Falklands : Falklands - Summary of Executive Council Meeting 25th May 2009
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 03.06.2009 (Article Archived on 17.06.2009)
A number of papers considered at the May meeting of Executive Council were budget matters that were referred directly to the Legislative Assembly and the budget Select Committee. Such papers included the Draft Estimates and Finance Bill, a draft budget for FIMCo, as well as a review of the donations and subventions budget and proposals for increases to Registry and Immigration fees.
Summary of Executive Council Meeting 25th May 2009
A number of papers considered at the May meeting of Executive Council were budget matters that were referred directly to the Legislative Assembly and the budget Select Committee. Such papers included the Draft Estimates and Finance Bill, a draft budget for FIMCo, as well as a review of the donations and subventions budget and proposals for increases to Registry and Immigration fees.
Whilst the interim ferry terminal at Port Howard has provided basic berthing access for the ferry service there was a requirement for a permanent structure to be considered. It has become increasingly apparent that a more substantial berthing facility was required to facilitate an improved and safer operation of the ferry service which would also achieve compliance with MCA regulations. Council considered and approved a design for the permanent facility and approved that the request for funding of £1 million to be provided within the capital programme in 2009/10, be considered by Standing Finance Committee.
A Review of the Ocean 8 incident which took place in May 2008 was considered. The purpose of this review was to consider the approach taken by the Government to the fire, sinking and subsequent oil pollution of the Ocean 8 and it highlights the lessons learned to improve the response to similar events in the future. Members considered and approved all 14 of the recommendations that were made in the report and requested that it be made available to the public. It is important to highlight that the review found no evidence of major failings from either the Government or other organisations involved. In fact all involved worked diligently in challenging circumstances and a number of very difficult judgements were made. There are however a number of important lessons to be learned and these are encapsulated within the 14 recommendations made and approved.
Following the Ocean 8 incident it was recognised that there was a need to review the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) to ensure that our capability was fit for purpose. A company called Oil Spill Response were employed to review the NOSCP and to make recommendations as to whether there was a requirement for any further oil spill equipment and to consider alternative response strategies. This month at Executive Council Members considered a draft set of 34 recommendations from OSR some of which will feed into the review of the NOSCP. Members approved all recommendations in principle, some subject to further information. A further paper with a draft NOSCP is expected in due course.
A series of three papers regarding Falkland Landholding matters were considered at this month’s meeting. The first sought approval for the 2009/10 budget, along with a request for a renewal and extension to the overdraft facility with Standard Chartered Bank. Members approved the budget and agreed to a further guarantee of the increased overdraft facility, resulting in a total overdraft facility of £300,000 for the 2009/10 financial year. The second paper was a report against the FLH Recovery Plan which noted progress against the objectives originally set in 2005. Whilst there has been some success, for example wool micron and hogget deaths have both been reduced and meat production is on target, in financial terms the corporation has seen little progress. As a result of the current situation the Board of FLH have been considering ways to restructure the organisation to make it more commercial. The report on the Recovery Plan went on to provide the background to the third paper which proposed a way forward for the restructuring of FLH. This paper sought some initial direction from Members on the proposal to establish Independently Operated Government Owned Farms. Key advantages considered by the Board included; that farms work separately with their own Boards and their own accounts; settlement services would be split off; the General Manager and central accounting and audit would be no longer required, and there would be no requirement to raise capital. Members agreed in principle with this proposal but requested further work.
As a result of the recent failed Illex fishing season, the Director of Fisheries requested that a full refund of Illex licence fees be made in respect of all jigging vessels (Type B Illex licences). Whilst it might be argued that refunds should not be made given it is a risk that any company takes when applying for a licence, it is generally anticipated that customers will achieve some catch in a normal season. Previously where catch has been significantly less than normal, refunds have been made. Illex licence fee revenue was expected to be £6.3m for the financial year 2008/09.
A paper seeking approval for the hospital laboratory to be accredited for the purpose of export to the European Union was considered. There is a requirement that the Falkland Islands tests all products to be exported to the European Union in a fully accredited laboratory by 2010. There is currently no in-house experience of the accreditation process or the subsequent operation of an accredited laboratory. Members approved that an accreditation system be established and that the costs of this be recovered from the users.
A request for approval for His Excellency the Governor to authorise the release of tax data to the Policy Unit under Section 202(2) of the Taxes Ordinance1997 was agreed. Authority is provided on the condition that data may only be used for economic and fiscal analysis and projections. Members sought reassurance that appropriate safeguards would be in place, and were advised that they were.
Members approved that the Air Navigation (Fees) Regulations 2009 be made by the Governor. These fees relate to the functions carried out by the Department of Civil Aviation, which are designated by the Governor under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2007; as well as those carried out under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories)(Environmental Standards) Order 2004.
The final matters to be considered related to immigration. Firstly a paper outlining the conclusions of the civil service working group on the Permanent Residence Permit points system and associated proposals was considered. Members approved a number of recommendations including; that the General Migrants Scheme is the appropriate way forward; that no other schemes are needed at present but special provisions for family members are proposed; that the Head of Policy should consult with education/training and the business sector on the skills areas and numbers of permanent immigrants needed and advise Executive Council annually so that extra points can be provided for skills required and a quota can be established; that the quota is set annually, but for PRP’s to be awarded quarterly on a first come first served basis; and that a final verification stage (relating to the character and conduct of the individual) would be applied in exceptional circumstances. On this final point it is worth highlighting that this is a significant change from the current situation. It will now be for the Principal Immigration Officer to make a case as to why an individual is not accepted and not for the individual him/herself. This paper will be published in the near future and the next steps will be for legislation to be drafted and submitted to Executive Council and then the Legislative Assembly in order that the moratorium on PRP’s can be lifted on the 1st August 2009.
Other Immigration issues raised were not ones of policy but for clarification. Firstly it was brought to Members attention that there is no legal requirement for FI Status holders (who have FIS stamps) to have their passports stamped upon arrival and departure. Members agreed that the public be informed of this and that the norm will be that passports will not be stamped but if anyone so wishes then a stamp can be made. Members went on to agree that the current suspension on providing FIS stamps in passports be lifted and that so long as application by letter is made to the Immigration Department and that department is satisfied that the applicant has FIS, then a stamp should be granted.
This concludes the Executive Council summary for May 2009.
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