Transfer of the Emergency Planning Function to the Home Affairs Department
Home Affairs Department Report for Minister |
Subject: | Transfer of Emergency Planning Function from Chief Minister’s Department to the Home Affairs Department |
Exempt Clause: | n/a | Date: | 27 January 2015 |
| |
Author: | Finance Director |
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to seek the Minister’s approval for the transfer of the Emergency Planning function from the Chief Minister’s Department to the Home Affairs Department.
Background
Following a discussion between the Chief Executive, Emergency Planning Officer and the Chief Fire Officer in 2014 it was agreed that it would be easier for the Chief Fire Officer to line manage the Emergency Planning role and budget, if it were transferred to within the Home Affairs Department.
In order to minimise the administrative requirements it was agreed that the budget and manpower allocated to the Emergency Planning function should be transferred from the Chief Minister’s Department with effect from 1 January 2015.
The 2015 budget allocated to the Emergency Planning function is £150,031 and 1.5 full time equivalent (fte) staff posts (2.0 headcount).
Accounting Requirements
The Emergency Planning Function will be allocated a new company number (04435) for reporting purposes and will require a separate Service Area (BUCC16) to be established for reporting in the Medium Term Financial Plan and Annual Financial Report and Accounts, Treasury officers have endorsed this course of action.
Section 2.4.18 of FD 3.1, Medium Term Financial Plan, states ‘that if the presentation of a Department’s Service Analysis for a given year varies from the presentation in the original MTFP Department Annex a Ministerial Decision agreed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources will be required.’
FD 12.6, Accounting in States of Jersey IT Systems, states that:
‘2.1.7 Departments must populate and maintain Category Codes in JDE for all Business Units and all Object Accounts in accordance with Table 1 and Table 2 respectively.
2.1.8 Approval from the Treasury is required when changing key Business Unit and Object Account Category Codes.’
Reason for Decision
Article 18(1)(c) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 states that all or any part of the amount appropriated by a head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure.
Section 5.2 of Financial Direction 3.6, Variations to Heads of Expenditure, states that approval of non-contentious transfers between heads of expenditure up to £1,000,000 is delegated to the Treasurer of the States.
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 and delegation 2.3 in which authority is delegated to the Treasurer of the States for agreeing non-contentious increases to States staffing levels.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Minister:
- accepts the transfer of the Emergency Planning Function from the Chief Minister’s Department;
- accepts a recurring budget transfer of £150,031 from the Chief Minister’s revenue head of expenditure with effect from 1 January 2015;
- seeks the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources to vary the presentation of the Department’s Service Analysis in the MTFP to reflect the transfer.