Sark's top committee under fire for late proposals

Sark's top political committee is under fire for not publishing details of a proposed loan from Guernsey's government.

The Christmas Chief Pleas agenda, for the government's meeting on 21 January, includes two items from Policy and Finance (P&F) which have not yet been published.

They relate to changes to the island's tax system and a loan from Guernsey's States, to assist with the purchase of Sark Electricity Limited.

Conseiller Frank Makepeace criticised the late submission of papers to Chief Pleas, and said it was "not appropriate". P&F has been contacted for comment.

In a post on social media Makepeace labelled the move as "not good governance".

He said: "This isn't about whether the electricity company should or shouldn't be purchased.

"It's about whether elected members and the public are being given enough time and information to properly scrutinise a major public borrowing decision."

Former politician Tony Ventress agreed with Makepeace that the papers about the loan should be published earlier: "I feel that a document of this importance needs at least a week of perusal, contemplation and possible modification."

In 2018 Sark's government announced it would buy Sark Electricity Limited.

Seven years later Chief Pleas voted to compulsory purchase the utility.

Guernsey's States agreed to provide a loan to Sark's government to assist with the purchase in May.

Chief Pleas has five scheduled meetings each year, Christmas, Easter, Midsummer, Michaelmas and the budget.

Papers for these meetings are usually published about four or five weeks before the meeting.

Plans to create a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) and hold a by-election on 25 February are also set to be considered by Chief Pleas at the Christmas meeting on 21 January.

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