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

Freedom of Information Board: Budget transfer from central reserve to establish board

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 30 May 2012:

Decision Reference:  MD-TR-2012-0047

Decision Summary Title:

Budget transfer from Central Reserve to CMD to establish Freedom of Information Programme Board

Date of Decision Summary:

8th May 2012

Decision Summary Author:

Head of Financial Management, Accounting and Reporting

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title:

Budget transfer from Central Reserve to CMD to establish Freedom of Information Programme Board

Date of Written Report:

8th May 2012

Written Report Author:

Finance Director – Corporate Group

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject:  Non-recurring budget transfer in 2012 from the Central Reserve to the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD) revenue head of expenditure to establish a programme board to develop implementation plans for the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

Decision(s):  The Minister approved a non-recurring budget transfer in 2012 of £500,000 from the Central Reserve to the CMD revenue head of expenditure to establish a programme board to develop implementation plans for the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, as approved by the Council of Ministers on 15th March 2012.

Reason(s) for Decision:  Article 2(6) of the Public Finances (Transitional Arrangements) (Jersey) Order 2011 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 used for the purposes of another head of expenditure. 

Resource Implications:  The Central Reserve to decrease by £500,000 in 2012 and the CMD 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 2012.

Action required:  Head of Decision Support to advise Finance Director – Corporate Group and Head of Financial Management, Accounting and Reporting that this decision has been approved.

Signature:

 

Position: Senator Philip Ozouf, Treasury and Resources Minister

 

 

Date Signed:

Date of Decision:

 

Hide report
Freedom of Information Board: Budget transfer from central reserve to establish board

 

Treasury and Resources Department

Ministerial Decision Report

 

 

Budget transfer from Central Reserve to Chief Minister’s Department to establish Freedom of Information Programme Board

 

 

  1. Purpose of Report

The purpose of this report is to support and effect the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers on 15th March 2012 that the Treasury and Resources Minister allocate £500,000 to the Chief Minister’s Department (CMD) revenue budget from the Central Reserve (Additional Central Contingency) for the purposes of establishing a programme board to develop implementation plans for Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

 

  1. Background

The States Assembly adopted the draft Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law on 4th May 2011 and the related Public Records (Jersey) Law in 2002, having been informed that both these laws would generate resource implications for the States.

 

The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 is planned to come into force in 2015 and States Departments must be able to comply with it by that date.

 

On 15th March 2012, the Council of Ministers considered a report entitled: ‘Freedom of Information Law and Records Management ‘ which offered a summary of the current status of records management across the States and requested that the Council consider establishing a programme board to initiate and oversee an implementation plan to enable the formal introduction of the Law.

 

The Council was informed that work to implement the Law had yet to commence in earnest at either a corporate or a departmental level.  However, the Education, Sport and Culture Department had been able to progress a pilot study to help gauge the implications and complexities arising from the adoption of the Law.  Its work had been informed by the report produced in 2011 by consultants socITM for the Council, and which had informed the comment presented to the States by the Council to support the debate on the draft Law.

 

In order to be ready by 2015, the Council of Ministers accepted that implementation requires the establishment, without further delay, of a suitably experienced programme board to drive the project forward and, in particular, to review and, where relevant, to pursue standardisation of and improvements to –

(a) the existing electronic records management systems in operation across the States, and

(b) filing systems and conventions in use within States departments.

The programme board will also review the socITM recommendations made in 2011 and develop an action plan with associated recommendations and funding proposals, for consideration by the Council as soon as possible.

 

In the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Ministers for 15th March 2012, it was recorded that the Council recommended:

(i) that the Chief Minister commission a programme board to lead, oversee and monitor implementation of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, and

(iii) that the Minister for Treasury and Resources allocate £500,000 from the Central Reserve for the purposes of establishing the programme board and enabling development of the necessary implementation plan to commence.

 

On page 114 of the Annex to the Annual Business Plan 2012, the Additional Central Contingency is identified as the source of funding from within the Central Reserve for ‘Freedom of information’.

 

  1. Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve a non-recurring budget transfer in 2012 of £500,000 from the Central Reserve (Additional Central Contingency) to the CMD revenue head of expenditure to provide funds for the establishment of a programme board to oversee the development of plans for the implementation of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 as approved by the Council of Ministers on 15th March 2012.

 

  1. Reason for Decision

Article 2(6) of the Public Finances (Transitional Arrangements) (Jersey) Order 2011 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 used for the purposes of another head of expenditure. 

 

 

  1. Resource Implications

The Central Reserve to decrease by £500,000 in 2012 and the CMD 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 2012.

 

Report author : Finance Director – Corporate Group

Document date : 8th May 2012

Quality Assurance / Review : Head of Financial Management, Accounting and Reporting

File name and path: l:\treasury\sections\corporate finance\ministerial decisions\dss, wrs and sds\2012-00xx - budget transfer from central reserve to cmd for freedom of information programme board - aeh\wr - budget transfer for freedom of information programme board - aeh.doc

MD Sponsor : Treasurer of the States

 

Our sites
Back to top
rating button