Government Plan 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): amendment (P.130/2020 Amd.) – amendment [P.130/2020 Amd. Amd.]

STATES OF JERSEY

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): AMENDMENT (P.130/2020 AMD.) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 7th December 2020 by the Council of Ministers

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.130 Amd.Amd.

GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021–2024 (P.130/2020): AMENDMENT (P.130/2020 AMD.) – AMENDMENT

____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 2 –

For paragraphs 1 and 2, substitute the following paragraph –

"1  PAGE 3, PARAGRAPH (j) –

After the words "Appendix 3 to the Report" insert the words –

", except that the heads of expenditure for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance shall be increased by the following amounts to provide for the establishment of a Public Services Ombudsman –

2022; £200,000 2023: £401,000 2024: £412,000"."

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Note:  After the amendment, as amended by this amendment, the proposition would

read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to receive the Government Plan 2021 – 2024 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 2021 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 amounts to be transferred from one States fund to another for 2021, in line with Article 9(2)(b) as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report;
3. to approve the proposed borrowing to be obtained for 2021, in line with Article 9 (2)(c), up to and including the amount set out in Appendix 2

– Summary Table 3 to the Report;

4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2021 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 2021 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 2021, 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;
7. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2021 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
8. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2021 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; (i) to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
9. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2021as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 9 to the Report;
10. to approve, in accordance with Article 9(1) of the Law, the Government Plan 2021-2024, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report, except that theheads of expenditure for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performanceshall  be  increased  by  the  following  amounts  to  provide  for  theestablishment of a Public Services Ombudsman –

• 2022: £200,000

• 2023: £401,000

• 2024: £412,000

Page - 3

P.130/2020 Amd.Amd.

REPORT

The Council of Ministers (CoM) acknowledges the concerns expressed by the Children, Education  and  Home  Affairs  Scrutiny  Panel  about  the  proposed  delay  to  the establishment of the Jersey Public Services Ombudsman (JPSO).

Whilst CoM recognises that the Panel wishes the JPSO to be established in 2021, hence the proposed amendment which reinstates 2021 funding, it is the case that Officers will not be in a  position to bring forward the  necessary legislation providing for the establishment of the JPSO in 2021.

Whilst there was a public consultation on the proposed Ombudsman in late 2019 this did not progress to law-drafting in 2020 as originally intended because Officers were redeployed to emergency Covid-19 work. Therefore, a delay of at least 12 months has been incurred.

For this reason, CoM proposes that the Panel's amendment is amended so that funding for the JPSO is reinstated from mid-2022 onwards as opposed to 2021 as per the Panel's amendment. The funding will be reoccurring funding.

Financial and Manpower Implications

If this amendment is adopted by the Assembly then the funding required in 2022, 2023, 2024 will increase the borrowing required by an equivalent amount each year over and above the amount of borrowing otherwise required.

The Council of Ministers will be bringing a proposition to the Assembly during 2021 seeking approval for long-term financing relating to Our Hospital, informed by updated forecasts, as well as the 2020 outturn and any funding returned to the Consolidated Fund as it has not needed to be reprioritised. Then approval will be sought for an amendment to the approved Government Plan at that time in accordance with Article 16 of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, including any adjustment to the maximum Covid-related borrowing requirement as approved in part (c) of P.130/2020.

There are no manpower implications.