Allocation of Covid-19 Reserve Funding for the Covid-19 Helpline

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A decision made on 4 April 2022

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2022-228		Public
Subject: Allocation of Covid-19 Reserve Funding for the Covid-19 Helpline
Report Title: Allocation of Covid-19 Reserve Funding for the Covid-19 Helpline		Public
Decision(s): The Minister approved the allocation of up to £500,000 from the General Reserve (Covid-19 Contingency) to the Covid-19 Response head of expenditure, in order to fund the cost of the Covid Helpline. The on-going response to the pandemic means the service has continued to operate in 2022 and this funding will therefore need to be drawn down to support the provision of the service for the remainder of the year.
Reason for Decision(s): Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a Government Plan authorises the Minister to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the plan. The current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve, presented to the States Assembly as R.60/2021, sets the requirement for all allocations from the General Reserve (Covid-19 contingency), once recommended for approval by the Treasurer of the States, to be referred for review to either the Council of Ministers or the relevant Competent Authorities Ministers and to seek comments from the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO) prior to submission to the Minister for approval. The Council of Ministers agreed to provide funding for the Covid-19 Helpline as part of the Government Plan 2022-25, subject to confirmation of need. This Decision has been circulated to the Council of Ministers in accordance with the requirements of the policy. The Investment Appraisal Team has reviewed the business case for this request. Following this review, the Treasurer, taking into account comments from the PAO, recommends that the Minister allocates funding from the General Reserve. The Treasurer of the States, under delegation from the Principal Accountable Officer, will appoint the Director General for Customer and Local Services as the Accountable Officer for the allocation to the Covid-19 Head of Expenditure.
Resource Implications: The Covid-19 Response Head of Expenditure to increase by £500,000 and the General Reserve (Covid-19 Contingency) to decrease by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States Assembly in the Government Plan 2022-25.
Action Required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Specialist – Business Cases and the Head of Finance Business Partnering for CLS that this decision is approved.
Signature:	Signed By: Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:	Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):