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STATES OF JERSEY
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MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2013 – 2015 (P.69/2012):
FOURTH AMENDMENT
Lodged au Greffe on 23rd October 2012 by Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of St. Saviour
STATES GREFFE
2012 Price code: A P.69 Amd.(4)
MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2013 – 2015 (P.69/2012): FOURTH AMENDMENT
1 PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –
After the words "as set out in Summary Table A" insert the words –
"except that the total amount of States net revenue expenditure shall be increased by £500,000 in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to enable additional grants to be made available to third sector organizations."
2 PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (c)(i) –
After the words "Summary Table B" insert the words –
"except that the net revenue expenditure of the Treasury and Resources Department shall be increased by £500,000 in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to enable additional grants to be made available to third sector organizations through appropriate new allocation procedures established as appropriate between the Minister for Treasury and Resources and the Association of Jersey Charities and other bodies representing such organizations."
DEPUTY R.G. LE HÉRISSIER OF ST. SAVIOUR
REPORT
Introduction
It is a trusim that third sector bodies in Jersey are indispensable, not only by performing services on behalf of the States but also by pioneering new services and/or moving into niche areas where the States may initially be reluctant to go or where the service does not "fit in".
I would also extend this proposal to include sporting bodies, a group who have suffered from cutbacks; and yet many of whom are very active in areas like Youth Development programmes.
The situation today
There are mechanisms for providing funding to third sector and sporting bodies who set up innovative/new programmes. Most importantly, the Association of Jersey Charities (AJC) channels funding to such projects.
The One Foundation and the Lloyds TSB Trust are amongst others who do sterling work. Given budget cutbacks, the Sports Advisory Council dispenses a comparatively small sum of monies to sporting bodies – largely for overseas travel.
However, fund-raising is becoming problematic for many bodies, and we have recently seen the inability of the Channel Islands Lottery to meet its target for the Summer Lottery Draw. That said, it was noteworthy that it still kept its grant to the AJC at the same level.
Given the challenges of fund-raising in this economic environment, and the emerging and new needs that are appearing, voluntary bodies find themselves under more and more pressure; often with static or lesser funding or, more frustratingly, having to allocate more and more time to fund-raising.
The proposal
We cannot allow bodies who perform a vital social function to collapse or reduce their services at this critical time.
The States has rightly set up the Innovation Fund and committed itself to invest and save where possible.
I am proposing a slight variant of this in the third and sporting sectors.
It will doubtless be raised that the Health and Social Services Department already funds bodies carrying out such work.
Obviously this is so, but it should be stressed that such funding is granted for services that fall within the Strategy of the Department and are subject to strict Service Level Agreements.
I have mentioned the major social role played by sports bodies with groups in society such as young people.
Page - 3
P.69/2012 Amd.(4)
The structure set up to grant aid to such bodies has suffered serious cutbacks, and it would seem sensible to offer such bodies the same opportunities, either through the existing mechanism (the Sports Advisory Council) or a body running parallel to the AJC to ensure that the "traditional" voluntary sector and the sports sector are operating to the same procedures.
I understand that the AJC has dispensed its available funds for the year much more quickly than previously (indeed, it has already dispensed more than its Lottery Grant – £451,000) and I would suggest that the charitable innovation and new services fund have £500,000 available for each of the 3 years of the MTFP.
Financial and manpower implications
Given that I believe this funding can be incorporated within existing structures, I see minimal cost to the States.