Budget transfer from Community and Constitutional Affairs Department to Health and Social Services Department: Baby Steps Universal Antenatal Programme

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there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

[THIS DECISION RESCINDS MD-TR-2017-0051] A decision made 27 October 2017:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2017-0132
Decision Summary Title:	Reallocation of Contingency Funding from CCA to HSSD for the Baby Steps universal antenatal programme		Date of Decision Summary:	25th October 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:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Reallocation of Contingency Funding from CCA to HSSD for the Baby Steps universal antenatal programme		Date of Written Report:	25th October 2017
Written Report Author:	Head of Decision Support		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The rescindment of part of the Treasury and Resources Department decision, MD-TR-2017-0051 and the reallocation of Contingency Funding from the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department (“CCA”) to the Health and Social Services Department (“HSSD”) for the Baby Steps universal antenatal programme.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the rescindment of part of the Treasury and Resources Department decision, MD-TR-2017-0051 and the reallocation of Contingency Funding of up to £422,550 (up to £70,000 in 2017, up to £140,000 in 2018 and up to £212,500 in 2019) from the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department (“CCA”) to the Health and Social Services Department (“HSSD”) for the Baby Steps universal antenatal programme.
Reason(s) for Decision: 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. The current Contingency Allocation Policy (published as R.110/2017) sets the requirement for all allocations from Contingency over £100,000 to be considered by the Council of Ministers prior to submission to the Minister for approval. The MTFP2, as adopted by the States Assembly, included the allocation of £1.65million per year from Central Contingencies for initiatives that support vulnerable children (£4,950,000 in total over the period from 2017 to 2019). In addition on 9th November 2016, the Council of Ministers collectively agreed nine projects to be allocated a proportion of those contingencies monies (totalling up to £2,260,650 over the period from 2017 to 2019). The Council of Ministers also collectively agreed to delegate to the Chief Minister the decision to request the Treasury and Resources Minister to fund other initiatives that support vulnerable children from the remaining contingency allocation. The Chief Minister signed decision MD-C-2017-0038 on 31st March 2017 requesting the current allocation. A T&R decision, MD-TR-2017-0051, was signed by the Assistant Treasury and Resources Minister on 18th April 2017 and the CCA decision, MD-HA-2017-0029 was signed by the Minister for Home Affairs on 11th April 2017. It is necessary to rescind part of the T&R decision MD-TR-2017-0051, specifically item 2 of the decision requesting: 2) up to £70,000 in 2017, up to £140,000 in 2018 and up to £212,500 in 2019 from Central Contingency to the Community and Constitutional Affairs Department revenue head of expenditure to support delivery of the Baby Steps universal antenatal programme. It has been agreed by all parties in October 2017 that this funding be transferred to the HSSD rather than to CCA as previously agreed by Ministerial decision.
Resource Implications: Central Contingency to decrease by up to £422,550 (up to £70,000 in 2017, up to £140,000 in 2018 and up to £212,500 in 2019) and the HSSD revenue head of expenditure to increase by identical amounts. The £422,550 in total is proposed to be drawn down across the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The amount for each year may be varied without exceeding the total amount for the three years. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2017 and 2018 in the Medium Term Financial Plan.
Action required: Head of Decision Support to advise the Finance Director – CCA and the Assistant Director of Finance – HSSD once this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Senator A J H Maclean, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: