Government Plan 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): twelfth amendment (re-issue) [P.130-2020 Amd.(12)]

STATES OF JERSEY

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): TWELFTH AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 30th November 2020 by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.130 Amd.(12)(re-issue)

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): TWELFTH AMENDMENT ____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (f) –

After the words "of the Report" insert the words –

", except that, in Summary Table 5(i), the Heads of Expenditure for Financial Services and Digital shall be increased by £2.6 million in 2021 in order to fund the repair and maintenance of Elizabeth Castle, with a commitment that funding shall be provided in 2022 and 2023 for the completion of this project, and that any such funding shall be over and above  the  1%  allocation  for  Culture,  Arts  and  Heritage  of  overall expenditure".

DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE

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 2021 – 2024 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 2021 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 amounts to be transferred from one States fund to another for 2021, in line with Article 9(2)(b) as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report;
3. to approve the proposed borrowing to be obtained for 2021, in line with Article 9 (2)(c), up to and including the amount set out in Appendix 2

– Summary Table 3 to the Report;

4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2021 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;
5. to endorse the efficiencies and other re-balancing measures for 2021 contained in the Government Plan as set out in Appendix 2 Summary Table  6  and  reflected  within  each  gross  head  of  expenditure  in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 5(i);

6. to  approve  the  proposed  amount  to  be appropriated  from  the Consolidated Fund for 2021, 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(i),the Heads of Expenditure for Financial Services and Digital shall beincreased by £2.6 million in 2021 in order to fund the repair andmaintenance of Elizabeth Castle, with a commitment that funding shallbe provided in 2022 and 2023 for the completion of this project, andthat any such funding shall be over and above the 1% allocation forCulture, Arts and Heritage of overall expenditure;
7. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2021 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
8. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2021 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report; (i) to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
9. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
10. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2021-2024, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report.

REPORT

When the States Assembly approved the general development of Elizabeth Castle, including the Hospital Block and Officers' Quarters which are the subject of the current Proposition, it was advised by the then U.K. Inspector of Ancient Monument of the Castle's ranking amongst the foremost historical monuments in the British Isles' but also that the display of Elizabeth Castle to the public has been undervalued'. Four decades have passed but those observations remain accurate.

In 1995, the States sought from Her Majesty the Queen and were granted responsibility for the maintenance, conservation and interpretation of the Castle. Through the grant of a usufruct to Jersey Heritage Trust at that time the States entered into a strategic partnership to those ends. It was recognised in the usufruct, even at that time of booming tourist admissions income, that responsibility for funding major conservation works at the Castle would fall to the States.

Jersey Heritage has been successful in the operation of the Castle as an attraction – it is their most visited  site  - and has generated significant sums towards  the  ongoing maintenance of the historic fabric. However, the major projects anticipated in 1980 remain to be completed.

A well-attended presentation to States Members in 2017 in which the current proposals were outlined culminated in the inclusion of funding in the Government Plan in 2020. That funding was subsequently withdrawn in circumstances that I understand have been examined by Scrutiny.

On the basis of the original inclusion in the Government Plan, Jersey Heritage has developed proposals to planning application stage, engaged expert partners in support and run a successful public engagement programme reaching thousands of Islanders as well as local businesses. That momentum should not be lost. If it is possible to fund the current plans the benefits will be considerable, including those outlined to States Members in 2017:

1. Restoration of the Hospital Block for presentation as part of the heritage attraction during the summer months and for meeting and events rooms during the winter period;
2. Restoration of the outbuildings of the Hospital for hospitality facilities in support of expanded events use on the Green;
3. Restoration  of  the  Officers'  Quarters  to  support  self-catering  holiday accommodation during the summer and community residential retreat use in partnership with local charities in the winter period.

Members  are  reminded  that Jersey  Heritage  attractions  are  a  key  element  of  the infrastructure of our tourism industry attracting over 200,000 visits each year. And they are a key element of the cultural vitality of Island life, engaging Islanders in visits 60,000 times a year, supporting a membership in excess of 15,000, with a very significant component of local children, and participation of hundreds of volunteers.

There will be those who say this is not the right time to spend money on these projects. But this is the perfect time. It was someone with great foresight that saw the potential of the unique offering of Jersey's unique heritage assets, restoring them and at the same time opening them up to staying tourist visitors. Where else in the world can you stay

in a reconstructed granite farm, a Conway round tower (or even a square one, in the case of Seymour Tower), a WW2 concrete watchtower or an Elizabethan Castle, all in the space of 45 sq. miles? As we come out of Covid, looking to support our tourism industry we  will be  enhancing our U.S.P. (unique  selling points  as an  island) as  well as maintaining our unique heritage infrastructure – in this case, the jewel in the crown that is Isabella Bellissima – Elizabeth Castle.

These proposals are good for business, good for the community and good for the Island's reputation as a responsible global citizen taking seriously our responsibilities towards cultural  heritage  of  international  significance.  I  commend  the  amendment  to  the Assembly.

Financial and manpower implications

This amendment would see the Heads of Expenditure for the Office of the Chief Executive increase by £2.6 million to fund the first year of the three-year repair and maintenance programme, with the funding for the remaining two years agreed annually by the States Assembly.

Re-issue Note

The  amendment,  when  initially  published,  erroneously  showed  that  the  Head  of Expenditure for the Office of the Chief Executive should be increased to allow for funding to repair and maintain Elizabeth Castle; the reference should be to the Head of Expenditure for Financial Services and Digital and this has been corrected.