FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: WEDNESDAY, 07 OCTOBER 2004
Compiled by J. Brock (FINN)
GOVERNOR’S REPORT ON 30 SEPTEMBER MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Executive Council met on Thursday 30 September to consider a characteristically varied agenda.
The Financial Secretary presented a paper about the new permanent incapacity benefit for civil servants forced to retire through ill health. This followed a report from the UK Government Actuary’s Department which recommended the features to be included in the new benefit arrangements. The new provisions were approved and will be set out in an amendment to Chapter 9 of the Civil Service Management Code. The papers are being published and can therefore be consulted by anybody who is interested in the detail.
The Financial Secretary had also taken advice from the UK Government Actuary on the investment strategies for the Pensions Old Scheme Fund and the Retirement Pensions Equalisation Fund. EXCO decided to accept the recommendations of the Government Actuary, which will now be put into effect by the respective fund managers, HSBC and Newtons. These new strategies are designed to improve the performance of the two funds, to the ultimate benefit of those who will receive pensions under the schemes.
Following an initiative by Councillor Summers during a meeting in Brussels last December, a proposal has been worked up with the French territories of St Pierre & Miquelon and with representatives of Greenland for a training course on aquaculture to be funded by the European Development Fund. EXCO considered a paper about the bid and agreed to support the submission of the funding bid to the European Commission. If the bid is successful, up to 15 persons from the Falkland Islands will be invited to take part in the course in St Pierre & Miquelon in September next year.
Returning to domestic matters, EXCO agreed a policy for fees to be paid to PWD for mapping surveys carried out in connection with land transactions. The details are being published.
EXCO agreed that the club building at Fox Bay Village should be sold to the Southern Cross Social Club for £2000 - thereby guaranteeing the future of Fox Bay social life and many good parties to come! EXCO also agreed two leases: of Sand Bay Abattoir to FIDC at a peppercorn rent and the granting by FIDC of a licence to the Falkland Islands Meat Company Limited to use and occupy the abattoir; and a Crown Lease to South Atlantic Marine Services Ltd to use the seabed beneath their jetty development.
Next, an item that is bound to excite strong feelings in the community - street names! Members of the public responded enthusiastically and imaginatively to the invitation from Stanley Lands Committee for street names for the new sheltered housing complex and the new housing development west of Government House near the old BFFI site. EXCO decided to approve the Lands Committee’s recommendations and to name the sheltered housing complex on Villiers Street “Yates Place”, and to name the new housing development “Haskard Rise”, subject in the latter case to Sir Cosmo and Lady Haskard’s agreement.
The Stanley Sports Association had appealed to EXCO against the refusal by the Planning and Building Committee of their application for permission to carry out minor drainage works at Stanley Racecourse. While EXCO turned down the appeal, Members stated that the Director of Public Works should meet representatives of Stanley Sports Association without further delay with a view to reaching agreement on practical measures to address the current drainage problems on Stanley Racecourse.
EXCO considered and approved the revised draft of the Mining Bill. This is an important piece of legislation which will set out the framework for onshore mining activities. The Bill is being published and members of the public are invited to comment on the provisions of the Bill prior to its submission to Legislative Council in due course.
Another important piece of legislation on the EXCO agenda was the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (Application of Provisions) Bill, which was submitted for consideration by Legislative Council the following day. The legislation makes provisions for changes to the law required in connection with the new security regime for handling international shipping in the Falklands.
Finally, an item of particular interest to all women in the Falkland Islands. EXCO agreed that the UK’s accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women should be extended to the Falkland Islands. The Optional Protocol provides for the right of individual petition to the United Nations by women who believe their rights under the Convention have been violated.
WOOL REPORT: for the week ending Friday 30th September 2004
Auctions
The Australian Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) dropped 3% during the last week of September. The EMI was 11 cents lower on Tuesday, nine cents lower on Wednesday and eased three more cents on Thursday. The EMI thus closed the week down 23 cents from 767 to 744 A cents being the lowest level since November 2001. Prices slipped across most microns. Pass-ins exceeded 22%.
In New Zealand the Fine Indicator was quoted down 51 cents to 1,022 NZ cents. The Medium Indicator was quoted down 39 cents on the week at 493 NZ cents. The Strong Indicator was down 14 cents to 396 NZ cents whilst the Lamb Indicator was not quoted. There was a 69% clearance.
The South African Overall Merino Indicator lost 3.3% on the week to 2,610 SA cents/kg clean.
By contrast to the softer markets in the Southern Hemisphere, in Britain there was “an excellent sale with dearer prices, which resulted in virtually a full clearance of 97% on 2.02 million kilo offering”. The indicator rose a penny to 84 p/kg greasy.
Currencies
The Australian dollar was trading stronger at A$2.52/£. The New Zealand dollar was little changed at 2.70 NZ cents/£.
FWG Agency
All additional supplies of wool in 2005 would be much welcomed by our customers.
