Budget transfer from Department for Infrastructure to Central Central Contingencies and Treasury and Resources: States Properties

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A decision made 24 November 2017:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2017-0143
Decision Summary Title:	Non-recurring transfer in 2017 from the Department for Infrastructure to Central Contingency for funding to the Parishes by way of ex-gratia payments		Date of Decision Summary:	20th November 2017
Decision Summary Author:	Head of Decision Support		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title:	Head of Decision Support		Date of Written Report:	20th November 2017
Written Report Author:	Transfer from the Department for Infrastructure to Central Contingency for funding to the Parishes by way of ex-gratia payments		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Request for a non-recurring transfer of £900,000 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) revenue head of expenditure to Central Contingency and the subsequent transfer of £899,960.48 from Central Contingency to the Treasury and Resources (T&R) revenue head of expenditure for funding to the Parishes by the way of ex-gratia payments.
Decision(s): In accordance with the States decision in respect of P.81/2017 the Minister approved a non-recurring transfer of £900,000 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) revenue head of expenditure to Central Contingency and the subsequent transfer of £899,960.48 from Central Contingency to the Treasury and Resources (T&R) revenue head of expenditure for funding to the Parishes by the way of ex-gratia payments.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 18(1A) 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 transferred from the head of expenditure to contingency expenditure, within or after the end of the relevant financial year. 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 of amounts not exceeding, in total, the amount available for contingency expenditure in a financial year. P.81/2017, States of Jersey Budget 2017: allocation to the Parishes of funds set aside for the payment of rates on States’ properties, was debated by the States Assembly on 31st October 2017 and adopted.
Resource Implications: DfI revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £900,000 and Central Contingency to increase by an identical amount. Central Contingency to decrease by £899,960.48 and the T&R revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount.
Action required: Head of Decision Support to advise the Head of Financial Planning and Performance once this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Senator A J H Maclean, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision:

Budget transfer from Department for Infrastructure to Central Central Contingencies and Treasury and Resources: States Properties - Parish Rates

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Treasury and Resources

Ministerial Decision Report

Transfer from the Department for Infrastructure to Central Contingency for funding to the Parishes by way of ex-gratia payments

Purpose of Report

To approve a non-recurring transfer of £900,000 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) revenue head of expenditure to Central Contingency and the subsequent transfer of £899,960.48 from Central Contingency to the Treasury and Resources (T&R) revenue head of expenditure for funding to the Parishes by the way of ex-gratia payments as set out in the table below.

Background

The States of Jersey has agreed the principle of the payment of Parish rates on public buildings.

Articles 16 and 17 of P.113/2016 Draft Finance (2017 Budget) (Jersey) Law 201- were debated by the States Assembly on 14th December 2016. Article 16 of the Law, providing the mechanism for a revaluation of rateable values and, therefore, the prospect of a financially sustainable approach to the States paying rates, was approved by 22 votes to 17. Article 17 however, which would have removed the States exemption from paying Parish rates on its property and thereby allowed for the States’ payment of rates to proceed in 2017 was defeated in the States by 20 votes to 17.

P.81/2017, States of Jersey Budget 2017: allocation to the Parishes of funds set aside for the payment of rates on States’ properties, was lodged on 18th September 2017 by the Connétable of St. Helier and debated by the States Assembly on 31st October 2017 and adopted 38 votes to 4.

P.81/2017 provided for the following ex-gratia payments to Parishes:

Parish	£
Grouville:	3,386.78
St. Brelade:	41,897.48
St. Clement:	25,628.54
St. Helier:	642,130.47
St. John:	3,339.46
St. Lawrence:	4,212.38
St. Martin:	6,526.17
St. Mary:	2,756.95
St. Ouen:	5,027.93
St. Peter:	8,926.62
St. Saviour:	148,390.24
Trinity:	7,737.46
Total:	899,960.48

Once the funds have been transferred to the Parishes it will be left to the individual Parishes to decide whether to spend the sums on infrastructure projects or not; and, if they do wish to spend the money on projects, whether they ask DFI to implement them or not. Constables may wish to seek the views of their Parish Assemblies in this regard.

3. Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve a non-recurring budget transfer of £900,000 from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) revenue head of expenditure to Central Contingency and the subsequent transfer of £899,960.48 from Central Contingency to the Treasury and Resources (T&R) revenue head of expenditure for funding to the Parishes by way of ex-gratia payments.

P.81/2017, States of Jersey Budget 2017: allocation to the Parishes of funds set aside for the payment of rates on States’ properties, was debated by the States Assembly on 31st October 2017 and adopted 38 votes to 4.

4. Reason for Decision

Article 18(1A) 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 transferred from the head of expenditure to contingency expenditure, within or after the end of the relevant financial year.

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

5. Resource Implications

DfI revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £900,000 and Central Contingency to increase by an identical amount.

Central Contingency to decrease by £899,960.48 and the T&R revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount.

Report author : Head of Decision Support	Document date 20th October 2017
Quality Assurance / Review : Director of Financial Planning and Performance	File name and path: L:\Treasury\Sections\Corporate Finance\Ministerial Decisions\DS, WR and SD\2017-0143 - Parish rates funding - transfer from DfI and payment to Parishes
MD sponsor : Director of Financial Planning and Performance