Request for funding transfer for Change to phase 3 of the Prison redevelopment plan.

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A decision made (10/08/2007) regarding: Request for funding transfer for change to phase 3 of the Prison redevelopment plan.

Subject:	Request for funding transfer for change to phase 3 of the Prison redevelopment plan.
Decision Reference:	MD-HA-2007-0055	Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?		Report File ref:		Capital/phase3variation/Aug 07
Written Report – Title:	Request for funding transfer for change to phase 3 of the Prison redevelopment plan.	Written report – Author:		Steven Guy-Gibbens Prison Governor
Decision(s): The Minister approved the request that phase 3 plans are changed to incorporate the larger accommodation block and that the shortfall in funding is found from a future capital allocation.
Reason(s) for decision: The change to the size of the proposed accommodation block will meet the needs of the prison, is more efficient to operate and will mean that almost all of the prisoner accommodation will meet international minimum standards.
Resource Implications:
Action required: Steven Guy-Gibbens, Prison Governor, to arrange for this decision to be communicated to the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 10 August 2007

Request for funding transfer for Change to phase 3 of the Prison redevelopment plan.

Ref: Capital/phase3variation/Aug 07

Senator Wendy Kinnard

Minister for Home Affairs

7 August 2007

REQUEST FOR FUNDING TRANSFER FOR CHANGE TO PHASE 3 OF THE PRISON REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

1. The Purpose of the Report

1.1 The report seeks the Minister’s approval to request a transfer of capital funding from future prison capital projects to fund the changes proposed for the accommodation block under phase 3 of the prison redevelopment plan.

2. The Issue

2.1 The accommodation block that is currently approved was reduced in size and capacity due to the perceived lack of budget at the time of issuing tenders. The view of the prison has always been that it did not make economic sense to build and operate a block of that size knowing that we would then need to build and operate another one to cope with the projected shortfall. This additional block would be very small making the staffing costs very high in comparison with a larger block. Budgetary pressures meant we had to agree to the smaller block or risk losing the project altogether. On completion of the larger block (now proposed) almost all of the prisoner accommodation will meet international minimum standards and be Human Rights compliant.

2.2 Once the tender document was received showing a significant ‘surplus’ to the allocated budget, the prison immediately proposed that we should reconsider our original plan to build a larger block.

2.3 The revised estimate shows a shortfall for this proposal of £580,000. This does take account of not reintroducing other items from the original proposals (demolition of A and C wing, creation of a new all weather pitch and provision of a new water main).

2.4 Property Holdings has a forward capital allocation of £2,479,000 in 2010 for the prison for new visits and new educational facilities and workshops. The details of these capital projects have not yet been decided and so Treasury and Resources have indicated that they would consider a request to transfer the necessary funding from this future capital allocation to cover the shortfall.

3. Recommendation

3.1 The proposal is that the phase 3 plans are changed to incorporate the larger accommodation block and that the shortfall in funding is found from a future capital allocation.

3.2 The Minister is asked to agree that this recommendation can be forwarded to the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

Steven Guy-Gibbens

Governor