Ward Forum
Tuesday 8th April 2008 at Drill Hall, Castletown
Present
Cllr David Bremner – Chair
Cllr Willie Mackay
Cllr Robert Coghill
Cllr David Flear
David Sutherland – Caithness Wards Manager, Highland Council
Police Officer Paul Kerr – Northern Constabulary
Mrs Janet Mowat – Halkirk Community Council
William Manson – Halkirk Community Council
Alan Roberts – Bower Community Council
Neil Buchanan – Berridale & Dunbeath Community Council
Mrs Anne Alexander – Watten Community Council
James Macdonald – Watten Community Council
Douglas Fraser – Castletown Community Council
Mrs Elizabeth Geddes – Castletown Community Council
John Green – Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council
Donald Henderson – Tannach & District Community Council
Mrs Elizabeth Henderson – Tannach & District Community Council
Bill Brown – Caithness West Community Council
Robbie Mackintosh – Ward Managers Team, Highland Council
Alex Macmanus – Ward Managers Team, Highland Council.
Six members of the public were in attendance as was press reporter Gordon Calder.
Apologies
Mrs Irene Hendrie – Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council
Chief Inspector Liz Goskirk – Northern Constabulary
Scottish Water (SW) Presentation.
Alan Miller, Area Manager, Wick Office
Sandy Reid, Team Leader, Wick Office
Ian Bond, Tactical Planning, Inverness.
Alan & Sandy gave an informative presentation on their roles and responsibilities as SW employees. They were keen that the Forum Members understood that all contact with SW should be via their centralised call centre. That number being 0845 601 8855. All calls about Caithness would be directed to SW Wick office for prioritising and actioning. They were responsible for managing and maintaining SW assets in Caithness.
Q- Why are chlorine levels not regulated by SW?
A – It is the Law that chlorine is added to water. SW is regulated by 4 bodies and has to follow strict guidelines. SW carry out regular testing and sampling of water to ensure chlorine levels are correct at all times.
Q – There is a problem with water pressure at Harpsdale particularly at weekends. What is SW doing to sort this?
A- SW is well aware of the problems being encountered at Harpsdale. SW have a duty that 1 bar pressure is measured at stop valves unfortunately some of the properties at Harpsdale are a considerable distance from these valves. SW has been advising new builders to ensure that they have a nearby water connection or an adequate water storage system in place. It appears that this advise is not been taken in some instances resulting in low pressure. Large developments do not usually have a problem as the developers will install storage facilities. The problems lie with the single builds. Also old ½” pipe is not allowing an increase in water in private houses. SW is trying to manage the Harpsdale issue as best they can.
Q – Is there any consideration being made to extend the sewerage facility at Bowermadden to go over the hill?
A – SW has no proactive work in regard to sewage. SEPA will identify if a water or land pollution problem arises with septic tanks. They will request SW to carry out a feasibility study and if the occasion arises get SW to carry out any work.
Q – With the introduction of the Business suppliers who do we contact if a problem arises with our water?
A – There will be a contact number on the bills received by business customers from Businesstream. SW is debarred from speaking directly with Business customers and they must go through their supplier. It is confusing and will probably get more confusing as another two business suppliers come on stream.
Q – What is SW doing to prompt the health benefits of drinking sufficient water daily?
A – SW does not have a specific marketing strategic to highlight the health benefits. Only 1% of all their water is actually taken for drinking. There is still a large volume of water being wasted and perhaps better education of the public on this issue would be of benefit.
The Chair thanked Alan, Sandy and Ian for their presentation and invited them to remain for the duration of the Forum which they accepted.
Forum Action Notes from 5th February 2008
1. Issues over trees and bushes/hedges encroaching onto paths and roads would be left as a standing order item to allow monitoring.
2. Meeting now due on Thursday 10th April at 2.00pm in Glenurquhart Road with Rapsons to discuss a raft of issues affecting the County.
3. Recycling figures for 4th quarter ended 31st March have not yet been received.
4. Part time 20mph speed limit at Reay school now in place from 10th March. Crossroads school work should now have started and Canisbay has been approved.
5. Plastic bottle collection points were now available at points in Wick and Thurso.
6. Blocked drains at Dunbar had been fixed. PC Kerr reported that he had noted a big difference in the area.
7. Ward Manager had still to send out maps to Community Councils. He reminded the Forum that it was not the Highland Council or the Members that were driving this issue forward but rather through a request brought by the Association of Caithness Community Councils. If the Community Councils did not wish the realignments to go ahead so be it.
