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STATES OF JERSEY
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GOVERNMENT PLAN: ASSESSMENTS OF PLANNED EFFICIENCY SAVINGS (P.88/2019) – AMENDMENT
Lodged au Greffe on 17th September 2019 by the Chief Minister
STATES GREFFE
2019 P.88 Amd.
GOVERNMENT PLAN: ASSESSMENTS OF PLANNED EFFICIENCY SAVINGS (P.88/2019) – AMENDMENT
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PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –
For sub-paragraph (b)(i) and (ii), substitute the following –
"(b) to agree that the Council of Ministers is requested to bring forward
detailed proposals each year, as part of the Government Plan proposition, seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the efficiencies contained in the Government Plan."
CHIEF MINISTER
Note: After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
- to request the Public Accounts Committee, throughout the life of the Government Plan, to undertake detailed 6-monthly assessments of the planned efficiency savings, specifying the expected impact on the ongoing delivery of public services, by Minister, Department and CSP priority, accompanied by a comparable comprehensive review of the real impact of the previous 6 months' efficiencies; and
- to agree that the Council of Ministers is requested to bring forward detailed proposals each year, as part of the Government Plan proposition, seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the efficiencies contained in the Government Plan.
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P.88/2019 Amd.
REPORT
The Council of Ministers is committed to providing the Assembly with a clear understanding of any efficiencies included as part of financial proposals contained within the draft Government Plan.
For the Government Plan 2020–2023 (P.71/2019) lodged this year, the first Government Plan, these details will be published in October 2019. However, for the Government Plan to be lodged next year, the expectation is that efficiencies will be detailed within the Government Plan itself at the time of lodging.
The Government Plan is required to deliver an integrated set of decisions at one point in time – revenue expenditure, including efficiencies, charges, and additional investment, capital allocations, and the taxation and fiscal decisions needed to support spending in the short and long term.
This amendment supports that position, by outlining that detailed proposals for any efficiencies will be included within the lodged Government Plan from 2021 onwards, and not as a separate debate. In this way, one element of our public finances is not considered in isolation from the rest.
As to paragraph (a) of the proposition, the Government Plan is subject to Scrutiny once lodged, potential amendments, and debate. Therefore, paragraph (a) is not supported, as a Scrutiny process already exists, and the Public Accounts Committee can preserve its independence and discharge its functions as it sees fit. Any work of the Committee, however, or other Panels, will always be considered and taken into account in developing Government Plans.
As to paragraph (b)(ii), it no longer applies if efficiencies are part of the Government Plan, as proposed in this amendment, and therefore this amendment removes it from the proposition.
Financial and manpower implications
There are no additional financial or manpower implications for the States arising from the adoption of this amendment.
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P.88/2019 Amd.