Proposed Budget (Government Plan) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024): seventeenth amendment. Le Squez

STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED BUDGET (GOVERNMENT PLAN) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT

LE SQUEZ

Lodged au Greffe on 11th November 2024 by Deputy K.M. Wilson of St. Clement Earliest date for debate: 26th November 2024

STATES GREFFE

2024  P.51 Amd.(17)

PROPOSED BUDGET (GOVERNMENT PLAN) 2025-2028 (P.51/2024): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT

____________

1 PAGE 4, PARAGRAPH (g) –

After the words "set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" insert the words –

", except that, in Summary Table 5 (ii) –

1. the Head of Expenditure entitled "Le Squez" should be increased by £2,500,000; and
2. the Head of Expenditure entitled  "Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm" should be decreased by £2,500,000".

2  PAGE 4, PARAGRAPH (o) –

After the words "as set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report" insert the words –

", except that –

1. on Page 55, within Table 23, the line entitled "Le Squez" should be replaced as follows –

"; and

2. on Page 55, for the words "has been reprofiled to allow a new youth facility in St. Helier to be brought forward in the earlier years of the Budget." there should be substituted the words, "will be prioritised in 2025 to ensure the provision of a facility and to ensure that the project is not delayed any further.", and on page 58, in Table 27, the project line for Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm should be reduced by 2,500,000 for each of 2025,2026 and 2027.".

 DEPUTY K.M. WILSON OF ST. CLEMENT

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2025 – 2028 (entitled "Budget 2025-2028") specified in Article 9(1) of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 ("the Law") and specifically –

1. to approve the estimate of total States income to be paid into the Consolidated Fund in 2025 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 1 to the Report, which is inclusive of the proposed taxation and impôts duties changes outlined in the Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(a) of the Law.
2. to approve the proposed Changes to Approval for financing/borrowing for 2025, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report, which may be obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, as and when required, in line with Article 9 (2)(c) of the Law, of up to those revised approval amounts.
3. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2025 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law.
4. to approve a transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Stabilisation Fund in 2025 of up to £25 million, subject to a decision of the Minister for Treasury and Resources based on the availability of funds in the Consolidated Fund as at 31st December 2024 in excess of the estimates provided in this plan, or from budgeted underspends identified before 31st December 2025.
5. to approve a transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Agricultural Loans Fund in 2025 of up to £2 million, subject to a decision of the Minister for Treasury and Resources based on availability of funds in the Consolidated Fund as at 31st December 2024 in excess of estimates provided in this plan, or from budgeted underspends identified before 31st December 2025;
6. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2025 and the total cost of each such project and any amendments to the proposed total cost of a major project under a previously approved Government Plan, in line with Article 9(2)(d), (e) and (f) of the Law and as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 4 to the Report.
7. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for 2025, for each head of expenditure, being gross expenditure less estimated income (if any), in line with Articles 9(2)(g), 10(1) and 10(2) of the Law, and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report, except that, in Summary Table 5 (ii) –

1. the Head of Expenditure entitled "Le Squez" should be increased by £2,500,000; and
2. the Head of Expenditure entitled "Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm" should be decreased by £2,500,000.

8. to  approve  the  estimated  income,  being  estimated  gross  income  less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in

2025 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 6 to the Report.

9. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2025 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report.
10. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2025 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report.
11. to approve an updated and consolidated policy of the Strategic Reserve Fund as follows:

"The Strategic Reserve Fund, established in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005, is a permanent reserve only to be used:

1. in exceptional circumstances  to  insulate  the  Island's  economy  from severe structural decline such as the sudden collapse of a major Island industry or from major natural disaster.
2. if necessary, for the purposes of providing funding (up to £100 million) for the Bank Depositors Compensation Scheme established under the Banking  Business  (Depositors  Compensation)  (Jersey)  Regulations 2009, including to meet the States contribution to the Scheme and/or to meet any temporary cash flow funding requirements of the Scheme.
3. to  support  the  development  of  future  healthcare  facilities  and  the borrowing costs for such work, in line with a financing strategy agreed by the Assembly;
4. as a holding fund for any or all monies raised through external financing until required, and for any monies related to the repayment of debt raised through external financing used to offset the repayment of debt, as and when required; and
5. in accordance with Article 24 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, where the Minister for Treasury and Resources is satisfied that there exists an immediate threat to the health or safety of any of the inhabitants of Jersey, to the stability of the economy in Jersey or to the environment, for which no other suitable funding is available."

