DELIBERATIONS OF 19-12-2007

Date: 19th December, 2007

DELIBERATIONS OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 16:30 HOURS

Present:
Sir Norman Browse
Mr R Cox
Mr B Pengilley
Mrs L Maurice
Mr R Willmott
Miss B Benfield
Mr B Walden
Mr C Williams
Mr I Tugby
Mrs E Bennett

Reverend A Mignot represented His Excellency The Lieutenant-Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Item I Proposed Increase in Harbour Dues, Pilotage Dues and Mooring Charges

The States resolved to approve of: Statutory Instrument No 8 of 2007, Statutory Instrument No 9 of 2007 and Statutory Instrument No 10 of 2007

Proposed by Mr Williams and seconded by Mr Willmott.)
(Approved unanimously.) (Mr Walden was absent for this item.)

Item II The Occupiers’ Rate (Level for 2008) Ordinance, 2007

The States resolved to approve of "The Occupiers’ Rate (Level for 2008) Ordinance, 2007".

Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Mr Williams. (Mr Walden entered the meeting at 16:40.)
(Approved unanimously.)

Item III The Fees (Amendment)(Alderney) Ordinance, 2007

The States resolved to approve of "The Fees(Amendment)(Alderney) Ordinance, 2007."

Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Mr Williams.
(Approved unanimously.)

Item IV The Companies (Alderney) Law, 1994 - Fees Ordinance, 2007

The States resolved to approve of "The Companies (Alderney) Law (Fees) Ordinance, 2007".

Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Mr Williams.
(Approved unanimously.)

Item V Suspension of New Dwellings Profits Tax

The States resolved to

1. Repeal the New Dwellings Profits Tax (Alderney) Law 2001 and to request the Law Officers to draft the necessary Projet and;
2. To approve of the New Dwellings Profits Tax (Alderney) (Suspension) Ordinance, 2007

Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Mr Cox.
(Approved unanimously.)

Item VI The Alderney eGambling (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007

The States resolved to approve of "The Alderney eGambling (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007".

Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Miss Benfield.
(Approved unanimously.)

Item VII The Building and Development Control (Exemptions) (Alderney) Ordinance, 2007

The States resolved to approve of "The Building and Development Control (Exemptions) (Alderney) Ordinance, 2007".      

Proposed by Miss Benfield and seconded by Mrs Maurice.
(Approved unanimously.)

Item VIII Policy and Finance Committee – Annual Report for 2007

The States resolved to accept the Annual Report for 2007 of the Policy and Finance Committee.

(Proposed by Mr Willmott and seconded by Mr Williams.)
(Approved unanimously.)

Item IX General Services Committee – Annual Report for 2007

The States resolved to accept the Annual Report for 2007 of the General Services Committee.

(Proposed by Mr Walden and seconded by Miss Benfield.)
(Approved unanimously.)

Item X Building and Development Control Committee – Annual Report for 2007

The States resolved to accept the Annual Report for 2007 of the Building and Development Control Committee.

(Proposed by Miss Benfield and seconded by Mr Tugby.)
(Approved unanimously.)

Item XI Questions and Reports

A question for written reply was asked by Mr Cox of the Chairman of the Building and Development Control Committee:-

Question:-

"Would the Chairman explain why her Committee is now asking for financial and/or physical donations to the island in exchange for a favourable permit or even a preliminary declaration."

Written answer:-

"The Building and Development Control Committee exercises the powers and performs the duties conferred or imposed on it by the Building and Development Control (Alderney) Law, 2002 or any Ordinance or regulation thereunder.  Ordinances (generally referred to as Exemption Ordinances) may be made and have been made thereunder where a developer could not otherwise be permitted by the Committee to carry out his development in Alderney and the terms of such Ordinances are determined by the States."

Mr Willmott advised that due to a technical objection from the Law Officers, the Government of Alderney Law Review had not been included on this months Billet, a meeting was scheduled to be held with the Procureur early in January 2008 with an expectation of placing this item before the States at its meeting in March.  Mr Willmott further advised that at a recent meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee it had been proposed to discuss amending the Rules of Procedure and agreed in principle to amend one item in particular, relating to the process of Parliamentary Questions.  

Mr Williams outlined the main reasons for the formation of the Commercial Quay Projet Management Board, the expertise of its members and its mandate.  Mr Williams commented on the recent inflammatory Mercury article in the Journal, (edition 887) and advised that consequently the Journal Board had issued a written apology to the States; which he then proceeded to read out.  

The President stated that the spoken Chairman's reports were a new format for the States, benefiting the live broadcast on Quay FM.  The President noted that unfortunately only a small number of Billet's were sold each month and he hoped that this live broadcast would gain the interest of a wider audience

The President reported that, following his success at the recent elections, Mr Frank Dean would take his Oath of Office at the Annual Meeting of the States in January 2008.

The President advised that the Royal Mint had kindly gifted a Commemorative Coin worth £5 to every school aged child on the island, and hoped that this would encourage some of them to become collectors.  The President noted that Alderney received substantial royalties from the sale of Coins, with in excess of £100,000 being received this year.

The President thanked Reverend Author Mignot, on behalf of the States, for his thirteen years of loyal service as Representative of His Excellency The Lieutenant-Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey.  

The Reverend Author Mignot addressed the meeting stating that it had been a privilege and a pleasure to have served the States of Alderney as the Lieutenant-Governor's Representative, together with his position on the St Anne's School Management Committee.

The President advised that during the renovation of the Court Room the first three meetings of the States, in 2008 (9th January, 20th February and 19th March) would be held in the Island Hall.

The President wished everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Meeting ended: 18:30
Issued: 31st December 2007