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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st DECEMBER 2009
Question
"In light of the concerns the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) raises about the inadequate financial management of the organisation would the Minister consider undertaking a detailed examination before committing further public money to the Jersey Heritage Trust?
Can the Minister give assurances that granting the Jersey Heritage Trust £800,00 to cover their budget deficit, will not impact upon the monies available for the Island's other cultural and heritage providers dependent on States- funding?
Given that two of the historic sites managed by the Jersey Heritage Trust are owned by the National Trust for Jersey (Hamptonne) and La Société Jersiaise (La Hougue Bie), what consideration, if any, has the Minister given to entering into separate ring-fenced funding arrangements with these two bodies to open these sites to the public?
Will the Minister inform the Assembly of the respective attendances at Jersey Heritage Trust meetings by the two States Trustees (the Connétable of St. Helier and the Deputy of Grouville ) during the period in which the Trust was negotiating to purchase the DUKWS from Pure Adventure, and will the Minister undertake to make public the attendance records of all trustees since 2005 when a budget deficit was first recorded?"
Answer
A detailed examination is currently in train. I have made arrangements for independent auditors to work closely with the Jersey Heritage Trust to help identify a way forward and implement a number of specific recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General in his report. This work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. It would therefore be premature to express a view in advance of receiving this information and discussing it with the Trust.
I can confirm that the emergency funding provided to the Jersey Heritage Trust will not impact on the support given to the other cultural organisations funded by the department. This funding has been provided from the department's 2009 budget and I have an agreement with the Treasury Minister that the department will be reimbursed once the actual amount is known.
As part of the review of Jersey Heritage Trust, we will work with the National Trust and La Societe Jersiaise to explore opportunities for the future.
The Jersey Heritage Trust has no objection to making public, details of the attendance of all its trustees, including representatives from the States, and I have passed the Deputy 's request to the Trust who will be furnishing him with the information he seeks.