Executive Council met today with no substantive items on the Open Agenda.

Under the Closed Agenda, Council was asked to approve the excision of four Land Parcels from the Green Heartland Zone and for these parcels to be rezoned within the Intermediate Zone with associated development privileges as provided by a design brief.

Members were happy to approve the excision, noting that there were exceptional circumstances relating to this request. Members requested that a press release on this matter should be issued by the Chief Planning Officer.

Under any other business, Members noted that there had been a news item on one of the local radio stations in relation to SHG’s representation as the major shareholder on the Board of Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc and that this was being addressed.

The meeting closed at 10.45am.

ExCo

12 June 2018

A significant south-westerly swell is forecast for St Helena from Wednesday, 13 June, through to Friday, 15 June 2018. This may result in unsettled sea conditions in James Bay and Rupert’s Bay.

The public is therefore asked to use caution when accessing the Sea Front area. To avoid damage to vehicles, drivers are asked to take care when parking near the safety rails. Care should also be taken in the Rupert’s Beach, Shears and Wharf areas.

Port Control will be monitoring sea conditions and may restrict access to the Sea Front, Jamestown Wharf, and Rupert’s Jetty if conditions worsen.

#StHelena #SeaConditions

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SHG
12 June 2018

Councillor Derek Thomas will depart St Helena on Sunday, 10 June, to attend the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) EN Meeting in London on Thursday, 14 June 2018.

The focus for St Helena at this meeting will be the impact Brexit has on the Overseas Territories (OTs). Of particular interest to Councillor Thomas will be the loss of European Development Funding and the arrangements Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) will have in place to replace and support this type of funding, freedom of movement into the European Union (EU) with British Passport Holders, job opportunities and the impact on exports into the EU such as fish and coffee.

Councillor Thomas will also attend the UKOTA Pre JMC meeting on Wednesday, 13 June. This meeting will discuss the JMC – EN agenda, proposed agenda items and format for the JMC in November, HMG’s relationship with the Overseas Territories, Environmental issues and the proposed Foreign Affairs Select Committees report into the Overseas Territories.

In addition to the JMC meeting, Councillor Thomas will also attend bilateral meetings with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Ahmad, DFID Minister Lord Bates and Andrew Mitchell MP.

Councillor Thomas explains:

“The purpose of these meetings will be discuss the prospects for Capital Programme Funding going forward, limited budget provisions which do not allow for enabling development, challenges arising from Air Access including limited visitor numbers, which are impacting upon private sector businesses, and the fact that the Island is going through a really difficult period and we need further support from HMG.”

On his return journey to St Helena, Councillor Thomas will spend a week in Johannesburg accompanied by the Director of Health, Dr Akeem Ali, to visit the proposed hospital and accommodation arrangements to assess their medical facilities. This follows after the clinical recommendation that similar levels of medical treatment can be obtained in Johannesburg compared to Cape Town where there are additional costs of more than £800 per patient and logistical issues including an overnight stay in Johannesburg.

Councillor Thomas said:

“Medical care overseas supported and funded by SHG is crucial in ensuring that treatment not available on the Island can be obtained by as many people who need it as possible. The reality is that the available resources is never enough to cover all the needs out there. As a government, we work hard to ensure that the health of Saints and access to medical care is given utmost priority. With DFID funding, we support patients sent to South Africa for overseas treatment and this is at substantial cost. We want to ensure that the available budget covers as many people’s needs as possible, therefore, we work hard to get good outcomes at good cost. There are currently additional costs to sending people to Cape Town to receive medical care that can be avoided.

“I, along with members of the Public Health Committee and other Elected Members are keen to ensure safe and effective overseas care for all who need it, at the same time we do not want to incur additional costs that are avoidable so that we can support more people to receive care overseas when they need it.”

Councillor Thomas will return to the Island on Saturday, 23 June 2018.

