Jersey Heritage Trust: service level agreement and funding requirements.

STATES OF JERSEY

JERSEY HERITAGE TRUST: SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

Lodged au Greffe on 8th June 2010

by the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture

STATES GREFFE

2010   Price code: C  P.75

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to agree that, subject to the necessary funding being agreed by the States in the Annual Business Plan, the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture should sign a Service Level Agreement with the Jersey Heritage Trust, set out in draft in Annex A, specifying the minimum level of service to be provided in return for total annual funding from the States of Jersey for revenue expenditure purposes of £2,300,000, and to request the Chief Minister to include the additional financial provision for the Trust of £200,000 per annum in the Draft Annual Business Plan for 2011 and beyond;
2. to request the Chief Minister to make additional provision in the Draft Annual  Business  Plan  for  2011  and  beyond  to  meet  the  Trust's expenditure requirements to enable the maintenance and renewal of heritage sites under its control.

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE

REPORT

Introduction

The Jersey Heritage Trust was established and incorporated by Act of the States of Jersey, registered in the Royal Court on 3rd June 1983. The Trust's objects in the Law are the acquisition, conservation and display of the buildings and objects which form part of Jersey's heritage'[1].

Its aims under the constitution[2] approved by the States are: to care for the Island's collections; make them available to the public; maintain and open key heritage sites and resources; provide a comprehensive education service; inspire the public; and promote pride and a sense of belonging in our Island.

The Trust has been very successful in achieving these aims. However, due to diminishing visitor numbers and increasing costs, expenditure exceeds available funding. This led to a serious financial crisis last year.

Independent reviews were undertaken; first by the Comptroller and Auditor General[3], and subsequently by BDO Alto[4] and Locum Consulting[5]. They give a clear and consistent picture of an organisation which, though it must adapt in a number of ways, also requires additional States support if it is not to cut back drastically on the services it provides. This proposition follows the recommendations contained in these reports and, if adopted, will help ensure the Trust's sustainability.

Although the Trust's responsibilities also include the Jersey Archive, this proposition does not address important issues relating to the archive: the lack of a lease on the premises, the limited public access currently provided, the backlog in dealing with records and the implications this has on the Public Records (Jersey) Law 2002 and freedom of information legislation. This will be the subject of a separate report and proposition.

Review Outcomes

In his report published in November 2009, the Comptroller and Auditor General found scope for improvement in a number of aspects of the governance of the Trust and its relationship with the DfESC. But he also recognised a fundamental problem: the current grant is insufficient to sustain existing activities. Consequently, the States has to decide the extent of support to the Trust and the level of activity it wishes to see.

To address the issues of governance, the DfESC commissioned independent auditors, BDO Alto, to undertake a detailed analysis of the Trust's financial affairs and to make appropriate recommendations which are set out in its report. Locum Consulting was commissioned by EDD to look specifically at commercial aspects of the Trust's work and its capacity to generate further income. Informal discussions have taken place with

the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (the MLA'), the independent body which advises the UK government.

The 3 reports, together with the comments of the MLA, provide a consistent picture of the challenges facing the Trust. (Key observations are set out in Annex C.)

In terms of visitor numbers, the Locum report makes it clear that the Trust is doing well given the relatively small pool from which it can draw, and it is doing well in terms of the income it derives from those visitors. The potential to generate additional revenue is regarded as limited and, to the extent that it exists, is dependent upon further investment from the States to maintain public access to the current sites, and to refresh and refurbish them.

Acting on the recommendations of the C&AG and BDO Alto, the Trust has made fundamental changes to its business operation, achieving savings of £334,000 towards the annual deficit of around £550,000. These changes, while reducing some activities and some public access to sites, do not result in the permanent loss of any of the sites for which the Trust is responsible. Simultaneously, the DfESC is developing a new service level agreement which will include confirmation of the new minimum public opening periods for the heritage sites.

But these measures do not, in themselves, secure a sustainable position. This should not be a surprise because the extent of the problem was already predicted in the States Cultural Strategy adopted in 2005 –

"Research suggests that currently the funding levels of most of Jersey's major cultural institutions have been set at or not much above the minimum amount necessary for their survival...

The inescapable conclusion is that the States must either increase the level of funding significantly to the major cultural institutions if it wishes to ensure their sustainability or it must accept cuts in services – and the services which are most likely to be cut are precisely those which most would like to see preserved and enhanced." [Introduction to the States Cultural Strategy, 2005]

There was no such increase in funding following adoption of the strategy. This proposition now seeks to address this long-term problem.

