Budget Transfer: Geospatial Information Systems Service (GIS) from Department of Environment to Chief Minister's Department

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 8 November 2013:

Decision Reference: MD-C-2013-0128
Decision Summary Title:	Transfer of Service and budget between the Department of the Environment and Chief Minister’s Department		Date of Decision Summary:	8th November 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Acting Finance Director - Corporate Group		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Transfer of Service and budget between the Department of the Environment and Chief Minister’s Department		Date of Written Report:	31st October 2013
Written Report Author:	Acting Finance Director - Corporate Group		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Transfer of Service and budget between the Department of the Environment and Chief Minister’s Department.
Decision(s): The Chief Minister approved a recurring budget transfer to the Department of the Environment of £16,500 in respect of the years, 2014 and 2015, and agreed the transfer of the Geospatial Information Systems Service from the Department of the Environment to the Chief Minister’s Department.
Reason(s) for Decision: With the use of shared information Jersey’s citizens and businesses will have a more holistic relationship with the States of Jersey and have access to services that recognise their local environment. It will be the norm to have location specific information built into public service applications.
Resource Implications: The Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £16,500 in 2014 and 2015 and the Department of the Environment’s revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount. This change occurs as the total income derived from the service will come to the Chief Minister’s Department and only that proportion already allocated to Department of Environment will be transferred back. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the Medium Term Financial Plan. This service transfer will be reflected in base budgets in the next MTFP 2016-2019.
Action required: Research and Project Officer to notify the Acting Finance Director - Corporate Group that this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Budget Transfer: Geospatial Information Systems Service (GIS) from Department of Environment to Chief Minister's Department

- 1 -

Chief Minister’s Department

Ministerial Decision Report

transfer of service and budget between THE department of environment and chief minister’s department

Purpose of Report

To enable the Chief Minister to approve a service transfer of the Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) from the Department of Environment to the Chief Minister’s Department and a net revenue recurring budget of £16,500 transfer from the Chief Minister’s Department to the Department of Environment as detailed in the table below.

Background

The use of geospatial information (GI) is increasing rapidly. There is a growing recognition amongst both governments and the private sector that an understanding of location and place is a vital component of effective decision-making. Citizens with no recognised expertise in geospatial information (many of whom will be unfamiliar with the term) are also increasingly using and interacting with geospatial information (e.g. Google Maps, GPS enabled Smart phones); indeed in some cases they are contributing to the collection of GI.

The States GIS Service is a pre-requisite to improving States services provided to the citizens of Jersey. There is an investment cost to the organisation, both setting up the service, and on-going developments of the infrastructure and new applications. Since geospatial information is becoming embedded in any government information, the costs of running the GIS service should be seen as a necessary overhead, upon which further, more value-added services can be built.

The service is currently managed as a departmental service in Department of the Environment and results in a net income position to the Department of £16,500 (average over three years). The GIS Service will become a corporate service when it is transferred to the Chief Minister’s Department, and in order that the Department of Environment is not negatively affected, a recurring budget transfer of £16,500 will be made from Chief Minister’s Department (Information Services) to Department of the Environment from 2014.

The States of Jersey will have services taking advantage of GIS delivering improved services to its citizens and businesses. Digital maps incorporated with an address database will be readily available and integrated with public authority systems.

There will be a single, centralised GIS repository holding island mapping, location and address information shared across all States departments. This information will be collected from reliable sources then verified and maintained by a dedicated team to keep it accurate, up to date and available to users supporting the efficient delivery of public services.

Recommendation

The Chief Minister is recommended to approve a recurring budget transfer to the Department of the Environment of £16,500 in respect of the years, 2014 and 2015, and agree the transfer of the GIS Service from the Department of the Environment to the Chief Minister’s Department.

Reason for Decision

With the use of shared information Jersey’s citizens and businesses will have a more holistic relationship with the States of Jersey and have access to services that recognise their local environment. It will be the norm to have location specific information built into public service applications.

6. Resource Implications

The Chief Minister’s Department revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £16,500 in 2014 and 2015 and the Department of the Environment’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 for 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

This service transfer will be reflected in base budgets in the next MTFP 2016-2019.

Report author : Acting Finance Director	Document date :
Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Decision Support	File name and path:
	File name and path: