GOVERNOR’S REPORT ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING ON THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER 2003
The last Executive Council meeting of the year, which took place on Thursday 18 December, was limited to urgent items and was therefore shorter than normal.
Executive Council considered the annual report from the Government Auditors, Deloitte & Touche, for the year ending 30 June 2003. We noted the generally favourable assessment by the auditors. There were however a number of recommendations that needed to be followed up. Members noted in particular that action still needed to be taken across Government to perform formal stock checks.
Executive Council considered three tax related issues. We approved the revised version of the Taxes (Benefits in Kind) Rules 2003, which incorporates certain amendments following discussion at the November Executive Council. We also approved the Taxes Extra Statutory concessions for publication, so that they can be brought into force from
1 January. These codify a number of practices which have grown up over the years to address minor anomalies in the Falkland Islands Taxation code or cases of hardship which would be difficult to deal with through statutory remedy. We also approved the Payments on Account of Tax (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which set out a formula for the calculation of payments on account of tax which can be used by employers who do not use the tax tables provided by the Commissioner of Taxes.
Executive Council confirmed approval of the loan agreement concluded earlier in the year between Falkland Islands Government and Peter Symonds College, covering the payment of fees for Falkland Islands pupils over the next seven years. Members also recommended that Falkland Airport Services should be granted a further two year contact from 3 December 2003 for the provision of air transport security Services. The next contract will be offered for public tender at least twelve months before the new contract ends to give potential competitors time to prepare their bids.
We reviewed the operation of the Ross Road Clearway. It was decided that the clearway should remain for the rest of the experimental period – ie until 31 March 2004. Executive Council will review the future of the clearway at its February meeting. Meanwhile, work is in hand to make provision for parking for the benefit of those businesses affected by the clearway at the East end of Ross Road. Meanwhile, the Clearway Order will be amended to allow parking on Ross Road on public holidays as well as on weekends.
Executive Council considered the recommendation by the Planning and Building Committee to refuse the outline planning application for eight building plots at the old BFFI site in Stanley. Members decided that a comprehensive development plan for the area should be prepared before the issue was considered further.
Executive Council considered a paper about the extension of The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to the Falkland Islands. This is important in connection with new security arrangements for visiting cruise vessels. We agreed that these arrangements should be implemented by the Falkland Islands Government in order to comply with new requirements under the SOLAS Convention. It was also agreed that the Marine Officer should take on the duties of Port Facility Security Officer and that a Port Facility Security Plan should be prepared. Expressions of interest in the provision of marine security services for the port will be sought from the private sector. The extra expenditure required to undertake these measures will be recovered through an increase in the existing passenger tax from £10.00 to £13.00 per head. Executive Council also agreed to pursue the application of the full SOLAS Convention to the Falkland Islands.
A member of Executive Council queried the need under present legislation for those who do not hold a Permanent Resident Permit or
Falkland Islands Status to apply for a work permit for unpaid voluntary work. Executive Council agreed that work permits should in these circumstances be issued free until such time as the legislation could be amended to remove the requirement for a work permit.
