Funding of Additional Students at Highlands College: Transfer of funds to Education Sport and Culture

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made on 3 December 2012:

Decision Reference:MD-S-2012-0103
Decision Summary Title:	Budget transfer from the Social Security Department to Education, Sport and Culture to fund Highlands students		Date of Decision Summary:	15 November 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Director of Finance & Governance		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Budget transfer from the Social Security Department to Education, Sport and Culture to fund Highlands students		Date of Written Report:	15 November 2012
Written Report Author:	Director of Finance & Governance		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: A 2012 non-recurring budget transfer of £456,516 from the Social Security Department to Education, Sport and Culture revenue head of expenditure to fund additional students at Highlands College from September to December 2012.
Decision(s): The Minister requested the transfer of £456,516 from the Social Security Department to Education, Sport and Culture to fund additional students at Highlands College from September to December 2012.
Reason(s) for Decision: ESC have received funding for 150 additional places at Highlands College from the Fiscal Stimulus programme but this ceases at the end of August 2012 leaving a shortfall of funding from September 2012 until December 2012 amounting to £280,000. In addition, an extra 95 students have enrolled at Highlands from September 2012 which will result in an additional cost of £176,516. The SSD carry forward in 2012 includes funds under the Back to Work initiative to meet the cost of operating Highlands between September and December 2012. Based on the current estimated pupil numbers at Highlands from September 2012 the shortfall is expected to total £456,516 which is the sum requested by ESC as a budget transfer from SSD. ESC have a growth bid in the Medium Term Financial Plan to cover these additional students from 2013.
Resource Implications: There is no overall increase to States spending as a direct result of this decision.
Action required: Copy of signed decision to be submitted to the Treasury Department.
Signature:		Position: Minister for Social Security
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Funding of Additional Students at Highlands College: Transfer of funds to Education Sport and Culture

Social Security Department Senior Management Report
Subject:	Budget transfer from the Social Security Department to Education, Sport and Culture to fund Highlands students
Exempt Clause:		Date:	15 November 2012

Author:	Director of Finance & Governance

Introduction

The Social Security Department (SSD) request the transfer of £456,516 to Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) to fund additional students at Highlands College from September 2012 until December 2012.

Background

ESC have received funding for 150 additional places at Highlands College from the Fiscal Stimulus programme but this ceases at the end of August 2012 leaving a shortfall of funding from September 2012 until December 2012 amounting to £280,000. In addition to this, ESC are expecting an extra 95 students from September 2012 which will result in additional cost of £176,516. ESC have a growth bid in the Medium Term Financial Plan to cover these additional students from 2013.

The SSD carry forward in 2012 includes funds under the Back to Work initiative to meet the cost of operating Highlands between September and December 2012.

Based on the current estimated pupil numbers at Highlands from September 2012 the shortfall is expected to total £456,516 which is the sum requested by ESC as a budget transfer from SSD.

This has been calculated at £1,863.33 per student (£5,590 divided by 3, one term): £456,516 and is the amount to be funded by a budget transfer from SSD to ESC.

Discussion

Finance Direction No.3.6 ‘Variations to Heads of Expenditure’ sets out the procedures for the transfers between revenue heads of expenditure and states that budget transfers in excess of £1,000,000 require the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources and the relevant Minister party to the transfer. Authority to approve non-contentious budget transfers under £1,000,000 has been delegated to the Treasurer of the States.

Recommendation

To request the transfer of £456,516 from SSD to ESC from the 2012 Back to Work carry forward monies to fund additional students at Highlands College for the period September 2012 to December 2012.

Reason for Decision

To provide a revenue budget to ESC fund the shortfall caused by the cessation of the Fiscal Stimulus Programme.

Resource Implications

The SSD revenue head of expenditure for 2012 to decrease by £456,516. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States as the ESC budget will increase by the corresponding amount.

Action Required

Copy of signed decision to be submitted to Treasury and Resources, who will then process the budget transfer.