Action note of Wick Ward Forum held on 30 November 2009
Forum Members in attendance
Councillor Bill Fernie (BF) – Chairperson.
Councillor Graeme Smith (GS)
Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss (MR) – Northern Constabulary.
Sergeant George Murray (GM) – Northern Constabulary.
Grant Ramsay (GR) – Chairperson, Pulteneytown Peoples Project.
Coreen Campbell (CC) – Chairperson, Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council.
Catherine Patterson (CP) – Vice-Chairperson, Tannach & District Community Council.
Alister Trail (AT) – Rector, Wick High School.
David Sutherland (DS) – Caithness Wards Manager, Highland Council.
Alex Macmanus (AM) – Ward Manager’s Team, Highland Council.
No press attendance.
2 members of the general public.
1. Apologies.
None.
2. Previous action notes from 3 March 2009.
Agreed with no actions.
3. Caithness Community Care Forum (CCCF) – Fiona Henderson (FH) and Niall Smith (NS).
NS gave a short history of the Caithness Community Care Forum since its inception in 1992.
The CCCF main purpose is to support users of community care services and their carers in having a voice in the planning and the delivery of services. CCCF functions include– consultations, training, establishing projects and issuing the newsletter ‘E Scorrie’.
CCCF has around 60 support groups in membership and reaches out to a wide group of users and carers. It is estimated that there are around 10,800 users and carers in Caithness (40% of total population).
CCCF run an executive group comprising of the honorary officers of the CCCF. A development officer is employed for 16 hours per week along with a secretary on 2 hours per week. Caithness Voluntary Group provides these services to the CCCF under contract.
CCCF supports two working groups i.e. Disabled Access Panel and Community Care Providers group.
Funding of the CCCF has always come from Highland Council and the NHS jointly by way of Highland Community Care Forum. Additional amounts have been raised and earned over the years. £11,500 is received annually from Highland Council/NHS
CCCF is under a new contract as part of the contract between Highland Community Care Forum and the funders. Part of this requires CCCF carry out up to 6 consultations per annum’s.
CCCF has this year carried out a survey of users of home care survives on behalf of the Highland Council. 306 evaluation forms were sent out with 175 valid returns being made and a survey on how safe and supportive older people felt whilst living in their own home was also carried out. This resulted in 42 written questionnaires being received, 21 face to face interviews being carried out and a small group discussion taking place.
It has completed a pilot with the NHS to support newly identified carers through referrals from GPs (85 identified in Caithness). It has liaised with NHS on swine flu measurers and is currently examining how a flu buddy’ scheme might be developed.
At present CCCF is represented on a group looking at redesign of the services at the Dunbar Hospital.
It is also examining more generally the development of a befriending scheme. It has organised training through the care providers group for those voluntary groups who deliver support services.
The Disabled Access panel has worked on new building proposals – most recently in visiting and commenting on the proposals for the Mill Theatre in Thurso and testing of the new hoists at Wick Marina for Caithness Seacoast. This work is carried out by a pool of volunteers who go on visits and give advice on design points.
The CCCF has changed over the years in the nature of its activities. It is constantly reviewing its interaction with its community and adjusting its operation when necessary.
In1994 a review concluded that CCCF meetings were, in area such as Caithness, not the best way to support users and carers and that the CCCF needed a part-time support worker.
In the later 1990’s rural partnership money paid for several years employment of a research worker whose work was published by the CCCF across Scotland. Such reports included drug and alcohol abuse and learning disabilities.
At the end of that period the CCCF received an increase in direct grant and they were able to employ a worker for 10 hours a week. This new person was able to develop a handy person scheme in partnership with Pentland Housing which still continues to this day but under the sole control of Pentland.
The launch of the disabled access panel for Caithness was another success of that time.
During the late 1990’s CCCF had its closest period of partnership with the formation of the Caithness Locality Planning Partnership. This brought Social Work, local HNS and the CCCF together with users and carers to look at service planning.
This brought about a number a results including the start up of Rural Community Transport Partnership and the development of an ethnic minority support network which had officer support for 4 years up to 2005.
When the NHS established the local health care co-operative the locality planning partnership was considered to e duplicating work and move back to a more consultative relationship.
The future of CCCF depends now on is relationship with the Highland Community care Forum and also with its local partners in the Council, NHS and voluntary providers.
The late George Bruce was very instrumental in securing funding for the CCCF. They are now however in a weak and unsatisfactory position with HCF having all the power.
Q1 - Does the Disabled Access Panel do a lot of work for the Highland Council?
A1 – No the majority of the work comes from individuals although contact has been established with PPP
ACTION – Ward Manager to contact Services about the work that can be done by the Disabled Access Panel and contact through Fiona Henderson.
Q2 – With more and more buildings starting to become DDA compliant will the Guide for Access that CCCF produced be updated?
A2 – Cannot say if there is a real need for this guide anymore.
4. Community Safety – Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss & Sergeant George Murray
Back to basic policing. Will tell it like it is, if things cannot be done that will be told
Value for money with budget cut backs police looking at what they do including increased use of modern technology.
Time and manpower taken up with Castletown fire arms incident.
Investigating house break-ins in Wick during 2006 and would like to hear of any other house break-ins that were not reported at the time.
Vandalism is a big issue in Wick and suspected that that is down to a small group of individuals. In Tain one person was charged with carrying out 40 incidents of vandalism.
Community Response Team in operation with more officers now on at peak times. Police are very young with less than 1/3 having more than 5 years experience. Police are recruiting like mad and the number of officers is at an all time high (over 823)
From March 2010 no new recruits will be taken on. Existing force although young are enthusiastic and a lot of them are still probationers and some are too young to drive police vehicles. Police are working new shift patterns (40 hours p.w.) At non peek times there will be fewer officers on duty.
Police have not forgotten about the drug problem and will and have put in doors. A lot of time is taken up in obtaining the relative warrants. The National MOD will be a big event next year with up to 10,000 people due to visit the County.
Every two years the police carry out a community consultation involving questionnaires out to 4,500 people. The number one concern highlighted in these consultations is speeding motorists and the drug issue is starting to move up the ratings.
Groups of opportunist thieves are travelling the country committing crimes in the countryside. In particular the theft of heating oil is a big issue which the police are finding difficulty in addressing.
The biggest problem in Wick is the vandalism issue and the Chief Inspector urged people to use Crimestoppers to report any vandalism to avoid fear of retribution as the service is confidential.
Would encourage people to phone in to the police if they see any speeding especially at this time of year with the prospect of icy roads and boy racers who lack the experience of driving in these conditions.
Police training has been cut backs in light of budget constraints but the focus on training for firearms remains.
Sgt Murray went over various figures in relation to different types of crime comparing September 2009 to October 2009. E.g. Assaults down from 8 to 5, Vandalism up from 21 to 29, Drink & Drug Driving down from 7 to 3, reported disturbances down from 67 to 39
Wanton vandalism such as damage to car wing mirrors is a regular occurrence in the town. CCTV needs to be able to see the crime taking place and would need to be manned 24/7. CCTV has managed to catch a few cases of vandalism. Cllr Smith advised that the control of alcohol would, in his opinion, stop a lot of vandalism taking place.
Patterns in the vandalism can take wee spells and shift patterns are managed to cover the most common times. 80% of all vandalism is done under the influence of either drink or drugs.
The drinking in public byelaws are with the Scottish Government and could come into force at anytime.
ACTION – Ward Manager would make enquiries on the latest position with the bye laws.
Lots of young people are drinking in public and giving lots of different responses when challenged by police enquiring where the drink was coming from. Alleged that taxi drivers are carrying out ‘booze runs’ and the police are making enquiries over this claim.
Test purchasing in off licences, shops and supermarkets is being carried out by 16 to 16 ½ year olds and will be an ongoing operation.
It should not be forgotten that less than 10% of the local youths are those who are causing the problems in the town and a lot of this can be put down to a general lack of parental control
Sgt Murray commended AT on how well behaved the schools rugby team had been on a recent ferry trip to the Western Isles. He had experienced this first hand.
Chief Inspector Reiss confirmed that police enquiries were still continuing into the Castletown take-away fire following the sentencing of 3 youths last week and he is not wishing the drug dealers in the town a merry Christmas.
Police job does not get any easier with the introduction in Wick of the, at present legal, drug ‘methadrone’ Legislation will be coming into force to have this given a B classification.
The Driving Ambitions project was held in both Wick and Thurso High schools earlier in November and all in all has been deemed a success. It is planned that this will be run every year.
Over 30 years ago communities were very much self policing but now people are scared to intervene for fear of intimidation and vandalism.
Young people need to be educated to the fact that as young as 8 years old can be charged and the effect this will have on them in later life when they try to enter the employment market
Police board meetings are being videoed and can be accessed here http://www.highland.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a=32581&t=0&m=wm&l=en_GB
5. Ward Discretionary Budget and Youth Budget – Ward Manager
An up to date budget sheet was handed out showing a balance of £43,848 left in the budget. More questions are being asked this year of applicants and in particular the indication that partner contributions are being received and that fund is not 100% funding.
A major project is underway between Wick Players and Highland Council over improvements to the Assembly Rooms and it is anticipated that the major part of this budget will be used.
It is hoped that for 2010/2011 the Ward Discretionary would remain fixed the current level of £59,659.
This years Youth Work Budget has £2,259 left to be applied for. It is hoped that a further 10 weeks Midnight Football can be funded by the remaining balance.
Not sure if the Youth Budget will be in existence for 2010/2011.
6. Date of future meetings
15th March 2010 – 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. – Assembly Rooms – topic Council Budgets
15th June 2010 – 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. – Assembly Rooms – topic to be advised
15th November 2010 – 7.0 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. – Assembly Rooms – topic to be advised
7. AOB
None
8. Question and Answer Session.
Q1. What effect will the increased rates bill for the PPP schools have on the education budget?
A1 - The Service is currently undertaking 2 courses of action in relation to this:
It is appealing the rateable values of the 11 new PPP2 schools
It is seeking legal advice re the potential for obtaining a financial remedy from the provider of the original rates estimates for the new schools
In parallel the Service has submitted a budget bid of £0.281M as part of the 2010/11 Revenue Budget setting process. If this bid is accepted then there will be no on-going budget pressure for the remainder of the PPP contract
Q2. Can councillors assure voters that local schools will not be disadvantaged by forthcoming budget cuts that do not affect PPP schools?
A1 - At this stage in the Revenue Budget setting process no definite decisions have been taken. The Highland Council meetings in December and February 2010 (for the larger Services) will consider detailed proposals. The ECS Service position is that front-line services will be protected wherever possible
Q3. Can we have a progress report on the provision of a new secondary school for Wick?
A3 - In relation to the approved £1.0M investment at Wick High School the investment will be restricted to approximately £0.600M to address toilet refurbishment and changing facilities
The outcome of the feasibility study currently being carried out by LDN Architects will be known during December 2009. Potential options are:
1. Significant redevelopment of existing building including some new build
2. Replacement school built on existing playing fields
Stakeholders from Wick visited Lochaber High School (significant redevelopment underway) and Dingwall Academy (new school) on the 25th November
On-going discussions with officials from Scottish Futures Trust re the project phasing and availability of funding from the Scottish Government.
Scottish Government would provide 2/3rd’s of funding on a ‘like for like’ basis for a new school.
This is a one in fifty year chance of getting a new school and to cause any delays over retaining the façade of the existing building should not be an option. Community discussions indicate that they want a new school
Q4. The appointment of a Gaelic development officer for Caithness is a welcome development. How do councillors plan to build on this initiative?
A4 - This post is a temporary post associated with the Caithness Mod funded by the Scottish Government. This post has still to get final approval from Bord Na Gaelic.
There is a shortage of Gaelic Teachers as BBC Alba has been recruiting suitable candidates and despite the £2,000 golden handshake being offered by the Council.
The local Members are not anti-Gaelic but there is little demand in Caithness for Gaelic teaching as there are few native speakers.
Q5. Has any consideration been given to changing the format of Fora to improve the local reporting of Highland Council business?
A5 The public and members of the Fora are encouraged to say what topics and reporting they would like to see at Fora. All were reminded that questions on any topic could be raised either in writing in advance or on the night of the meeting.
Q6. Have councillors given any consideration to freezing/reducing the salaries of the top executives within the Council or looking at the expenses system with a view to finding suitable efficiencies?
A6. Members do not influence salaries wich are set nationally. The expenses system in the Council is being looked at by a working group and all staff are asked to question all expenses.
Questions are being raised about the cost to Wick High School in respect of sending staff on courses because of the lack of any remoteness allowance.
Q7 – What is happening to the property at Mounthollie House, Shore Lane that is falling into disrepair?
A7 – Owner and mortgagors were eventually traced by Ward Managers Team. Property is boarded up and should be inaccessible to undesirables. The Council’s hands are tied as they do not own the building and it is not considered to be a health and safety risk to the general public at this time.