ExCo Report 1 December
2 December 2009
Four of the five Executive Council members were in attendance at today’s meeting. Councillor Tony Green was able to take his seat as he has just returned to the Island. Councillor Brian Isaac continued to replace Councillor Gunnell who is attending the OTCC Conference in London on our behalf.
This was an especially long meeting and we had a great deal of business to conduct. The first item on our agenda was an Application for Development Permission for the proposed Freight, Baggage, Passenger and Customs Terminal and Offices on the Wharf in Jamestown. This is a very large project if one includes all the potential improvements to the wharf itself, but here we were just considering two key buildings – one to facilitate freight and baggage handling, and the other to deal with passengers.
In order to provide some background I should explain that we believe that in the long term Rupert’s Bay is the place where all containers should be landed and handled. However that will require a much improved wharf there as well as a suitable access road. Such a construction is part of our plan for the airport, but for the time being we must plan to develop Jamestown wharf in a way that enables us to handle freight and passengers there in efficiency and comfort. Any part of the wharf that may be dedicated to non-passenger freight now should therefore be capable of a different use in the longer term.
The plan in front of EXCO had been recommended by the Land Planning and Development Control Board and has been through the normal consultancy advice, public consultation and Environmental Impact Statement. That EIS covers the whole of the development and not just the two buildings under consideration. In fact we were informed by the Physical and Urban Planner, David Taylor who was present, that the EIS would not have been necessary if the only development had been the two buildings concerned. Also attending the meeting for this item were Dr.Corinda Essex, the Chief Development Officer, and Jamie Roberts, the Director of the National Trust.
We were shown an artist’s impression of the two buildings that actually served to replace the existing Cold Store and Sand Yard. The smaller of the two buildings being the freight terminal was a single storey structure, built on the site of the Sand Yard. The Passenger Terminal was of two storeys and being situated where the Cold Store is, its height and appearance has been designed to reflect the scale of the buildings further to the south including the Castle complex.
David Taylor talked us through some details in the EIS, indicating that it had tended to concentrate on the construction phase rather than on the finished project, and he was convinced that Council should accept the proposal as being pleasant in appearance, harmonious with the existing surroundings and providing a much improved facility for the arrival of both freight and passengers.
Jamie Roberts of the National Trust explained that the Trust is very supportive of there being new buildings, but he expressed reservations about the EIS, believing that it was not fit for purpose. He said that the Trust was especially concerned about the height of the passenger terminal and the overall impression that it might provide for arriving tourists. There was a prolonged discussion that was set against the background of Councillors not wishing to create a negative impact on the appearance of the wharf, and yet wanting to actually approve the project so that it could start as soon as possible. Dr.Essex explained that such European Union funding requires activity in order to start the cash flowing – it is a “trigger” mechanism.
The outcome was approval for the Freight Terminal and agreement that the Passenger Terminal would be considered in more detail at EXCO on 12th January. In the meantime any further representations from the National Trust, any other interested body, or individuals, should be made to the Clerk of Councils and will be taken into account.
Our second item was a memorandum from the Attorney General which proposed an Order to show that the UK Human Rights legislation does not apply here. This is needed because our new Constitution now provides us with our own Human Rights which are both clearer in our circumstances and more complete. This was approved.
Another Planning Permission then followed and this was approved being in no way controversial, being a new type of tide gauge to be sited on the wharf at Jamestown.
There followed some Special Warrants which now come to EXCO rather than just be signed off by the Governor. There were two, one to do with the cost of the RMS engine refurbishment, which is cash that will flow from DFID and through our accounts, and the other was to make up the deficit incurred by St.Helena News Media Services over the past year. Although Councillors approved the warrants they asked for a special EXCO to discuss the media situation in the near future, and I gladly agreed.
Under Items Closed to the Public we discussed a letter that had been sent to Governor in Council regarding the taxation treatment of owners of rented accommodation. The letter was acknowledged to have made a valid point and the Financial Secretary will ensure that the matter is looked into and brought back to Council.
We then moved on to the vexed subject of the cost and price of fuel. The fact is that the last shipment in October cost us more than the previous one and therefore the price of fuel at the pump, and to the power station, should be increased.
We were all particularly concerned that such an action just before Christmas would not be helpful to the population, and Councillors came up with some creative ideas as to how equivalent amounts of money might well be saved within government. One of the favourites was an improvement of efficiency in the use of the government vehicle fleet. It was agreed that the administration would examine such ideas and that we would consider the matter once again on 12th January when another delivery of fuel will have taken place.
Our final Paper was the draft of our annual budget for 2010-2011. This is particularly important as it will form the basis of the DAPM negotiations with DFID in January and that in turn will form the basis for our funding from the UK for the next three years. This budget has already had a great deal of exposure to Councillors and has been worked through in detail beginning with each income and expenditure line in each Department.
Many of you will know that this EXCO will be our Financial Secretary’s last and we all thanked her very much for the clarity and detail of this particular Paper as well as for her work on behalf of this island. We wish her well for the future.
Under Any Other Business it was confirmed that the Director of Public Works has said that under some circumstances all six of our wind turbines might well be able to work at the same time. The significant improvement in their use over recent weeks is very welcome and we look forward to the wind helping us with our electricity bills for a long time to come.
There were questions about the deployment of the Bailey Bridge and why it was not ready for the recent visit of the Seven Seas Voyager. It was agreed that the Chief Secretary would look into this.
Another question arose as to why the RMS accommodation is sometimes said to be “full” and yet plenty of cabins remain vacant. I promised to look into that issue.
This was a very workmanlike meeting of EXCO. Without in any way criticising the previous Council for whom I had a high regard, over the past two weeks I have come to appreciate that this new Council is determined to get things done. That shows in their ability to tackle problems and make real progress. Although this was a long meeting, the level of debate and informed discussion was high. We finished at 2.15 pm.
Andrew Gurr
Governor