Budget Transfers: Various

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A decision made on 14 February 2020

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2020-0011
Decision Summary Title:	2019 End of Year Report		Date of Decision Summary:	14 February 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Group Director, Strategic Finance		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	2019 End of Year Report		Date of Written Report:	13 February 2020
Written Report Author:	Group Director, Strategic Finance		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: End of Year Report detailing various budget movements as part of the end of year process.
Decision(s): The Minister approved the following planned measures to address the financial position of departments and reserves for the final year of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2016-2019: a non-recurring transfer between various Revenue Heads of Expenditure as detailed in Appendix A of the written report; transfer the balances of various Revenue Heads of Expenditure up to £536,039 to the Reserve. In addition, the Minister approved: non-recurring transfer of the market surplus from the Growth, Housing and Economy head of expenditure of £9,774 to the public markets, capital heads of expenditure and to transfer the total balance of £710,892 to the public markets smoothing reserve in central reserves; a transfer of £397,220 from the Office of the Chief Executive head of expenditure to the Court and Case Costs smoothing reserve in central reserves; a non-recurring transfer of up to £1.2 million from various Capital Heads of Expenditure and to approve a non-recurring transfer of up to £1.3 million from the Central Planning Vote to reserves; non-recurring transfer of £500,450 from the “Refurb of Sandybrook” head of expenditure to the “Orchard House” head of expenditure. a non-recurring transfer of up to £26.5 million from the Reserve in 2019 to the Reserve in 2020.
Reason(s) for Decision: Spending pressures arising within the departments for 2019 were monitored during the year by the Minister, planning to use underspends within other departments rather than drawing on the Reserve. Now that the year-end position is confirmed the Minister is able to confirm and approve that intention and associating transfers of net departmental underspends and within total budget available for all departments without recourse to further contingency. Furthermore, in light of known and potential funding pressures for 2020 the Minister approves the transfer of net departmental underspend and unspent sums on the Reserve for 2020. Following further reviews of heads of expenditure the Minister approves certain other transfers as described in the accompanying report. Article 58 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the provisions of the previous Law, as they have effect immediately before the 2019 Law came into force, continue to apply to money received expended or otherwise handled by or on behalf of the States during the financial year in which this Law came into force Article 18(1)(c) 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 one head of expenditure to another head of expenditure for any purpose not mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b). 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, be transferred from the head of expenditure to contingency expenditure, within or after the end of the relevant financial year. Article 18(1B) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 states that the Minister shall, after consulting the Chief Minister and PAO, give the States Assembly at least 2 weeks’ notice before an amount is transferred under paragraph (1)(c) or (1A). Article 18(1C) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005 states that before giving notice under paragraph (1B), the Minister shall, in relation to any States funded body, consult the Minister responsible for that body. The Chief Minister, all affected Ministers and the Principal Accountable Officer (PAO) have been consulted.
Resource Implications: This decision will result in various transfers between revenue heads of expenditure and then revenue and capital heads of expenditure decreasing by up to £26.5 million in 2019 and Reserves increasing by the same amount in 2020.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Specialist - Business Cases that this decision is approved. In accordance with Article 18 (1B) the Greffier of the States is requested to arrange for the attached report to be presented to the States at least 2 weeks before the transfers are concluded. After the expiry of 2 weeks following presentation to the States the transfer may be concluded.
Signature:		Position: Deputy Susie Pinel Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: