Falklands : Falklands Summary of Executive Council Meeting 13th November 2008
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 20.11.2008 (Article Archived on 04.12.2008)
There were several matters arising from the two previous meetings of Executive Council. Firstly it was reported that insurance issues in relation to Fox Bay jetty had been resolved and that work could now commence on the outstanding repairs.
Summary of Executive Council Meeting 13th November 2008
There were several matters arising from the two previous meetings of Executive Council. Firstly it was reported that insurance issues in relation to Fox Bay jetty had been resolved and that work could now commence on the outstanding repairs. It was also confirmed that David Waugh, who had previously withdrawn from his designated appointment as General Manager FIDC was once again able to take up this position as there had been a positive change in his wife’s medical condition. It was reported that he should be in post early in the New Year and that his wife would be accompanying him. In the last matter arising it was confirmed that Stanley Dairy remains as a going concern whilst a small project group examines all options for its future.
The first paper on this month’s agenda examined tenders for the provision of fishery protection and research capability for the next five years. Whilst ExCo agreed that fishery protection should be awarded to a specific tenderer, the Director of Fisheries was tasked with examining in more detail how the fisheries research function could best be pursued.
Whilst the Director of Fisheries was still in attendance ExCo received a report on the oil removal operation on the Ocean 8. It was noted that whilst there was still a considerable amount of oil that was apparently unaccounted for, it was nevertheless fair to say that the salvage team had done as much as they could to retrieve all fuel from the tanks, and that a reasonable outcome had been achieved. The Chief Executive advised that the results of his enquiry into the whole incident, including lessons learnt, will be released in January 2009.
ExCo then approved capital expenditure of up to £84,500 for the purchase of replacement furniture for FIG contract properties. Members noted that the last capital spend on furniture was 7 years ago, and that it was considerably earlier than this that the items needing to be replaced were purchased. This expenditure is subject to confirmation in next year’s capital programme.
The next paper sought Ex-Co approval for the supply and installation of a third flywheel and additional control equipment to augment the Sand Bay Wind Farm project. Members were advised that the most significant impact of this additional control equipment will be on the number of hours running of the larger diesel sets, which will increase their total life and reduce ongoing maintenance costs. The extra flywheel brings the additional inertia and capacity which will allow the control equipment to be effective in further reducing the ‘spinning reserve’ needing to be maintained as backup by diesel generators. The paper advised that at a recent OCT seminar it was noted that the Falklands are in the leading group of those represented in respect of percentage of electricity produced from renewable resources, and that the projected 40% fuel displacement level which is projected when phase two of the wind farm is completed will potentially place us in the lead of all OCTs, and this is using wind alone, whereas some others are using hydro generating power. The additional £140,000 cost is to be funded by virement.
Members then approved a recommendation that FIG should guarantee 50% of the mortgage value on new house construction and house modernisation in Camp where Standard Chartered Bank is providing the mortgage. Until now SCB has been unwilling to provide mortgages for Camp properties, principally because they believed that the forced sale value in the event of default could be little or nothing for a remote property. However, in order to facilitate building development in Camp SCB has come up with this proposal, which, whilst safeguarding their risk, will allow mortgages to be provided and therefore development to take place, which members acknowledged as being absolutely essential. It was noted that a similar scheme exists in Stanley, but with the FIG guarantee being set at 20%, and that SCB’s mortgage lending policy for Stanley is 75% Loan to Value ratio, with the FIG 20% guarantee allowing borrowing levels to go up to 95% of the project value, thus enhancing access for first-time buyers.
Ex-Co went on to approve a trial programme which may result in the development of a national breast cancer screening service for the Falkland Islands. Members acknowledged and were very appreciative of the efforts of the Cancer Support and Awareness Trust who both championed the cause and raised voluntary funds of £15,000 towards the cost of this visit. It was noted that this trial will involve a mobile mammography unit (currently being used by the Chilean authorities to provide mammography in remote areas such as Easter Island), being shipped from Punta Arenas, along with an ultrasound unit and an ultrasound guided biopsy system. Shipment will be timed to coincide with a 2-3 week visit in February 2009 by the lead clinician in the breast screening department at the Clinica Alemana, who believes that she can screen and biopsy, if necessary, up to 450 women on one visit. In his paper the Chief Medical Officer recorded that the surgical advisor recommends that the age range for mammographic screening here should be between 47 and 73. Members agreed to the CMO’s proposal that following this visit a further paper analysing its success should be brought forward before decisions are taken on the viability of a long-term screening programme. It was further agreed that the estimated £40,000 cost of this trial would be funded by the contribution from CSAT with FIG funding the balance, and that with the exception of those on benefits or pensions the charge per person would be £20.
The next paper approved by ExCo was a revised Rural Energy Grant Scheme. At a previous meeting members were not convinced of the need for a continuing energy grant scheme and had requested a rationalisation of a number of energy-related schemes operated by FIDC which no longer appear to be utilised, these being the Rural Energy Extension Scheme, the Home Pack Power Scheme and the Power Upgrade Scheme. The FIDC paper proposed that these three underused and confusing minor energy schemes be discontinued, and that the original scheme, the Rural Energy Grant Scheme, be maintained but with several modifications, the principal one being that the applicant will have to be engaged in a commercial enterprise based in the camp. Members also agreed that those currently on the old schemes be allowed to complete their installations. The estimated cost of £30,000 is already assumed in the budget and in future projections.
