Treasury and Resources
Ministerial Decision Report
2011 Budget Transfers in relation to the conclusion of funding matters relating to the Historic Child Abuse Enquiry (HCAE)
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve budget transfers, as detailed below, in connection with the conclusion of funding matters relating to the HCAE.
- Background
In September 2008, the States approved P91/2008 which allocated up to £7.5 million for unbudgeted costs associated with HCAE. During 2008, actual expenditure totalled £6.11 million, leaving a roll forward available of £1.39 million.
Including this sum and States approval in July 2009 of P83/2009 (£4.25 million), the total approved expenditure for 2009 was £5.64 million, of which £4.12 million was spent leaving a roll forward available for 2010 of £1.52 million.
During 2010, funds totaling £1.05 million were reimbursed to Departments for actual costs incurred. In addition, on 24th January 2011, a Ministerial Decision (MD-TR-2011-0007) was signed, authorising the return of a portion of the remaining HCAE funds (£346,416) to the consolidated fund.
This left a sum of £123,400 available which was the amount forecast for expenditure in 2011 by the Home Affairs Department, representing costs which were originally expected in 2010, but which would be incurred in 2011 in order that the States of Jersey Police could pursue further lines of enquiry to identify any outstanding crimes linked to the HCAE.
The table below summarises expenditure incurred during 2010 and the return of funds in January 2011, and balance remaining for 2011:
| Roll Forward Available 2010 | Actual Expenditure 1/1/10 – 30/12/10 | Actual Balance Remaining at 31/12/10 | Sum Returned to consolidated fund in January 2011 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
Law Officers’ Department | (64,082) | 368,117 | (432,199) | - |
Home Affairs | 194,985 | 678,600 | (483,615) | - |
Health and Social Services | 791,560 | - | 791,560 | - |
Education Sport and Culture | - | - | - | - |
Property Holdings | 427,807 | - | 427,807 | - |
| 1,350,270 | 1,046,717 | 303,553 | - |
Contingency to allow flexibility | 166,263 | - | 166,263 | - |
Total | 1,516,533 | 1,046,717 | 469,816 | (346,416) |
Forecast balance of funds available for 2011: | 123,400 |
As at 1st June 2011 the T&R contingency head of expenditure pertaining to the HCAE contained a total balance of £150,037.84. The difference can be accounted for as follows:
| £ |
Forecast for 2011 | 123,400.00 |
Returned from H&SS* | 26,570.00 |
Balancing sum to correct figures previously rounded | 67.84 |
| 150,037.84 |
* Expenditure inadvertently classified as HCAE costs, subsequently returned to T&R
- Budget Transfers in Relation to the Conclusion of the HCAE
Education, Sport and Culture (ESC)
In March 2011, ESC advised the Treasury and Resources Department (T&R) that a sum of £2,159 was to be returned from the Jersey Heritage Trust (JHT), representing funds which were not required after all objectives of the Service Level Agreement agreed in 2008 for the HCAE had been met.
Home Affairs Department
All work in connection with the HCAE has now concluded and the Home Affairs Department request re-imbursement of £122,109.88, split between staff costs, forensics and other costs including travel accommodation and subsistence. Home Affairs have confirmed that this is the final request for the reimbursement of costs relating to the HCAE approved by the States in P83/2009.
In accordance with P83/2009, the Accounting Officer has confirmed to the Treasury and Resources Department that:-
- costs are essential to the Historic Child Abuse Enquiry;
- costs cannot be absorbed within existing cash limits;
- costs are additional to usual expenses;
- reimbursements of funds will only be used for the purposes intended;
- there are appropriate controls in place to ensure that funds are being spent appropriately and that value for money is being achieved; and that
- financial directions are being complied with in respect of this expenditure.
Return of remaining contingency to consolidated fund
Taking into account the above two budget transfers, a total sum of £30,086.96 will remain in the T&R contingency head of expenditure. This is to be returned to the consolidated fund, marking the conclusion to all expenditure for unbudgeted costs associated with HCAE from States approved funding.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve:
- a non-recurring budget transfer in 2011 of £2,159 from the ESC revenue head of expenditure to the T&R contingency head of expenditure;
- a non-recurring budget transfer in 2011 of £122,109.88 from the T&R contingency head of expenditure to the Home Affairs revenue head of expenditure; and
- the return of a sum of £30,086.96 from the T&R contingency head of expenditure to the consolidated fund.
- Reason for Decision
Article 15(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 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.
- Resource Implications
a) The ESC revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £2,159 and the T&R contingency head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount in 2011.
b) The T&R contingency head of expenditure to decrease by £122,109.88 and the Home Affairs revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount in 2011.
c) The T&R contingency head of expenditure to decrease by £30,086.96 and the balance of the consolidated fund to increase by an identical amount in 2011.
This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States.
Report author : Decision Support Officer | Document date : 28th June 2011 |
Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Decision Support | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DSs, WRs and SDs\2011-00xx - Conclusion of HCAE Funding - KH\WR - HCAE 2011 - KH.doc |
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