Maison Des Landes to make improvements to the site. Under the proposition P.71/97 adopted by the States on 2nd June 1997, it was decided that the administration of the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur should be carried out by the Minister for Health and Social Services (formerly known as the Health and Social Services Committee). The grant would be commemorated by way of a plaque in memory of the Late H. E Le Seelleur as the facility will be serving the “aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”. Purpose of the spending The grant funding would be used for the specific purpose of: Improving the quality of life of disabled persons and their carers Delivering a venue for community activities Providing a tailored venue for use by Jersey Charities working with the disabled Creating a modern Hydrotherapy Centre Approval of the use of the Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund This has been proposed by the Director General of Health and Community Services. A Charitable Trust Fund committee is being set up to provide suitable governance in the future for such decisions, in the absence of this committee being in place with delegated authority a Ministerial Decision is being sought. Use of the H. E. Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund is in accordance with the terms of the Fund the original bequest being given to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, to be used - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the distribution of up to £1m grant from the H.E. Le Seelleur Fund, to Maison Des Jersey in respect of: Improving the quality of life of disabled persons and their carers Delivering a venue for community activities Providing a tailored venue for use by Jersey Charities working with the disabled Creating a modern Hydrotherapy Centre
Reason(s) for Decision: The distribution of up to £1m from the H.E. Le Seelleur Fund aligns with the purpose of the charitable trust fund, which is; “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents”.
Resource Implications: The balance on the Le Seelleur Fund will reduce by £1m, there is no impact to the HCS revenue head of expenditure.
Action required: A Treasurer Decision will be obtained to facilitate the drawdown of £1m from the Common Investment Fund. The grant for specific purpose will be distributed to Maison Des Landes.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Richard Renouf Minister for Health & Social Services
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund: Grant to fund the re-launch of the disabled respite holiday centre Maison Des Landes

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Health & Community Services

Ministerial Decision Supporting Report

Grant from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to fund the re-launch THE DISABLED RESPITE HOLIDAY CENTRE – MAISON DES LANDES

Purpose of Report

To request a grant of up to £1m from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to the Maison Des Landes to fund the development of a respite holiday centre for the elderly, vulnerable and disabled to meet the costs of:

Improving the quality of life of disabled persons and their carers
Delivering a venue for community activities
Providing a tailored venue for use by Jersey Charities working with the disabled
Creating a modern Hydrotherapy Centre

Background

Maison des Landes is a Jersey charity founded by Mrs Elizabeth Ashton Edwards and the Lions Club of Jersey, and has been providing affordable respite care, in a holiday setting, for disabled people and their carers for over 60 years. It supports people with a wide range of conditions from physical disability, MS, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Maison des Landes provides a break for them and their carers that provides a holiday opportunity.

Maison des Landes is seeking support to transform this special facility to meet the expectations of disabled people and their carers, and to provide a support service for older and frail persons living in Jersey.

Maison De Landes History & Status

Maison des Landes has quietly provided inclusive holidays for guests of all disabilities and their carers since the 1960’s.
The Hotel is a Jersey registered charity run by the Lions Club of Jersey

Very recent investigations have concluded;

Hotel systems (Fire and Electrical) do not meet current required standards
Heating systems have poor efficiency for winter heating and present risks of scalding
Tripping hazards for guests
The hotel looks and feels tired

The Trustees are seeking to improve the Hotel. The Maison des Landes Project for 2021 seeks to;

Re-launch the vision of the hotel’s founder Elizabeth Ashton Edwards
Provide a fresh, modern, high quality hotel for disabled guests and carers
Create a vacation environment that will appeal to guests of all ages
Partner with local providers to make a range of diverse experiences available
Provide a community Hub for Jersey residents throughout the year

Project Timeline & Funding

Key Deadlines
- Stage 1 Concept Design May 21
- Stage 2 Developed Design July 21
- Planning Approval Aug 21
- Tender award Sep 21
- Re-Opening May 22

