Select a region
A backbencher has secured nearly half-a-million more in funding for arts, culture and heritage after Ministers failed in their “sneaky” attempt to roll back a landmark agreement.
Deputy Montfort Tadier’s proposition asking the States Assembly to stick to their commitment to invest 1% of the total Government budget in the sector was yesterday approved with 23 votes for and 15 votes against.
He criticised the covert attempt from Ministers to "back out" of the commitment in next year's proposed budget without providing an explanation or seeking the approval of the States Assembly.
The Budget – which is due for debate next month – proposed that funding is instead linked to the rate of inflation.
But with a forecast drop in inflation to under 2% in 2025, Deputy Tadier said the Government's proposals would see the sector missing out on £438,600 in funding that it would otherwise have received under the current formula.
His proposition asked that "no changes should be made to the target revenue expenditure model" unless a proposal "exclusively concerning the funding of those specific matters" is considered and approved by the States Assembly.
Pictured: The St Brelade politician also claimed that the Government's covert method of changing the funding formula was lacking "courage and transparency".
Ministers – most of whom voted against the proposition – blasted Deputy Tadier's arguments and accusations and claimed before the debate that the Fiscal Policy Panel, which provides independent advice to the Treasury Department, had advised a switch to an inflation-linked spend.
They "welcomed the change to inflation linkage in the Budget", the report read, and asked Members to reject Deputy Tadier's proposition, saying: "Providing a suitable level of funding for arts, heritage and culture (AHC) remains important to this Council of Ministers.
"This is evident in the proposed Budget 2025 which, despite increasing pressures on the public purse, has increased the provision for AHC in line with inflation, allocating an additional £269,000 in 2025 compared to 2024 funding."
Linking the budget to total net revenue expenditure was an "inefficient" method of allocating public funds, "particularly during a period of strained Government finances", they argued.
They added that the proposed change to inflation linkage was "clearly set out" in the Budget, which was published 16 weeks before debate – offering "ample time for all aspects of the plan to be properly reviewed".
They also noted that since 2021, the States had also made investments in both the Opera House of £11.7m and Elizabeth Castle of £5m.
Pictured: The Government said extra funding had been poured into renovation work at Elizabeth Castle.
Deputy Tadier's proposition came amid fears that funding changes or cuts could plunge the sector into peril.
Jersey Heritage warned earlier this year that the arm's-length organisation may have to cut some of its activities in response to uncertainties over its long-term funding.
CEO Jon Carter said in July that the organisation, which looks after all of the island's key historic sites as well as Jersey Archive, already paused archaeological work at La Cotte de St Brelade were "looking at other potential changes to inform Government decisions on what a sustainable heritage service looks like".
In 2019, the Government committed to to invest 1% of its overall expenditure in arts, culture and heritage from 2022 onwards.
That decision was agreed after a previous proposal from Deputy Tadier received overwhelming support in the States Assembly and this year meant £11.62 million went towards those funding streams.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel later hailed the move as a "validation of the role of arts and culture for the future of the Island" in an Arts Strategy.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.