Contingency Funding to Chief Minister's Department: Funding of Transformation of Communications and Engagement

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A decision made 10 May 2018:

Decision reference: MD-TR-2018-0067
Decision Summary Title:	Contingency Funding to the Chief Minister’s Department for Transformation of Communications and Engagement		Date of Decision Summary:	25th April 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:	Contingency Funding to the Chief Minister’s Department for Transformation of Communications and Engagement		Date of Written Report:	25th April 2018
Written Report Author:	Head of Decision Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The transfer of up to £300,000 in 2018 from Central Contingencies to the Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to fund Transformation of Communications and Engagement.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the transfer of up to £300,000 in 2018 from the £10.4 million transferred to Central Contingencies from unspent budgets in 2017, to the Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to fund Transformation of Communications and Engagement. .
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.
Resource Implications: The Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to increase by up to £300,000 in 2018 and Central Contingencies to decrease by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019. The £300,000 in total is proposed to be drawn down in 2018 but unspent amounts will be available in 2019.
Action required: The Head of Decision Support to advise the Finance Director – Chief Minister’s Department that this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Senator A J H Maclean Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Contingency Funding to Chief Minister's Department: Funding of Transformation of Communications and Engagement

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Treasury and Resources

Ministerial Decision Report

Contingency Funding to the Chief MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT for Transformation of Communications and Engagement

Purpose of Report

To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve the transfer, to the Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure in 2018, of up to £300,000 from the £10.4 million of unspent budgets in 2017 that were transferred to Central Contingencies, to fund the transformation of Communications and Engagement.

Background

It has been long recognised that the States needs to transform how it explains its services and activities to customers, residents, businesses and other stakeholders, as well as how it communicates and engages with its 7,300 employees.

A detailed audit of communications found that current structure and level of resource of communications is inefficient and inadequate to meet the needs and support the reputation of the States of Jersey. Additionally, it perpetuates duplication, inconsistency, silo working, extensive spend on external agencies, and poor staff engagement.

Based on the recommendations of the communications audit, a new, unified ‘one government’ Communications function, under a new post of Director of Communications, was approved by Corporate Strategy Board in January.

The new Communications function forms part of the proposed new structure of the States of Jersey announced on 6 March, and was subject to a 30-day internal consultation, which ended on 5 April.

Additionally, discussions and research about how the States of Jersey engages with its customers and with Parishes demonstrated a fragmented and inconsistent approach. This was underpinned by the findings of a public opinion survey conducted in February that only 32% of residents think that the States of Jersey takes their views on board, and only 53% think it’s easy to understand how to apply for customer services.

As part of the proposed new structure of the States of Jersey, a Director of Local Services role was identified to improve how the States engages with Parishes and customers, and to help to design the new services for the proposed Department of Customer and Local Services.

This bid provides interim funding for the Director of Communications role and immediate investment, pending the full allocation of resource for the new unified Communications function.

It also provides interim funding for the new post of Director of Local Services, pending the full allocation of resource for the proposed Department of Customer and Local Services.

This supports the next stage of implementing the vision for a modern, customer-focused, value-for-money and joined up public service.

Recommendation

The Treasury and Resources Minister is recommended to approve the transfer, to the Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure in 2018, of up to £300,000 from the £10.4 million of unspent budgets in 2017 that were transferred to Central Contingencies, to fund the transformation of Communications and Engagement.

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 or the insurance fund of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year.

Resource Implications

The Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to increase by up to £300,000 in 2018 and Central Contingencies to decrease by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.

The £300,000 in total is proposed to be drawn down in 2018, but unspent amounts will be available in 2019.

Report author : Head of Decision Support

Document date : 25th April 2018

Quality Assurance / Review :

Director of Financial Planning and Performance

MD sponsor : Treasurer of the States