Budget transfer from Central Contingencies to various departments: Modernisation

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 on 21 December 2018:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2018-0152
Decision Summary Title:	Allocations from Contingency to various departments –Modernisation		Date of Decision Summary:	20th December 2018
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Decision Support		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Allocations from Contingency to various departments - Modernisation		Date of Written Report:	20th December 2018
Written Report Author:	Head of Decision Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The allocation of up to £870,000 in 2018 and up to £3,795,000 in 2019 from Central Contingencies to various departments as detailed in the attached report.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the allocation of up to £870,000 in 2018 and up to £3,795,000 in 2019 from Central Contingencies to various departments as detailed in the attached report.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 17(2) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 states that the Minister for Treasury and Resources is authorised to approve the transfer from contingency expenditure or the insurance fund of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year. The current Contingency Allocation Policy (published as R.112/2018) sets the requirement for all allocations from contingency over £50,000 to be considered by the Investment Appraisal Board, Principal Accountable Officer and States Treasurer prior to submission to the Minister for approval. The Board has recommended these requests for approval. The requests have also been recommended for approval by the Principal Accountable Officer and States Treasurer.
Resource Implications: The revenue heads of expenditure of various departments as detailed in the attached report to increase by a total of up to £870,000 in 2018 and up to £3,795,000 in 2019 and Central Contingencies to decrease by the same amount. Any unspent amounts from 2018 will be available to be drawn down in 2019 for the purposes for which the funding was allocated. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.
Action required: The Head of Decision Support to advise the Finance Directors of the receiving departments that this decision is approved.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Susie Pinel Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: