Health & Social Services Department
Ministerial Decision Report
COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW - TRANSFER FROM THE TREASURY AND RESOURCES RESTRUCTURING PROVISION
- Purpose of Report
To enable the Minister for the Health & Social Services Department (HSSD) to approve the receipt of £486,000 from the Treasury and Resources restructuring provision, as requested.
- Background
At the present time, HSSD does not have the capacity, resource or skill sets to deliver its 2012/13 CSR proposals. In February 2011, HSSD submitted a request for funding from the Restructuring Fund to cover the costs of the additional resource required to support the delivery of the Department’s CSR commitments.
On 14 April 2011, the Department’s bid was agreed by the Council of Ministers. Subsequently, the Minister for Treasury and Resources authorised the transfer in MD-TR-2011-0039.
- Funding Requested
HSSD identified three options for implementing the additional staffing resource. The option of choice required funding of £486k in 2011. This was the mid range option in terms of cost and provided the most cost effective and realistic solution.
- Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to receive a budget transfer from the T&R restructuring provision to HSSD amounting to the sum of £486,000 as requested.
5. Reasons for Decision
The States recognised the need to invest funds to achieve significant savings as part of the Stateswide CSR. The Minister agreed to receive a transfer of £486,000 from the T&R restructuring provision as requested, to ensure that key elements of the CSR programme are provided that enable HSSD to deliver changes that will yield targeted savings.
The Minister has committed to achieve the HSSD CSR savings and, as requested in MD-TR-2011-0039, has confirmed this to the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
The allocation of the above sum from the T&R restructuring provision was agreed by the Council of Ministers on 14th April 2011, and under Section 15 (1) (a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources is required for variations to heads of expenditure.
- Resource Implications
The T&R restructuring provision to decrease by £486,000 and the HSSD revenue head of expenditure to increase by an identical amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2011.