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Deputy Helen Miles ,
Chair, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel By email
31st October 2024 Dear Deputy Miles ,
Thank you for your letter of 9th October 2024. Please see below responses.
- Any briefings or briefing papers provided by the Chief Statistician to Ministers on their professional recommendations and the implications of any budget reductions.
Briefing papers will be provided to the Panel later this week. The Business Tendency Survey will also be reinstated, and further updates can be provided.
- An outline of the percentage budget reductions across the sections of the Cabinet Office over the budget period, including for the following sections:
- Ministerial Office and FOI
- Public Policy
- Housing, Environment, and Placemaking
- Governance and Assurance
- Communications
- Statistics and Analytics
- Public Health
- Safeguarding Partnership
- Care Commission
- Children's Commissioner
- Charities Commission
- Advice and Conciliation Services
An analysis of the Cabinet Office Budget is appended for each of the sections requested.
The table shows the £ and % movement in budgets for 2025 compared to 2024; how the role savings have been allocated to each of the service areas in 2025; and the 2026 – 2028 service analysis showing the year-on-year budget changes for each service area. It is also worth noting that while a number of budgets have been reduced in absolute terms, in some cases this follows previous years' growth.
- Any business cases in relation to revenue growth bids which were provided to the Council of Ministers by departments, however, were not successful.
During the development of the Common Strategic Policy, the Council of Ministers agreed their priorities and their approach to curb the growth in the public sector and reprioritise budgets. Accordingly, Ministers agreed not to run an open bidding process for revenue expenditure growth items during the development of the Budget. Specific revenue growth funding was only considered where necessary to meet the priorities of the Common Strategic Policy (CSP). As a result, no business cases relating to revenue growth outside of the CSP were provided to the Council of Ministers for inclusion in the 2025 Budget.
This means there will be a greater focus on the prioritisation of existing budgets to deliver Ministers' objectives and meet any pressures. Focusing efforts on spending existing budgets well, rather than on developing proposals that would drive further growth in the cost of the public service.
It is worth noting that Statistics Jersey provided a business case for the Living Costs and Household Income Survey, for commencement in 2026 (which can be provided). This business case was supported, recognising the importance of the survey, and funding will be considered as part of development of the 2026 Budget.
Yours sincerely,
Deputy Lyndon Farnham Chief Minister
19-21 Broad Street | St Helier | Jersey | JE2 3RR
2
Table showing movements in the Cabinet Office Budget (2024 – 2028)
| 2024 Approved Government Plan £000 | 2025 Published Budget Annex £000 | 2024 – 2025 Budget change £000 | 2024 – 2025 Budget change % | 2025 Role Saving Allocation £000 | 2026 Budget £000 | 2027 Budget £000 | 2028 Budget £000 |
Ministerial Office and FOI | 3,203 | 3,422 | 219 | 6.8 | 81 | 3,301 | 3,301 | 3,301 |
Public Policy | 3,809 | 4,622 | 813 | 21.3 | 162 | 4,128 | 4,004 | 4,004 |
Housing, Environment & Place Making | 2,004 | 2,605 | 601 | 30.0 | 162 | 2,362 | 2,362 | 2,362 |
Governance and Assurance (including Delivery Unit for 2024) | 1,485 | 555 | -930 | -62.6 | 0 | 555 | 555 | 555 |
Communications | 2,529 | 2,366 | -163 | -6.4 | 122 | 2,184 | 2,184 | 2,184 |
Statistics and Analytics | 1,888 | 1,916 | 28 | 1.5 | 81 | 1,795 | 1,795 | 1,795 |
Public Health | 7,165 | 6,785 | -380 | -5.3 | 122 | 6,276 | 6,276 | 6,276 |
Safeguarding Partnership | 773 | 783 | 10 | 1.3 | 41 | 722 | 722 | 722 |
Care Commission | 1,764 | 1,767 | 3 | 0.2 | 81 | 1,596 | 1,596 | 1,596 |
Children's Commissioner | 958 | 980 | 22 | 2.3 | 41 | 919 | 919 | 919 |
Charities Commissioner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Advice and Conciliation Service | 473 | 473 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 437 | 473 | 473 |
Total | 26,052 | 26,274 | 222 | 0.9 | 893 | 24,311 | 24,187 | 24,187 |
Note 1: 2025 Budgets Increased due to 2024 Pay Award and Non–Staff inflation allocation
Note 2: Between 2024 and 2025 Budget transfers will also impact budget allocations. For example, FOI has moved from Treasury and Resources to the Cabinet Office; and following the dissolution of the Delivery Unit the budgets have been realigned in 2025 to reflect the move of those staff to other policy priorities.
Note 3: Some of the services have received increases in previous years, for example, the Public Health published budget in 2023 was £3,576,000; Statistics and Analytics was £1,386,000; and Communications £2,450,000. More information can be provided on request.
Please see Reconciliation of the Opening 2024 Budget to the Opening 2025 budget (please see Table 5, page 8): Draft Budget Annex (v1 31072024).pdf