PEACE is set to break out between Sark and Brecqhou. A subcommittee set up by Chief Pleas last year has drawn up a draft agreement between the islands, which could be agreed soon.

Its chairman, John Donnelly, is recommending that an agreement be reached with Brecqhou ‘in the interests of both islands’.

‘Both islands should live and let live, in our view,’ he said. ‘Better to have a powerful friend than a powerful enemy in circumstances where the cost to Sark would be comparatively minimal or nothing in terms of actual outlay.’

Brecqhou’s owners, Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, have seen a draft agreement, which Mr Donnelly said they had indicated they would be willing to agree with Chief Pleas. It should end years of legal wrangling and dispute between the two islands.

The key points of agreement set out by Mr Donnelly in a report to be discussed by Chief Pleas on 22 February include the right of the assembly to hold jurisdiction over Brecqhou and acceptance that the smaller island would continue to pay property tax to Sark.

But new taxes, licence fees and other new fiscal measures would not generally be applied to Brecqhou and Sark legislation would extend to the island only when it was in the public interest.

‘Much Sark legislation has no relevance for Brecqhou,’ said Mr Donnelly. ‘We believe that international law, as it applies to the Bailiwick, should apply in Brecqhou. We see no need for Sark to legislate for day-to-day life on Brecqhou.’

Sir David and Sir Frederick would be consulted on all major legislative issues and could play a full part in Sark politics if they wished.