Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund: Grant to fund a kitchen for Age Concern Jersey

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A decision made on 23 October 2020

Decision Reference: MD-HSS-2020-0074
Decision Summary Title:	Grant from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to fund the procurement of a commercial standard kitchen at the new facilities for Age Concern Jersey		Date of Decision Summary:	17 September 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Finance Business Partner supporting HCS		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Grant from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to fund the procurement of a commercial standard kitchen at the new facilities for Age Concern Jersey		Date of Written Report:	17 September 2020
Written Report Author:	Finance Business Partner supporting HCS		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Use of Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund to provide a grant of up to £50,000 to Age Concern Jersey to fund the procurement of a new commercial standard kitchen at the new Age Concern Jersey facility. The Ministerial Decision is seeking a grant of up to £50,000 from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund to Age Concern Jersey towards the fit out commercial kitchen in the new Age Concern facility. Under the proposition P.71/97 adopted by the States on 2nd June 1997, it was decided that the administration of the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur should be carried out by the Minister for Health and Social Services (formerly known as the Health and Social Services Committee). The grant would be commemorated by way of a plaque in memory of the Late H. E Le Seelleur as the facility will be serving the “aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”. Purpose of the spending The grant funding would be used for the specific purpose of: Procurement of kitchen equipment to fit out a commercial standard kitchen in the new Age Concern facility that will provide meals in-house and for delivery, for the aged, infirm and needy service users of the charity Approval of the use of the Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund This has been proposed by the Director General of Health and Community Services. A Charitable Trust Fund committee is being set up to provide suitable governance in the future for such decisions, in the absence of this committee being in place with delegated authority a Ministerial Decision is being sought. Use of the H. E. Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund is in accordance with the terms of the Fund the original bequest being given to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, to be used - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the distribution of up to £50,000 grant from the H.E. Le Seelleur Fund, to Age Concern Jersey in respect of: Procurement of kitchen equipment to fit out a commercial standard kitchen in the new Age Concern facility that will provide meals in-house and for delivery, for the aged, infirm and needy service users of the charity.
Reason(s) for Decision: The distribution of up to £50,000 from the H.E. Le Seelleur Fund aligns with the purpose of the charitable trust fund, which is; “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents”.
Resource Implications: The balance on the Le Seelleur Fund will reduce by £50,000, there is no impact to the HCS revenue head of expenditure.
Action required: The drawdown of £50,000 from the Common Investment Fund. The grant for specific purpose will be distributed to Age Concern Jersey.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Richard Renouf Minister for Health & Social Services
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund: Grant to fund a kitchen for Age Concern Jersey

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Health & Community Services

Ministerial Decision Supporting Report

Purpose of Report

To request a grant of up to £50,000 from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund to the Charity Age Concern Jersey to meet the costs of:

Procurement of kitchen equipment to fit out a commercial standard kitchen in the new Age Concern facility that will provide meals in-house and for delivery, for the aged, infirm and needy service users of the charity.

Background

Age Concern Jersey offers a range of services to support older people across the island. The charity works to reduce isolation, poverty and ill health, whilst promoting independence and an active lifestyle. The charity is actively developing new ways of working in order to offer more tailored, integrated services that meet people’s needs and expectations during their journey through old age.

Age Concern Jersey is a Jersey based charity that supports the elderly in the community and also campaigns on their behalf.

Age Concern Jersey have a clear vision for the future:

That there should be no ageism. Age should be recognised as a gift not a burden.
That older people should be given respect and courtesy.
That older people should have enough money to live on and not rely on hand-outs.
That older people should be able to enjoy a sense of well-being in a safe and secure environment.
That older people should have access to full health care.
That older people should be valued and not treated as second class citizens.
That older people should have a voice in the community.

Age Concern Jersey’s HQ is at Windsor House in Val Plaisant, St Helier. Opened in June 1994, it plays a central role to the services Age Concern Jersey offer, it is also home to the charity shop, which is situated at the side of the house. Every day of the week Windsor House is a hubbub of activity. With craft sessions, computer classes and social activities in our day centre, lunches served daily, a hairdressing salon and visiting chiropodist there’s always something going on to keep Jersey’s senior citizens active.

Fundraising Project – New Community Project

The current facility is now very tired, it is not big enough to cater for any growth for the services and isn’t very accessible to the elderly. The charity are developing a new facility in conjunction with Andium Homes; the new centre will be opposite the Charity’s current facility. The Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources has given Andium Homes the go-ahead for the construction. Following a full tender process, Rok Construct Ltd have been awarded the main contract, which is due to be signed imminently, with works commencing next month.

The new Age Concern Jersey premises will be delivered alongside Andium Homes' plans for 21 new apartments on the Convent Court low-rise site in Val Plaisant. The site, which is directly opposite the charity’s current building, will deliver a new purpose-built facility for Age Concern Jersey on the ground floor, along with 18 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments above, which will be available for rental through the Affordable Housing Gateway.

