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STATES OF JERSEY
COMMUNITY COSTS BONUS: INCREASE (P.39/2022) – AMENDMENT (P.39/2022 AMD.) – AMENDMENT
Lodged au Greffe on 24th March 2022 by Senator T.A. Vallois
Earliest date for debate: 29th March 2022
STATES GREFFE
2022 P.39 Amd. Amd.
COMMUNITY COSTS BONUS: INCREASE (P.39/2022) – AMENDMENT
(P.39/2022 AMD.) – AMENDMENT
____________
PAGE 2, PART 2 –
In the substituted paragraph (c), after the words "the existing Bonus" insert the words "for a period of 2 years (with a review to be undertaken 6 months in advance of the expiry of this period in order that the position of the cost of living in respect of fuel and food costs, taking into account international and domestic economic circumstances at the time, may be determined and a decision taken as to whether an extension beyond 2 years is required)".
SENATOR T.A. VALLOIS
Note: After this amendment, Part 2 of the amendment of Senator Moore would read as
follows –
2. PAGE 2 –
For paragraphs (a) to (c) substitute the following –
"(a) to agree that the Community Costs Bonus increase should be 8%;
- to provide the Assembly with an estimate of the budget for this increased Bonus on the basis of the existing eligibility criteria;
- in addition to the existing recipients, to extend the eligibility of the existing Bonus for a period of 2 years (with a review to be undertaken 6 months in advance of the expiry of this period in order that the position of the cost ofliving in respect of fuel and food costs, taking into account international and domestic economic circumstances at the time, may be determined and a decision taken as to whether an extension beyond 2 years is required) –
- to Islanders who pay Income Tax at the marginal rate; and
- to Income Support recipients;"
and, in paragraph (d), delete the words "on the basis of eligibility outlined in paragraph (b)".
After the amendment of Senator Moore , as amended by this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
to request the Council of Ministers to bring forward Regulations to the Assembly to increase the Community Costs Bonus to offset the impact of cost-of-living increases and, in particular –
- to agree that the Community Costs Bonus increase should be 8%;
- to provide the Assembly with an estimate of the budget for this increased Bonus on the basis of the existing eligibility criteria;
- in addition to the existing recipients, to extend the eligibility of the existing Bonus for a period of 2 years (with a review to be undertaken 6 months in advance of the expiry of this period in order that the position of the cost ofliving in respect of fuel and food costs, taking into account international and domestic economic circumstances at the time, may be determined and a decision taken as to whether an extension beyond 2 years is required) –
- to Islanders who pay Income Tax at the marginal rate; and
- to Income Support recipients;
- to agree that any funds required for an increase should be allocated from the 2021 underspend as identified by the Minister for Treasury and Resources; and
- to request that the Council lodge the Regulations so as to ensure that they can be debated before the end of the current term, in view of the urgency and importance of addressing this matter, so that eligible Islanders can have the certainty of the Bonus increase before autumn and the onset of winter.
Page - 3
P.39/2022 Amd. Amd.
REPORT
The amendment I propose here is to attempt to enhance the purpose of P.39/2022 and to ensure that it hits criteria that are suited to the particular circumstances we find ourselves in.
The inflationary pressures identified with fuel and consumables (particularly food) that we have no control over due to outside influences has no deadline on when it may subside. Utilising current schemes and extending their purpose is probably more efficient than creating something completely new.
The amendment to require a deadline and review is to ensure that the primary purpose of the Community Costs Bonus is not forgotten and that an economic cycle and inflationary pressure is considered over a period of time and whether the extension to its eligibility is required due to the circumstances at that time.
Financial and manpower implications
There are no additional financial and manpower implications arising from adoption of this amendment.