The proposal

The DfESC has developed a draft service level agreement on the basis of the plans developed by the Trust and scrutinised by BDO Alto. The aim of this new agreement is to fix a level of service which can be achieved without permanent closures of sites but taking advantage of the Trust's new business model which entails outsourcing of a number of functions within the Trust and also some reduction in public access.

To achieve this new level of activity (set out in the draft service level agreement in Annex A) an increase in revenue funding of £200,000 is required.

In addition, a source of funding must also be established to refresh and refurbish the sites for which the Trust has responsibility. The need for such funding is highlighted

by the Comptroller and Auditor General among 4 required areas of financial support he identifies –

• The means to repay [the Trust's] overdraft;
• An annual operating grant;
• An annual maintenance grant;
• Financial assistance to permit investment in the Trust's sites.

The DfESC, with the help of the Minister for Treasury and Resources, has provided temporary revenue support for the Trust and additional funding to clear its debts; it has also secured funding to support the present transitional arrangements, such as staff redundancy  costs.  For  its  part,  the  Trust  has  set  aside  from  within  its  grant  an allowance for site maintenance. This leaves the outstanding revenue requirement and the site investment.

Site investment is calculated at £465,000 per annum, based on recommendations of Locum Consulting, adopted by BDO Alto, to be set aside annually and made available to the Jersey Heritage Trust by the States Treasury to support a planned programme of refurbishment and refreshment. Applications for funding from this source would be made by the Trust and would have to satisfy criteria agreed by the Trust, the States Treasury and DfESC.

Consequences of no further funding

It is important that the consequences of providing no further support to the Trust are understood. The BDO Alto report is clear –

"in  the  absence  of  a  commitment  by  the  States  to  fund  specific sites/activities, it appears to us that the Trust will need to effect site/activity closures in the short and medium term, in order to balance its books' through the reduction of its cost base."

The Trust has already made savings equating to around 10% of its annual budget. If no further funding can be identified to meet the current shortfall, the Trust will be obliged to take additional measures to ensure that it operates within budget –

• permanent closure of the Maritime Museum and Tapestry Gallery;
• withdrawal  from  the  Hamptonne  Partnership  with  the  National  Trust  for Jersey and the Société Jersiaise;
• further cuts to the schools education programme;
• a further reduction to public access at Elizabeth Castle.

These  measures  would  jeopardise  investment  made  by  the  States  and  private organisations over a number of years. They would also see the permanent loss of the Maritime Museum which received the accolade of Museum of the Year in 1997 and a reduction in planned educational visits to our heritage sites.

Moreover,  even  cuts  of  this  severity  would  not  generate  the  funding  required  to refurbish the sites for the future. A consequence of lack of refurbishment is likely to

be further loss of revenue from admissions income and a continuing spiral of decline. This would put at risk our Island's heritage sites.

Conclusion

If the public is to continue to enjoy the rich heritage offering found on the Island, then access to the sites for which the Trust has responsibility must be maintained even if the economic climate demands a realistic approach to periods of opening and to service levels in some areas. By keeping the sites open, the Trust will be able to react to  improvements  in  the  market  place,  especially  in  the  Tourism  sector,  over  the coming years.

It will also enable it to discuss other potential for adapting its business model further, as it has already done with the National Trust for Jersey and La Société Jersiaise in relation to Hamptonne.

But to achieve this, the annual funding below, index-linked to prevent erosion of its value, is required –

Existing JHT States grant  £2,100,000 Additional revenue element  £200,000 Fund for refurbishment  £465,000

Although this proposition introduces robust measures to secure the sustainability of the Trust, it should be noted that a drop in footfall to heritage sites or other reductions in revenue would leave the Trust in a position of having to renegotiate the service levels in the draft agreement. This vulnerability is highlighted in Part II of the BDO Alto report.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no additional manpower implications. The financial implications are set out in Annex B below.

ANNEX A

The Minister will enter into the following agreement with the Jersey Heritage Trust in return for annual States provision of –

1. An annual grant of £2,300,000, index linked to avoid erosion of value.
2. An annual allowance for site refurbishment of £465,000 index-linked to avoid erosion of value.

DRAFT JERSEY HERITAGE TRUST AGREEMENT

This agreement is made between the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture (the Minister') and the Jersey Heritage Trust (the Trust').

Whereas:

The Jersey Heritage Trust was established by Act of the States, registered in the Royal Court on 3 June 1983 with the purpose of "acquiring, conserving and showing the buildings and objects which form part of Jersey's heritage'.

The  Department  for  Education,  Sport  and  Culture  (the  DfESC')  is  the  States department charged in the States Cultural Strategy with supporting the development of culture in Jersey and specifically with supporting the Jersey Heritage Trust in its work on behalf of the Island.

The DfESC and the Trust have made this agreement to recognise the responsibilities given to the Trust by the States, to set out the ways in which those responsibilities relate to wider States policy and to specify services which will be provided, including a  minimum  level  of  public  opening  of  its  sites, in  return  for the  grant  which  is provided by the DfESC.

NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

1  Objectives of the financial support provided to the Trust

That the DfESC will provide an annual revenue grant to the Trust in support of  objective 16  of  the  States  Strategic  Plan  2009-2014:  [to]  support  the development  of  arts  and  heritage  in  Jersey'.  Objective 16  sets  out  the department's commitment  to  implement,  monitor and  review the  cultural strategy' and to continue to support the work of the Jersey Heritage Trust'

1. The States of Jersey Cultural Strategy specifies a series of objectives pursuant to the mission statement that: "the States of Jersey is committed to creating an environment in which the development of the Island's identity and cultural activities can flourish". The Trust delivers, or helps to achieve, a number of these objectives which underpin the support which DfESC provides to the Trust. They are:

1. To support the guardian and stewardship roles for preserving the built and natural environment of the island, particularly those facilities and collections  which  most  foster  a  sense  of  identity  and  pride.  (CS objective 1.3)
2. To confer a general responsibility [on] the Jersey Heritage Trust for all monuments, ancient and modern. (CS objective 1.4)
3. To review the present blue plaque scheme with the aim of extending it throughout the Island. (CS objective 1.6)
4. To commission  a  series  of  programmes,  activities,  publicity  and information which will celebrate a sense of identity and pride in the Island amongst the young people of Jersey. (CS objective 1.7)
5. To support and develop a role for culture to broaden Jersey's outlook and to strengthen Jersey's international profile. (CS objective 1.10)
6. To support programmes of activity which increase cultural tourism to the Island. (CS objective 3.1)
7. To help  develop  green  tourism'  through  signage,  artworks, information, tours etc (CS objective 3.3)
8. To commission local artists and craft workers wherever possible to enhance new public developments and to encourage the private sector to do likewise in their new developments. (CS objective 3.6)
9. To improve  the  public  domain  by  developing  and  extending  the current Public Art policy (CS objective 4.1)
10. To adopt more comprehensive cultural objectives for inclusion in the next revision of the Island Plan. (CS objective 4.3)
11. To value and help local community cultural organisations, societies and  individuals,  recognising  their  particular  contribution  to  the Island's identity and the quality of life. (CS objective 5.1)
12. To encourage increased participation in culture at the grass roots and at other levels. (CS objective 5.3]
13. To encourage  all the  major  cultural  providers  to  become  learning organisations dedicated to helping their staff and volunteers in their self-development. (CS objective 6.1)
14. To encourage  cultural  providers  to increase  formal  and  informal learning  opportunities  particularly  targeted  at  young  people.  (CS objective 6.2)
15. To encourage  cultural  providers  to increase  formal  and  informal learning  opportunities  particularly  targeted  at  retired  people.  (CS objective 6.3)

16. To encourage  cultural  providers  to increase  formal  and  informal learning  opportunities  particularly  targeted  at  minorities.  (CS objective 6.4)

2. These  objectives  connect  with  the  constitutional  objectives  of  the  Trust, approved by the States of Jersey, which are set out below. The Trust will:

1. collect, document, and preserve unique collections of artefacts, works of art, archival material, specimens and information relating to the history, culture and environment of the Bailiwick of Jersey; (1.1.1)
2. make  these  collections  widely  accessible  and  promote  learning through  museums,  galleries,  the  archives  centre,  exhibitions  and events in a range of venues, publications and the internet; (1.1.6, 1.1.12, 1.1.13, 1.1.14, 1.1.15, 1.1.16)
3. acquire,  maintain,  open  and  develop  significant  historic  sites, museums and galleries; (1.1.2)
4. provide comprehensive information, education and outreach services to a wide audience; (1.1.3, 1,1,7)
5. provide outstanding, memorable and inspirational experiences for the visiting public; (1.1.2,1.1.4)
6. work  with  other  organisations  in and  outside  the  Island,  and  in particular the Société Jersiaise, to deliver these aims; (1.1.10, 1.1.11, 1.1.12)
7. promote  an  inclusive  sense  of  belonging  and  pride  in the  Island, advance the cause of its heritage and support its cultural identity. (1.1.5, 1.1.8, 1.1.9.)

3. Appendix B  sets  out  the  performance  indicators  which  are  agreed  by  the DfESC and the Trust in order to measure performance of the Trust against these objectives and to provide an appropriate framework for reporting the financial performance of the Trust.
4. The DfESC recognises that the Trust's purpose of "acquiring, conserving and showing the buildings and objects which form part of Jersey's heritage" is not an  activity  confined  to management  of  the  buildings  for  which  it  has operational  responsibility;  nor  is it confined  to areas  of  governmental responsibility  falling  exclusively  within  the  ambit  of  the  DfESC. Consequently,  the  Trust's  will  provide  other  services  consistent  with  its objects  which  are  undertaken  by  agreement  with  the  DfESC  but  under separate  SLA  with  the  body  concerned.  On  the  commencement  of  this agreement, these services are:

1. Operation of Signal Station under SLA with Jersey Harbours
2. Management of Historic Buildings register under SLA with Planning and Environment Department

3. Provision of Archaeological Services under SLA with the Planning and Environment Department
4. Educational services regarding historic environment under SLA
5. Management  under  agreement  with  Property  Holdings  of  public heritage sites (currently 10) for conservation and access services
6. Referrals  on  Open  General  Export  Licence  by  agreement  with Customs and Immigration for the Home Affairs Department.

5. It is agreed that the Trust will not enter into additional agreements without the approval of the DfESC.

2  Conditions attaching to the grant

1. Confirmation of the level of grant will follow a presentation by the Trust to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture (the Minister') in September (or a date mutually agreed by the Department and the Trust) the previous year. The presentation will include formal submission of a business plan, audited annual accounts and a report on the activities of the Trust for the previous year, and an operating budget for the forthcoming year.
2. The Trust's  business  plan  will  highlight  any  proposed  changes,  or reprioritisation, in services proposed.
3. The Trust  will  maintain  monthly  management  accounts  which  will  be considered on a monthly basis by the Board to ensure proper management control is exercised over its sites and activities, and which identify the cost of individual activities as set out in the report on the Jersey Heritage Trust by BDO Alto, dated March 2010.
4. The Trust will report to the department on a quarterly basis using agreed indicators (set out in Appendix B).
5. Neither the Board of the Jersey Heritage Trust nor its officers may authorise expenditure  that  is  materially  in excess  of  that  provided  in  the  budget submitted in support of the annual grant, or may act in such a way as to compromise  the  ability  of  the  Trust  to operate  within  its  agreed  budget, without the written consent of the Minister.
6. Neither the Board of the Jersey Heritage Trust nor its officers may undertake any borrowing without the written consent of the Minister.
7. The Trust will maintain a separate bank account, or accounts, for any reserved funds it holds on its own behalf or on behalf of any partner organisation; and such funds will not be used for purposes other than those specified in the establishment of the fund. The application of funds from reserved accounts will be approved by the Board and minuted appropriately.
8. The Trust will maintain in a separate bank account monies held under the usufruct agreement with the States of Jersey and designated as the Ancient Monuments Fund' to be used for the purposes set out in the agreement. The

fund  will  comprise  a  percentage  of  the  admissions  income  derived  from visitors to Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles calculated on the basis of the memorandum set out in Appendix C. As required by the usufruct agreement, this may not be varied except by agreement with the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture.

9. The accounts and financial records of the Trust shall be open for inspection by the department, by the Chief Internal Auditor, and by the Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with the requirements of the States Financial Directions relating to external bodies in receipt of States funding.
10. The Board of the Jersey Heritage Trust will present to the department plans to indicate how it proposes to utilise funding held by the Treasury and Resources Department for the purposes of undertaking minor capital works (including refurbishment and refreshment) of sites which are administered by the Trust. These plans will be considered by the department before submission to the Treasury and Resources Department.
11. The Trust may not take on new activities or responsibility for additional sites without the written agreement of the Minister.
12. The Trust will operate according to principles of good governance and will adhere  to the  guidance  set  out  in Good  Governance:  A  Code  for  the Voluntary and Community Sector', copies of which are available online or by request from the DfESC.
13. The Trust will comply with the requirements relating to bodies in receipt of grants from the States of Jersey set down in the States Financial Directions, copies of which are available on request from the DfESC.
14. The Trust  will  act  in accordance  with  its  obligations  under  the  usufruct agreement relating to Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles (p.218/1996).

3  Public Access to sites

1. The Trust will provide minimum levels of public access to the sites for which it has responsibility by agreement with the DfESC. These minimum levels of access may be varied only by agreement with the DfESC.
2. The agreed minimum levels of access at the commencement of this agreement are set out in the draft service level agreement, Appendix A.

4  Other responsibilities of the Trust

1. The Trust will ensure that it acts as a responsible employer, with relevant up to date employment policies which comply with best practice.
2. The Trust will work with other heritage organisations and with other non- profit cultural bodies in Jersey in order to support the aspirations of the States Cultural Strategy.

3. The Trust  will  enter  into  formal  agreements  with  any  other  heritage organisations with which it may have, or develop, partnerships so as to ensure that any funding which it may distribute to those bodies is properly accounted for. Such agreements will require the approval of the department prior to signature and must be clearly identified in the annual Business Plan.
4. The Trust will work with the DfESC to undertake research to ensure that the Trust's work is consonant with the values held by the public in respect of Island heritage.
5. The Trust will ensure that the public is appropriately informed about the results of this work and of issues affecting public understanding of heritage issues in the Island.

5  Responsibilities of the Department

5.1  The  DfESC  recognises  that  the  Trust  has  been  established  to  fulfil  the ambitions of the States of Jersey in relation the acquisition, conservation and appropriate display and promotion of the Island's heritage. In order to allow the Trust to fulfil this role, DfESC will support the endeavours of the Trust and specifically will:

1. Develop  and  maintain  effective  communication  with  the  Trust  to facilitate  timely  exchange  of  information  to support  planning  and funding decisions.
2. Ensure that there is an annual meeting at which the Trust has the opportunity to present its business plan and other supporting material to the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture.
3. Facilitate such other meetings with the DfESC senior management team as may be required in order to ensure that this agreement can be discharged effectively.
4. Support the Trust through the provision of advice and guidance with regard to administration, finance and human resource matters as and when required by the Trust.
5. Advise  the  Trust  of  States  or  Departmental  policy  decisions  and strategies which may have an impact on the organisation's plans or services.
6. Take account of the Trust's views and plans when determining its own strategic and business direction.
7. Champion the Trust's aims objectives and services within the States of Jersey and the community at large.
8. Represent  the  Trust  within  the  States  with  respect  to reporting achievement, funding needs and strategic development.

9. Pass  on  to the  Trust  any  annual  increases  in staff  and  non-staff inflation  which  it  secures  from  the  Treasury  and  Resources Department in order to sustain the value of the revenue funding made available to the Trust.
10. Work with the Trust on any applications for capital funding to be sought  through  the  States  capital  expenditure  application  process, ensuring that appropriate revenue streams to support such plans have been identified and agreed.
11. Support the Trust's application for funding from the Heritage Minor Capital works budget, employing criteria agreed between the Trust, the DfESC and the States Treasury and Resources Department.
12. Advise  the  Trust  of  States  policies  with  regard  to future  funding decisions with a view to aid forward financial planning.

6  Implementation of the Agreement

6.1  To achieve the above, the DfESC will nominate an officer in the Department with specific responsibility for day-to-day liaison with the Trust to ensure regular and effective communication and feedback between both partners, and the management of the grant application process set out in 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, above.

7  Updating of Agreement

Whilst  the  purpose  of  this  agreement  is  to  provide  a  clear,  long-term relationship between the Trust, the Minister and the DfESC, it is recognised that  circumstances  change  and  that  the  agreement  should  be  reviewed periodically to ensure that it reflects the needs of the States of Jersey and the Trust. It will, therefore, be reviewed triennially but may also be subject to amendment through discussion and mutual agreement between the Minister and the Trust.

Performance indicators

The DfESC agrees the following performance indicators with the Trust which will be used in the Business Plan and in periodic reporting to the DfESC. These are the measures which will be used to determine the success of the Trust's work. The annual Business Plans agreed with the DfESC will specify the agreed targets. The Trust will:

1  Collections (1.2.1 above)

• Achieve  national  accreditation  of  the  Museums,  Libraries  and Archives Council for the Trust's work.
• Achieve a year on year increase in documented items available to the public on-site and on-line.
• Monitor the number of Jersey Archive readers.

2. Sites

• Respond to requests for listings reports.
• Agree current conservation plans for all sites in the Trust's care.
• Maintain public access to all sites (see agreed schedule of opening).
• Publish three-year rolling programmes of exhibitions.