A paper from the Commissioner of Taxation seeking approval for a one year extension to the Taxes and Duties (Defence Contractors’ Employees Exemption) Order 2008 was the next paper to be approved. The extension was requested to allow time for the Policy Unit to complete a Tax Policy Review after which further recommendations may be made.
Several planning-related items were then considered, the first being an information paper reporting on the status of the Review of Green-space, being undertaken as part of the Stanley Town Plan update. Whilst the loss of the Leading Lights green-space will reduce the total amount of green-space by 1.1 ha, partly offset by a 0.4 ha play area, there is currently over 17 ha of green-space designated in the Town Plan. The Planning and Building Committee is proposing that further areas of green-space on Anderson Drive, Davis Street East, Goss Road and Snake Hill/Kent Road, totalling 1.1 ha, are released for housing. Members noted that whilst these proposals will reduce the overall amount of designated green-space by about 10% of the total, mainly in East Stanley, the eastern part of the town will still contain almost 60% of all green-space. It was noted that all proposed changes to the Town Plan, including green-space and housing allocations, will come before Ex-Co in December prior to going out for public consultation in the New Year.
A planning appeal was then considered but not upheld. Whilst Ex-Co has considerable sympathy for anyone wanting to build, it also recognised that there were several issues that need to be resolved before fuller consideration of the application could be made, the most important one being the potential availability of new housing if a proposed major development comes to fruition.
Trant Construction Limited then gained Ex-Co approval for a retrospective licence permitting the company to deposit materials on the seabed for the purpose of extending the existing jetty at Albemarle. Ex-Co was advised that Trant’s emailed letter of application for a licence appears not to have arrived, and by oversight Trant proceeded with the work without first obtaining the necessary licence. The primary purpose of the granting of the licence is to impose conditions necessary for the protection of the marine environment, in this instance the removal of the jetty extension, containers filled with rock, once its purpose has been served. Were the containers not to be removed on completion of the project, once erosion had broken up the containers and allowed rocks to spill into the sea, there would be a danger to any craft entering Albemarle.
Ex-Co then approved an amendment to the Falkland Landholdings Corporation Ordinance 2000, so as to allow a change in the appointment process for members of the FLH Board. This had come about following a recent Board recognition that the current FLH Ordinance section 4(1)(f), which states that “two persons elected from among their number by the farming community in the Falkland Islands in such a manner as may be determined by the Governor and who shall be appointed by the Governor” would require an election to take place to select these two persons. This would in all likelihood not be achieved swiftly and would have the possible effect of making the Board un-quorate after the end of November. The FLH Board is also of the opinion that the term “farming community” may also restrict FLH’s ability to recruit retired farmers or other successful business people to compliment its Board. The amendment reflects these perceived shortcomings in section 4(1)(f) by repealing the existing wording and substituting “(f) two members of the public appointed by the Governor”. Ex-Co agreed that this amendment be submitted to the Legislative Council under a certificate of urgency for its sitting on 14 November 2008.
The last substantial paper to be approved at the meeting proposed the introduction of an Immigration Points System for general migrants. This complex and wide-ranging paper has become increasingly urgent as the date of the existing moratorium on the consideration of Permanent Residence Permits, 25 January 2009, approaches. The Government Secretary will shortly publish a comprehensive paper which will then go out for public consultation, but the main points are as follows:-
a) The introduction of a points system for general migrants, taking into account the skills, salary, duration of employment offer, work experience relevant to the offer of employment, age, length of time in the community and pension plan arrangements of the principal applicant, plus property and cash assets, joint with spouse/partner.
b) Continue with the three year qualifying period to make an application for a PRP.
c) Policy issues include good health and clean criminal records for all applicants, a good standard of English, satisfactory accommodation arrangements, younger skilled migrants will be preferred but over 50’s will be accepted provided they have comprehensive medical insurance or provide a bond.
d) Agree different points thresholds for single and partner applicants.
e) Application process - prospective applicants assess themselves against the points system, apply if they consider they have met or exceeded the points threshold, submit PRP application together with relevant fee, application is then checked by Immigration Officer, interviews necessary only if clarification required or to test English language ability, verified applications then submitted to the Principal Immigration Officer for final approval, any refusals require reason for such refusal and allow appeal to the Governor
f) Further work to be undertaken on the handling of family applications (including dependant relatives, spouses, partners), retirement, investor and other categories outside the general migrants scheme.
g) Need to consider applications from people living and working at MPC, and whether time spent at MPC can be counted as points earning.
Ex-Co agreed that in order to ensure a full public consultation process, an extension of the moratorium until 31 March 2009 would be necessary.
The final matter to be considered was approval of retrospective reappointment of four trustees of the Museum and National Trust. Members also agreed that in future all trustee vacancies should be advertised.
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