MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands Councillors explain reasons for keeping General Purposes Committee
At a public meeting in Stanley on Tuesday 13th December, Falkland Islands Councillors explained why the controversial General Purposes Committee (GPC) is to remain part of Government structure.
Many of the Councillors recently elected had voiced concerns in the run up to the election about the role of GPC and whether it still had a place in governing the Islands. Councillor Janet Robertson gave a short presentation at the meeting, "in an attempt to demystify" GPC and explain what it does, why it was kept and how it will develop.
According to Ms Robertson, the issue of GPC had been among the first items discussed by the new council, adding, "debate has been going on for some time." Ms Robertson explained that the committee is used by Councillors to discuss Executive Council (ExCo) papers, brief each other on their work, and was an opportunity to raise any concern or interest. GPC is not, she stressed, a decision making body, and neither does it, "bypass the committee structure," she added.
Despite concerns voiced by the public and some of the newly elected members, Councillors have chosen to keep GPC but develop it, making it more of a, "changing and developing forum that is not static," Ms Robertson said.
Councillors felt that they would have to meet to discuss issues anyway, and that it was better that this took place in a recognized forum. However, in an effort to try to make the Committee more effective and more open, a number of changes to GPC will be brought into force.
GPC will not make recommendation to Executive Council. Items can be discussed but ExCo members are then free to vote as they wish.
The new portfolio structure will also play a part. Under the new system, each councillor is responsible for one portfolio, with all areas of Government covered within these eight. Councillors will then be able to question their colleagues about their respective portfolios within GPC.
It was also stressed that the maximum amount possible of decision making should take place within specific committees, and be kept in the open part of those meetings, thus reducing the workload of GPC and making the process of decision making more transparent.
It has also been decided that each councillor is responsible for the dissemination of information regarding their portfolio, into the public domain. This ia part of an effort to, "try to make us more visible," Ms Robertson said.
A change of name of the committee was decided against for the moment, as Councillors felt that they were simply changing the format of GPC, not introducing a whole new concept. New Camp Councillor Mike Rendell, said that had the name been changed, "it could have been interpreted as spin." Councillor Ian Hansen added, "It is not cut and dried that it (the name) won't change in six months or a year."
The fact that the General Purposes Committee will remain closed to the public did cause some concern among members of the public, as it was felt by some that there is still no provision for open debate among Councillors.
Councillor Robertson agreed, saying, "In my view there is an issue about debate, and it is one of the issues that remains to be addressed."
Rob Burnett - Stanley
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