12. to approve the transfer to the Strategic Reserve of the amounts due as a result of the move from prior-year basis taxation after 31st December 2025, as and when these payments are received (estimated at £280 million).
13. in relation to the new Government Headquarters (office), to approve;

1. the exercising of the option to acquire the new Government Headquarters (estimated at £91 million), by the Public of the Island, in line with the pre-agreed terms; and

2. the acquisition of the new Government Headquarters as an investment of the Social Security (Reserve) Fund (including authorising the meeting of expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition); and
3. the subsequent leasing of the new Government Headquarters by the Public of the Island from the Social Security (Reserve) Fund,  with commercial terms to be agreed between the Minister for Infrastructure (on behalf of the Public) and Minister for Social Security and the Minister for Treasury and Resources (both on behalf of the Fund); and

14. in relation to the new Government Headquarters, to authorise H.M. Attorney General, the Greffier of the States, the Ministers for Infrastructure, Social Security and Treasury and Resources, and the Public of the Island, to enter into such arrangements, including financing, and pass any contracts as are necessary to put into effect paragraph (m).
15. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2025-2028, as set out in the Appendix to the accompanying Report, except that –

1. on Page 55, within Table 23, the line entitled "Le Squez" should be replaced as follows –

Project  £'000  Spon  Supp  2025  2026  2027  2028 total  Dept  Dept  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate

7,500  Le  CYPES  I&E  2,500  2,500  2,500  -

Squez

(M)

"; and

2. on Page 55, for the words "has been reprofiled to allow a new youth facility in St. Helier to be brought forward in the earlier years of the Budget." there should be substituted the words, "will be prioritised in 2025 to ensure the provision of a facility and to ensure that the project is not delayed any further.", and on page 58, in Table 27, the project line for Infrastructure Rolling Vote and Public Realm should be reduced by 2,500,000 for each of 2025,2026 and 2027.".

REPORT

This amendment may appear complex but it's purpose is exceedingly straightforward. To return the timescale for the development of Le Squez back to its original timeframe. A timeframe that has already slipped by many years.

At  a  recent  meeting  with  members  of the  community  development  group  on  7th November, I was advised the development of the Le Squez youth centre is on its 9th iteration having been kicked down the road for years and not seen as a priority. There were adults at the meeting who, as children, remember the original proposal to develop Le Squez.

Time-line of previous Government plans

• 2019 – Government Plan 2020–2023 – funding for redevelopment over 2022 and 2023 (p. 149)

• 2020 – Government Plan 2021-24 - funding for redevelopment over 2022 and 2023 (p. 144)

• 2021 - Proposed Government Plan 2022-25 – funding for Le Squez Youth Centre/Community Hubs is bumped back to 2024 and 2025 (p. 137)

• 2022 - Government Plan 2023 to 2026 – Le Squez no longer appears as a major project.

• 2023 - Government Plan 2024 – 2027 – funding for Le Squez reappears and jumps to £7,500,000 to be spent over 2024 and 2025 (p. 66)

Funding for Le Squez is set out in Budget 2025-2028 as totalling £7,500,000, however, it is not until 2028 that £4,500,000 is earmarked to begin the work. The Budget states:

"A new youth centre at Le Squez - will create a new community hub and space for young people in the community to use and enjoy. Providing a link to other youth centres across the Island and a safe place for children and young people to meet and socialise. The development of the Le Squez youth centre has been reprofiled to allow a new youth facility in St Helier to be brought forward in the earlier years of the Budget." (p. 55)

There is little detail regarding this new youth facility in St Helier with reference to "new initiatives in this Budget including a bold new Youth Facility project the preferred site for which would support the wider redevelopment underway at Ann Street and give a new lease of life to the derelict Ann Street Brewery." Even the Minister's answer to a Written Question (319/2024) did not provide details on funding due to "entering negotiations with commercial organisations".

Funding had been earmarked for Le Squez in the 2024 - 2027 budget (p. 66) which could have been carried forward - along with designs and planning permissions which were already approved for the project, and employed much earlier than 2028. There is a strong emphasis in the budget on developments in St Helier which have not yet

received funding or planning approval, prioritising these developments over Le Squez which is ready to go is disappointing and counter intuitive.

The needs of young people living in Le Squez are being overlooked due to town developments - and with no clear rationale for why this decision has been taken other than we need a youth centre in town. Whilst I agree with the need for a youth centre in St Helier it should not be at the expense of another Youth project which is ready to go. Children and young people are being passed over in a neighbouring parish when resources had already been allocated to the design and development of the plans for Le Squez.

Financial and staffing implications

Financial implications are as set out in the Amendment, the funding intended to come from the Infrastructure for Public Realm. The draft Budget (Government Plan) 2025- 2028 details the Public Realm funding as follows –

"Funding for Public Realm is included within the rolling vote, to allow for the continual improvement and safety of roads, paths, and public spaces in and around St. Helier and across the Island."

This amendment seeks to bring forward work on a public space to the benefit of children not only in Le Squez but across St Clement and parts of St. Helier .

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.