Budget transfer from Central Contingency: Redundancy Provision

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 21 December 2015:

Decision reference: MD-ESC-2016-0002
Decision Summary Title:	Allocation of Central Contingencies – Redundancy Provision to the Education, Sport and Culture Department to fund the Voluntary Release Scheme in 2015.		Date of Decision Summary:	21st December 2015
Decision Summary Author:	Finance Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Allocation of Central Contingencies – Redundancy Provision to the Education, Sport and Culture Department to fund the Voluntary Release Scheme in 2015.		Date of Written Report:	21st December 2015
Written Report Author:	Finance Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Central Contingency funding allocation to the Education, Sport and Culture Department to fund the Voluntary Release Scheme in 2015.
Decision(s): The Minister agreed the amount and requests that the Minister for Treasury and Resources approves a non-recurring budget transfer of £835,310 in 2015 from Central Contingency – Redundancy Provision to the Education, Sport and Culture Department revenue head of expenditure to fund the Voluntary Release Scheme.
Reason(s) 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 to heads of expenditure of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year. On 16th and 17th April 2015, the Council of Ministers agreed to the request to approve non-recurring funding in 2015 totalling £5,100,000 from the Central Contingency – Redundancy Provision to various departments for the funding of the Voluntary Release Scheme. This request is to fund the Voluntary Release Scheme in 2015 in line with the allocation of funding approved by the States Assembly in P.72/2015 Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 – 2019 (as amended).
Resource Implications: The Education, Sport and Culture Department revenue head of expenditure to increase by a total of £835,310 in 2015 and the Central Contingency – Redundancy Provision funding to decrease by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for the period of the current MTFP 2013 to 2015.
Action required: The Minister for the Education, Sport and Culture Department to seek approval from the Minister for Treasury and Resources in accordance with Financial Direction 4.3 – Contingency Allocations to heads of expenditure, for the above described budget transfer.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Rod Bryans Minister for Education, Sport and Culture
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: