Information for people wishing to JOIN THE COMMUNITY OF SARK

Climate

The climate is similar to that of Devon, Cornwall and Brittany. Frosts are infrequent and Sark frequently reports the greatest annual sunshine hours for any place in the British Isles.

Average rainfall is 30 to 40 inches [760 to 1020 mm]. Summer weather is very pleasant with light breezes and temperatures in the mid-20’s Celsius. Winter can bring wet and windy storms; however ferry services to/from Sark are only interrupted very occasionally.

Population

Sark’s resident population is around 500 rising to about 1000 ‘in season’ with seasonal staff and when hotels, guest houses and campsites are open to receive holiday makers, generally between Easter and October.

All dwellings, whether rented, leased or purchased outright are defined as being either ‘local market’ (one that was built new since 1976) or ‘open market’. In order to reside in a ‘local market’ dwelling, a person needs to be ‘locally qualified’ by having been born on Sark, lived on Sark for at least 15 years or by living as a member of the family of a person who is ‘locally qualified’. There are no restrictions on who may reside in an ‘open market’ dwelling. A more complete explanation of this can be found within the Housing (Control of Occupation) (Sark) Law, 2011.

Any new dwelling, or other development on the Island, needs to have written permission from the Development Control Committee before any work may begin. Application forms are available from the Committee Office.

Sark exports locally caught seafood, and Island reared lamb, pork, and beef as well as hen’s eggs and other agricultural produce. It also exports chocolate, pottery, ale and jewelry which are all produced locally.

Tourism probably occupies the greatest number of residents. There are several restaurants, pubs and hotels, as well as guest houses, bed & breakfast and self-catering facilities and two campsites.

All financial services/activity on Sark are regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.  

Currency

The island’s currency is the Guernsey Pound, which is tied to the British Pound sterling and both are accepted throughout Sark. The Euro is accepted by a number of places on Sark at the current exchange rate.

Sitting approximately central on the Island is the Avenue, this is Sark’s main shopping area. Fresh and frozen food is available from the grocery store ‘The Food Stop’, which features a selection of ‘Waitrose’ lines. The Gallery Stores offer general sundries, housewares, gifts and ironmongery as well as being the Island’s Post Office; it also runs a NatWest Bank counter service. There are also several other outlets on the Avenue including cafés, a cycle hire shop and gift shops selling items such as handmade glass, paintings, jewelry and pottery and an Estate Agency.

Around the perimeter of the Avenue are other cycle hire shops, pubs, the Island Hall, restaurants and grocery store ‘Mon Plaisir’ which has a selection of ‘Iceland’ products.

Most outlets offer a delivery service for which there may be an additional charge.

Terrestrial Digital Television is broadcast from Jersey and Guernsey and consists of the channels available through Freeview. The satellite providers Sky also broadcasts to Sark, a subscription may be required. To operate a television receiver requires a UK Television Licence. The free licence for those people over 75 years does not apply to Sark.

Sark is served by BBC Radio Guernsey and the independent radio station Island FM 104.7

Sark does not have a permanent theatre however the Sark Theatre Group does put on regular performances including pantomime at Christmas.

There is no Cinema on Sark, the nearest being on Guernsey.

Sark is not part of the UK’s National Health Service and all residents are strongly encouraged to take out private medical insurance or else pay for treatment as it is needed, this includes any ‘Accident & Emergency’ treatment and any emergency evacuation off the Island which can be very costly. An annual subscription to St John’s Ambulance Marine Scheme is available.

The island currently has a resident doctor. Surgeries are held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 8.30am-1pm by appointment only. Home visits also available by contacting the surgery. The surgery is closed Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. More information is available at 

www.sarkmedical.co.uk

In the event of accident or emergency care above that which the resident doctor can provide locally, evacuation to Guernsey is carried out by either the Flying Christine III, the St. John Ambulance’s medical launch, or the RNLI Lifeboat for which there is a charge.

Physiotherapy treatment may be available on Sark, undertaken by a Guernsey Registered physiotherapist, during the summer months. Treatment is usually undertaken at Stocks Hotel.

There is no resident dentist on Sark, however between April and September a dentist comes across from Guernsey to hold a surgery catering for check-ups, polishing and fillings. Any work more serious than this, or needed at any other time of year, will require a visit to Guernsey.

There is no optician on Sark, all appointments and treatment have to be carried out off-island.

Carers for the elderly or infirm are available by private arrangement both on Island and from agencies in Guernsey - but again this comes at a cost.

Emergency Services

ALL emergency calls should be made to 999 (or 911 via a mobile), stating which Sark emergency service is required.

Police: Sark has two volunteer Constables and two volunteer Assistant Constables, who work on a rota of two weeks on and two weeks off. They are supported by a number of volunteer Special Constables that together constitute Sark’s police force. The Constables and Assistant Constables are on call 24 hours a day to deal with whatever matter arises. 

In the event of a serious crime Guernsey Police are requested to handle the matter, with the cooperation of the Sark Constable.

Fire Service: The Sark Fire & Rescue Service is made up of trained volunteers who will respond to any emergency situation. Further background information including its history can be found at www.sarkfireservice.org.gg

Ambulance Service: The Sark Ambulance Service provides emergency medical transport in support of the Doctor and/or the Fire & Rescue Service as well as non-emergency transportation to and from the harbour for people who need assistance. The ambulance may be booked in advance by contacting the Sark Medical Centre Practice Manager on 832045 for which a charge is made. 

