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2.4 Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier of the Minister for Treasury and Resources regarding the estimated budget allocation in 1998/2000 for a new police station:
Would the Minister advise what the estimated budget allocation was in 1998/2000 for the new Police Station, what the current budget is and whether this takes into account the £100,000 a year ongoing revenue that the Transport and Technical Services Department will lose through the reduction in parking spaces?
Deputy E.J. Noel of St. Lawrence (The Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources -
rapporteur):
There was no capital budget allocated for a new police station in 1998/2000. The original budget for the police headquarters was set in 2003 at £20,650,000 and the capital funding was subsequently allocated in stages from 2005. The budget currently available for the police headquarters is £21,070,000. The 91 spaces at Green Street Car Park will be displaced elsewhere, either to other public commuter car parks or to the private sector. It is incorrect to state that T.T.S. will lose revenue. I agree that they may do so due to the displacement and there may be an impact on the ongoing revenues of the department. It is because of this it is currently proposed that the trading account's annual return to Treasury would be reduced by the sum of £100,000 per annum. As this is a revenue expenditure, it does not form part of the capital budget and therefore is excluded in the £21,070,000 as I have previously stated.
- Deputy J.A. Martin:
So it is £100,000 lost to the public because the Treasury will not be receiving the £100,000 a year. My question on the budget. I am surprised that when there were drawings being done and plans being drawn up in 1999 and 2000, there was no budget and I would like to investigate that further, but if the budget was allocated in 2003 and it does not seem to have grown, can the Deputy answer what the rate of inflation for this budget has been? It seems to be a minus to me.
Deputy E.J. Noel:
I would just like to pick up on one of the points from Deputy Martin. She has inferred that there is going to be a loss to the public. We do not know this. That is why we are putting our proposal because there may be some reduction in revenue for the car park fund. With regard to why the capital budget has not increased significantly since 2003, that is because additional monies have been voted but they have been spent. The amount that is currently available is the £21,070,000. Other funds have been voted and have been used on pre-feasibility studies, planning applications and the like.
- Connétable P.J. Rondel of St. John :
I have got some concerns in the answer given to the question. Given back at the turn of the century I well recall seeing plans having been drawn up for Summerland and then police headquarters to go on the waterfront near the gardens or the waterfront car park, I should say, which had massive defence walls around it with armoured tank barriers around it, with built-in concrete, yes, exactly. I recall seeing them well in my time on Home Affairs. It would just be interesting to know how that was funded if there was no budget for it and in his research, hopefully the Assistant Minister can help us.
Deputy E.J. Noel:
I think the good Connétable of St. John 's memory might not be as accurate as he thinks. The information that I have been given is that the original budget was voted on in 2003. I will, of course, go back and check those figures and if they are incorrect, I will let the Constable and other Members know.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
I was listening but I may have missed it. Did the Assistant Minister, perhaps he could confirm the opportunity cost of the capital allocation for the land. Is that included in the £21,070,000?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
No, because the land is States-owned land. There is no opportunity cost included in the capital sum. Similarly, no capital has been allocated for the release of land at Summerland and the Ambulance Station, which is a gain to the Island in terms of the social housing requirement.
- Deputy J.A. Martin:
I hope the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources has a good talk to the Minister for Transport and Technical Services because when I asked the question of the ongoing revenue budget, it was not a proposal. It is on Hansard and the Minister for Transport and Technical Services has told us that they will forgo giving the Treasury £100,000 a year for the foreseeable future and this is a loss to the taxpayer. It cannot be spent on anything. Would the Assistant Minister not agree or at least agree to talk to the Minister for Transport and Technical Services and get the story straight?
Deputy E.J. Noel:
I am happy to clarify that this is a proposal and that it is dependent to some extent on whether or not there is a loss to the car park fund. That is why it is a "may", not a "will".