Fisheries Support Scheme: Extension of use of Reserve Funding

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A decision made on 19 November 2021

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2021-0127
Decision Summary Title:	Extension of use of Reserve funding for Fisheries Support Scheme		Date of Decision Summary:	17th November 2021
Decision Summary Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Extension of use of Reserve funding for Fisheries Support Scheme		Date of Written Report:	17th November 2021
Written Report Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Written Report: Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Approval of extension to the use of Reserve funding for the Fisheries Support Scheme to the end of 2021.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the extension to the use of Reserve funding for the Fisheries Support Scheme to the end of 2021.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a Government Plan authorises the Minister to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the plan. The current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve, presented to the States Assembly as R.60/2021, sets the requirement that all allocations from the General Reserve are recommended for approval by the Treasurer of the States, taking into account any comments from the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO), prior to submission to the Minister for approval. The Policy also states that, if minded to approve a funding allocation, the Minister will circulate the draft Ministerial Decision to the Council of Ministers for information 5 working days before it is signed. The original business case allowed for the scheme to run until the end of August and costs incurred to date are £110,000, therefore there is sufficient funding to cover the costs of the extension of the scheme. A business case for the extension has been received and evaluated. The Treasurer recommends this extension to the Minister for approval within the original funding allocation.
Resource Implications: The extension of the Scheme is forecast to be met within the initial allocation of £560,000 made in MD-TR-2021-0075 so there are no additional resource implications arising from this decision. The cost of extending the Scheme from September to the end of December is estimated at £400,000.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Specialist – Business Cases and the Head of Finance Business Partnering for FSDE&E that this decision is approved.
Signature:		Position: Deputy S J Pinel, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Fisheries Support Scheme: Extension of use of Reserve Funding

Treasury and Exchequer

Ministerial Decision Report

Extension of use of Reserve funding for Fisheries Support Scheme

Purpose of Report

To enable the Minister to consider the recommendation to approve the extension to the use of Reserve funding for the Fisheries Support Scheme to the end of 2021 to assist with the effects of Brexit on the fishing sector.

Background

On 16 June, the Minister approved MD-TR-2021-0075, which allocated Reserve Funding to Financial Services, Digital Economy and Economy (FSDEE) for the Fisheries Support Scheme.

The original business case sought, and was awarded, funding of £560,000 for May to August. A new business case has been received requesting funding of £400,000 to fund the scheme from September to December 2021. Actual costs to date are £110,000, therefore there is sufficient funding to cover the costs of the extension of the scheme.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the extension to the use of Reserve funding for the Fisheries Support Scheme to the end of 2021.

Reason for Decision

Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a Government Plan authorises the Minister to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the plan.

The current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve, presented to the States Assembly as R.60/2021, sets the requirement that all allocations from the General Reserve are recommended for approval by the Treasurer of the States, taking into account any comments from the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO), prior to submission to the Minister for approval. The Policy also states that, if minded to approve a funding allocation, the Minister will circulate the draft Ministerial Decision to the Council of Ministers for information 5 working days before it is signed.

The original business case allowed for the scheme to run until the end of August and costs incurred to date are £110,000, therefore there is sufficient funding to cover the costs of the extension of the scheme. A business case for the extension has been received and evaluated.

The Treasurer recommends this extension to the Minister for approval within the original funding allocation.

Resource Implications

The extension of the scheme is forecast to be met within the initial allocation of £560,000 made in MD-TR-2021-0075 so there are no additional resource implications arising from this decision. The cost of extending the Scheme from September to the end of December is estimated at £400,000.

Report author: Specialist – Business Cases	Document date: 17th November 2021
Quality Assurance / Review: Group Director, Strategic Finance and the Head of Financial Governance	File name and path: Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2021-0xxx – Extension to the Fisheries Support Scheme
MD sponsor: Treasurer of the States