Heritage take front page today,we need another million or 4 sites close.

Where did The Heritage Trust go wrong or did they ?

On the one hand Jon Carter has a passion for creating some of Jerseys flagship attractions and of course he is right Jerseys Castles and monuments are world class, and over the years have had major public investment. At what cost to the island residents and is that cost justified with such a massive downturn in visitors ? Is he running a tight ship business wise ? He thinks so, JEP Saturday 27^th May, in which he says, quote green for clarity

It is a fact, and I am going to keep saying it. We do it cheaper because we have lower costs and make half our money on income. We are high quality, low cost and great value for money.
He also says that Minister James Reed has said that in the downturn further funds are not available, Mr Carter goes on to say that his requests ( for more money) are falling on to many deaf ears in the council of Ministers.

It truly pains me to write this, but no Mr Carter they all hear you, the problem is that Jersey Heritage has become a financial shambles and for all of your posturing and talk of audits lets take a look at some hard facts.

Firstly the wonderful pagent of old England staged at Mount Orgueil Castle with actors brought in from England some time back, what was the loss ? around £300,00 give or take a few thousand. The work on Mount Orgueil Castle costings, done on the back of a fag packet as one scrutiny panel told me and then Heritage employed an architect that had no experience of castles, and the giant scaffolding stood at considerable cost for years. Its a lovely Castle but how much were the overuns and what was the final cost in millions does anyone know ?

How did Heritage do with the Duwks, well you had so much money to spare it seems you added to the loans given to Pure and gave, sorry loaned them a further £51,405 page 47 appendix 10 section 3. Your lawyers understanding the predicament you had made for yourselves, said buy the Duwks, or keep Pure to their contract. Same page. See for yourself. Please hit the link then go to page appendix 10 the lawyers letter.

http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/documents/reports/9554-49938-872008.htm

Again how short of money can Heritage be to carry on like this, now taking on the role of a bank giving loans to wealthy Duwk owners, and rather than make a sub contractor who runs a service, stick to their side of the contract, just buy them out a top price asked. Plain crazy.

It seems the lessons regarding the costs of Mount Orgueil did not really further Heritage understanding of business in the real world of spending other peoples money for a decent return.
How much did the radio tower at Corbiere cost to change into high quality accommodation. Another loss maker, I actually spoke to a tradesman who worked on the lavish project.

It seems that Minister James Reed has been in discussions, he would have taken advice from several people maybe Big Chris the auditor general or scrutiny of course the Public accounts Committee were all involved also after the public outcry. Those that have looked at the business empire, you are trying to amass, which in itself is at odds with the hard working tax paying local businesses you are competing with. I may be wrong I thought Heritage was classed as a Trust you are supposed to be a Trust ( non-profit making ) and funded as such.

Yet you clearly Quote,

Heritage has raised extra income from increased retailing, increasing memberships, entering the holiday and publishing markets, hosting weddings and promoting its sites far more actively.

That’s going to make all those business people who have re-mortgaged their houses and working even harder in the recession to keep their businesses going happy then. Some may even say this is unfair competition.

Does Heritage as a trust actually pay GST or tax on earnings as with the other businesses its competing with.

Politicians have for years been ridiculed because it accepted tourism has declined agriculture has declined markets change but departments are still heavily funded and staffed.
We have a Minister in James Reed who has said enough is enough, and he appears to be supported by fellow Ministers the repercussions of the real world have arrived in Jersey it seems.

The Heritage sites can still be maintained if not updated for £1. 9 million pounds a year, and maybe the loss leaders mothballed until there is an uplift.

Mr Carter if I may quote you again in Saturdays JEP.

We need to cut our coat according to our cloth and that means either more cloth or less coat.

At least you still have one Sir.

Boatyboy.

JEP Story
http://www.thisisjersey.com/2009/06/27/heritage-funds-crisis/

Good posting Boatyboy, yet another example of how a (abeit partially) States funded organisation seems incapable of effectively managing a budget. The incompetent senior officers always revert to form when they have mismanged the money, by going back to the States and just demanding more with warnings of dire consequencies if none is forthcoming.

Well guess what? We have no money anymore to throw at our problems, and it will only get worse in future, so either we bring in people who can efficiently manage large and complex organisations or we live a more impoverished life in line with our means.

There are hard choices to be made, but sadly I don't think our politicians are up to the challenge.