Ann Alice Rayner Fund: alteration of purpose.

STATES OF JERSEY

ANN ALICE RAYNER FUND: ALTERATION OF PURPOSE

Lodged au Greffe on 4th November 2016 by the Minister for Treasury and Resources

STATES GREFFE

2016  P.116

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to amend the Act of the States dated 27th March 2001 concerning the Ann Alice Rayner Fund by inserting as an additional object in sub-paragraph (a) –

"(3)  the  making  of  grants  in  support  of  any  charitable  institution  or

charitable home other than one owned and administered by public funds, which has for its object the relief of needy persons;".

MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES

REPORT

The States, by Act dated 16th November 1949, and in accordance with the terms of the last Will and Testament of Ann Alice Blason, née Colclough ("the Testatrix"), wife of Charles  Henry  Blason  and  widow  of  John  Edward  Rayner,  late  Lord  Mayor  of Liverpool, created a Fund called the "Ann Alice Rayner Fund", which was to be used for such objects and purposes of a charitable or philanthropic nature as the States of Jersey might at their absolute discretion from time to time determine (see R&O.2536). At that time, the States resolved that the Fund would be administered by a Delegation of 5 members of the States appointed from time to time by the Assembly and that, under paragraph (3) of the Act –

"(3)  The Delegation may, at its absolute discretion, from time to time make

grants out of the income of the Fund –

1. for promoting the happiness and comfort of the inmates of the Poor Law Department of the Jersey General Hospital;
2. for the provision of up to date equipment for the treatment of patients at the said Hospital;
3. of pecuniary relief in any form to needy persons of either sex of the professional classes residing in Jersey.".

Subsequently, on 27th March 2001, the States was reminded that it had now taken on the obligation of funding the expenditure of the General Hospital, and was advised that the wishes of the Testatrix to help those of the "professional classes" was now too restrictive. In addition, the States was informed that a similar fairly substantial Fund – the Greville Bathe Fund – was administered by 4 Jurats of the Royal Court. As a consequence, the States approved a Proposition of the then Finance and Economics Committee (P.38/2001 – Ann Alice Rayner Fund: objects, purpose and administration) to hand over the administration of the Fund to 4 Jurats, and to agree that the objects and purpose of the Ann Alice Rayner Fund would be –

"(1)  the provision of pecuniary relief to needy persons residing in Jersey;

and

(2)  such other objects and purposes of a charitable or philanthropic nature as the States may hereafter in their absolute discretion determine;".

The monies of the Fund are invested within the Collective Investment Funds of the States of Jersey, and the total investment stood at £3,267,972 as at 31st December 2015.

It has been the experience of the Delegation of Jurats that in recent years, and following the introduction of Income Support, the income arising out of the investments has regularly outstripped the distribution of grants to needy persons. This has occurred notwithstanding the Delegation reminding Parish Authorities, and other institutions dealing with those in need of financial support, of the availability of the Fund.

In the case of the administration of this Fund, it will be noted that the Delegation is limited to providing grants to individual applicants. However, the Greville Bathe Fund is not similarly circumscribed.

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P.116/2016

Under the terms of the Trust set up as a result of the Last Will and Testament of Greville Bathe, a Fund was established, the income of which could be distributed to –

"sick  and  aged  persons  of  either  sex  and  of  any  age  or  denomination whatsoever, resident in the Island of Jersey, in addition of or otherwise to any pension or relief which such sick or aged person may already be in receipt of and to include grants or pensions in support of any institution or Home other than owned and administered by public funds, which has for its object the relief of sick and aged."

(underlining added)

Thus, as the number of individual applicants to the Greville Bathe Fund has declined in recent years, following the institution of Income Support, the Delegation has taken the opportunity to provide grants to charitable institutions and organisations which have, as their principal objectives, the provision of support and care to the sick and the aged. During 2015, a total amount of £459,610 was distributed to a number of charities in this way.

In light of the continuing reduction in the number of individual applications to the Ann Alice Rayner Fund, the Delegation considers that it would be appropriate to introduce a similar provision to that contained under the terms of the Greville Bathe Fund, which would allow distribution of monies to institutions and organisations which have, as their principal objective, the provision of support and care to "needy persons". This would thereby ensure that Ann Alice Rayner's desire to assist and support needy people through her generous bequest would continue to have relevance for many years to come.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial or manpower implications for the States arising from this proposition.