Treasury and Resources
Ministerial Decision Report
Budget transfer to Chief Minister’s Department for grant aid payment to Caring Hands Limited
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources (T&R) to approve a one-off non-recurring budget transfer of £40,000 in 2014 from Treasury and Resources (T&R) revenue head of expenditure to the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD) revenue head of expenditure to support the provision of a grant aid payment to Caring Hands Limited.
- Background
Caring Hands Limited is a charity that operates two refuges for men in Jersey who are homeless. In addition to providing accommodation, the Charity provides a range of support services with the aim of supporting residents back to independent living including, for example, helping residents access advice and services related to matters such as debt; addiction; domestic violence support; volunteering and job search. These activities are in accordance with the strategic aims and objectives of the States of Jersey. In addition, Caring Hands Limited works directly with a number of States services to provide support to services users as they transition into the community including mental health services and the prison service.
The two Caring Hands Limited refuges are located in St Aubin and St Peter. The Charity has previously benefitted from an extended rent free period for the St Peter’s property which has now come to an end. The Trustees of the Charity are of the opinion that this will create a £40,000 shortfall which they will be unable to raise from voluntary donations and which would therefore necessitate the closure of the St Peter refuge which is currently fully occupied.
The Assistant Chief Minister has therefore decided to provide an emergency, non-reoccurring £40,000 grant to enable the Charity to continue to run services from the St Peter’s refuge during 2014 whilst the charity finds a long-term sustainable funding solution.
The fact that was taken into consideration was that Caring Hands Limited, unlike most other organisations working with homeless people in Jersey, does not currently receive any grant aid payment for services or rent subsidisation from the States of Jersey.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve a one-off non-recurring budget transfer of £40,000 in 2014 from T&R revenue head of expenditure to CMD’s revenue head of expenditure to support the provision of a grant aid payment to Caring Hands Limited.
- Reasons for Decision
Article 18(1)(c) of the Public Finances (Jersey) 2005 states that all or any part of the amount appropriated by a head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure.
Caring Hands Limited is a charity that operates two refuges for men in Jersey who are homeless. In addition to providing accommodation, the Charity provides a range of support services with the aim of supporting residents back to independent living including, for example, helping residents access advice and services related to matters such as debt; addiction; domestic violence support; volunteering and job search. These activities are in accordance with the strategic aims and objectives of the States of Jersey. In addition, Caring Hands Limited works directly with a number of States services to provide support to services users as they transition into the community including mental health services and the prison service. The Assistant Chief Minister in CMD has decided to provide a one-off grant of £40,000 in 2014 to support Caring Hands’ activities.
- Resource Implications
The T&R revenue head of expenditure to decrease in 2014 by £40,000 and CMD’s revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States.
Report author : Treasurer of the States | Document date : 5 March 2014 |
Quality Assurance : Business Manager | File name and path : L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DSs, WRs and SDs\2014-0015 - Budget Transfer to CMD for Grant aid payment to Caring Hands Limited\WR - Budget Tfr to CMD for Grant aid payment to Caring Hands Ltd.doc |
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