3. Access

• Achieve the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) standard.
• Record numbers of visitors in person to sites.
• Record numbers of website visitors.
• Monitor occupancy rates for Forts and Towers sites.

4. Learning

• Maintain statistics visits to sites by students in formal education.
• Maintain  statistics  on  contact  with  other  students  within  the curriculum.
• Maintain  statistics  on  participation  of  children  under-16  in  non- curriculum learning events.
• Maintain statistics on contact with third age and other community groups.

5. Community partnerships

• Monitor the number of hours of voluntary support given to the Trust.
• Maintain statistics on corporate and project partners.
• Publish details of collaborative projects with other heritage groups and with other cultural groups, as appropriate.

6. Sustainability

• Publish annual accounts, annual report annual review, annual business plan.
• Achieve an agreed ratio of earned income to grant.
• Operate within budget to avoid year-end deficits.
• Publish unqualified year-end accounts.
• Achieve Investors in People standard.

The Ancient Monuments Fund (AMF') is defined in the usufruct agreement between the States of Jersey and the Jersey Heritage Trust (p218/1996). It is to be used for the maintenance of Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles.

Under  clause 4.05  of  the  agreement  the  Trust  shall  agree  with  the  Minister  for Education, Sport and Culture (the Minister having inherited the original obligation falling to the Finance and Economics Committee) the percentage of the Admissions Income which shall be paid into the Fund.

The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture has agreed at the commencement of this agreement that the percentage of Admissions Income shall be 17%. This figure will be calculated on the admission price to Mont Orgueil Castle and to Elizabeth Castle, the latter figure including the cost of amphibious vehicle transport to the castle.

ANNEX B

Funding Requirements

1. Revenue Funding

The  additional  revenue  requirement  to  sustain  the  above  level  of  activity  is summarised as follows. The detail is set out in Part II of the BDO Alto report.

£'000

Existing SoJ annual and other grants  2,100

Other income  1,437

Total incoming resources  3,537 Operating expenses  (4,023)

Société Jersiaise grant  (41)

Base budget deficit  (527) Savings from Trust restructuring  334 Loss of admission income  (15)

Normalised reforecast deficit  (208)

The forecasting on which these figures is based is not free from risk, as the BDO report Part II notes, though there are also compensating opportunities to control costs and derive some limited income from the occasional opening of Hamptonne.

2. Capital Fund

The purpose of the capital fund is to permit planned refreshment of the sites for which the  Jersey  Heritage  Trust  is  responsible  to  ensure  that  the  work  of  the  Trust  is sustainable. The absence of such funding and the ongoing problems which it creates are noted in all 3 reports.

The value of the fund is based on an assessment made by Locum Consulting based on 10%  of  the  cost  of  the  displays  at  the  sites  for  which  the  Trust  is  responsible, excluding Hamptonne. This figure is calculated at £465,000 per annum.

This table sets out some of the principal recommendations of the reports undertaken on the Jersey Heritage Trust in the past 6 months.

Extract from JHT constitution as approved by the States of Jersey:

1. Jersey's heritage is special. The purpose of the Jersey Heritage Trust isto care for it, promote wide access to it, act as advocates on its behalf, and bring imagination to telling its stories so as to inspire people to create a better Island for everyone.
2. In order to accomplish this, the Jersey Heritage Trust shall, in addition to any other method that may seem appropriate to it from time to time –

1. collect,  document,  and  preserve  unique  collections  of artefacts,  works  of  art,  archival  material,  specimens  and information relating to the history, culture and environment of the Bailiwick of Jersey. These collections define the Island, hold the evidence for its historical development and act as the community's memory;
2. make  these  collections  widely  accessible  and  promote learning  through  museums,  galleries,  the  archives  centre, exhibitions and events in a range of venues, publications and the Internet;
3. acquire, maintain, open and develop significant historic sites, museums  and  galleries,  including  Mont  Orgueil,  Elizabeth Castle,  Hamptonne,  La  Hougue  Bie,  the  Jersey  Museum, No. 9  Pier  Road,  the  Jersey  Archives  Centre  and  the  Sir Francis Cook Gallery;
4. provide comprehensive information, education and outreach services to a wide audience;
5. provide outstanding, memorable and inspirational experiences for the visiting public;
6. work with other organisations in and outside the Island, and in particular the Société Jersiaise, to deliver these aims;
7. promote  an  inclusive  sense  of  belonging  and  pride  in the Island,  advance  the  cause  of  its  heritage  and  support  its cultural identity.