Housing (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2011

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While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.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 14 January 2011 regarding: Housing (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2011.

Decision Reference: MD-H-2011-0004
Decision Summary Title :	Increase in fees for consents issued or revised under the Housing (Jersey) Law 1949		Date of Decision Summary:	11 January 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Director, Population Office		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Oral		Person Giving Oral Report:	Director, Population Office
Written Report Title :	N/A		Date of Written Report:	N/A
Written Report Author:	N/A		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	N/A
Subject: Housing (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2011.
Decision(s): The Minister made the Housing (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2011 to bring about an increase in fees for applications for consents and variations of consents, in pursuance of Article 13 (2) of the Housing (Jersey) Law.
Reason(s) for Decision: The fee is designed to assist in the recovery of the costs associated with the administration of the Housing (Jersey) Law, 1949, including the issuing of consents thereon, and the Minister considers it appropriate that the fee for each consent issued be increased from £60.00 to £65.00. This will ensure modest levels of cost recovery, with 39% of costs to be recovered through fees in 2011. These fees remain small in relation to the overall size of a purchase transaction. The increase in fees also relates to the cost of revising a housing consent, for example, to revise the conditions as to which class of qualified person can occupy the property, or for a change in details, prior to contract, and this revised consent fee will also be increased by £5.00, from £25.00 to £30.00.
Resource Implications: There are no resource implications for this decision.
Action required: Notify the Greffier of the States and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made and forward the signed and sealed Order to the Publications Editor, States Greffe, for notification to the States.
Signature:		Position: Housing Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):