Budget transfer from Restructuring Provision to Community and Constitutional Affairs: Implementation of Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology Streamlining

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A decision made 29 June 2017:

Decision Reference: MD-HA-2017-0051

Decision Summary Title:

Budget Transfer from the Restructuring Provision

Date of Decision Summary:

13 June 2017

Decision Summary Author:

Finance Director,

Community and Constitutional Affairs

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 Restructuring Provision – Implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining

Date of Written Report:

12 June 2017

Written Report Author:

Finance Director,

Community and Constitutional Affairs

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject:

Non recurring budget transfer of up to £175,800 in 2017 and up to £245,800 per year in 2018 and 2019 from the Restructuring Provision to the Community and Constitutional Affairs revenue head of expenditure to fund the implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining.

Decision(s):

The Minister requested the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources for a non-recurring budget transfer of up to £175,800 in 2017 and up to £245,800 per year in 2018 and 2019 from the Restructuring Provision to the Community and Constitutional Affairs revenue head of expenditure.

Reason(s) for Decision:

The Council of Ministers approved the Community and Constitutional Affairs application to Restructuring Provision on 26 April 2017.
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 of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year.

Resource Implications:

The CCA revenue head of expenditure to increase by up to £667,400 during 2017 to 2019, with the proposal to draw down up to £175,800 in 2017 and up to £245,800 in 2018 and 2019, nevertheless, the amount in each year may be varied without exceeding the total amount for the three years. The restructuring Provision revenue head of expenditure to decrease by an identical amount.

This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2017-2019 in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Action required:

The Finance Director, Community and Constitutional Affairs, to seek the necessary approvals.

Signature:

Position:

Minister for Home Affairs

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Budget transfer from Restructuring Provision to Community and Constitutional Affairs: Implementation of Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology Streamlining

Restructuring Provision Bid – Criminal Justice

Department for Community and Constitutional Affairs

Report for Minister for Home Affairs

Subject: Restructuring Provision Bids – implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining.

Date: 12 June 2017

Author: Finance Director, Community and Constitutional Affairs

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to request that the Minister seeks the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources for a non-recurring budget transfer of up to £175,800 in 2017 and up to £245,800 per year in 2018 and 2019 from the Restructuring Provision to the Community and Constitutional Affairs revenue head of expenditure to fund the implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining.

Background

At its meeting on 26 April 2017 the Council of Ministers approved the CCA submission for up to £737,400 from the Restructuring Provision for the years 2017 – 2019 for the implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining. The Law Officers Department has requested a carry forward of £70,000 from 2016 to assist with the funding of the project and therefore the funding requirement from the Restructuring Provision will be reduced to £667,400.

The proposal is to draw down up to £175,800 in 2017 and up to £245,800 in 2018 and 2019, nevertheless, the amount in each year may be varied without exceeding the total amount for the three years. The restructuring Provision revenue head of expenditure to decrease by an identical amount.

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 of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year.

Implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining

The laws upon which the Jersey Criminal Justice system is based are considered to be outdated and in need of revision and modernisation. The main area of modernization is the Loi (1864) Réglant la Procedure Criminelle. Written in French, this is still the principle source of authority for criminal procedure. A new law, written in English, is required to ensure that criminal procedure and evidence in Jersey support a justice system that is to be expected in modern society.

The Public Sector Reform programme is well placed to support change in the area of criminal justice. There is a need for cross-departmental LEAN thinking to develop efficiencies and streamlined ways of working.

Integrated functions and services will reduce transaction costs by changing to digital online processes and capitalising on existing IT platforms which can be extended across partnership arrangements. The implementation of business process re-engineering using LEAN methodology will support a culture of continuous improvement.

Recommendation

The Minister, with reference to the Council of Ministers’ approval of funding in support of the implementation of the Criminal Procedure (Jersey) Law 201- and Criminal Justice Information and Communication Technology streamlining, is recommended to request the Minister for Treasury and Resources to approve the required budget transfers.