East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum, 22 October 2007
Action Notes
Present
Cllr. Ian Ross Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray Highland Council
Cllr. Deirdre Mackay Highland Council
Ian Hargrave Highland Council
Phil Tomalin Highland Council
C. Stewart Highland Council
S. Mackintosh Brora Community Council
Iain Miller Golspie Community Council
Paul Hoggarth Edderton Community Council
Ann Keatinge Voluntary Groups East Sutherland
Inspector Neil Mackinnon Northern Constabulary
14 members of the Public
Apologies
Gordon Clunie Dornoch Community Council
Evelyn Mackenzie
John Ross Helmsdale Community Council
Rogart Community Council
1 Action Points Update
1. Community Council funding
Phil Tomalin has written to all Community Councils reminding them of the new procedures for drawing down CC funding.
2. Sale of Police houses in Helmsdale
Cllr Ross spoke with the Northern Constabulary Estates Manager. The sale has been completed. Feedback has been given to Helmsdale Community Council. Highland Council owns adjacent land that could be available for housing.
3. Brora planning issues
Phil Tomalin wrote to Brora CC regarding a series of planning seminars to take place in November 2007. Sandy Mackintosh: was not sure that this is what is required, but has agreed to attend the seminar and find out whether the specific Brora needs can be addressed there.
4. Police response vehicles
Insp. Mackinnon has consulted colleagues. Resources dictate that police response units are located at strategic locations. In the Highlands this means that they often have to travel long distances to reach incident scenes. Whilst vehicles have to get to the scene as quickly as possible, they are always driven with the blue lights and sirens and within the capability of the vehicle, driver and road conditions.
5. Car parking in Dornoch
Insp. MacKinnon reported that the Traffic Warden from Wick has been in Dornoch during periods of anticipated high demand to control the parking situation.
2 Matters Arising
Drummuie
£3.6 million estimate dates from 2002. Most of the work is now complete so no further significant increases are expected Overspend due to additional work added to contract and unforeseen structural work inc:
• Structural work at rear wall
• Drainage
• Extra Car Parking
• Cleaning up storm damage
Project guarantees continued major presence of the Highland Council in east Sutherland, and brings historic building back into use. The project should be completed in Jan/Feb, with people moving in shortly afterwards.
3 Ward Budget
Paper outlining expenditure to date was circulated.
4 TEC Services (Campbell Stewart)
TEC Services comprises:
• Roads and transport
• Community works
• DLO, (Council contracting organisation),
• Environmental Health
• Waste.
Roads and Community works are managed locally and comprise:
• Road maintenance
o Cyclic maintenance- drainage, potholes
o Winter maintenance
o Structural works (bridges, resurfacing etc)
• Street cleaning
• Road authority
• Public conveniences
• Burials
• Flooding
• Refuse
• Pest Control
Each Ward has Community Works Officer managing work and liaising with Councillors and Community Councils. In East Sutherland and Edderton CWO is John Mackay.
Discussion points:
Role of TECS in planning.
Statutory consultee. Guidance based on legislation - Roads (Scotland) Act etc. Recommendations are often unpopular, but these are statutory guidelines.
It was noted that it would help CCs if TECS were clear where legislation dictated recommendations.
Communications and Alness Service Centre.
Alness Service Centre seen as impediment to effective communication. However it is guaranteed that the enquiry will be dealt with and members of the public will not be passed around from office to office. Teething problems now largely resolved.
Also CCs have member designated for TECS liaison.
Question of additional cost of Service Centre was refuted as its introduction coincided with efficiencies in Service Point Network. Service Centre also has resulted in improved Service Point service
5 Issues Raised by Councillors
Sutherland Transport Vision - copies available
Flooding.
October 2006. Report to last TECS Committee outlines responsibilities and actions that the Highland Council and others can take.
Closure of rural filling stations
Following closure of Helmsdale filling station.
