Cash payment at Government Sports facilities (P.10/2024) – amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

CASH PAYMENT AT GOVERNMENT SPORTS FACILITIES (P.10/2024) – AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 12th March 2024 by the Minister for Infrastructure Earliest date for debate: 19th March 2024

STATES GREFFE

2024  P.10 Amd.

CASH PAYMENT AT GOVERNMENT SPORTS FACILITIES (P.10/2024) –

AMENDMENT

____________

1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

After the words “sport facilities” insert the word “that have previously accepted cash payments”

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

After the words “across all” insert the word “relevant”

 MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion −

1. to request the Minister for Infrastructure to reintroduce the ability for members of the public to pay in cash at Government run sport facilities thathave previously accepted cash payments by June 2024; and
2. to  request  the  Council  of  Ministers  to  review  current  and  planned Government  policies  regarding  cash  payments  across  all  relevant departments and facilities by June 2024, to ensure that Islanders are not being unfairly disadvantaged or prevented from accessing services.

REPORT

The amendment to part (a) ensures that Islanders, especially those who are vulnerable, should not be prevented from accessing services because they do not have a digital means of payment at the sports centres that formerly took cash (Fort Regent, Springfield and Les Quennevais).

During the Covid pandemic, sports facilities were the only area of government that moved to cashless payment to deliver financial savings, at a time when digital payment mechanisms  across  society  became  prevalent.  Since  then,  800,000  people  have transacted at Les Quennevais alone, and we are aware of very limited concern or complaints across the estate.

Nonetheless, this year the ability to pay by cash will be re-introduced at the sports centres that formerly took cash (Fort Regent, Springfield and Les Quennevais).

The amendment to part (b) ensures that a review will take place across all sports and related  facilities,  which  the  Council  of Ministers  believes  is  the  intention of  the proposition. This will enable that part of the proposition to be accepted.

A review across all departments and facilities is not considered to be practicable or achievable. The Covid pandemic led to a step change in the take-up of electronic payment methods both internationally and in Jersey. In 2023, the Government collected 91% of its income through electronic channels such as card payments, bank transfer, and online payments via the gov.je website.

The Government continues to make cash and cheque payment channels available and in 2023, 30,000 cheque and cash payments were received for government services.

During the covid pandemic, sports facilities were the only area of government that moved to cashless to deliver financial savings. Other government services did not change the payment options available. The Public Finance Manual and existing policies allow cash payments for government services. Members of the public who are unable to pay via electronic channels can access CLS Cashiers, at La Motte Street, to pay for government services. There will continue to be the ability to pay for government services at the New Office Building.

To extend cash payment options beyond the level that have existed to date would require cash collections processes to be established, put staff at increased risk, and increase costs of collection.

The Government is committed to making payment channels available that meet the customer need whilst ensuring that islanders are not being unfairly disadvantaged or prevented from accessing services. For many islanders this will involve making new digital channels available, such as parents requesting the ability to pay for school meals online using a debit card. There is no change required to the Public Finances Manual and existing policies to enable islanders to continue to access services with cash payments.

Page - 3

P.10/2024 Amd.

Financial and staffing implications

The wider review of government policies can be completed within existing resources, however, there could be potential costs associated with any changes which may be made following that work.

Children’s Rights Impact Assessment

A  Children’s  Rights  Impact  Assessment  (CRIA)  was  prepared  in  relation to  this Amendment and is available to read on the States Assembly website.