Proposed Government Plan 2023-2026 (P.97/2022): seventeenth amendment Extend existing bus pass scheme to all student in Full Time Education

STATES OF JERSEY

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2023- 2026 (P.97/2022): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT

EXTEND EXISTING BUS PASS SCHEME TO ALL STUDENT IN FULL TIME EDUCATION

Lodged au Greffe on 28th November 2022 by Deputy C.S. Alves of St. Helier Central Earliest date for debate: 13th December 2022

STATES GREFFE

2022  P.97 Amd.(17)

PROPOSED GOVERNMENT PLAN 2023-2026 (P.97/2022): SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT

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PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (e) –

After the words "Summary Tables 5(i) and (ii) of the Report" insert the words –

", with funding to be allocated from the Covid-19 response head of expenditure in  Summary  Table  5(i),  and  made  available  for  use  by  the  Minister  for Infrastructure, should it be required in excess of existing funding, to extend the Avanchi18 bus scheme to –

1. all  full-time  students  who  are  19  years  and  older,  to  include students in full-time education undertaking Higher Education at Highlands College, Colleges and Universities in the UK or abroad; and
2. all  trainees  and  apprentices  (who  access  education  through Highlands College and/or who receive funding from the Skills Jersey Trackers Scheme)"

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 2023–2026 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 2023 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  proposed  Changes  to  Approval  for financing/borrowing for 2023, as shown in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 2 to the Report, which may be obtained by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, as and when required, in line with Article 9 (2)(c) of the Law, of up to those revised approvals;
3. to approve the transfers from one States fund to another for 2023 of up to and including the amounts set in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 3 in line with Article 9(2)(b) of the Law;
4. to approve each major project that is to be started or continued in 2023 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  approve  the  proposed  amount  to  be  appropriated  from  the Consolidated Fund for 2023, 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, withfunding  to  be  allocated  from  the  Covid-19  response  head  of expenditure in Summary Table 5(i), and made available for use bythe Minister for Infrastructure, should it be required in excess ofexisting funding, to extend the Avanchi18 bus scheme to –

1. all full-time students who are 19 years and older, to include students in full-time education undertaking Higher Education at Highlands College, Colleges and Universities in the UK orabroad; and
2. all trainees and apprentices (who access education through Highlands College and/or who receive funding from the SkillsJersey Trackers Scheme);

6. to approve the estimated income, being estimated gross income less expenditure, that each States trading operation will pay into its trading fund in 2023 in line with Article 9(2)(h) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 6 to the Report;
7. to approve the proposed amount to be appropriated from each States trading operation's trading fund for 2023 for each head of expenditure in line with Article 9(2)(i) of the Law and set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 7 to the Report;
8. to approve the estimated income and expenditure proposals for the Climate Emergency Fund for 2023 as set out in Appendix 2 – Summary Table 8 to the Report; and
9. to  approve,  in  accordance  with  Article  9(1)  of  the  Law,  the Government Plan 2023-2026, as set out at Appendix 3 to the Report.

REPORT

The  Avanchi18  bus  pass  scheme  was  established  following  the  adoption  of  the Government Plan 2022-2026 (P.90/2021) Sixth Amendment last year. The scheme was due to start in January 2022 and started on a trial basis on 21 March 2022. The Avanchi18 card is available at the annual cost of £20 per card for unlimited free access to the bus network, and is open to all children and young people under the age of 19 years who are Jersey residents. The applicant must have a Jersey Social Security number in order to qualify for an Avanchi18 card.

This amendment seeks to extend the existing provision to all full time students who are 19 years and older. This would include students in full-time education undertaking Higher Education at Highlands College, Colleges and Universities in the UK or abroad; part b also extends the scheme to all trainees and apprentices (who access education through Highlands College and/or who receive funding from the Skills Jersey Trackers Scheme).

