Treasury & Resourses
Ministerial Decision Report
Central Contingency ALLOCATION TO ESC FOR THE SPORTS STRATEGY
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources (T&R) to approve a budget transfer from Central Contingency (one-off) to ESC revenue head of expenditure of £750,000 in 2014 and 2015 to fund the Sports Strategy, “Fit for the Future”, launched on 14 October 2013.
- Background
Following a consultation process between February and May 2013 ‘Fit for the Future’ has been written and includes several initiatives that require revenue funding to ensure the aims are met.
The initiatives will:
Further develop the Exercise Referral programmes in Sports Centres and the Community to meet the increasing demands of clients and, in partnership with the Health and Social Services department, target people with identified conditions which, if supported, will improve quality of life and, where possible, allow people to return to work;
Support Schools to deliver high quality Physical Education and after School sport, particularly in identified Schools where pupils have less opportunities, and to ensure pupils have a good start and become ‘physically literate’;
Support Primary Schools to deliver a coordinated programme of swimming to all pupils so that they become competent and confident in water;
Work with the One Foundation to deliver the High Performance programme so that individuals and teams are able to meet their objectives through strength and conditioning programmes and other support services;
Provide financial support for teams and individuals who are selected for International competitions off Island;
Provide targeted support for individuals and teams who need to travel off Island to compete in relevant competitions, at an appropriate level, to develop their skills and experience;
Provide increased financial support to new Sports seeking to employ development officers who will meet the aims of ‘Fit for the Future’;
Provide support for Clubs to meet the standards required to achieve ‘Jersey Clubmark’ an accreditation scheme, soon to be launched, which will improve levels of Governance and planning and which support the aims of ‘Fit for the Future’.
There will be a requirement for more people to deliver many of the programmes. Some of these will be employed by Governing Bodies but others, up to eight people will be employed by ESC before, many of them potentially will be transferred to the new organising body when formed in 2015.
Funding to support the capital items included in ‘Fit for the Future’ have been included in the budget which was lodged in October and they will be debated by the States in early December 2013. The initiatives described above are revenue items and the funding source has not been identified. The Central Contingency exists for urgent and unforeseen events, which in this case arises as the need to implement these initiatives cannot wait until 2016 if the Strategy is to be achieved and the legacy for the Natwest Island Games in 2015 is to be met.
A case for continued funding beyond 2015 will need to be made in the next Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2016 to 2019.
3. Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve a budget transfer from Central Contingency (one-off) to the ESC revenue head of expenditure of £750,000 in 2014 and 2015 to fund the Sports Strategy.
4. Reason 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 to heads of expenditure of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year.
5. Resource Implications
The ESC revenue head of expenditure will increase by £750,000 in 2014 and 2015 with Central Contingency (one-off) decreasing by an identical amount in the corresponding years. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2014 and 2015.
Report author : Business Manager | Document date : 15th November 2013 |
Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Decision Support | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DSs, WRs and SDs\2013-00xx - Contingency funding to ESC for the Sports Strategy\WR - Central Contingency Funding - Sports Strategy.docx |
|