Government's Parade office (FOI)

Request

A

Please confirm the total cost, from the start of the project in early 2020 to date, of turning rooms in the Government of Jersey's office on the Parade into a space for press conferences and live-streamed communications events. Please provide as much information as possible, taking into consideration the following questions; Is any of the lighting, screens, sound equipment, green screen and other electrical equipment now owned by the Government? If so, please provide a breakdown of costs.

B

Alternatively, is the Government renting any of the lighting, screens, sound equipment, green screen and other electrical equipment? If so, please provide a breakdown of costs, the name of the equipment's owner, and the terms of the rent agreement.

C

Were any Government of Jersey staff involved in setting up this equipment and transforming the space? If so, were they paid for this work under their usual wages, or overtime?

D

How much has been paid to third party contractors to set up this equipment and transform the space?

E

How much has been paid to third party contractors to hold, film and broadcast events in this space, following the initial set up?

F

What are the ongoing costs associated with this space (eg every time an event takes place the Government of Jersey pays third party contractors £x per event)

Response

A

Costs to convert the Parade Studio

Walls have been painted black and black out blinds installed at a cost of £480.

No new furniture has been procured and existing office furniture used. £175 was paid to move the furniture.

Equipment owned by Government of Jersey

From 2020 to 22 June 2021, the Government of Jersey internal video team have hired lighting, a green screen and Podcast equipment at a cost of £4,150. We have now purchased our own equipment at a cost of £2,056.

B

The live stream event equipment, staging and set is currently being rented. Information in regard to the supplier is exempt under Article 33 (commercial interests) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011. We have two rental costs currently based on the type of live streaming required:

Press Conference (eg Covid-19 Updates)

Live press conferences require less hired elements. Costs £785 includes set, equipment and lighting.

Larger live streaming events (eg Ask the Minister)

Additional equipment and set furniture is required. The cost to hire including the set, equipment and lighting is £1,950.

Costs are based on a minimum of eight large live streamed event in 2020 / 2021.

C

Yes, in conjunction with the supplier referred to in (B) above. All staff paid are their usual salary and no overtime paid.

D

None, all set up costs have been included in the event costs and no additional set up charges have been billed.

E

£119,912 has been paid to date (June 2021). This figure includes early 2020 Press Conferences which were streamed live from Broad Street offices and St Paul’s Centre.

F

Live Press Conference per event: £1,735

Larger live streaming events (eg Ask the Minister): £3,545

Smaller events not streamed live and recorded using Government of Jersey video team: £1,450.

Article applied

Article 33 (b) - Commercial Interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).

Public Interest Test

Whilst we accept that the public may have an interest in Government of Jersey contracts, we believe providing the details of the supplier in this instance is commercially sensitive and that the release of this data could affect the negotiation of future contract values.