Falklands : General Purposes Committee Meeting Report (26/04/07)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.04.2007 (Article Archived on 11.05.2007)
Cllrs Mike Summers and Andrea Clausen update us on what happened during this important committee meeting.
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT (26/04/07)
By J. Brock (FINN)
A meeting of the General Purposes Committee took place on Wednesday, 25 April 2007. Cllrs Mike Summers and Andrea Clausen briefed the press on Thursday about what went on during this very important committee meeting.
Wednesday’s meeting began with a general discussion about the use of green areas for children’s play parks brought suggestions about where another one might be located as well as safety netting for the play park on St. Mary’s Walk. A place for skateboarding in the vicinity of the football pitch was discussed. Part of the green area-play park near the Argos building could be identified as building plots.
Removal of litter around memorial sites is the responsibility of the landowner. During a TV special aired on Wednesday, litter at memorial sites at Fitzroy was highlighted. Evidently it had blown during frequent high winds from a near-by rubbish tip.
The appointment process for a Senior Magistrate is on-going. One candidate at the top of the list turned the position down and a second candidate is being approached. Justices of the Peace have written H. E. the Governor Mr. Alan Huckle about the slowness in getting a senior magistrate but it is thought the JPs are capable of handling much of the case-load until one is appointed.
End of term August break is being looked at to see if a reasonable outcome can be found. It is only a problem for the 2006/07 school year and the Heads are happy with the timings of the 2007/08 break. One possible solution could be to flex the beginning of the winter term.
People who had attended the Falklands Forum earlier this month have praised its content and organisation. Many participants said it was useful. Many expressed a wish to visit the Falklands. Cllr Summers mentioned that at the end of the day it is what the delegates think of the forum that matters.
Councillors were satisfied with media coverage and the volume of reports about the 25th anniversary thus far. During the June events a media centre will be open in the Argos Building with Pippa Lang and SeAled PR in charge. While much of the focus will be at Stanley there will need to be organisation to see which media will cover events in Camp. The coverage will be more focused in June than it was earlier this year.
The Anti-Smoking in Public Places Working Group could not progress on many issues because the paper it had convened to discuss was not forthcoming from the Attorney General’s Chambers. When it does come there will be a draft law attached to it for discussion. It is hoped to raise the smoking age to 18 and that police and teachers would have powers to search and confiscate tobacco from under-age students.
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