With Best Wishes Robert
ARRIVAL OF DUMBARTON CASTLE
HMS DUMBARTON CASTLE arrives in Port Stanley at 9 a.m. on Friday 8th October. She replaces HMS LEEDS CASTLE as the permanent Falklands Islands Patrol Vessel. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander John Garratt Royal Navy, will call on His Excellency the Governor and other Falkland Island Government officials as the Ship's Company renews old acquaintances with the people of Stanley. She sails on the 11th October for her first patrol.
FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 07 OCTOBER 2004
RETURNING COUNCILLORS:
Although most Councillors have now returned from various meetings around the world, there are still a couple to come back. Stephen Luxton (SL) is at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth, manning the Falklands stand with Norma Edwards and FIGO Rep. Sukey Cameron. I phoned him this morning to see how the conference was going.
SL: It’s been fairly successful. There’s been a lot of people going through the stand - a lot of members of the public and quite a few MPs and so on. We briefly had a visit from Michael Howard the other day. As usually the case with people at the top, you can’t get very long with them but it’s always good to see them take an interest in what we get up to.
SF: So, you’ve received a lot of interest in the stand?
SL: Yes. There has been quite a few people interested in what we are doing. They actually want to know whether the Government are supporting us in any problems we’ve got with Argentina and it’s been good to be able to tell people what is going on in the Islands.
SF: And, have you managed to get out and go to any other country’s stand?
SL: The only other Overseas Territory that’s there, the only other stand, I think, has been Gibraltar. They are just along from us. There haven’t been other overseas territories and most of the other stands at the conference are UK based companies.
SF: But have you managed to get around and have a look?
SL: Yes. We’ve all had a fairly good look around. The Conservative Conference is quite a lot smaller than the Labour Conference. I think the Labour Conference is one of the biggest events in the Country. There has been quite a few places that have had stands at both conferences and it’s been quite interesting talking to some of them but most of them are eco-based companies and a lot of them aren’t directly related to us.
SF: What do you feel that Councillors can learn by going along to these conferences?
SL: I think the most important thing for us - I mean, a lot of it is useful in terms of keeping in touch with people but the most important thing for us is that it gives us a chance to meet an awful lot of the MPs, who, at the end of the day are the people that are critical to keep informed and to keep on our side to look after our interests in remaining British.
PLANNING AND BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT:
119/04/PB 15 Watson Way, Stanley Erection of conservatory Mr & Mrs G Smith GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
120/04/P Plots 33 & 37 Lookout Industrial Estate, Stanley Laying of sewer pipe FIDC DEFERRED
121/04/PB 7 Ross Road East, Stanley Extension to dwelling Mrs E Hardcastle GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
122/04/P Jetty Visitor Centre, Ross Road, Stanley Siting of red phone box Cable & Wireless PLANNING PERMISSION RECEIVED UNTIL OCTOBER 2005
123/04/P 9 Biggs Road, Stanley Erection of greenhouse Mr G Cheek GRANTED
124/04/PB 19 Biggs Road, Stanley Erection of garage Mr K R Jones GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
125/04/P Canache, near old bunker, Stanley Outline application for creation of ramp to beach, siting of two containers for storage and improvements to access road to public highway. Mr I Berntsen PERMISSION GRANTED
126/04/P 17 Callaghan Road, Stanley Raising of height of fence (abutting Endurance Avenue) to 1.5m Dr A Douse GRANTED
127/04/P 5A Ross Road East, Stanley Provision of off-street parking area Mr K Harris GRANTED
128/04/P 5A Pioneer Row, Stanley Erection of porch onto dwelling Mr P Chapman GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
129/04/P Beach south of Sand Bay Abattoir, East Falkland Creation of disposal site for OVS
and MHI inspected low health risk surplus abattoir waste Falkland Islands Meat Company Ltd
DEFERRED
130/04/PB 13 Hansen Hill, Stanley Erection of dwelling Mr S Aldridge GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
131/04/PB Hebe Street, Stanley Erection of block of 4 No flats with provision of off-street parking F I C Ld GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS
132/04/PB 1 Short Street, Stanley Extension to dwelling Mrs S Peters
GRANTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS.
ARRIVALS:
The new Building advisor is arriving next week. John O’Gara is replacing Jim Robson, who left in May. He’s getting here on the 13th. And, the new Environmental Planning Officer is also coming this month. Dominique Guitachelli, who arrives on the 27th is replacing Tony Lancaster, who left in August.
SPORT:
The Stanley Netball Club held its AGM on Tuesday and a new Committee was elected. The old Committee were thanked for their work and special mention and good wishes made to Chair Trish Halmshaw, who is leaving the Islands in December. Daphanie Arthur-Almond has been appointed a new chairperson and Katrina Stephenson as secretary. Bernie Lang is the new treasurer, Hannah Arthur-Almond is student rep. And Margaret Williams as Committee member. Numbers for the club have risen and overall it is reported to be a good year and subscriptions were set at £50.00 per adult and £30.00 per child. The new Committee decided to hold a mini tournament on the 14th of November.
(100X Transcription Service)
