Falklands : Falklands Summary of Executive Council Meeting 28 January 2010
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 06.02.2010 (Article Archived on 20.02.2010)
The Task status report (legislative drafting) was discussed briefly. Members felt that the Road Traffic Bill (which commenced in January 2006) needed to have further periods of public consultation and debate given that it had been dormant for some time now.
Summary of Executive Council Meeting 28 January 2010
The Task status report (legislative drafting) was discussed briefly. Members felt that the Road Traffic Bill (which commenced in January 2006) needed to have further periods of public consultation and debate given that it had been dormant for some time now. At present it is scheduled for completion this year. A public consultation process will be recommenced shortly.
Review of financial strategy – this paper was presented by the DCR. The MTFP targets for this financial year (£1m deficit) and the targets for the following years of zero, and £1m surplus for each of the following years to 2014/15 were approved, but it was also felt that it would be important to have shadow proposals in case of unforeseen events. There was also some discussion and debate as to how financial forecast models could be produced which would show the effects on the MTFP targets of decisions made by MLAs. This modelling would be financial rather than economic modelling as it was accepted that economic modelling was a far more complicated process. The public need to be aware that we are in difficult times and that the effects of a recession are still with us. A fall in revenue from reserves, coupled with a fall in fishing revenue means that we have to exercise caution on all expenditure.
A paper on the issuing of the Falkland Islands Queens Certificate and Badge of Honour was approved. This certificate badge of honour would be awarded by the Governor acting on advice from EXCO in a similar way as the usual honours, to anyone with a strong connection to the Falklands. The ceremony would take place on Landing Day (14th August), and further details on the rules surrounding this and the committee will be published shortly.
A public paper on Livestock Transportation Subsidies prepared by David Waugh was next on the agenda. This has been a topic of much discussion recently and members are keen to point out that the subsidy of a total of nearly £31,000 was approved for this season only. The details are in the paper which is available on request. In summary, EXCO approved the payment of a sliding scale subsidy based on the distance to Port Howard on the West which replaces the flat rate subsidy of £1.07 per sheep. This was felt to be a more equitable system. EXCO further approved a fixed subsidy per sheep or lamb to cover ferry transport from West Falklands of £1.50 or the net cost of shipping from the Islands of £2.00.
A fixed subsidy of £0.30 per sheep was also approved to cover the net cost of transporting sheep on East Falkland.
It has to be stressed that Members believe there are still some inadequacies in this system, and Members are keen to point out that this system of subsidy will be in place for this current season only.
The Falkland Islands National Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Trawl Fisheries was next on the agenda. This National Plan was the result of much hard work and effort by Falklands Conservation and had been through all of the relevant consultation processes. The report has been produced in English and also in Spanish and will be translated also into Korean. A seabird bycatch committee will be formed to monitor progress on an annual basis, and the same group will also maintain contact with industry groups and relevant officers to ensure that monitoring and mitigation measures are kept up to date.
There was a paper on the review of the Environmental Impact Statement produced by BHP Billiton for offshore drilling. This paper was necessary in order to allow drilling by BHP Billiton to commence. Some further slight work was required to the EIS requiring more information on oil spill modelling in some areas and also further contractual details.
A paper from the Environmental Planning Officer was debated, the effect of which would have been to introduce fees for planning applications and building permits. The positive financial effect of this paper would have been to have produced income of approximately £46 to £56k per annum. Members disagreed with the principle behind this paper as it was felt that the planning and building process was already an expensive one for most people, and that whilst there would be some positive financial benefit to the public purse, once collection costs had been factored into the process, the financial benefit to FIG compared with the additional large expense for the applicants was simply too small to make any significant difference to the public coffers. The officials present were in disagreement with this approach, but Members are keen to point out that we need to make significant differences to increase income and reduce expenditure and that proposals such as these had little or no effect overall. Members also pointed out that there are wider housing policy issues that have not yet been formulated and that policies such as these would have to form part of that wider policy. The approach has to be holistic rather than piecemeal.
The appointment of Jackie Cotter to the Planning and Building Committee was approved and Members thanked her for her interest. Many people give their time and efforts freely on such committees and their interest and participation in the community and process of government is much appreciated.
An application from the Lands Committee to dispose of FIG property at Port Stephens was approved. This simply tidies up a situation which is in the best interests of both FIG and the current landowner.
The next paper concerns a situation where property has been acquired though inheritance. The principle that land or property acquired through inheritance by persons not ordinarily resident in the Falkland Islands was a subject of some debate in the election process. Whilst a licence to hold such land or property is required under the Land (Non-Residents) Ordinance, it was agreed that this proposal and the underlying principles be approved. This should set a number of people’s minds at rest over this issue.
A proposal to dredge and reclaim land at Maiden Haven was approved and a licence and lease would be drawn up by the AG’s chambers.
The next lengthy paper was to consider the report and recommendations concerning the oil spill at Mare Harbour in August 2009. The recommendations contained in the lengthy report have been agreed by both parties and a review of other installations would also be carried out. Members also suggested a site visit be carried out which was done the next day and there was general agreement amongst Members that the site had been restored and cleaned to its former position. This has been a costly exercise for the MoD and lessons have been learned and procedures put in place that will ensure that such problems will not occur in future. FIG was also prompted by the report to commission a risk assessment of it own installations around the Islands.
The report itself, because it details military dispositions and installations, cannot be published.
A paper from the AG on the Complaints Commissioner Bill was tabled. This is an important part of our new constitution and it is important that people read the draft for public consultation and make comment on it. The AG has sent a summary to Penguin News and the full version of the draft Bill with questions for comments is freely available. It would serve little purpose to go through the entire Bill in this summary report, but this is an important issue that people should consider and I have no doubt that there will be those who will wish to read the paper carefully and possibly make use of the process to address problems or issue they may have with the system. It is important that we get this right in order to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals.
A brief paper on the Public Accounts Committee was discussed and approved. This simply approves two orders – one to create a register of interests for those serving on the PAC, and the other to prescribe the maximum fine that can be imposed by the Committee – level 6 on the standard fine which is currently a fine not exceeding £7,500
Finally, a paper proposing that the National Archives be renamed to the Jane Cameron National Archives was approved. Members wished to honour the work carried out by Jane in collecting and collating the vast amount of material that previously was scattered amongst various government buildings. It was solely by virtue of Jane’s persistence and efforts that this huge task was carried out successfully. Her work meant that a huge part of our history was preserved for future generations and provides invaluable source material for any future researchers.
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