St Helena : St. Helena Executive Council Report
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Juanita Brock) 06.11.2007 (Article Archived on 20.11.2007)
Cyril Gunnell updates us on the latest meeting of the St. Helena Executive Council.
Executive Council Meeting Held
Tuesday 30th October 2007
By Cyril Gunnell
A meeting of the Executive Council took place in the Council Chamber on Tuesday 30th October 2007 at 9.30am. The Acting Governor Mr Martin Hallam chaired the meeting. Councillor William Drabble was not available on this occasion due to ill health.
Opening the meeting the Acting Governor said there were 5 items on the open agenda, 8 items for closed discussion would follow, he would then have something to say to the council and, any other business would be taken.
All Bills on the agenda for discussion had previously been discussed by Executive Council, sent out for public consultation and published in the local newspapers and now brought back to Executive Council for final decision.
The Currency (Amendment) Bill was discussed by Executive Council on 18th September 2007. Amendments to currency fund accounts with regard to commemorative coins were agreed in principle, to comply with international standards.
The Registered Land (Amendment) (No 2) Bill is tidying up legislation, discussed by Executive on 21st August 2007. The Bill would remove any uncertainty as to what happens when a lease comes to an end.
The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2007 was discussed on 4th September 2007. This Bill was discussed on 4th September 2007. The Bill would allow persons less than 21 years of age to legally drive vehicles weighing up to 5000 lbs; previously the maximum was 4000 lbs. The Chief of Police gave assurance that monitoring would take place when application for licence is made.
The Water (Amendment) Bill 2007 discussed on 4th September 2007 deals with disposal of waste water. There is a move towards an authority with overall responsibility.
All of these Bills had been printed and published in the local newspapers as part of the public consultation process. No comments were received from the public about any of the Bills.
It was agreed that the Currency (Amendment) Bill 2007, Registered Land (Amendment) (No 2) Bill, Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2007 and Water (Amendment) Bill 2007 having been sent out for public consultation and brought back to Executive Council for final decision, should now be printed and presented as Government business at the next formal Legislative Council Meeting.
Concerning Membership of the St Helena National Trust the Acting Governor gave examples of membership of the National Trust in the UK; how membership is decided and how representation is made. The Governor in Council has the authority to appoint two people to be part of the National Trust Council and one of the members would be the Planning Officer.
There was considerable debate about the Planning Officer as a useful member of the National Trust given his experience and expertise, and also possible conflict of interest. It was eventually agreed that the Planning Officer should be part of the National Trust Council but this should be reviewed in 9 months with some input from the National Trust.
Finally, members considered an Information Paper on a Joint Statement for the South Atlantic Airbridge. The Governor’s Office in St Helena, Administrator on Ascension and the Falklands Islands are closely involved in the work in progress.
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