Benefits of the Avanchi18 Bus Scheme - Behaviour Change  

This scheme was introduced as a way of changing the behaviour of children and young people at an early age to promote the benefits of public transport. The bus pass assists children and young people to develop independence and reduces the barriers to mobility and accessibility around the island,

Reduces the cost of bus travel for families

The minimal charge of £20 per annum provides young people with an affordable method of transport which can be used to access school, employment and leisure activities. This also reduces the cost of bus travel for families, reduces spending on fuel by reducing or avoiding taking children to school in cars.

Assists with achieving the goals of the Sustainable Transport Policy1

The Avanchi18 card supports the aim of the Sustainable Transport Policy by reducing car use and congestion as a mechanism for travelling to and from school. Reduced car use also aims to reduce carbon emissions from cars waiting in traffic and therefore improves air quality. The Scheme also support the recommendation of Climate Change and Public Transport The Citizens Assembly on climate change: "Decarbonise the current public transport in Jersey by 2025, as well as making it more accessible and affordable,  so  that  more  people  use  public  transport  as  their  primary  mode  of transportation on the Island."

Extension of the Avanchi18 Card

By extending this scheme to students in full time accommodation over the age of 19 and to trainees and apprentices, the benefits outlined above are extended to a wider group of individuals. This is especially beneficial to students during the current cost of living crisis. For those students who are over 19 years old, it could potentially encourage them to move away from using vehicles and will provide the option of travelling to Highlands

1 p.128/2019 Sustainable Transport Policy

College or work placements using public transport. By extending the scheme to students who study in the UK and abroad, it will allow them to use the bus system when they return to the island during their holidays from University and College and therefore go some way to reducing their travel expenditure.

The  island  wishes  to  encourage  young  people  to  upskill  and  continue  with  their education in order to retain local talent. This may attract some potential students and trainees to continue with their training and education who may be dissuaded from these options due to the cost of public or private transport. In addition, by having more students and trainees using the bus system for £20 a year, this further supports the Sustainable Transport Policy.

Number of additional Islanders eligible for the extension to the Avanchi18 scheme All figures are approximate.

There are 1473 students receiving Student Finance Funding who would be eligible for the Avanchi18 card if this was extended to students over the age of 19 in full time education at University in Jersey, the UK and abroad. There are a further 99 students studying at Highlands College who do not receive Student Finance funding. There are 37 students studying full time at Highlands over the age of 19 years on Level 2 and Level 3 courses. There are 148 students who are trainees and apprentices training at Highlands College and a further 320 trainees and apprentices registered with Skills Jersey. The latter includes;

• trainees on the Foundation Trackers Scheme (Traineeship)

• the Trackers Apprentice Scheme who are government funded;

• those on the pilot higher apprenticeship funding model e.g. those on CYber, CIPS and B-eng apprenticeships; and

• those on a Government apprenticeship.

Financial and manpower implications

A review of the Avanchi18 card by the end of the third quarter of 2022 was part of the amendment passed by the States Assembly (Proposed Government Plan 2022-2026 (P.90/2021) Sixth Amendment). However, this review has not yet been undertaken.

The information in Proposed Government Plan 2023-2026 on page 98 for Revenue Expenditure and Growth spending for the department of Infrastructure, Housing and Environment I-IHE-GP23-003 Bus Contract (under-19 passes) indicates £1,283,000 has been allocated for the Avanchi18 bus scheme for each of the next four years. This demonstrates the governments intention to continue with the existing scheme for the next four years at least.

There was no specific budget for the bus pass scheme in 2022 as Deputy Ward 's amendment required that the costs of reimbursement be drawn from the Government's Covid-19 support head of expenditure. The cost to the Government for 2022 is expected to be in the region of £520k-£540k for the 8 months that the scheme ran.

It must be noted that demand is still building up as more young people become aware of, and utilise, the scheme (and it should be remembered that this is a long-term change

of behaviour). It will probably be some time before an equilibrium level is reached. It is anticipated that the planned budget for 2023 and the three subsequent years will be £1,283,000.

This amendment allows for any additional funding required to extend the service to all those in full time education, in excess of the planned budget, to be taken from the head of expenditure for Covid-19 recovery. This amendment forms part of the wider strategy to help young people in the aftermath of the pandemic, and to start moving towards sustainable behaviours that will benefit everyone.