Government Plan 2020–2023 (P.71/2019): eighth amendment [P.71/2019 Amd.(8)]

STATES OF JERSEY

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GOVERNMENT PLAN 2020–2023 (P.71/2019): EIGHTH AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 11th November 2019 by Deputy M.R. Higgins of St. Helier

STATES GREFFE

2019  P.71 Amd.(8)

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2020–2023 (P.71/2019): EIGHTH AMENDMENT ____________

PAGE 3, NEW PARAGRAPH (i) –

After paragraph (h), insert the following new paragraph (i) and re-letter the remaining paragraph accordingly –

"(i)  to  agree  that  the  Justice and  Home  Affairs  Department  should

increase  the  annual  funding  for  the  Island's  4  cadet  force organisations to £20,000 each for the years 2020 to 2023; and".

DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER

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 2020–2023 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 2020 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; and
2. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2020 and the total cost of each such project, in line with Article 9(2)(d),  (e)  and  (f)  of  the  Law  and  as  set  out  in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report; and
3. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Fund for 2020, 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 3(i) and (ii) of the Report; and
4. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2020 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 4 to the Report; and
5. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2020 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 5 to the Report; and

6. to approve –

1. the establishment of a "Climate Emergency Fund", in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Law, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report; and
2. the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate  Emergency  Fund  for  2020  as  set  out  in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 6 to the Report; and

7. to approve the amounts to be transferred from one States fund to another for 2020 in line with Article 9(2)(b) as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report; and
8. to approve the estimated income and expenditure of the Social Security, Health Insurance and Long-Term Care Funds for 2020 set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Tables 8(i), (ii) and (iii) to the Report, with –
   1. the estimated income to be raised from existing social security contributions defined in the Social Security Law and the proposed changes to contribution liability; and
   2. the estimated expenditure to be paid to support the existing benefits and functions defined in the Social Security Law, the Health Insurance Law and the Long- Term Care Funds and new benefits, if any, to be paid from the Funds; and

9. to agree that the Justice and Home Affairs Department shouldincrease  the  annual funding for the  Island's  4 cadet forceorganisations to £20,000 each for the years 2020 to 2023; and
10. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2020–2023, as set out at Appendix 4 to the Report.

Page - 3

P.71/2019 Amd.(8)

REPORT

This amendment is about investing in our children and in Jersey's future and, as such, it meets the first of the Government's strategic aims by putting Children First.

The amendment is concerned with supporting the Island's uniformed Cadet Forces, which consist of the Victoria College Combined Cadet Force, the Jersey Sea Cadet Corps, the Air Training Corps and the Army Cadet Force.

Although affiliated to the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, they are youth organisations that teach a range of skills and pursue a range of structured activities that appeal to boys and girls who wish to pursue activities relating to those carried out in the services to which they are attached, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. They also are taught certain core values – respect, loyalty, commitment, self-discipline, honesty and integrity, which benefit society generally.

These Jersey organisations are recognised as amongst the best in the British Islands, and many thousands of Islanders have gone through their doors. A number of these Islanders have joined the Army, Navy and Air Force, but many others have joined the Police, Fire, and Ambulance services in Jersey.

These  organisations  are  funded  by  a  grant  from  the  Justice  and  Home  Affairs Department, and through funds raised by their local committees. The value of the Government grant, however, has fallen over the years, and not been upgraded to allow for inflation. In 2004, the grant to each unit was reduced from £18,000 to £10,000, a figure that has remained the same to the present day.

Had the £18,000 grant been maintained over the years and increased to allow for inflation, it would currently be worth £27,420. The existing £10,000 grant adjusted for inflation would be worth £15,336 today.

The purpose of the amendment is to try to restore some of the funding they once received to enable them to continue their good work for the benefit of the children concerned and the Island as a whole. The extra £40,000 payable to these organisations in total is a small sum relative to the benefits that will accrue to the Island.

As a former cadet in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and in the Air Training Corps, I can attest to the role of the cadet forces in character building, learning transferable skills, and in promoting social mobility.

Financial and manpower implications

The funding for this increase should be able to be met from within the existing Justice and Home Affairs budget.

There are no additional manpower implications arising from this proposition.