Community Safety
PC Kerr advised that the lights at Reay had not been working but he believed that they had now been fixed.
He noted that speeding issues were a problem in Reay as these 20mph limits were being ignored. The police had spoken to motorists to educate about the lights but he has had a few motorists charged with speeding as the excessive speeds exceeded to 30mph limit. PC Kerr had spoken to the Caithness West CC about this issue.
The question was asked if a budget for Safer Routes to School had been agreed for this year. It was believed that there still was. Safer routes for school require to be driven through parent groups. Also the schools could put an article in their newsletters as an advice to parents.
Ward Discretionary Budget
It was believed that the budget for this year would be £56,000 plus 2% but waiting for this to be confirmed. Members are trying to get this figure increased for four member wards. Although no budget set yet applications should continue to be submitted.
As advised before any project that would fit in as having a benefit to the County as a whole would be split, with the member’s agreement, three ways.
Date of next meeting – Tuesday 17th June 2008 at 7.30, in Lybster venue to be confirmed.
AOB
Suitable Locations for Forums
It was felt that this particular venue was not suitable for open forums due to the acoustics in the room. It was advised that this particular room was not the one that was going to be used but was being used as another group were using the preferred room. The Ward Managers team would check other facilities around the Ward before arranging further forums
Climate Change Review
Neil Buchanan advised the Forum that on 6th March 2008 the Council approved minutes of a meeting part of which read “the Council’s policy on Community Benefit required to be revisited with a view to finding a way forward for community benefit to be tied less closely to the local level; the development of a Highland Energy Company offered a way forward in this regard, but if it was not established in the near future the opportunity to link into onshore wind developments would be lost.”
It was believed that this may be a way of taking Community Benefit away from the Community Councils. Forum members requested that a paper be presented to the next forum for their consideration.
Caithness Fund /HOL
The Association of Community Councils has arranged a meeting for Tuesday 15th April to discuss this issue with Council Officials.
Bilingual Signs in Caithness
Community Councils were or had debated this issue. Bower were against, Casteltown still to debate but Douglas Fraser although against personally he as not anti-Gaelic, Berriedale & Dunbeath were against, Dunnet & Canisbay were still to debate but felt that some place names would be impossible to translate, Halkirk had still to debate, Caithness West were still to debate and Tannach & District were against.
Questions & Answers
Q – I presume that all Community Councils received the same information from the RAF about low flying. Instead of having several meetings could they not be invited to a Forum to give their presentation?
A - Ward Manager has been in contact with RAF and they will be invited to a Landward Forum.
Q – Alcohol Licence fees have become extortionate, small businesses can’t cope. Local Group’s won’t be able to afford to hold a licensed function. Could a reduction be made to businesses earning a low income be possible? Does the Forum have any suggestions?
A – Licence fees are set by Scottish Government and not Highland Council. It may be prudent to write to the MSP, Rob Gibson, on the effect that this will have on fragile rural communizes. These small shops are a lifeline to many rural families. Also a letter to the Local Licensing Committee and a copy to MP John Thurso claiming that a degree of discrimination is prevalent.
Q – Burial charges have risen not by 10% but by 50%. Is the grant going to rise as well? This will be a great hardship to grieving families and could lead to debts. Why is it that north funeral directors pay this charge and pass it to mourning relations? The Council open the graves why don’t they bill the families. I do believe a Saturday burial in Thurso will cost £900.
A – The grant is a national scheme and will be the same amount throughout Scotland. The burial charges are set by the Highland Councils Administration and now bring us into line with other Scottish Local Authorities (SLA). It should be noted that Highland Councils charges had been behind other SLA’s for a few years. Cllr Willie Mackay felt that he had no problem with the increase as this brings us into line with other SLA’s.
Q – Before asking my question I would like to congratulate Cllr David Bremner on the stance he has taken over Gaelic signs. It is refreshing to see a Councillor support his constituents before his political standings. What progress has been made with redrawing the Community Council Boundaries in particular the boundaries of Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council and Castletown Community Council?
A – The proposed changes to Community Council boundaries are not been driven by Highland Council but rather the Community Councils themselves. This was requested by the Association of Caithness Community Councils. If the Community Councils do not agree on changes then the status quo will prevail. There will be no imposition so if the Community Councils do decide to agree to the changes this will go out to public consultation. Dunnet & Canisbay and Castletown have not yet meet to discuss as they are awaiting maps from Ward manager. The Scottish Government are looking at the set up of Community Councils and the issue over boundaries may raise its head in a few years time.