Budget Transfer: Contingency funding for Children's Commissioner for Jersey

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A decision made on 6 July 2017:

Decision reference: MD-C-2017-0095
Decision Summary Title:	Contingency Funding - Children’s Commissioner for Jersey		Date of Decision Summary:	6 July 2017
Decision Summary Author:	Director Social Policy		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Contingency Funding - Children’s Commissioner for Jersey		Date of Written Report:	6 July 2017
Written Report Author:	Director Social Policy		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The allocation of up to £283,000 in 2017 and up to £590,000 in each of the years 2018 and 2019 from Central Contingencies to Community and Constitutional Affairs for the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner for Jersey. A temporary increase of 4.0 fte within Community and Constitutional Affairs, for the period to 31st December 2019 to be funded by the transfer request.
Decision(s): The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry have recommended the appointment of a Children’s Commission for Jersey. The Chief Minister, having consulted with the Council of Ministers, has decided to request that the Treasury and Resources Minister approves the allocation of up to £238,000 in 2017 and up to £590,000 in each of the years 2018 and 2019 from Central Contingencies to Community and Constitutional Affairs Department for the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner for Jersey. The Chief Minister has also requested an increase of 4.0 FTE within the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department, for the period to 31st December 2019.
Reason(s) for Decision: 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 Contingency Allocation Policy published by the Minister for Treasury and Resources (R.10/2012) states that all requests for Allocation from Contingency will be considered by the Council of Ministers. This allocation was approved at their meeting on 26th June 2017, on the understanding that IJCI may recommend such an appointment. To comply with P67/1999 which charges the Minister for Treasury and Resources to regulate the number of persons that may be employed by the States.
Resource Implications: The Community and Constitutional Affairs revenue head of expenditure to increase by up to £238,000 in 2017 and up to £590,000 in each of the years 2018 and 2019. Central Contingencies to decrease by the same amount in the corresponding years. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019. The £1,463,000 in total is proposed to be drawn down in 2017, 2018 and 2019 but the amount for each year may be varied without exceeding the total amount for the three years A temporary increase of 4.0 FTE within the Community and Constitutional Affairs, for the period to 31st December 2019 The Council of Ministers noted that the increase in funding and staffing levels would be subject to a growth bid for 2020 onwards in the next Medium Term Financial Plan.
Action required: The Director of Social Policy to advise the Finance Director of the Corporate Group of the Chief Minister’s decision
Signature:		Position: Senator Ian Gorst Chief Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: