Treasury and Resources
Ministerial Decision Report
TRANSFER from RESTRUCTURING provision TO THE treasury and resources DEPARTMENT for THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve a transfer from the Restructuring Provision to the Treasury and Resources Department in the sum of £130,000 in 2017 in order to fund and support the Financial Management Improvement Programme.
- Background
On 9th November 2016, the Council of Ministers discussed an undated report which outlined Business Cases submitted to the Corporate Change Portfolio Office for consideration of support for change initiatives requiring funding to support Reform activities.
The C&AG Indicative Audit Plan 2015/16-2017/18 also indicates that the C&AG intended to undertake further work on financial management in 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18.
One of the CAG recommendations is for organisation change in terms of functional management responsibility for finance staff. The FAB recognises that there is good practice in some aspects of financial management in some departments but also recognises that good practice needs be in place across all departments in a consistent and robust manner.
The approval of the recent MTFP has set very challenging savings targets for the 2016-2019 period, which will require significant support from the finance function. In such financially challenging times, the need for strong and effective financial management, not just from the finance professionals across the organisation but from all those involved in financial decision making, is essential.
- Recommendation
The Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve a budget transfer from the Restructuring Provision to the Treasury and Resources Department in the sum of £130,000 in 2017 in order to fund and support the Financial Management Improvement Programme
- 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.
The Council of Ministers noted that a bid for Financial Management Improvement sought 2017 Restructuring Provision funding for additional resource to support the first phase of the improvement to financial management practice.
- Resource Implications
This decision will result in the Treasury and Resources revenue head of expenditure increasing by £130,000 in 2017 and the Restructuring Provision, held within Central Contingencies, to decrease by an identical amount.
This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2017 in the Medium Term Financial Plan.
Report author : Finance Manager, Corporate Group | Document date : 28th February 2017 |
Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Decision Support | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2017 - 00xx - PSR Financial Management Improvement Programme |
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