Chief Pleas decides to allow its key committee to run without a chairman

CHIEF Pleas will operate without a chairman at the helm of its leading committee until major government reforms arrive in Sark.

Conseillers yesterday voted through the proposal from the General Purposes and Advisory Committee to suspend the rules requiring them to appoint a new chairman and deputy chairman.

It follows the recent resignation of former chairman Charles Maitland, who quit saying that the position had placed a huge burden on his wellbeing and time.

During the debate, there were some concerns raised over how long Chief Pleas would be without the role and fears that it was further delaying the planned reforms in the island.

After the meeting, GP&A committee member Conseiller Andrew Cook, pictured, who led the proposition, said that Chief Pleas must now start discussing the upcoming government reform, ahead of its first-ever full-time civil servant – a senior administrator – being appointed.