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19-21 Broad Street | St Helier Jersey | JE2 4WE
Chair, Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel By email
12th April 2021
Dear Senator Moore ,
COVID Response and Recovery Review - Fiscal Stimulus Fund Public Hearing Request
Thank you for your letter dated the 5th of May 2021, in which you request a public hearing regarding aspects of the Fiscal Stimulus Fund, which you state would assist you in making recommendations and assist in the Panel's work on the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Review.
The Fiscal Stimulus Fund was established by proposition in November 2020 and P.128/2020 set out the aims of the Fund, the criteria, and the roles for individual bodies within the appraisal framework. The Fiscal Stimulus Oversight Group has been working within that framework to ensure that they can make recommendations to the Minister regarding project funding. As you know, Stage 4 of the appraisal process gives the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel an opportunity to comment on the recommendations made by the Oversight Group so that I can then consider all of the information before making my final decision. This process has been followed for Tranche One recommendations and the Panel have had the opportunity to review and comment on the recommendations and these were noted by me before the completion of Tranche One. In terms of Tranche Two, the Fiscal Stimulus Oversight Group have not yet finalised their recommendation, but the Panel have been provided with the business cases received for those applications so that you can make comments on those applications as requested.
Given the nature of the information contained in the business cases, it is not possible for me to discuss any of these applications in specific detail in a public hearing so it is my view that this is not the best way to approach this matter. The list of topics you outline in your letter with my response are:
• Strategy and criteria definition – these criteria have already been shared with the Panel;
• Matching of projects to Common Strategic Policies – this has been covered within the criteria and in the recommendation report;
• Request management – the initial Expression of Interest was an online form and then business cases were submitted on a standard template;
• Project assessment and ranking – this was done by the Fiscal Stimulus Oversight Group with reference to the criteria;
• Governance surrounding allocations – this will be done with reference to the standard oversight requirements for grants together with a specific monitoring group for Fiscal Stimulus grants.
• Conflict of interest disclosures – these have been completed for the members of the Fiscal Stimulus Oversight Group;
• Suitability of allocations to private enterprises – P.128/2020 set out that applications should be from States Bodies, arm's length organisations and not-for-profit organisations, through a sponsoring States Body;
• Guidance provided by the Fiscal Policy Panel report in relation to pressure on resources – the Chief Economic Adviser is part of the Oversight Group and has provided guidance;
• Accountability and reporting practices following allocation – there will be monthly and quarterly monitoring following allocation including setting up each of the awards as projects within the Government's governance framework; and
• How projects are being measured against economic growth in relation to spend by households and businesses in the short, medium, and long term – the specific economic outcomes of each project were set out in the business case and it will be those outcomes that will be measured.
As always, Officers of Treasury & Exchequer will be happy to meet privately with you to discuss any concerns or to answer further questions.
I note that you wish to meet with the Fiscal Policy Panel, and I will ask my officers to make the necessary arrangements and liaise with you regarding the availability of the Chief Economic Advisor and the Panel.
Yours sincerely
Deputy Susie Pinel
Minister for Treasury and Resources
D +44 (0)1534 440215 E s.pinel@gov.je