Jersey Community Relations Trust (P.120-2003) - addendum

STATES OF JERSEY

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JERSEY COMMUNITY RELATIONS TRUST (P.120/2003): ADDENDUM TO REPORT

Presented to the States on 2nd December 2003 by the Policy and Resources Committee

STATES GREFFE

ADDENDUM TO REPORT

The Report and Proposition of the Policy and Resources Committee asking the States to approve the establishment of the Community Relations Trust was lodged au Greffe on 12th August 2003. There have since been a number of developments which have given rise to the need for an Addendum to the original Report accompanying the Proposition.

Firstly, there are the Amendments to the Proposition lodged au Greffe on 7th October 2003 by the Connétable of St Helier. Part (a) of the Connétable 's Amendments seeks to increase the number of Trustees by adding another States Member, appointed by the States and who is not a Member of the Policy and Resources Committee, and "who is committed to the objectives of the Jersey Community Relations Trust.". After discussion with representatives of the Trust's Steering Group, the Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to accede to Amendment (a) as this does not fundamentally undermine the objectives of the Trust and, it could be argued, that an additional committed "shoulder to the wheel" could assist the Trust in achieving its goals.

Part (b) of the Connétable 's Amendment proposes that, once the initial grant funding of £100,000 has been spent, the future revenue requirements of the Trust should be met from the cash limit of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Committee will not be supporting Part  (b) of the Connétable 's first Amendment for the following reasons –

1. T h e Committee would beunabletoaccedeto a commitment to meet the future funding requirement of the Trustwithin its existingcash limit; there is simply not enough resource to take on a significant additional revenue cost withoutanincrease in its cashlimit.Any increase in the cashlimit would be subject to the annual spending review process. The Committee considers it undesirable that the States should agreeto increase the Committee'scashlimit outside the prioritisation process oftheAnnual Spending Review.
2. M  e mbers of the CommunityRelationsTrustSteeringGroupdo not supportPart (b) of the Connétable of St.  Helier's Amendments.Theirrequirementforfunds is not now as greatsincetheprovision of premises has beenachievedthroughthe generous offer oftheTrusteesof the CommunityRelations Centre, Aquila Road. Furthermore, the Steering Committee would prefer to maintain a greater degree ofindependence than might be possible should its activities be wholly funded by the States of Jersey. The Steering Group's preferred approach is for the States to provide initial funding for the first 12to18 monthsof operation and thereafter for theTrust to befunded in anindependentmanner with the ability to seek financial support from the private sector andtoapplyto the States for grants for some project-led funding from time to time. It is felt that this approach is moreappropriate with the concept of a quasi-independent Trustwhere the role of the States is to maintain a "light touch" on the work of the Trust; to ensureproper accountability for publicmonieswhere they are applied and to have regard to the Island's international commitments to eliminate discrimination, but not to direct the Trust's activities other than as specified in its constitution.

Secondly, it would be useful to update Members about the context in which the Policy and Resources Committee is bringing forward this Proposition.

The States agreed a clear policy on the elimination of racial discrimination in 1996 when the Policy and Resources Committee was charged to promote legislation to tackle racial discrimination and to encourage more enlightened attitudes through educational and promotional initiatives. In December 1999, a Race Discrimination Forum was established, enjoying wide community and political support, which brought forward proposals for a co-ordinating body to tackle racial and other forms of discrimination and to develop legislation to address the specific issue of racial discrimination.

In 2002, the States adopted by an overwhelming majority the proposition P.32/2002, to approval proposals to eliminate racial discrimination in a wide range of settings, including employment. Drafting instructions to this effect have been received by the Legislation Committee.

The Proposition P.120/2003 to establish the Community Relations Trust is the consequence of the previous States policies decisions. The aims of the Trust would establish broad terms of reference which would address many forms of discrimination, i.e. –

" D i sc rimination on any grounds, including but not limited to grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, gender or sexual orientation, disability or age".

As such, it is evident that the proposed Trust is being set up within a clear States strategy and with a far–reaching mandate from the States to tackle all forms of discrimination by promoting equality of treatment and opportunity, in a wide range of settings, within our community.

The proposed "pump-priming" funding represents a substantial commitment in the present financial environment to establishing the Trust. The adoption by the States of this Proposition of the Policy and Resources Committee contributes to the fulfilment of our commitments to the U.N. Committee on Elimination of Race Discrimination and would form part of the Island's next submission to be drafted in mid-2004 as part of the 2-yearly reporting cycle due in 2005.