Indicative costs are £2.45m, funding has been secured for £1.45m and the Trustees are seeking funding for £1m from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur fund
Trustees have employed professional project managers and architects (IPM – AXIS MASON)
Preliminary Designs are available
Dementia Jersey are actively engaged in design process
The Lions Club is inviting the Rotary Club of Jersey and the Rotary Club de la Manche to act in collective partnership to develop the concept of a community hub. Positive support for project objectives have been received from
- Government of Jersey Disability Strategy Leader
- Disability and Inclusion Project Manager
- The Jersey Disability Partnership

3. Background and Purpose of the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund

Harold Ernest Le Seelleur bequeathed assets to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, for the following purpose - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.

The acceptance of the bequest by the States was expressed in the terms of proposition P.71/97 of the Health and Social Services Committee, adopted by the States on 2nd June 1997. Under the proposition it was decided that the administration of the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur should be carried out by the Minister for Health and Social Services (formerly known as the Health and Social Services Committee).

The assets originally settled into the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur comprised of Jersey located property. These properties have been let to both private tenants and to staff members. Rental income has accumulated in the Fund and has been used to carry out maintenance and refurbishment works to the properties. On 8 May 2014 the Minister for HCS adopted a Property Strategy which recommended the sale of several of the properties and requested that the Treasurer invest the non-property (cash) assets of the fund in the Common Investment Fund (MD-HSS-2014-0015).

Proceeds of £4.7 million from the property sales were attributed to the Le Seelleur Fund.

3.1 Fund Balance

The balance of the Le Seelleur Fund including the value of property as at 1st September 2021 is £10.1m of which £1.7m is held through property ownership, £0.57m is held in the bank, the remainder is held in the common investment fund.

Although the Will made no differentiation between whether distributions should be made from capital or income of the fund until a reserves policy is adopted grants will be made with due regard to the reduction of the fund capital sum.

It is proposed that £1m of the fund is distributed to the charity Maison Des Landes Jersey, following confirmation of installation of the equipment in the new building during 2021.

Approval of the use of the Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund

This has been proposed by the Director General of Health and Community Services. A Charitable Trust Fund committee is being set up to provide suitable governance in the future for such decisions, in the absence of this committee being in place with delegated authority a Ministerial Decision is being sought.

The Minister for Health and Social Services is requested to approve the grant of up to £1m donation from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund, to be transferred to Maison Des Landes in 2021 in respect of:

Improving the quality of life of disabled persons and their carers
Delivering a venue for community activities
Providing a tailored venue for use by Jersey Charities working with the disabled
Creating a modern Hydrotherapy Centre

Use of the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund is in accordance with the terms of the Fund the original bequest being given to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, to be used - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the grant of £1m from the Le Seelleur Fund, to Maison Des Landes in 2021.

Following approval of the recommendation the following will take place;

A Treasurer Decision will be obtained to facilitate the drawdown of £1m from the Common Investment Fund.
The grant for specific purpose will be distributed to Maison De Landes.
Confirmation of the commemorative plaque in memory of the Late H. E Le Seelleur will be installed in the facility.

Reason for Decision

Approval of grants made from the Le Seelleur Fund are required to be approved by the Minister of Health and Social Services

Article 21 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that where a States body or area of operation will earn income more than that estimated in an approved government plan during that financial year, the Minister may direct that the excess income be allocated to a head of expenditure set out in the plan.

7. Resource Implications

The balance of funds on the Le Seelleur Fund will reduce from £10.1m to £9.1m following the transfer. There is no impact to the HCS revenue head of expenditure.

	Name and Signature
Report author - Finance Business Partner supporting HCS	Frederik Tonsberg/ Michelle Roach	Document date: 29th September 2021
Quality Assurance / Review: Group Director	Hazel Cunningham	File name and path:
Director General Sponsor:	Caroline Landon	File name and path: