Jersey Heritage Trust: 2019 Grant

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A decision made 6 March 2019:

Decision Reference: MD-E-2019-0021
Decision Summary Title:	2019 JHT Grant Award		Date of Decision Summary:	14 January 2019
Decision Summary Author:	Strategic Policy Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	2019 Report – Grant Awards to Jersey Heritage Trust		Date of Written Report:	14 January 2019
Written Report Author:	Strategic Policy Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: 2019 grant awards to the Jersey Heritage Trust.
Decision(s): The Minister reaffirmed the Department’s ongoing commitment to the Jersey Heritage Trust and, subject to completion of the necessary departmental compliance review and the agreement and signature of the annual schedules to the Partnership Agreement, approved a revenue grant award of up to £2,457,000 and a site refreshment and refurbishment grant award of up to £386,000 to the trust for 2019.
Reason(s) for Decision: Having reviewed the Jersey Heritage Trust’s past performance and business plan, the awarding of the above grants is in line with the States of Jersey’s current cultural strategy and supports the States’ strategic goals and departmental objectives.
Resource Implications: The resource implication reflects the provision made within the current MTFP.
Action required: The Minister instructs the Strategic Policy Manager to arrange completion and approval of the 2019 annual schedules to the Partnership Agreement with the Jersey Heritage Trust, subject to the completion of the departmental compliance review to the Department’s satisfaction.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Jersey Heritage Trust: 2019 Grant

Report - 2019 Grant Awards to Jersey Heritage Trust

Context

Jersey Heritage Trust (JHT) was established by the States in 1980, specifically to deliver States heritage policy; and subsequent strategic objectives in heritage are predicated on the existence of an arms-length professional organisation charged with working with others in the heritage sector. JH’s constitution entails the representation on the Trust of the Société Jersiaise with which it has an agreement to manage the bulk of the Island’s historic collections and JH also has legal agreements involving the National Trust for Jersey and other partners. Consequently, there are a network of formal agreements and policy documents which consolidate the position of JHT as the body working for the States to discharge policy and strategic objectives in this area.

Under the terms of its Constitution, JHT’s purpose is “is to care for [Jersey’s heritage], promote wide access to it, act as advocates on its behalf, and bring imagination to telling its stories so as to inspire people to create a better Island for everyone”.

In order to accomplish this, JHT shall:

collect, document, and preserve unique collections of artefacts, works of art, archival material, specimens and information relating to the history, culture and environment of the Bailiwick of Jersey. These collections define the Island, hold the evidence for its historical development and act as the community’s memory;
make these collections widely accessible and promote learning through museums, galleries, the archives centre, exhibitions and events in a range of venues, publications and the internet;
acquire, maintain, open and develop significant historic sites, museums and galleries, including Mont Orgueil, Elizabeth Castle, Hamptonne, La Hougue Bie, the Jersey Museum, No. 9 Pier Road, the Jersey Archives Centre and the Sir Francis Cook Gallery;
provide comprehensive information, education and outreach services to a wide audience;
provide outstanding, memorable and inspirational experiences for the visiting public;
work with other organisations in and outside the Island, and in particular SJ, to deliver these aims; and
promote an inclusive sense of belonging and pride in the Island, advance the cause of its heritage and support its cultural identity.

In order to deliver the above, the States of Jersey have previously provided a revenue grant to JHT of up to £2,412,000 (with a specific amount - £100,000 to support the delivery of the Jersey Archive’s service level) and a site refreshment and refurbishment grant award of up to £386,000. An additional £25,000 (agreed in the States of Jersey Budget for 2018) towards the revenue costs for Jersey Archive’s capital extension programme plus an additional £20,000 awarded for the same in 2018, will be paid out in 2019.

The Department have now reviewed JHT’s performance for 2018 and 2019 business plan, as part of the Department’s compliance and governance framework. This includes ensuring alignment with the States of Jersey’s current cultural strategy and supports the States’ strategic goals and departmental objectives. The Department are satisfied with the information that has been provided and support the issuance of the grants.

The resource implication reflects the provision made within the current Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to agree to JHT’s grants as follows:

£2,457,000 as the revenue grant paid over four quarterly payments. and
£386,000 as the site refreshment and refurbishment grant paid over four quarterly payments.