Lodging House Registration Charges: Proposed increase from 1 December 2016

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 12 October 2016:

Decision Reference: MD-H-2016-0005
Decision Summary Title :	Increase in Lodging House charges		Date of Decision Summary:	22 September 2016
Decision Summary Author:	Housing Control Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State exemption under FOI Law)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Oral report		Person Giving Oral Report:	Housing Control Manager
Written Report Title :	N/A		Date of Written Report:	N/A
Written Report Author:	N/A		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State exemption under FOI Law)	N/A
Subject: Proposed increase in Lodging House registration charges from 1st December 2016.
Decision(s): The Minister for Housing agreed to instruct the Law Draftsman to make the Lodging Houses (General Provisions) (Amendment No. 21) (Jersey) Order 2016 to bring about an increase in Lodging House registration charges, in pursuance of Articles 5 and 19 of the Lodging Houses (Registration) (Jersey) Law 1962.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Order will increase the fee payable on an application to register or renew the registration of a lodging house. From 1st December 2016, when the Order will come into force, the fee will be £14.00 multiplied by the maximum number of persons proposed to be lodged, except in the case of children under the age of 5, where the fee does not apply. The Minister noted that the fee was last increased on 1st December 2015, when the fee was set at £13.65. The fee of £14.00 represents a 2.5% increase on last year’s fee, which is in line with approved States charging policy and will maintain the costs of administering the legislation.
Resource Implications: There are no resource implications for this decision.
Action required: The Law Draftsman to be instructed to make the Lodging Houses (General Provisions) (Amendment No. 21) (Jersey) Order 2016 for signing by the Minister for Housing
Signature: Deputy Anne Pryke		Position: Minister for Housing
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):