There are additional charges levied for emergency call outs if they require additional man-power, for example fire crew on cliff rescues.

Lifeboat: Lifeboat services are provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from the Guernsey lifeboat station, supported by the RNLI stations on Jersey and Alderney.

There are two churches on Sark, St Peter's Church and the Methodist Chapel, both holding regular Sunday services and events during the week, including children's activities. Both are led by the resident Minister Revd. David Stolton who can be contacted on 01481 832743.

Christian weddings may take place in St Peters Church, in the Methodist Chapel, or at any venue on the island with the owner or landowner's permission. The Minister should be contacted in the first instance before arranging a marriage. Same-sex marriages may also take place at the Methodist Chapel or at other venues on the island, with permission, but currently not in St Peter's Church.

Civil weddings may be performed by the Deputy Registrar-General Mr Trevor Hamon, either in the Chief Pleas Assembly Room and Court House or at other venues at the discretion of the Deputy Registrar-General (see Greffier).

Sark is governed by Chief Pleas, a parliament of 18 representatives, elected by universal suffrage, known as Conseillers, none of whom are remunerated for this role. Chief Pleas and its Committees (populated by Conseillers) are responsible for the administration of existing legislation as well as the introduction of new legislation which is drafted by Guernsey Law Officers. New primary legislation has to be approved by the Privy Council.

Each Conseiller serves a term of four years with elections being held every two years at which half of the Conseiller seats are re-elected. 

Anyone aged 18 year or older may have their name put on the Electoral Roll once they have resided on the Island for at least two years.

Please see Sark Government website www.sarkgov.co.ukfor further information.

Sark has its own court known as the Court of the Seneschal. The Seneschal is appointed by the Seigneur with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey.  It is similar to a Magistrates Court in the UK.

The Court of the Seneschal has unlimited civil jurisdiction.  It has criminal jurisdiction to impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding one month and/or a fine not exceeding £5000. Imprisonment for more than 3 days must be served in Guernsey.

Appeals from the Court of the Seneschal in criminal cases are to the Royal Court in Guernsey and in civil matters to the Ordinary Court.  From there appeals lie subject to certain limitations and procedures to the Guernsey Court of Appeal and hence to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. 

For criminal matters the Constable liaises closely with Guernsey Police and Guernsey Border Agency.

In the event of the Court handing down a sentence of greater than 48 hours, Sark’s small prison is not used, instead prisoners are sent to Guernsey prison.

Sark does not have Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax or Sales Tax, instead the Government is funded by a combination of Property Tax, Personal Tax along with a smaller contribution from Impôt, (a duty paid on the import of alcohol, tobacco and certain fuels), Property Transfer Tax and lesser taxes on such items as cycles, tractors etc.

The system of Direct Taxation on Sark is governed by The Direct Taxes (Sark) Law, 2002 and administered by the Sark Tax Assessor. The duty of the Sark Tax Assessor is to scrutinise the Declaration Forms sent out to each household on the 1st January each year for the previous year’s tax, filled in by those with a taxable connection to Sark.

Declaration Forms are sent out to each household on the 1st January each year for the previous year’s tax, and must be completed and returned to the Assessor, together with any remittance, by the 28th February. Failure to comply with this will involve the Assessor sending a Formal Assessment that will include a fixed penalty and simple interest. The interest is added on each and every month until cleared.

Sark has a Property Tax (PT) and a Personal Capital Tax (PCT). 

The French system of land registration was adopted by Sark many years ago and referred to as ‘Quartiers’ now known as ‘Quarters’. If you are a registered owner or Possessor of a property on Sark then you will be registered in the Island Cadastre with the Total number of Quarters so listed. Property Quarters are determined by the Island Douzaine. 

A record of all the taxable property (dwellings, sheds, greenhouses etc.) is maintained by the Douzaine, this is called the Cadastre. It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that their entry in the Cadastre is up to date. 

Property Transfer Tax

Any property transaction where one person grants or transfers to another the ownership or a long leasehold in any real property situated in Sark will incur Property Transfer Tax, at the rate of 4% of the adjusted value of the transaction. The law does not state which, buyer or seller, is responsible for paying the tax, just that the tax should be paid. The Sark Tax Assessor will determine if a given transaction should incur Property Transfer Tax as well as keeping a record of all such transactions.

The only restrictions on pet ownership relates to dogs, it being illegal to keep an unspayed bitch on the Island for more than 28 days. 

All dogs are licenced annually with licences being available from the Constables Office.

All horses are licenced annually with licences being available from the Constables Office.

There is no resident vet on Sark however a Guernsey vet (Isabelle Vets 01481 732863) visits Sark on a monthly basis. Any serious treatment may require the affected animal to be treated in Guernsey. 

The only year-round scheduled direct route to Sark is by boat from Guernsey. Guernsey, unlike Sark, has an International Airport with scheduled flights arriving from the UK and the continent on a daily basis. 

A ferry service to Guernsey, from the UK, Jersey and on to France is operated by Condor Ferries catering for both foot and vehicle passengers.

There are a number of removal firms experienced in removals to and from Sark, these may be found in the local phone directory, or online. 

Travel to Sark from Jersey 

There is no scheduled direct route to Sark from Jersey, though Manche Iles Express does operate a seasonal service, one that is very much dependent upon tidal conditions in Jersey.

Jersey has its own International Airport while a ferry service to Jersey, from the UK, and on to France is operated by Condor Ferries catering for both foot and vehicle passengers.