Comprehensive Spending Review: Allocation of Restructuring Provision

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there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

[THIS DECISION HAS BEEN AMENDED BY MD-TR-2011-0118] A decision made on 11 April 2011:

Decision Reference: MD-TR-2011-0039
Decision Summary Title:	Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) – Allocation of Restructuring Provision and Budget Transfers to Departments		Date of Decision Summary:	14 April 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Comprehensive Spending Review Programme Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) – Allocation of Restructuring Provision and Budget Transfers to Departments		Date of Written Report:	14 April 2011
Written Report Author:	Comprehensive Spending Review Programme Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Exempt 3.2.1 (a) (i)
Subject: Approval of requests for Restructuring Provision funds in support of the Comprehensive Spending Review and transfer of budget to Health and Social Services, Education, Sport and Culture, Transport and Technical Services, Environment and Chief Minister’s Departments.
Decision(s): The Minister approved: (a) requests totalling £3,133,700 in 2011 and an ongoing commitment of £1,495,000 and £621,000 in 2012 and 2013 respectively in support of the CSR process to be funded from the Restructuring Provision subject to each Minister committing to achieve their CSR savings; (b) budget transfers from the Restructuring Provision to Health and Social Services (£486,000), Education, Sport and Culture (£1,326,000), Transport and Technical Services (£135,000), Environment (£85,000) and Chief Minister’s (£79,000) Departments in the total sum of £2,111,000 under Article 15(1)(a) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005; and (c) the redistribution of £1,022,770 within the Treasury and Resources Department revenue head of expenditure from the Restructuring Provision.
Reason(s) for Decision: The States recognised the need to invest funds to achieve savings as significant as £65 million over 3 years when it approved a Restructuring Provision of £6 million in 2011 (in the 2011 Business Plan) and earmarked £10 million in each of the following two years in the 2011 Budget. This current request for £5,249,700 over the next 3 years, which is supported by the Council of Ministers, will ensure CSR projects are progressed and achieved. Article 15(1)(a) 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 used for the purposes of another head of expenditure.
Resource Implications: The T&R revenue head of expenditure to decrease by £2,111,000 and the following revenue heads of expenditure to increase by the amounts indicated: Health and Social Services – £486,000 Education, Sport and Culture – £1,326,000 Transport and Technical Services - £135,000 Environment – £85,000 Chief Minister - £79,000 Within the T&R revenue head of expenditure, £1,022,700 to be reallocated from the Restructuring Provision to other revenue Business Units. This decision does not change the total amount of expenditure approved by the States for 2011.
Action required: Ministerial Decision to be approved by the Ministers for Health and Social Services, Education, Sport and Culture, Transport and Technical Services, Environment and the Chief Minister to accept the budget transfers. Head of Decision Support to notify the Comprehensive Spending Review Programme Director and Head of Financial Performance Reporting that this decision has been approved.
Signature:		Position: Senator P F C Ozouf, Minister for Treasury and Resources
Date Signed:		Date of Decision: