Falklands : GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE BRIEF (18/11/08)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 19.11.2008 (Article Archived on 03.12.2008)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 and on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 Cllr Mike Summers updated the media on what took place during that meeting and at other points in the month when Councillors met together.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE BRIEF (18/11/08)
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 12 November 2008 and on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 Cllr Mike Summers updated the media on what took place during that meeting and at other points in the month when Councillors met together.
On the agenda were:
- The Camp Telephone System
- Timing of the FIGAS Review
- Attendance at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings
- The Constitution
- The agreed MPs visit in February
- fuel prices
There was one collective meeting this month with Margaret Riley from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Stanley Services Ltd:
An Annual General Meeting for Stanley Services Limited was held on Monday, 17 November 2008. Fuel prices were discussed. An e-mail from Bill Luxton sparked the debate with SSL saying that it is the price at which they buy in fuel products that determines the price eventually charged to customers. In the Falklands a tank of Kero could contain product bought at different times and prices so an average price is charged to the customer.
In June a new formula was agreed that would help smooth out volatile fluctuations in product prices. Therefore, when product prices increased by 3p a litre Councillors thought it was excessive so the price increase was spread over a longer period of time.
Another related issue is the price of Kero that is still going up regardless of the world decline in product prices. The increase is thought to have been a mistake in calculation by the Ministry of Defence, from whom Stanley Services purchases the Kero. Stanley Services has been buying Kero from the MOD for the past 20 years or so.
It is hoped the problem pricing – double what it was in recent years; will be resolved before FIG and Stanley Services are forced to seek alternatives. KERO might be cheaper elsewhere but the costs incurred in bringing it to the Falklands are exorbitant. One thing for certain is that MPA are not responsible for setting the price or the possible mistake but someone in Bristol and/or Andover could have misplaced a decimal point.
FIGAS Review:
Councillors want to review how the new shuttle system is doing at the end of December. Cllr Summers said that some comments received are positive but many were not. Councillors wanted the shuttle service to run for a short while and asses the affect on customers trying to use the service. Initial costs in running the shuttle are close to the bone but it is hoped that reduced costs will be realised while keeping the customer base up.
Camp Telephones:
Issues have been well aired in Legco. Councillors think there has been a withdrawal of technical assistance to people on the existing system while the new system is being installed. Service is slow to dead on the existing Camp system and the Portfolio holder and the Chief Executive has been tasked to look into this. As yet there is no system for rebates to customers who are experiencing difficulties.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association:
Due to budget constraints there will only be one Councillor attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings and regional conferences. Cllr Summers said that those attending report that CPA meetings have lost track a bit from their focus on education about parliamentary systems, and good governance. The forum has become highly politicised in the past 2 or 3 years and it was suggested that the organisation network better. It is suggested that the CPA is evolving into a different vehicle – a global lobby group that passes resolutions. If the majority wanting this gained leadership positions within the organisation many won’t be able to remove the change in focus. It is useful for us to attend the Small Countries Conference because it keeps people in small and remote countries informed and up to date on what is happening.
The New Constitution:
A section of the Constitution dealing with the Media Trust and who it reports to was discussed. Preponderance of opinion on this yet undecided section is that Media Trust should report to the Governor instead of Executive Council.
Councillors’ Website
This is an important development. It is still under construction and assessment.
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