 #StHelena #CouncillorTravel #JMC

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SHG

8 June 2018

The Highways Authority has given approval for the road, from the Canister in Jamestown to Greenlands, Market Street, to be closed on Wednesday, 13 June 2018, between 1pm and 4pm.

This closure is to allow the Roads Section to mark and paint the new zebra crossing.

Appropriate diversion signage will be in place.

The Roads Section would like to thank the public in advance for their co-operation.

 #StHelena #RoadsSection #MarketStreet #RoadClosure #ZebraCrossing

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SHG

7 June 2018

The Highways Authority has given approval to pilot a new zebra crossing on the road adjacent to the Canister in Jamestown.

A zebra crossing is a type of pedestrian crossing (photo attached) used in many places around the world. Its distinguishing feature is alternating dark and light stripes on the road surface, resembling that of a zebra. A zebra crossing typically gives priority to rights of way to pedestrians.

These road markings not only control traffic by giving orders, they also warn you as a driver that there may be pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road.

Zebra crossings are fairly new on St Helena and the following advice is provided to both drivers and pedestrians on what to expect when approaching a zebra crossing:

• Drivers approaching a zebra crossing should look out for pedestrians waiting to cross from either side of the road (particularly children, the elderly, the disabled and people with children). Be ready to slow down or stop at the ‘give way’ point (broken white lines across the road) to let them cross. Zig Zag markings and a ‘Slow’ sign will be painted on the road to warn drivers that they are approaching a zebra crossing (see diagram here: Zebra Crossing Road Markings)  
• Drivers must give way to anyone who has stepped on to the crossing. Signal to others that you intend to slow down or stop. Do not signal pedestrians to cross, as another vehicle may be approaching
• Drivers must not stop on a zebra crossing. On approaching the zebra crossing you must not overtake the moving vehicle nearest to the crossing or the leading vehicle that has stopped to give way to the pedestrian on the crossing
• Even when there are no zig zag markings you must not park, load or unload goods or passengers, or overtake just before a zebra crossing
• In traffic queues, leave the zebra crossing clear. Do not stop on the black/white lines of the zebra crossing but stop at the ‘give way’ point (broken white lines across the road
• Pedestrians should follow the basic road crossing motto ‘Look left, look right and look left again’ before attempting to cross the zebra crossing

This is a pilot scheme and limited signage will be put in place at this moment. The advice to all pedestrians and vehicle operators is to approach this zebra crossing with great care.

Line painting works will be carried out on Wednesday, 13 June 2018, and a separate press release detailing closing times and diversion routes will be issued shortly.

#StHelena #ZebraCrossing

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SHG

7 June 2018

The Environment & Natural Resources Directorate (ENRD) would like to advise the public that the main office at Essex House will open at the later time of 9.30am on Tuesday, 12 June 2018, to allow staff to attend a meeting.

ENRD would like to thank the public in advance for their co-operation.

#StHelena #EssexHouse #LaterOpening

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SHG

7 June 2018

Visitors to Horse Point Landfill Site will now see a new sign to promote use of the Public Recycling Facility.

This sign was skilfully created by Landfill Manager, Patrick Crowie, using only waste materials, as a demonstration of the circular economy approach – recycling everything we produce, while at the same time generating zero pollution.

Environmental Risk Manager, Mike Durnford, said:

“Patrick has demonstrated excellent resource management and ingenuity, using recycled waste materials, which contributes towards efficiency savings and a reduction of waste to landfill. The sign is a testament to the commitment by Waste Management Services Staff to achieve their mission statement of working in partnership with customers for a cleaner and greener St Helena.”

Horse Point Landfill Site is open 24/7, but in the interest of safety the public is advised not to use the site during the hours of darkness. Please consider recycling your waste before any disposal into the bulky waste cell.

#StHelena #WMS #Recycle

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SHG

6 June 2018

The public is advised that the road, from the junction near St Matthew’s Church towards Halley’s Mount and through to the Dungeon Cemetery, will be closed from 9am to 3pm on Thursday, 7, and Friday, 8 June 2018.

