Environmental and Executive Council

General presentations

• 1110290 – Kaldárselsvegur, turning riding path.

  The proposal from the Sörli Reindeer Road Committee of 25 October 2011 was presented. The proposal was referred to the Council by the Planning and Building Committee on 1 November 2011.

  The matter was referred to the 2012 budget process.

• 1111061 – Krýsuvík, land reclamation by the State Soil Conservation Service

  A report by the State Soil Conservation Service on land reclamation in Krýsuvík, interim report 2011 and action plan 2012, is presented. A letter regarding a request for additional funding for land reclamation in Krýsuvík in 2012 is also submitted.

  The matter is referred to the 2012 budget process.

• 1011405 – Leisure vehicle, collaboration, extension

  The proposal from Hópbílar hf dated 1 November 2011 regarding an extension of the collaboration for the spring term 2012 was presented. The proposal was referred to the council by the town council on 3 November 2011. A representative of Hópbílar attended the meeting.

  The Environment and Operations Committee thanks the presentation and postpones the matter until the next meeting.

• 1111179 – Environment and Executive Council, 2012 budget

  The first draft of the 2012 operating and investment plan was presented.

  Submitted.

• 1111180 – Environmental and Executive Council, Terms of Reference

  Presented for information.

  Submitted.

• SB050584 – Reykjanesbraut, detailed plan

  To be discussed.

  The Environment and Operations Committee requests answers from the National Road Administration regarding the construction works on the dualisation of the Reykjanesbraut.

• 1110255 – Watershed Committee, appointment of a representative

  A proposal from the Environmental Agency regarding the City of Hafnarfjörður appointing a representative to the committee was presented. Referred to the council by the town council on 3 November 2011.

  The Environment and Operations Council appoints Dag Jónsson of the Hafnarfjörður Waterworks as the town's representative on the committee.

• 0906213 – Alcan, water charges for the years 2005-2009

  To be taken up again.

  Negotiations with the company are ongoing on behalf of the Council by the Mayor, and therefore the Environment and Operations Committee does not intend to take any further action on the matter at this stage. The Town Council is responsible for the administration of the matter.$line$ The representative of the Independence Party requests that the following be recorded:$line$ “With Act No. 112/2007, which came into force on 2. July 2007, Rio Tinto Alcan has come under the Icelandic tax regime and pays charges like other companies in Iceland. The change took effect retrospectively from 1 January 2005. $line$Vatnsgjald is a payment for permanent and reliable access to water. Water charges are collected from all companies in accordance with Regulation No. 401/2005, Article 12. Under this regulation, it is permitted to levy a water charge on all properties that can be supplied with water, and the charge may amount to up to 0.5 per cent of the property's assessed value.$line$With reference to the aforementioned legislation and in accordance with its regulations and remit, the Hafnarfjörður Waterworks imposed a water charge on the aluminium smelter's properties in Straumsvík for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 on the basis of the Act No. 32/2004 on Municipal Water Supplies. The charge, based on the older agreement, resulted in a reduction, but the total amount of the levy for this five-year period amounted to 66.7 million krónur with indexation. $line$ The company paid this amount subject to the validity of the assessment, and a ruling from the Ministry of the Interior is available. (administrative case no. 45/2010), where the Ministry of the Interior's ruling accepts Rio Tinto Alcan's view that the company is not required to pay a water charge to the Hafnarfjörður Waterworks.$line$The precedent that the ministry's opinion could set is a concern for those responsible for this statutory duty of municipalities, and it is important that there is no legal uncertainty regarding the levying of water charges; it is therefore necessary to resolve this matter.resolved in the courts and that competent experts in this field will be engaged to safeguard the municipality's interests.“$line$Councillor for the Independence Party, Helga Ingólfsdóttir.

• 1006286 – Environmental and resource policy.

  To be discussed.

  Margrét Gauja reviewed the status of the project. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson is the chairman of the working group. The report is expected to be ready in February 2012.

• 1101014 – Sorpa bs, minutes 2011

  Minutes of the 291st meeting were presented.

  Submitted.