THE government has refused to reveal the price of furniture purchased for its new offices, despite acknowledging that sharing details of the cost is “in the public interest”.
The JEP’s freedom-of-information request regarding the Office Accommodation Programme, submitted earlier this month, was denied on the basis that the information was “commercially sensitive”.
The building of a new seven-storey 10,400sqm office block – on the former Cyril le Marquand House site – began in 2021 and is expected to be completed this summer.
The JEP understands that new furniture, including desks, armchairs and tables and chairs have been bought for the office and sought to find out the cost and whether the items were sourced from Island suppliers.
However, the government’s response explained that the new building was being procured under a “Development Agreement” at a fixed price to the government where design, construction, cost and risks rest in the hands of the developer.
It added: “The agreement provides a turnkey package which includes FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) and places obligations on the developer to tender the individual packages and wherever possible use local suppliers.
“As the price to the Government of Jersey is fixed, the developers’ costs are commercially sensitive and under the terms of the agreement are to be kept confidential by both parties.
“The developers’ procurement process and tender returns are independently assessed and evaluated on behalf of the Government of Jersey to ensure products meet the required specification (including sustainability), are sourced where possible through local suppliers and that the costs are competitive/represent good value for money.”
Therefore, the JEP’s requested information is exempt under Article 33b (Commercial Interests) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, which is designed to protect commercial secrets.
“The release of the furnishing costs could potentially disadvantage the developer and the Government of Jersey’s ability to retain commercial advantage in any future tender process,” the FoI response explained.
“This could also result in the Government of Jersey’s inability to secure best value for the taxpayer, and this will likely prejudice the government as its bargaining power decreases.”
Discussing whether it was in the public interest to release the information, their statement added: “It is in the public interest to be made aware of any furnishing costs in relation to the new government building.
“However, it is considered that the likely prejudices to the developer, the government and the taxpayer should this information be released outweigh the argument that the release is in the public interest.”
It is unknown how much has been spent on the Office Accommodation Programme or the “Development Agreement”, but a total of £3,450,000 was set aside for the major project in the 2021 to 2024 Government Plan.
