Ascension : CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ON THE FUTURE OF ASCENSION ISLAND COUNCIL
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 28.02.2008 (Article Archived on 13.03.2008)

Over the past few months there has been a great deal of necessary discussion about the future governance of this island.

During my recent visit we all felt that there was a clear way to proceed and a major step would be the production of a document that states what an Island Council will actually do. This is that document. It is intended as a stimulus to thought and a basis for creative consultation and as such I hope it assists in informing our further discussions. Please do not hesitate to make your views known to any of us named below as we all try to move towards a suitable form of democracy.

Andrew Gurr

Governor

THE COUNCIL’S RESPONSIBILITIES

The structure of government in all the UK’s Overseas Territories is based on a Governor being appointed by HM The Queen.  The Governor’s duties are set out in a local Constitution or in other laws.  The Governor takes decisions on behalf of the Territory.  In most cases however there is some kind of local Council to give him advice.  This might be a form of Ministerial Cabinet, an Executive Council or an Island Council.  The system varies from one territory to another depending on what is most suitable for that territory at that time. As a system of democracy was only put in place on Ascension in 2002, the model used here is that of a small Island Council with a number of elected and appointed members.

What does a Council do in a Territory such as Ascension Island? The Island Council’s main purpose is to consider and advise the Governor on new policy and legislation in a number of important areas. This could include:

·         Annual Budget: provide advice on the annual budget, on how revenue should be raised and on the mix of direct and indirect taxes (between direct taxes like income tax and indirect ones like duty on tobacco and alcohol); advise on priorities for expenditure, for example between education and roads maintenance;

·    Public works:  advise on priorities for capital works programmes;

·         Health services: advise on the right balance between treatment and prevention;

·         Education: advise on the right balances between academic and vocational education;

·         Business: advise on the basic policy for the operation of businesses;

·         Legislation: consider in detail  all proposed new Ordinances and regulations (consultative role only);

·         Constitution: advise on future changes to the Constitution as it applies to Ascension Island.

There are some things however which a Council does not do and this is more or less the same in all Overseas Territories. For example, Ascension Island Council will not be involved in advising the Governor on:

·    Areas where the Governor personally has been given specific responsibility by

      the UK Government such as external affairs, defence and security, staff     matters and the overall finances of the Territory;

·         Specific UK Government policies regarding the Territory (such as, on Ascension, the policies on no right of abode and no property ownership);

·         The day to day management and the implementation of policies and laws of the Territory which are the responsibility of the Administration, once the overall policies and laws are in place.

THE FORMATION OF A COUNCIL

The position in the current legislation is that the Ascension Island Council must have 7 elected Members and up to 2 appointed members in addition to the President (Governor or Administrator), the Attorney General and the Director of Financial Services.  A quorum (the minimum number of people to be present) at a meeting is 6 members, with the number of elected members exceeding the non-elected members.  Councillors stand for a period of 3 years.   All candidates must be at least 21 years of age and be registered as a voter on Ascension. They must also be either a British Overseas Territory Citizen, a British Overseas Citizen or a British Citizen, who has resided on Ascension for at least 18 months immediately prior to the date of nomination.

We feel that the following changes to the current legislation might be helpful:

-          reduce the number of elected members from 7 to 5 (to reflect the size of the electorate better);

-          reduce the quorum from 6 to 5 with a majority of elected members;

-          reduce the term which a Councillor stands from 3 to 2 years and the qualifying period to stand from 18 to 12 months (to reflect the period of contracts on Ascension better);

-          end provision for appointed members (which has not been used in the past anyway).

The following provisions would be kept:

-          President, Attorney General and Director of Financial Services to be members of the Council;

-          closed sessions of the Council to be held when appropriate (this is important for personal and sensitive issues);

-          the use of the Finance Committee (which has an important role in helping to set and maintain budget priorities).

We would also like to introduce some new provisions for the Council:

-          the period for canvassing to be short with no reimbursement of costs (to reflect the size of electorate and the nature of Council);

-          hold quarterly Council meetings with the Heads of Employing Organisations

THE OPERATION OF A COUNCIL

Council meetings are usually called by the Governor.  They can also be called at the request of at least 4 elected members.  Although AIG officials usually set the agenda and present the policy papers which the Council is being asked to advise on, Councillors can ask for issues to be on the agenda themselves.

The meetings are normally be focused on policy proposals.  Sometimes the Council is asked to consider new laws (called Ordinances) and/or regulations (drafted by the Crown Counsel or Attorney General). A complicated piece of law may take more than one meeting to consider.  The Attorney General or Crown Counsel may attend some meetings.  A process of public consultation on policy or legislation is also often built in.  This will enable the Governor to take into account the Council's views in making laws for Ascension.

COMMITMENTS OF COUNCILLORS

The Council aims to meet monthly but, with summer and Christmas holiday periods, 7/8 meetings a year are more usual. The meetings take place outside working hours and may last 2 hours or so.  Councillors need to study papers beforehand and the Administrator may hold pre-Council or other informal discussions. All this may take about 8-10 hours per month.  Outside of Council meetings, a Councillor may also be asked by constituents to raise an issue on their behalf with the Administration.

Councillors are not paid but they will be provided with free IT equipment and an allowance towards internet use and printing for official use.   Councillors are also asked to sign a confidentiality clause.

Councillors do not need special qualifications, but it may well be helpful to provide specific training to Members with no previous Council experience.

Any comments on this document will be studied by:

Andrew Gurr

The Governor, The Castle, Jamestown, St Helena

Email: governor@sainthelena.gov.sh

Mike Hill

The Administrator, The Administrator's Office, Georgetown, Ascension Island

Email: michael.hill@ascension.gov.ac

Andrew Allen

Head of Southern Oceans Team, Overseas Territories Directorate, FCO

King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH

Email: andrew.allen@fco.gov.uk

Amanda Ross McDowell

Desk Officer, Overseas Territories Directorate, FCO

King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH

Email: amanda.rossmcdowell@fco.gov.uk