Growth, Housing and Environment to Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance: Recurring transfer in line with the new Government structure

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 30 July 2020

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2020-0091
Decision Summary Title:	Transfer from Growth, Housing and Environment (GHE) to Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance (SPPP) in line with the new government structure		Date of Decision Summary:	28 July 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Financial Governance		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Transfer from Growth, Housing and Environment (GHE) to Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance (SPPP) in line with the new government structure		Date of Written Report:	28 July 2020
Written Report Author:	Head of Financial Governance		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Recurring transfer of £320,600 from the GHE Head of Expenditure to the SPPP Head of Expenditure to properly situate project resources in the right department.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the recurring transfer of £320,600 from the GHE Head of Expenditure to the SPPP Head of Expenditure to properly situate project resources in the right department and remove a layer of administration no longer required under the new government structure.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 18(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that a specified amount appropriated for one head of expenditure may, with the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, be used for the purposes of another head of expenditure that is set out in the government plan. Article 18(5) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that if a direction under this Article would affect a head of expenditure that relates to the responsibilities of any Minister, that Minister must be consulted before the direction is made. The Minister has been consulted and agrees the transfer. P.28/2020 Draft Public Finances (Amendment of Law) (Jersey) Regulations 202-, approved by the States Assembly on 24th March 2020, temporarily removed the requirement for the Minister to give the States at least 4 weeks’ notice of the day on which the Minister proposes to give a direction under Article 18.
Resource Implications: The GHE head of expenditure will decrease by £320,600 and the SPPP head of expenditure will increase by the same amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan for 2020-23.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to notify the Head of Finance Business Partnering for SPPP once the decision has been signed.
Signature:		Position: Deputy S J Pinel, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: