Budget transfer from Central Contingency to States Assembly: Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel: Return to Jersey

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A decision made on 19 September 2019

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2019-0085
Decision Summary Title:	Contingency funding to States Assembly for Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel return to Jersey		Date of Decision Summary:	18th September 2019
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Finance Business Partnering – Non-Ministerial Departments		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Contingency funding to States Assembly for Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel return to Jersey		Date of Written Report:	18th September 2019
Written Report Author:	Head of Finance Business Partnering – Non-Ministerial Departments		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Non-recurring transfer from Contingency to the States Assembly revenue head of expenditure
Decision(s): The Minister approved a non-recurring transfer of £211,000 in 2019 from Contingency to the States Assembly revenue head of expenditure.
Reason(s) for Decision: The funding for the Panel’s return is to be drawn from remaining sums earmarked within Contingency for the original Inquiry. This funding was allocated by the States Assembly from the Strategic Reserve (in R.76/2015) and is only available for purposes relating to the Inquiry, with any balance to be returned to the Strategic Reserve. Article 58 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the provisions of the previous Law, as they have effect immediately before the 2019 Law came into force, continue to apply to money received, expended or otherwise handled by or on behalf of the States during the financial year in which this Law came into force. 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.
Resource Implications: The States Assembly revenue head of expenditure to increase by £211,000 in 2019 and Contingency to decrease by the same amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Head of Finance Business Partnering that this decision is approved.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Susie Pinel Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Budget Transfer from Central Contingency to States Assembly: Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel: return to Jersey

Treasury and Exchequer

Ministerial Decision Report

Contingency funding to States Assembly for Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel return to Jersey

Purpose of Report

To enable the Minister to approve the allocation of non-recurring transfer of £211,000 in 2019, from Contingency to the States Assembly revenue head of expenditure.

Background

The Children’s Commissioner formally invited the members of the former Independent Jersey Care Inquiry panel to return to Jersey, two years on from their report, to assess progress made against their recommendations. The work is being carried out under contract between the panel members and the Greffier of the States, representing the States of Jersey. The contract provides for a maximum payment of £177,500 to the panel and up to £33,500 in expenses for travel and accommodation. Costs fall to the States Assembly budget, in line with the previous arrangements for the Care Inquiry.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the allocation of non-recurring transfer of £211,000 in 2019, from Contingency to the States Assembly revenue head of expenditure.

Reasons for Decision

The funding for the Panel’s return is to be drawn from remaining sums earmarked within Contingency for the original Inquiry. This funding was allocated by the States Assembly from the Strategic Reserve (in R.76/2015) and is only available for purposes relating to the Inquiry, with any balance to be returned to the Strategic Reserve.

Article 58 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the provisions of the previous Law, as they have effect immediately before the 2019 Law came into force, continue to apply to money received, expended or otherwise handled by or on behalf of the States during the financial year in which this Law came into force.

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.

5. Resource Implications

The States Assembly revenue head of expenditure to increase by £211,000 in 2019 and Contingency to decrease by the same amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.

Report author : Finance Business Partner Non-mins	Document date : 18th September 2019
Quality Assurance / Review: Head of Financial Governance	File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2019-0085 - Contingency funding to States Assembly for IJCI panel
MD sponsor : Treasurer of the States