Skip to main content Skip to accessibility
This website is not compatible with your web browser. You should install a newer browser. If you live in Jersey and need help upgrading call the States of Jersey web team on 440099.
Government of Jerseygov.je

Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

  • Choose the service you want to log in to:

  • gov.je

    Update your notification preferences

  • one.gov.je

    Access government services

  • CAESAR

    Clear goods through customs or claim relief

  • Talentlink

    View or update your States of Jersey job application

Tourism Development Fund: Rejection of Grant to National Trust for Jersey: Renovation of buildings in Pitt Street, St. Helier

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there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 14 August 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-E-2015-0069

Decision Summary Title :

Tourism Development Fund – rejection of a £300,000 grant to the National Trust for Jersey

Date of Decision Summary:

07 August 2015

Decision Summary Author:

 

Assistant Director

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

Tourism Development Fund – rejection of a £300,000 grant to the National Trust for Jersey

Date of Written Report:

07 August 2015

Written Report Author:

Assistant Director

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject:

Tourism Development Fund – rejection of a proposed grant in the sum of £300,000 to the National Trust for Jersey (NTJ) for the renovation of buildings in Pitt Street.

Decision(s):

The Minister rejected a recommendation from the Tourism Development Fund Advisory Panel that £100,000 be immediately granted to the National Trust for Jersey for the renovation of derelict buildings in Pitt Street, and that an additional  £200,000 be made available as funding allowed.

Reason(s) for Decision:

The Tourism Development Fund Advisory Panel is comprised of members drawn from the private sector who are charged with making recommendations with regard to awarding grants from the Fund. The original application by the NTJ was recommended by the Panel for approval based on the position that the funding would allow revitalisation of the Pitt Street area.

 

After due consideration, and having received advice from Officers, the Minister was concerned that in this case there was a significant risk that resources would be devoted to financing a project that could be satisfactorily completed without the expenditure of public money. It appeared to the Minister that the NTJ had sufficient access to alternative sources of funding to undertake the renovation of the properties.

Resource Implications:

No grant is to be made in this case.

Action required:

The Minister instructs the Strategic Development Officer to inform the NTJ and other relevant parties of his decision.

Signature: Senator L J Farnham

 

Position:

Minister for Economic Development

 

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

 

Hide report
Tourism Development Fund: Rejection of Grant to National Trust for Jersey: Renovation of buildings in Pitt Street, St. Helier

National Trust for Jersey – Foot Buildings

Report

Background

The National Trust for Jersey (NTJ) submitted an application to the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) during its Spring round in March 2015.

The TDF Advisory Panel which is made up of members from the private sector, considered the application during their meeting on the 24th April and again on the 1st May, following representation from the NTJ who were invited to the meeting by the Chairman of the TDF in order to explain the project in more detail and field questions from the Panel.

Following the withdrawal of the NTJ from the meeting the Panel decided to recommend that the project be supported by the TDF:

“The Panel discussed the application wherein it noted that the NTJ had presented a strong commercial case for the proposal which, when work had been completed, would revitalise the Pitt Street area of St. Helier.  However, given the Trust’s request for £300,000, members noted that the matter would require Ministerial approval if the Panel agreed to accede to the application in full.

Although members had been minded to approve the application, due to current financial constraints the Panel decided that £100,000 should be granted in the first instance to the Trust.  In the meantime the Panel agreed that the matter could remain pending with a view to it being referred to the Minister for Economic Development later in the year, dependent upon sufficient monies being available.”[1]

 

The recommendation of the Panel was reviewed by Officers prior to being presented to the Minister for approval.

Review

Officers from the Department reviewed the application from the NTJ for the Foot Buildings project and concerns were raised about the need for TDF funding for this project.  It appeared that that the NTJ would be able to raise the balance of funding for the project without the aid of the TDF, and that it would almost certainly be able to complete the renovation of the Foot Buildings through leveraging existing fund raising options.

It was also suggested that once the renovation of the self-catering units is complete the NTJ will be able to derive significant rental income from the project which ought to be able to be utilised to help pay back any loans that might need to be secured against the buildings in order to complete the development.

Officers also noted that in the NTJ’s letter in which it offered to buy the properties for £1 from the Channel Islands Co-operative Society of 7th May 2014, there was no reference made to any potential need for TDF support.

 

 

 

Recommendation

Whilst Officers see merit in the development of the Foot Buildings and the regeneration of this part of St. Helier, they do not believe it would be in the best interests of the TDF or the Island’s tourism industry as a whole to provide support as originally recommended by the Advisory Panel.

Officers recommended that the Minister should not accept the TDF Advisory Panel’s recommendation of a grant to the NTJ Foot Buildings project for £100,000.

 

 

[1] http://jersey.com/business/TDF%20Minutes/TDF-Meeting-Minutes-1-May-2015.pdf

 

Our sites
Back to top
rating button