This is to allow the Forestry Section of the Agriculture & Natural Resources Division to continue works to remove overhanging trees from the power lines at Halley’s Mount.

Appropriate diversion signs will be in place and, as normal, only emergency services will be granted access.

The Forestry Section would like to thank the public in advance for their co-operation.

#StHelena #ForestrySection #HalleysMount #RoadClosure

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 SHG

6 June 2018

Heidi Murray recently arrived on-Island to take up her post as Manager of HM Prison.

Heidi is on a two-year contract and brings with her a wealth of experience, working within the British Prison Service for over 12 years and climbing all the way up to Governor Grade, which she achieved in 2010.

Her key objective on St Helena will be to manage HM Prison and Heidi will focus on performance management, monitoring targets and up-skilling staff.

Heidi said:

“I was very nervous about coming to St Helena. Although everyone I spoke to before-hand said how friendly everyone was here, I could never have imagined just how welcoming the Saints would be and how much they would have supported me in the first few days. I already feel I have an excellent team working with me in the Prison, and I am hoping I will be able to build on the work that my predecessor, Lesley Giles, carried out.”

Although a qualified maths teacher, Heidi chose to pursue a career in the Prison Service after visiting HM Prison Cardiff and getting involved in the Restorative Justice Programme. She has since worked in a number of roles in Category A, B, C and D prisons across the UK. These include holding titles such as Head of Residence at HM Prison Cardiff, Head of the Offender Management Unit at HM Prison Winchester and Head of Security at HM Prison Haverigg.

Heidi is a mother of three and grandmother of one and lived with her partner Stephen in a small mining village in South Wales before moving to St Helena.

#StHelena #StHelenaPolice #HMPrison #NewPrisonManager

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SHG
6 June 2018

St Helena Government is pleased to announce that Stephanie Jones has been appointed as the new Director of Safeguarding. Stephanie will take up her new role when the current Director, Matt Ansell, completes his contract on 9 July 2018.

As Director of Safeguarding, Stephanie will be responsible for the integrity and quality of social services on St Helena, ensuring that services are provided in the most cost effective and ‘joined up’ way. Stephanie will continue the current focus of a preventative approach and will take forward and lead the implementation of ‘Signs of Safety’ as the practice approach within the Directorate. Her role includes promoting collaboration across services for children and young people, for those with learning disabilities, vulnerable adults and other services such as residential provision.

Stephanie said:

“I am committed to St Helena and have been employed by the Safeguarding Directorate since February 2015. I am eager to continue the good work already achieved in the Directorate and to build on this to ensure vulnerable people remain safe and happy in their community. I am particularly looking forward to working collaboratively with other directorates to implement the Signs of Safety practice framework to deliver a common approach to safeguarding across the Island.”

Stephanie has worked on St Helena in the role of Children Services Manager for the last three years and is committed to the ongoing development of services within the Directorate. Previously, Stephanie has occupied managerial roles in UK local authorities and has also worked as a University Lecturer teaching social work.

Director of Safeguarding, Matt Ansell, concluded:

“Following a competitive recruitment process, Stephanie has been appointed the new Director of Safeguarding. I am really pleased for service continuity that Stephanie is the new Director. Stephanie and I will be spending time over the next few weeks handing over which should provide a smooth transition and reduce the impact of change within the Directorate. Stephanie has been inspirational in her work in Children Services moving the service forward over the last three years and I am sure she will transfer this good work into the role of Director. I wish her every success for the future.

“From my perspective, I will be sad to leave St Helena and I would like to thank all those people who have helped and supported me over the last 16 months. Whilst I am leaving my contract slightly earlier than planned, I have truly enjoyed working and living on St Helena and I wish all its people happiness for the future.”

 #StHelena #Safeguarding #NewDirector 

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SHG

6 June 2018