Clear need for strategic network, but this does not mean filling station in each community. A number of issues are being investigated including what strategic network looks like and how to take it forward including investment in equipment; access to reasonable wholesale prices for retailers; impact on services and tourism; possible tie-up with supermarkets (corporate social responsibility?) or public sector.
Embo Road
Needs to be dual tracked.
Lack of leisure facilities in Dornoch.
Possible solutions being investigated.
Affordable housing through woodland crofts.
6 Community Safety Issues (Insp Mackinnon)
• Sutherland remains a safe place to live.
• Strong contact with communities makes a big difference and is valuable.
• Slight restructuring of management of Police, but no impact on service.
• Progress being made on a number of recent high profile cases including series of break-ins to homes and Post Offices.
Noted that Community Safety also about working with youth, domestic abuse, accident prevention etc.
7 Voluntary Sector (Ann Keatinge)
• Large range of services and activities.
• VGES recognises over 300 groups locally.
• Very important local service provider to communities.
• Seek to strengthen links with Edderton.
Noted that particular challenges to voluntary sector include funding, changes in regulations esp. re charitable status.
8 Community Council Issues
A9 Roadkill
This is a Transerv responsibility, but they often contract Highland Council to recover carcases. There are often delays before HC contacted leading to carcases left for long periods at side of road.
ACTIONS
PT to write to Transerv on behalf of the Ward Forum
PT to contact HC/ Transerv liaison group
NM to investigate opportunities for Police to raise matter
Councillor Representation at Community Councils
System of Highland Councillors rotating between Community Councils was questioned, because when Councillors rotate after 15 months each CC will have to start again. However this is a pragmatic solution to the problem of three Councillors covering a large area. The fresh perspective of a new Councillor may be an advantage and Councillors keep each other abreast of major developments at Ward Business Meetings. It was also noted that this system is working elsewhere in Highland.
It was suggested to give the system a try, although the doubts of a few people present are noted.
Sufficient space in Drummuie
Council restructuring means that there are now 120 staff to fit in Drummuie Compared to the originally planned 108, however they will be accommodated within the existing building. Rumour of Portakabins is not true.
9 Public Questions
Why is there no mention of Dornoch rail link in Sutherland Transport Vision?
Sutherland Partnership responded to HiTrans, and did not oppose the Dornoch rail link but felt that the investment required would have more impact if invested in alternative transport improvements.
Shouldn’t you have asked about Councillor representatives to Community Councils?
Ref 8 above, Community Councils were consulted about the proposal as part of the consultation on Ward Forums but it is accepted that this did not include consultation on which Councillor attended which Community Council in which order – this was decided between the Councillors.
Recycling in Edderton.
Is there not enough funding to provide blue boxes /wheelie bins for recycling in Edderton?
Recycling facilities are funded through Strategic Waste Fund which is administered by Scottish Government in Edinburgh and these funds have been targeted on urban areas and larger rural settlements to maximise impact per expenditure.
The Highland Council proposal included Sutherland, but was rejected by Scottish Government. Subsequently GREAN have accessed Strategic Waste Funding for 20 years. Their ambition is to expand service to Edderton, but is dependent on funding.
Is there a time specification for the resolution of a problem reported to Service Point?
No.
Dornoch Issues
A number of Dornoch issues were raised including:
• Pavements at Poles Road.
• Toilet sign at caravan site.
• Benches
• Toilets in Dornoch Sq
• Traffic calming at new houses on Stafford Road
It was noted that these specific issues should be addressed through Community Council.
ACTION JM /PT to liaise with Community Council
Car park at Loth old church
Church willing to give land, someone will surface it if Council will fence it.
This could potentially be solved through a bid to TECS Cemeteries budget and perhaps Ward Budget
ACTION CS To investigate funding possibilities
11 Future Items for Ward Forum
• Care of elderly.
• Post Offices.
• Local Plan.
• Fuel.
12 Date of Next Meeting
The next East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum meeting will take place on 17th December, 2007 in Dornoch.