St Helena : St Helena ExCo Report- 6th December 2011
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Public Relations Information Office) 10.12.2011 (Article Archived on 24.12.2011)
EXCO met this morning to address several important items on the agenda. The first paper taken sought to address concerns raised by Councillors about the way some aspects of the Social Security regulations were applied and whether there might be a need for some fine tuning.
ExCo Report- 6th December 2011
EXCO met this morning to address several important items on the agenda. The first paper taken sought to address concerns raised by Councillors about the way some aspects of the Social Security regulations were applied and whether there might be a need for some fine tuning. Following a thorough discussion of the matter officials were tasked to review the impact of the revised ordinance and regulations and to return to brief Council when the required data is available.
The next paper sought approval for the construction of a temporary shed for the Fire and Rescue boat at the north end of the wharf, Jamestown. It was explained that the special external coating of the boat would suffer damage if it were not adequately protected from the sunlight. The structure would be temporary because the final site for the boat has yet to be decided and the north end of the wharf is in a conservation area. Councillors agreed that the temporary structure could be built on the wharf and remain there for up to two years.
To help facilitate the air access project, the Deputy Chairman of the Access and Transport Committee introduced a paper which sought to include in the Airport Development Area (ADA) two additional, small pieces of land in the Rupert’s Bay area. Having concluded that any inconvenience to the public would be minimal, Councillors agreed that the two plots should be absorbed into the ADA and approved initiation of the formal consultation process.
The Financial Secretary presented a further paper on the reform of SHG pensions. It described significant improvements to the reform proposals, reflecting feedback from public servants on the initial proposals. There would now be a more intensive round of meetings with public servants to explain the revised proposals and to seek further views.
Following quite intensive discussion of the draft 2012/13 SHG budget at several INFO LEGCOs, the Financial Secretary submitted a draft recurrent budget for SHG for the next three years. This was to be submitted to DfID by the end of the week as a major input to the work of the Development Aid Planning Mission (DAPM) that will see a DFID team arriving in St Helena in February 2012. Councillors were content for the draft to be submitted as presented.
Under ‘any other business’ Councillors asked for an update on progress with preparations for the introduction of the, ‘Tobacco Control Ordinance’ which, on entering into effect in June 2012, would restrict smoking in certain public areas. Officials would be asked to report on progress at the next meeting of EXCO.
The meeting concluded at 11.25.
Mark Capes
Governor
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