Andium Homes will fund the project from a private loan facility that the company secured earlier this year. Age Concern Jersey will cover a monthly rental once the facility is delivered, under a 25-year lease arrangement. The Age Concern Jersey facility will provide a large function room, restaurant/café and extensive other facilities. The charity are looking to raise £500,000 in order to complete the project and re-build reserves. Many of the aging population of the Island of Jersey will benefit from the new and improved services that will be offered from the new facility, and this is line with the bequest of the HE Le Seelleur Fund. The charity is seeking a grant of up to £50,000 towards this from the HE. Le Seelleur Fund.

The premises will provide meals both in-house and for delivery and a commercial standard kitchen is required. The quotation for the basic equipment of a good standard is £37,496, and there would be other kitchen requirements, which is why Age Concern Jersey have quoted a ceiling of £50,000. The proposal is for a specific grant of £50,000 for this specific purpose, requiring copies of all invoices to be provided. In addition, having a specific purpose for the funds means that Age Concern Jersey would be able to erect a plaque in the dining area thanking the late HE Le Seelleur for his bequest to the Island. The facility is expected to be complete by September 2021 with fitting to be completed beforehand and the grant is requested for drawdown after confirmation is received of installation.

Age Concern Jersey are going to lease their current building to Silkworth Lodge, which provides help to islanders suffering with alcohol or drug addiction; to ensure their current premises remains within the charitable sector, "providing essential services to the Jersey community".

3. Background and Purpose of the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund

Harold Ernest Le Seelleur bequeathed assets to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, for the following purpose - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.

The acceptance of the bequest by the States was expressed in the terms of proposition P.71/97 of the Health and Social Services Committee, adopted by the States on 2nd June 1997. Under the proposition it was decided that the administration of the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur should be carried out by the Minister for Health and Social Services (formerly known as the Health and Social Services Committee).

The assets originally settled into the Estate of H.E. Le Seelleur comprised of Jersey located property. These properties have been let to both private tenants and to staff members. Rental income has accumulated in the Fund and has been used to carry out maintenance and refurbishment works to the properties. On 8 May 2014 the Minister for HCS adopted a Property Strategy which recommended the sale of several of the properties and requested that the Treasurer invest the non-property (cash) assets of the fund in the Common Investment Fund (MD-HSS-2014-0015).

Proceeds of £4.655 million from the property sales were attributed to the Le Seelleur Fund.

3.1 Fund Balance

The balance of the Le Seelleur Fund including the value of property as at 1st September 2020 is £9.67m of which £2.05m is held through property ownership, £1.2m is held in the bank, the remainder is held in the common investment fund.

In June the Health and Social Services Minister approved the transfer of funds from the HE Le Seelleur Fund of £1.02m to fund an increase to the commissioning of palliative care services from Jersey Hospice Care and to purchase 34 Defibrillators and 2 AEDs.

Although the Will made no differentiation between whether distributions should be made from capital or income of the fund until a reserves policy is adopted grants will be made with due regard to the reduction of the fund capital sum. (Including this grant of £50,000 and the £1.02m approved in June; the fund will have seen a net increase of £0.73m over a 3-year period)

It is proposed that £50,000 of the fund is distributed to the charity Age Concern Jersey, following confirmation of installation of the equipment in the new building during 2021.

Approval of the use of the Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund

This has been proposed by the Director General of Health and Community Services. A Charitable Trust Fund committee is being set up to provide suitable governance in the future for such decisions, in the absence of this committee being in place with delegated authority a Ministerial Decision is being sought.

The Minister for Health and Social Services is requested to approve the grant of up to £50,000 donation from the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Fund, to be transferred to Age Concern Jersey in 2021 in respect of:

Procurement of basic kitchen equipment to fit out a commercial standard kitchen in the new facility that will provide meals in-house and for delivery for the use of the aged, infirm and needy service users of the charity.

Use of the Harold Ernest Le Seelleur Charitable Trust Fund is in accordance with the terms of the Fund the original bequest being given to the States of Jersey for itself and its successors in perpetuity, to be used - “for the benefit of the aged, infirm and needy residents of the Island”.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the grant of £50,000 from the Le Seelleur Fund, to Age Concern Jersey in 2021.

Following approval of the recommendation the following will take place;

A Treasurer Decision will be obtained to facilitate the drawdown of £50,000 from the Common Investment Fund.
The grant for specific purpose will be distributed to Age Concern Jersey.
Confirmation of the commemorative plaque in memory of the Late H. E Le Seelleur has been installed in the facility.

Reason for Decision

Approval of grants made from the Le Seelleur Fund are required to be approved by the Minister of Health and Social Services

Article 21 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that where a States body or area of operation will earn income more than that estimated in an approved government plan during that financial year, the Minister may direct that the excess income be allocated to a head of expenditure set out in the plan.

7. Resource Implications

The balance of funds on the Le Seelleur Fund will reduce from £9.67m by £1.07m to £8.6m. There is no impact to the HCS revenue head of expenditure.

	Name and Signature
Report author - Finance Business Partner supporting HCS	Luisa Rodrigues	Document date: 17th September 2020
Quality Assurance / Review: Group Director	Steven Mair	File name and path:
Director General Sponsor:	Caroline Landon	File name and path: