Executive Council Report for February 2004

GOVERNOR’S REPORT ON THE MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2004

Executive Council held its monthly meeting on Thursday 26 February. As usual the agenda included a wide range of items.

ExCo considered a number of financial and budgetary issues.  Perhaps the most important of these concerned the provision of Pension Annuities.  ExCo had previously considered this subject in April 2002, when it decided that the Falkland Islands’ Government should become an annuity provider of last resort in the event that the Pensions Board was unable to obtain competitively priced annuities from an approved pension provider on behalf of members of the Falkland Islands Pension Scheme.  This situation has now come about.  It appears that most UK Insurers will only provide annuities to members of UK approved schemes.  The Falkland Islands Pension Scheme cannot be UK approved because it does not come under UK jurisdiction.   The Financial Secretary has taken advice from the UK Government Actuary’s Department.  In the light of that advice, the Falkland Islands Government will now become the annuity provider and will determine annuity rates on the basis of the best recommended rate available in the UK.

ExCo approved the Environmental Studies Budget for 2004/05, subject to a query about the figure included for the management of Hill Cove Mountains National Park.  This budget covers funding for environmental projects ranging from seabird survival and rat eradication to the Biodiversity Action Plan.  ExCo also discussed applications for core funding from the Museum and National Trust and Falklands Conservation.  Both applications were referred to the Select Committee on the Estimates.  ExCo also considered an application from the Museum and National Trust for financial assistance towards the preservation of the Jhelum.  ExCo decided to ask the Museum for a more detailed proposal for consideration at their March meeting.

There were two planning applications.  The first concerned the quarry at the Frying Pan.  ExCo approved for a further year the application by Gordon Forbes Construction (Falklands) Limited for the renewal of planning permission to re-open and extend the quarry, subject to certain conditions.  ExCo also granted planning approval for the extraction of calcified seaweed at Shallow Bay on West Falkland.  This will now require the approval of the Secretary of State, as is the case with all onshore mineral licences.

The Historical Buildings Committee and Planning and Building Committee had submitted a paper about the listing of two buildings of special architectural or historical interest. The paper recommended the listing of 20 Drury Street and an amendment to the listing of Sulivan House and its contemporary outbuildings.  Subject to a minor amendment, ExCo approved these recommendations.

ExCo held a further discussion about the Ross Road Clearway, and decided to make the Clearway permanent.  ExCo also instructed that work on additional car park spaces in the vicinity of Ross Road should be undertaken without delay.

ExCo made certain decisions about staffing arrangements in the Computer Section and decided that the Section’s activities and staffing should be reviewed within 12 months.

The Director of Education had submitted a paper about the service which parents of pupils with Special Educational Needs could reasonably expect from the Education Department.  ExCo approved the policy set out in the paper.  The paper will be available to the public.

Finally, ExCo approved the inclusion of two fishing vessels – the “Argos Helena” and the “New Polar” – on the Falkland Islands register.