Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister.

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 (18/07/2007) regarding: Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister.

Subject:	Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister
Decision Reference:	MD-C-2007-0042		Exempt clause(s):	no
Type of Report: (oral or written)	written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a		Report File ref:
Written report – Title	Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Jeremy Harris – Policy Advisor
Decision(s): To table the attached report ‘Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister’ before the States.
Reason(s) for decision: In accordance with Article 30 of the States of Jersey Law, the Chief Minister is required to ‘establish, maintain and publish a list of Ministers and Assistant Ministers and the functions exercisable by each of them and by the Chief Minister personally.’ The Chief Minister approved some changes to the responsibilities of Assistant Ministers to the Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister, and these have been detailed in the report for the information of States members and the public.
Action required: In accordance with Article 30 of the States of Jersey Law, Ben Griffiths, Research and Project Officer, will arrange for the Report to be presented to the States and tabled at the next available States sitting.
Signature: Chief Minister		Date of Decision: 18 July 2007

Hide report

Ministerial Responsibilities: Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister.

Ministerial Responsibilities:

Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister

In accordance with Article 30 of the States of Jersey Law, the Chief Minister is required to ‘establish, maintain and publish a list of Ministers and Assistant Ministers and the functions exercisable by each of them and by the Chief Minister personally.’ A list was accordingly published in March 2006 which gave details of the functions exercised by Ministers and Assistant Ministers (‘Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministers and Assistant Ministers’, R.23/2006).

It has been decided to make some changes to the responsibilities of Assistant Ministers to the Chief Minister and Treasury and Resources Minister, and these are detailed below for the information of States members and the public.

(a) Chief Minister

The Chief Minister has two Assistant Ministers.

Connétable Ken Vibert:

Connétable Vibert has ‘outward-facing’ responsibilities, which were notified to the States in R.23/2006, and which are as follows –

 International Relations - with France

- sanctions

 Legislation Advisory Panel (Chairman)

 Relations with the Parishes

Deputy John Le Fondré:

Deputy Le Fondré will be taking over from Deputy Ian Gorst with effect from 2nd July 2007 as the second Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, and in this connection he will have ‘inward-facing’ responsibilities.

These are as follows -

 IT matters

 Customer Services (Contact Centre & Customer Standards across States)

 Business Planning, Performance Management/ Change Programme (across the States)

 Departmental Budget

 Community Relations Trust

(b) Treasury and Resources Minister

With effect from 3rd July 2007 the Treasury and Resources Minister will have two Assistant Ministers.

Deputy John Le Fondré:

Deputy Le Fondré will continue to have responsibility for property matters.

Deputy Ian Gorst:

Deputy Gorst will provide a general supporting role across the range of ministerial responsibilities, including the review of accounting functions, investment matters, internal audit and procurement.

In addition, Deputy Gorst has agreed to continue as a member of the Manual Workers Joint Council and the Civil Service Forum, and to maintain his involvement with Migration Policy and the Population Office.

Both Deputy Le Fondré and Deputy Gorst will ‘shadow’ certain of the responsibilities of the other in order to provide mutual support and continuity during a transitional period. This will enable each Deputy to complete certain projects which are still presently on-going in the respective Ministries.

As a consequence of the above changes, Deputy Le Fondré will be Assistant Minister to both the Chief Minister and the Treasury and Resources Minister.

I would like to thank both Deputy Le Fondré and Deputy Gorst for agreeing to take on their new responsibilities, which should result in a more even distribution of workload. I am grateful to both deputies, together with Connétable Ken Vibert, for the invaluable support they give to me and to the Treasury and Resources Minister in their capacity as Assistant Ministers.

Future amendments

The States will be kept informed of any future amendments to the list, and this will be done either as a statement to the Assembly or by the publication of a further ‘R’.