Budget transfer from Central Contingencies to various departments: Mental Health and Capacity Laws: Implementation

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A decision made 6 October 2017:

Decision reference: MD-TR-2017-0124

Decision Summary Title:

Contingency Funding to non-Ministerial departments for implementation of the Mental Health and Capacity Laws

Date of Decision Summary:

5th 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:

Contingency Funding to non-Ministerial departments for implementation of the Mental Health and Capacity Laws

Date of Written Report:

5th October 2017

Written Report Author:

Head of Decision Support

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Exempt (Article 25)

Subject:

The allocation of up to £1,794,400 in total across the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 from Central Contingencies to the Law Officers’ Department, Judicial Greffe and Viscount’s Department revenue heads of expenditure to fund implementation of the Mental Health and Capacity Laws.

Decision(s):

The Treasury and Resources Minister approved the allocation of up to £1,794,400 in total across the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 from Central Contingencies to the Law Officers’ Department, Judicial Greffe and Viscount’s Department revenue heads of expenditure to fund implementation of the Mental Health and Capacity Laws.

The Minister also approved the following increases in staffing levels to the end of 2019:

Law Officers’ Department – 2 FTE (Full-time Equivalent staff)
Judicial Greffe – 4 FTE
Viscount’s Department – 2.5 FTE

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

The Contingency Allocation Policy published by the Minister for Treasury and Resources (R.10/2012) states that all requests for Allocation from Contingency will be considered by the Council of Ministers and this allocation was approved at their meeting on 4th October 2017.

Resource Implications:

The revenue heads of expenditure for the Law Officers’ Department, Judicial Greffe and Viscount’s Department will increase by the amounts in the table below and Central Contingencies will decrease by the same amounts. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016 to 2019.

Department	2017	2018	2019	Total
Law Officers’ Department	£48,200	£162,400	£162,400	£373,000
Judicial Greffe	£100,400	£532,400	532,400	£1,165,200
Viscount’s Department	£12,000	£134,600	£109,600	£256,200
Totals	£160,600	£829,400	£804,400	£1,794,400

Staffing levels will increase in the following departments to the end of 2019:

Law Officers’ Department – 2 FTE (Full-time Equivalent staff)
Judicial Greffe – 4 FTE
Viscount’s Department – 2.5 FTE

The £1,794,400 in total is proposed to be drawn down as £160,600 in 2017, £829,400 in 2018 and £804,400 in 2019 but the amounts per year may be varied without exceeding the total amounts for each department.

Growth funding and additional staff will be requested on a permanent basis in the MTFP 2020-2023.

Action required:

The Head of Decision Support to advise the Finance Director of the Corporate Group that this decision is approved.

Signature:

Position:

Senator A J H Maclean

Minister for Treasury and Resources

Date Signed:

Date of Decision: