Sark elects new douzaine

The lengthy procedure meant a decision on whether to allow tractors to be driven in Sark on a Sunday, without written permission, has been shelved for now.

The motion before Chief Pleas last night (10 April) was to exempt tractor drivers from a 2013 law that means the Constable has to give written permission for their use on a Sunday.

Businesses say they need to use tractors throughout the week, and the era of a Sunday being sacrosanct is fading.

But the issue of de-selecting the only remaining douzaine member and electing a new committee had to be dealt with first and it took around 1.5 hours.

Frank Makepeace refused to step down so was forced to do so by a procedural, no confidence motion.

Seven new douzaine members were selected and they'll meet tonight to decide who becomes chair and vice chair.

The new douzaine will need to review the tractor exemption motion, so it will have to go before a future meeting of Chief Pleas.