Transfer of Parish Welfare and new Island-wide rate.

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A decision made (03/07/2006) regarding Transfer of Parish Welfare and new Island-wide rate.

Subject:	Transfer of Parish Welfare and new Island-wide rate
Decision Reference:	MD-TR-2006-0085	Exempt clause(s):		n/a
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a	Report File ref:		CH/01/03/07/06
Written Report – Title	Transfer of Parish Welfare and new Island-wide rate	Written report - author		Chris Haws – Head of Financial Planning
Decision(s): Under Article 14(6) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, the Treasury and Resources Minister to approve that the expenditure and income budgets of the Social Security department in 2006 be increased by £6,600,000 and £9,368,000 respectively.
Reason(s) for decision: To provide the Social Security department with the required funding for the transfer of parish welfare and to conducts its business for 2006 in accordance with States decisions.
Action required: To ensure that the transfer is carried out and appropriate officers informed.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 3rd July 2006

Transfer of Parish Welfare and new Island-wide rate.

TREASURY AND RESOURCES MINISTER

TRANSFER OF PARISH WELFARE AND INCOME FROM ISLAND-WIDE RATE

1. Purpose of Report

1.1. To consider the additional funding requirements for the Social Security department in 2006, resulting from the transfer of the responsibility for parish welfare and residential care from 1st May 2006.

2. Background

2.1. P40/2004, as amended, approved the transfer of the responsibility for parish welfare from the parishes to the States with effect from 1st May 2006. This will be predominantly funded by income from the new Island Wide Rate from 1st January 2006.

2.2. As the Island Rate Law had not been enacted at the time of the 2006 Budget then the budget for the rate income, and the corresponding parish welfare expenditure budget in the Social Security department now need to be approved for 2006.

2.3. Under Article 14(6) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, the Treasury and Resources Minister is able to approve the use of additional income and corresponding increases in expenditure within a department’s budget.

2.4. The Island Rate Law is to be levied based on the quantum of the 2005/06 parish welfare expenditure, and inflated annually by the Island RPI. This sum of £9,368,000 has been calculated and agreed by the Comité des Connétables and will be levied alongside the parish rates for 2006. These details were presented to the States in a Statement by the Connétable of St Ouen on 22 June 2006.

3. Comments

3.1. The States Annual Business Plan 2007 – 2011 will propose both the new funding stream from the Island-wide rate and the required increase in expenditure in the Social Security department from 2007 onwards. This approval is therefore only needed in 2006.

3.2. In 2006, only 8 months expenditure will fall to the States currently forecast as £7,200,000. The Social Security department have in their base budget for 2006 a provision of £600,000; a further £6,600,000 is required to be approved.

4. Recommendation

4.1. The Minister approve that the expenditure and income budgets of the Social Security department be increased by £6,600,000 and £9,368,000 respectively.

5. Reason for Decision

5.1. To provide the Social Security department with the required funding to conducts its business for 2006 in accordance with States decisions.

States Treasury Corporate Finance

5 July, 2006 for Decision Meeting 03/07/2006