Strategic Housing Unit (P.33/2013): Transfer of 2 Posts and Associated Budget from Housing 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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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-2013-0113
Decision Summary Title:	Transfer of 2 FTE and associated Budget from Housing to CMD		Date of Decision Summary:	10th October 2013
Decision Summary Author:	Finance Manager 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 2 FTE and associated Budget from Housing to CMD		Date of Written Report:	3rd October 2013
Written Report Author:	Finance Manager Corporate Group		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The transfer of 2 FTE and associated Budget from Housing to the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD).
Decision(s): The Chief Minister approved the following net budget transfers from Housing to CMD: 2013 - £131,880, 2014 - £186,790 and 2015 - £186,790; In addition the Chief Minister approved the transfer of 2 FTE from Housing to CMD.
Reason(s) for Decision: P33/2013, approved by the States on 16th May 2013 approved the establishment of the Strategic Housing Unit within CMD. The budget transfers to the CMD support the establishment and operation of that function and the transfer of responsibility for the Affordable Housing Gateway. In addition in 2013 the State’s Employment Board implemented a pay award for civil servants. As Housing had received 3 staff from CMD, it is appropriate that the relevant budgets are accounted for within the administering department.
Resource Implications: The CMD revenue head of expenditure will increase by £131,880 in 2013 and £186,790 in both 2014 and 2015 with the Housing revenue head of expenditure to decrease by identical amounts. In addition the CMD’s FTE total will increase by 2 and Housing’s FTE to decrease by an identical number. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2013, 2014 and 2015. This service transfer will be reflected in base budgets in the next MTFP 2016 – 2019
Action required: Acting Finance Director, Corporate Group to inform T&R and Housing that this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Strategic Housing Unit (P.33/2013): Transfer of 2 Posts and Associated Budget from Housing to Chief Minister's Department

- 1 -

Chief Minister’s Department

Ministerial Decision Report

Transfer of 2 FTE and associated budget FROM HOUSING TO THE CMD

Purpose of Report

To approve the budget transfers between the Housing Department and the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD) in relation to:

The development of the Housing Strategy
Salary costs associated with the Housing Policy Officer
Salary costs associated the Affordable Housing Gateway Staff
Maintenance costs associated with the Affordable Housing Gateway Management System
Regulatory Law – Legal Fees
1% consolidated and 1% non-consolidated pay award for the Customer Services Team.

Description	2013	2014	2015

Housing Strategy	40,000
Policy Post from June, 2013	46,500	79,700	79,700
Gateway Staff from September, 2013	34,800	104,300	104,300
Gateway System Maintenance	-	5,000	5,000
Regulatory Law - Legal Fees	15,000

CSC Pay Award	(4,420)	(2,210)	(2,210)

Total	131,880	186,790	186,790

Background

The development of the Housing Strategy

The CMD will be commissioning consultancy for the development of the Housing Strategy. The sum of £40,000 was bid as part of the Housing Department’s carry forward of under spend from 2012 to pay for this service.

Budget to transfer (2013 only): £40,000

Salary costs associated with the Housing Policy Officer

Housing policy will be set by the Social Housing Unit and will be supported by an officer within CMD. The Housing Department has agreed to provide the budget only (without headcount) for this role for 7 months of 2013 and ongoing from 2014.

Budget to transfer (2013 only): £46,500

Budget to transfer (2014 and 2015): £79,700

Salary costs associated with the Affordable Housing Gateway staff

The Affordable Housing Gateway was set up using resources within the Housing Department. Following the approval, by the States of P33/2013, the responsibility of the Gateway moves to CMD, along with the team of officers. Thus the budget for the staff costs for the remainder of 2013 and the full annual budget for subsequent years should be transferred together with a headcount of 2.0.

Budget to transfer (2013 for 4 months only): £34,800

Budget to transfer (2014 and 2015): £104,300

Affordable Housing Gateway Management System

In 2013 the Housing Department will deliver and pay for a computerised management system, which will manage applications made under the Affordable Housing Gateway. Responsibility for this system will transfer to CMD and an ongoing budget transfer of £5,000 p.a. has been agreed to cover ongoing maintenance costs.

Budget to transfer (2014 and 2015): £5,000

Regulatory Law – Legal Fees

The Social Housing (Jersey) Law 201-, which will set out the regulations regarding social housing providers, has been developed by the Housing Department. Following acceptance of an amendment to P33/2013, further work and consultation is required with providers to ensure that the proposed law adequately addresses concerns raised.

This work will be taken on by the Strategic Housing Unit and a budget transfer of £15,000 will allow for legal advice to be taken.

Budget to transfer (2013 only): £15,000

1% consolidated and 1% non-consolidated pay award for the Customer Services Team.

In 2012 the States Employment Board instigated a pay award for civil servants for 2013 of 1% non-consolidated and 1% consolidated of basic pay. The increase relating to the staff in the Housing Department’s Customer Services Team was allocated to CMD as that Department has had responsibility for the staff costs until their transfer to Housing in July 2012. This budget needs to be transferred to the Housing Department to cover the payments made by Housing in relation to the pay awards.

Budget to transfer (2013 only): £4,420

Budget to transfer (2014 and 2015): £2,120

3. Recommendation

The Chief Minister approved the following net budget transfers from Housing to CMD:

2013 - £131,880, 2014 - £186,790 and 2015 - £186,790;
In addition the Chief Minister approved the transfer of 2 FTE from Housing to CMD.

4. Resource Implications

The CMD revenue head of expenditure will increase by £131,880 in 2013 and £186,790 in both 2014 and 2015 with the Housing revenue head of expenditure to decrease by identical amounts.

In addition the CMD’s FTE total will increase by 2 and Housing’s FTE to decrease by an identical number.

This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

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

Report author : Finance Manager, Corporate Group	Document date : 22nd October 2013
Quality Assurance / Review :	File name and path:
	File name and path: