Children, Young People, Education and Skills delivery of a schools catchup programme in 2020: Allocation of Reserve Funding

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 on 22 October 2020

Decision reference: MD-TR-2020-0132
Decision Summary Title:	Allocation of Reserve Funding to CYPES for the delivery of a schools catchup programme in 2020		Date of Decision Summary:	21st October 2020
Decision Summary Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Allocation of Reserve Funding to CYPES for the delivery of a schools catchup programme in 2020		Date of Written Report:	21st October 2020
Written Report Author:	Specialist – Business Cases		Written Report: Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: The allocation of up to £445,333 in 2020 from the General Reserve to CYPES (Children, Young People, Education and Skills) for the delivery of a schools catchup programme (small group tutoring and teacher training) as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
Decision(s): The Minister approved a non-recurring allocation from the General Reserve in 2020 of up to £445,333 to CYPES for the delivery of a schools catchup programme as a result of the impact of COVID-19.
Reason(s) for Decision: Article 15(3) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 states that the approval by the States of a government plan authorises the Minister to direct how an approved appropriation for a reserve head of expenditure in the plan may be spent (including on another head of expenditure) in the first financial year covered by the plan. The current Policy for Allocations from the Reserve agreed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources (published as R.80/2020) sets the requirement that all proposed allocations from the General Reserve (Covid-19), once recommended for approval by the States Treasurer (taking into account comments from the Principal Accountable Office), are referred for review to either the Council of Ministers or the relevant Competent Authorities Ministers prior to submission to the Minister for approval. Under Treasurer’s Decision TR-2020-TD051, the Treasurer has agreed a permanent delegation of his function to the Group Director Strategic Finance to make recommendations for the approval of allocations from the Reserve to the Minister, where: The Treasurer considers that he has a conflict or interest; and / or Where the amount of the recommendation for approval is less than £500,000. The Investment Appraisal Team has recommended this request for approval and further to these reviews the Group Director Strategic Finance, having consulted with the Principal Accountable Officer and the Council of Ministers, recommends this allocation to the Minister.
Resource Implications: The CYPES head of expenditure to increase by up to £445,333 in 2020 and the General Reserve to decrease by the same amount. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan 2020-2023.
Action required: The Head of Financial Governance to advise the Specialist – Business Cases and the Head of Finance Business Partnering of CYPES that this decision is approved.
Signature:		Position: Deputy S J Pinel Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: