Treasury and Exchequer
Ministerial Decision Report
Allocations from Contingency to Chief Operating Office – Cyber Security Programme – IAB-19-031
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister to approve the allocation of up to £490,000 in 2019 from Central Contingencies to Chief Operating Office for the Cyber Security Programme initiation phase.
- Background
An Investment Appraisal Board (IAB) has been established to review all funding requests and support the development of best practice in project development and evaluation, enabling better prioritisation and value for money across the Government. This is an important step in the development of a new investment framework across the Government underpinned by leading best practice.
All funding requests require a business case which has been designed using principles of HM Treasury’s Five Case Model to ensure that a proportional and risk-focused approach can be applied across the Government. A single business case template now replaces several funding application routes that previously existed across the Government, providing a simpler, more efficient and more transparent approach.
The IAB is not a decision-making body. It considers evidence to support a funding request and makes a recommendation for funding to the States Treasurer before the Minister for Treasury and Resources makes a funding decision and approval. Recommendations for funding are also circulated to the Principal Accountable Officer, One Gov Political Oversight Group (OneGovPOG) and the Council of Ministers in advance of approval by the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
Based upon the evaluation of a business case and responses to further questions, the IAB recommends funding of up to £490,000 in 2019 for the Cyber Security Programme initiation phase prior to funding being available through the Government Plan for the completion of the project. Funding will be made available from Unallocated Reserves (Contingency) from the Common Strategic Policy allocation as an Ongoing Initiative: A modern, innovative public sector that meets the needs of the islanders effectively and efficiently.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the allocation of up to £490,000 in 2019 from Central Contingencies as detailed above.
- Reasons for Decision
Article 58 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the provisions of the previous Law, as they have effect immediately before the 2019 Law came into force, continue to apply to money received, expended or otherwise handled by or on behalf of the States during the financial year in which this Law came into force.
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 or the insurance fund of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year.
The current Contingency Allocation Policy (published as R.38/2019) sets the requirement for all allocations from contingency to be considered by the Investment Appraisal Board, Principal Accountable Officer and States Treasurer prior to submission to the Minister for approval.
For requests over £100,000, the Minister of Treasury & Resources will provide the One Government Political Oversight Group (OneGovPOG) with a schedule of all funding decisions she is minded to make before making a final decision, seeking that Group’s comments.
If the Minister is minded to approve a funding allocation, the draft Ministerial Decision will be circulated to the Council of Ministers five working days before a Ministerial Decision is signed and published.
The Board and States Treasurer have recommended these requests for approval. The Principal Accountable Officer, OneGovPOG and the Council of Ministers have also been consulted.
5. Resource Implications
The revenue head of expenditure of the Chief Operating Office department as detailed above to increase by a total of up to £490,000 in 2019 and Central Contingencies to decrease by the same amount. Any unspent amounts from 2019 will not be available to be drawn down in 2020. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.
Report author : Specialist – Business Cases | Document date : 1st October 2019 |
Quality Assurance / Review: Director, Investment Appraisal & T&E Business Management | File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2019-0091 - Contingency funding to COO – Cyber Security IAB-19-031) |
MD sponsor : Treasurer of the States |