Town Council

General presentations

• SB040377 – Minutes of the Planning and Building Officer

  Minutes from the planning and building officer's disposal meetings were presented. 03.10.12 and 10.10.12. Item A was dealt with by the building officer in accordance with the Building Act no. 160/2010. Submitted.

• 0703293 – National grid, high-voltage lines, alteration

  Item 2 from the minutes of the Municipal Council of 18 October. The annex to the existing agreement was taken up again, but the town council deferred a decision on the matter and referred it back to the town board at its meeting on 10 October. Representatives from Landsnet attended the meeting. The Municipal Council refers the pending addendum, with the amendments made, back to the Municipal Council, subject to the approval of Landsnet.

  Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir, the mayor, took the floor. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir took the floor. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir intervened. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir took the floor. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir intervened. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir replied to the intervention. Valdimar Svavarsson intervened in response to Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir's previous speech. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir replied to the intervention. Valdimar Svavarsson intervened a second time. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson took the floor. Valdimar Svavarsson made a point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied. Valdimar Svavarsson made a point of order for a second time. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied for a second time. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order regarding Eyjólfur Sæmundsson's previous speech. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied to the intervention. Valdimar Svavarsson took the floor. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir intervened. Valdimar Svavarsson replied to the intervention. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson intervened in response to Valdimar Svavarsson's previous speech. Lúðvík Geirsson took the floor. Gunnar Axel Axelsson left the meeting at 15:50. He was replaced by Hörður Þorsteinsson. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made an intervention regarding Lúðvík Geirsson's speech. Lúðvík Geirsson responded to the intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a second intervention. Lúðvík Geirsson replied to the intervention for a second time. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a brief comment. Lúðvík Geirsson made a brief comment. The Deputy Chair, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, took the chair. Kristinn Andersen spoke. The First Vice-Chair took the chair again.$line$$line$The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approved, by 6 votes, the attached amendments with the aforementioned changes, subject to the approval of Landsnet. 5 abstained.$line$$line$Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made the following statement on behalf of the representatives of the Independence Party:$line$$line$“The representatives of the Independence Party express their disappointment that the demolition of Hamranes lines 1 and 2 in Vogar has not become a reality, as the original agreement between the town and Landsnet from 2009 provided for. That project is part of the planned extensive works to develop the electricity transmission system, but the fact that those plans have not got under way is largely the responsibility of the current coalition government of the Social Democrats and the Left-Green Party. It is also unclear how the Hafnarfjörður municipal authorities have followed up on the matter during this period, as information and consultation with elected representatives have been scarce. Consequently, the Independence Party councillors are abstaining from the vote. $line$However, it is pleasing that it has been possible to strengthen the provisions in this annex concerning the commencement of construction on the first phase of a new aluminium smelter in Helguvík or other energy-intensive industry in the area, at which point preparatory work for the aforementioned works on the the demolition of the Hamranes lines. The demolition of the power lines has a significant impact on the built-up area and the appearance of the Vellir neighbourhood, as well as on the development of construction in that area, and is therefore a matter of the utmost importance to the residents of Hafnarfjörður.$line$It is reiterated that it is vital that the development of energy-intensive industry begins as soon as possible, for the benefit of the entire nation.“ $line$$line$Valdimar Svavarsson (sign), Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir (sign), Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir (sign), Helga Ragnheiður Stefánsdóttir (sign), Kristinn Andersen (sign). A short recess was then taken.$line$$line$Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir submitted the following statement on behalf of the representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Party:$line$$line$“With the approval of Annex I to the Agreement between Landsnet hf and the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður on the development of the electricity transmission system from August 2009, the municipal authorities have secured the demolition of Hamranes Line 1 and 2. The original agreement concerns the prioritisation of works in Hafnarfjörður for the Southwest Lines from the Hellisheiði to the Reykjanes Peninsula. That agreement was reached with the involvement of both the minority and majority parties in the Hafnarfjörður town council. The addendum now being presented strengthens and underlines the commitments of the original agreement. It does so by ensuring a clear timeframe for the works, setting a deadline for their completion, but also reaffirming the mutual understanding that preparations for the demolition of Hamranes Lines 1 and 2 will begin immediately if construction on the first phase of a new aluminium smelter in Helguvík or other energy-intensive industry in the area becomes a reality.This is why it is particularly noteworthy that the councillors of the Independence Party are not prepared to take part in securing the town's interests. With their decision today, the local authorities in Hafnarfjörður have succeeded in securing the demolition of Hamranes Lines 1 and 2 and shortening the lifespan of the high-voltage lines that currently run alongside the residential area in Völlunum. It is particularly noteworthy, therefore, that the councillors of the Independence Party are not prepared to take part in securing the town's interests in this matter either. With their conduct and lack of a clear position on this matter, the minority of the Independence Party demonstrates once again that they are not prepared to shoulder full responsibility and thus protect the overall interests of Hafnarfjörður.$line$Then, accusations against the government are unfounded. Delays in the Helguvík project are caused by a dispute between HS Orka and Norðurál. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir (sign), Guðfinna Guðmundsdóttir (sign), Eyjólfur Sæmundsson (sign), $line$ Hörður Þorsteinsson (sign), Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir (sign), Lúðvík Geirsson (sign).

• 1210335 – Health surveillance for the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area, budget and fee schedules for 2013

  Item 11 from the minutes of the BÆJH meeting of 18th October. The financial plan and fee schedules for the health surveillance of the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area for 2012 were presented. These concern the fee schedules for health and pollution control surveillance and for the keeping of dogs.$line$In addition, a new by-law for the keeping of farm animals and general pet ownership in Hafnarfjörður, in accordance with the relevant resolution which was confirmed on 2 July. $line$ The Town Council refers the financial plan to the budget process but refers the following proposal to the Town Council.$line$$line$“The town council approves the proposals of the Health Surveillance Authority for the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area for changes to the authority's fee schedules.“$line$

  The Hafnarfjörður Town Council approves the proposed proposal by 11 unanimous votes.

Minutes

• 1201159 – Minutes of 2012, for presentation to the town council.

  Minutes of the Education Committee from 15th October. Minutes of the Town Council from 18th October. Minutes of the Town Council from 20th October. Minutes of the Town Council from 20th October. a. Minutes of the Harbour Board from 9 and 16 October. b. Minutes of the Health Committee of the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area from 1 October. c. Minutes of the Board of SORPU bs. from 15 October. Minutes of the Planning and Building Committee from 16 October. Minutes of the Family Council from 17 October. Minutes of the Sports and Leisure Committee from 8th October. Minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17th October. last.$line$Minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 24th October.

  Sigurlaug Anna Jóhannsdóttir spoke on items 4 and 5 of the minutes of the Education Committee from 15th October. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir spoke under item 5 – Kaplakriki Sports Hall, construction – in the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17 October. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir spoke on item 5 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17 October, and item 2 – Breiðvangur, Strætó bus service – of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 24 October. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson spoke on item 4 of the minutes of the Education Committee from 15 October and item 5 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17 October. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied to the point of order. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a second point of order. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson replied to the second point of order. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a brief comment. Eyjólfur Sæmundsson made a brief comment. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir spoke on item 5 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17 October. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a point of order. Guðrún Ágústa Guðmundsdóttir replied to the intervention. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir made a second intervention. Hörður Þorsteinsson spoke on item 5 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 17 October. Lúðvík Geirsson spoke on the same item.