Falklands : Falklands EXCO Meeting for September 2011
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 08.10.2011 (Article Archived on 22.10.2011)
The Hon. Emma Edwards stood in at the meeting so she and the Hon Gavin Short could consider the first paper, a Planning appeal which I was unable to do because I sat on the Planning and Building meeting at which the original decision was made. The appeal was not upheld.
Summary of Executive Council Meeting Held on 29 September 2011 by the Honourable Jan Cheek
The Hon. Emma Edwards stood in at the meeting so she and the Hon Gavin Short could consider the first paper, a Planning appeal which I was unable to do because I sat on the Planning and Building meeting at which the original decision was made. The appeal was not upheld.
The second agenda item was a proposal to delegate the release of previously agreed items of project funding up to £20,000 for the Tourism Development Strategy.
The next financial paper was that placing fees for the use of the Canache area on a more equal footing. At present some pay different amounts and others do not pay. There will now be a more fair and transparent system of charges.
Another paper addressed the fact that while owners of residential property pay a contribution to street lighting and road cleaning along with water and refuse collection included in the domestic service charge, owners of business properties only pay for water and refuse collection. More work will be done before a formal proposal is made.
The review of the Argos Resources Environmental Impact Statement, already widely publicised, was brought to this meeting.
An application to renew permission to store metal chain on the seabed was agreed.
A broad overview of waste management was noted and will be published. Waste management is a huge problem worldwide and this paper suggests ways ahead, but is in no way intended to pre-empt any ongoing commercial initiatives. A shorter paper on energy policy options was noted and will also be published.
Moving to legal matters Executive Council agreed the extra public holiday on 28 December this year and that 4 June 2012 should be a public holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
It was agreed that the Public Accounts Committee report on the private use of FIG telecommunications facilities by Government employees will be tabled at the next Legislative Assembly meeting.
The next item was the very important Road Traffic (Mobile Phones) Order which will outlaw the use of handheld mobile phones and other handheld communication devices while driving a motor vehicle. The order will come into force in November and the details, including any exemptions, will be publicised over the next few weeks.
We approved a report on the ongoing efforts to provide extra legal services in the Islands.
The Offshore Minerals Amendment Bill will be published in the Gazette before its submission to the next Legislative Assembly meeting. Essentially this will make Environmental Impact Assessments a requirement before an application for a drilling permit is submitted.
Another legal paper was approved making temporary appointments to a Tax Tribunal and the final legal paper outlined voting arrangements for the 3 November referendum on a single constituency.
Finally we noted the appointment of an interim financial controller for FIDC, agreed the policy for appointment of trustees for the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust and the appointment of lay members to the Stamp Advisory Committee.
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