Proposed Government Plan 2022-2025 (P.90/2021): eighth amendment. Jersey Child Care Trust grant

STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022- 2025 (P.90/2021): EIGHTH AMENDMENT

JERSEY CHILD CARE TRUST GRANT

Lodged au Greffe on 29th November 2021

by the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel

STATES GREFFE

2021  P.90 Amd.(8)

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2022-2025 (P.90/2021): EIGHTH AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (f) –

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(i)  –  2022  Revenue  Heads  of Expenditure,  the  Head  of  Expenditure  for  Children,  Young  People, Education and Skills shall be increased by £30,000 to allow for additional resources to reinstate the Jersey Child Care Trust's full grant for 2022.".

CHILDREN, EDUCATION AND HOME AFFAIRS SCRUTINY PANEL

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 2022 – 2025 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 2022 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 Changes to Approval for financing/borrowing for 2022, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 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 approvals;
3. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2022 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary table 2 to the Report, noting that the transfer from the Consolidated Fund to the Technology Fund is subject to the Assembly's approval of a proposition to create such a Fund in 2022, in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law;
4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2022 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 2022 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 2022, 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) – 2022 Revenue Heads of Expenditure, the Head ofExpenditure  for  Children,  Young  People,  Education  and  Skills  shall  be increased by £30,000 to allow for additional resources to reinstate the Jersey Child Care Trust's full grant for 2022.".
7. to approve up to £480 million to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for  the  Past  Service  Pension  Liabilities  Refinancing  head  of  expenditure, subject to the availability of funding, which may include, in full or in part, use of the borrowing/financing referred in paragraph (b);
8. to  approve  the  estimated  income,  being  estimated  gross  income  less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2022 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
9. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2022 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;
10. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2022 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
11. to approve an amendment to the policy of the Strategic Reserve Fund to enable that Fund to be used as a holding Fund for any or all monies related to the repayment of debt raised through external financing, with the monies used to offset the repayment of debt, as and when required; and
12. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2022-2025, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report

REPORT

Summary

This amendment seeks to reinstate the Jersey Child Care Trust's full grant for 2022. The Government has taken the decision to reduce the Trust's grant by £30,000 in 2022. Identifying  that  the  reduction  in  the  grant  would  primarily  impact  the  Nanny Accreditation Service, the sole provider of vital checks to safeguard children, their families and nannies within the home care environment, by maintaining the current grant for 2022, the service can continue.

Background and Rationale for the Amendment

Resultant of the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel's (hereafter the Panel') review of projects, actions and efficiencies within the Government Plan 2022-25, the Panel has identified this amendment. This amendment focusses on the decision taken to reduce the Jersey Child Care Trust's Government grant by £30,000 in 2022.

During the Panel's review, the Panel wrote to a number of key stakeholders in order to gather their views on the Government Plan 2022-25. In addition to noteworthy feedback received from the Jersey Child Care Trust on other specific areas of the Government Plan, the Trust also highlighted the recent decision taken by the Government to reduce their grant for 2022 and the implications of the reduced funding on their organisation and the delivery of services to some of the most vulnerable communities in Jersey.

By way of background, the Jersey Child Care Trust is a local charity that delivers a variety of programmes to enable ALL children to have the best start. It is the Trust's vision that every child in Jersey has access to the nurture, care and learning that they need to thrive. The Trust aims to identify and meet the needs of children and families in Jersey and focus its support at the earliest opportunity to deliver the most amount of positive change. The Trust's strategic aims complement and support the strategic priorities of the Government of Jersey, the Child and Young People's Plan and the Best Start Early Years Strategy1.

Although appreciative of the current climate and pressures on the Government to make savings across departments, the Jersey Child Care Trust informed the Panel that during discussions with the Government, it had indicated that a reduction in funding would have implications for their core business. In response to a request made by Government, the Trust clearly identified which area of their business would be impacted following the reduction in funding - the Nanny Accreditation Service was identified as the core area2.

The Panel has observed that the removal of this service, the sole provider of the vital checks necessary to safeguard children, their families and nannies within a home care environment, will pose challenges and risks to the community. It was provided with the following rationale for the reduction in funding from the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills:

The rationale for the 2022 grant reduction comes from the States adoption of P68.2016 MTFP addition for 2017 - 2019. The reduction was to total £90k,

1 Submission – Jersey Child Care Trust – 5th November 2021 2 Submission – Jersey Child Care Trust – 5th November 2021

with a £45k reduction in 2018, followed by a further £45k in 2019. The 2018 reduction of £45k was carried out but the 2019 reduction was not. This £30k reduction is therefore part of the previous commitment to reduce the grant by £45k in 2019. Please note the JCCT will benefit from additional funds in the region of £39K for 2022 and 2023 from the successful COVID Health and Social Recovery bid for Early Years and Best Start programmes.

The Panel notes that the Nanny Accreditation Service delivered by the Jersey Child Care Trust is in support of the Common Strategic Priority Putting Children First' and accredits and provides professional support to qualified nannies through their voluntary scheme. The Trust conduct the vital checks necessary to safeguard children, their families and nannies. In an overview provided by the Trust to Children, Young People, Education and Skills in June 2021, the Trust outlines the service's outcomes. It notes, resultant of the 2021 budgeted cost of £34,008 and with the assistance of delivery partners including Customer and Local Services (including the income tax department), the Childcare and Early Years Service and the Jersey Advisory Conciliation Service that 41 nannies were accredited, 71 nannies sought advice and support and 100% of all the Trust's accredited nannies met all the safeguarding criteria[3].

Considering the Jersey Child Care Trust is a charity, the Panel observes the Trust has added significant value to the Government's grant to date. The Panel notes, as a result of the Trust's 2021 Government grant of £133,800, that vital services to the value of £623,689, benefitting children and families, have been delivered.[4] The Panel notes that the reduction of £30,000 to the Trust's Government Grant in 2022 is significant in respect of the income the grant presents. Moreover, it will result in the loss of the sole provision of the Nanny Accreditation Service and will directly impact children, families and the Jersey workforce. The Panel emphasises that a choice to not support this amendment, will go against the Common Strategic Priority Putting Children First'.

Financial and manpower implications

The financial implications of this amendment would require the Council of Ministers to ensure that an additional £30,000 is allocated to the Heads of Expenditure for Children, Young People, Education and Skills in 2022 through borrowing or other sources. Subsequent Government Plans will need to ensure that recurring funding of £30,000 is allocated accordingly.

This amendment would not result in any manpower implications.