Action Notes of East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum on 16 June 2008.

Agenda

Present
Cllr. Deirdre Mackay (Chair) Highland Council
Cllr. Ian Ross Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray Highland Council
Sandy Mackintosh Brora Community Council
Iain Miller Golspie Community Council
Evelyn Mackenzie Helmsdale Community Council
Paul Hoggarth Edderton Community Council
Ann Keatinge VGES
Phil Tomalin Highland Council
Ian Hargrave Highland Council

47 Members of the Public

1 Apologies

Alistair MacIver (Rogart) Yvonne Ross (Dornoch), Insp Neil MacKinnon (Northern Constabulary).

2 Action Points/ Matters Arising

Helmsdale Youth Club
The youth group now have the keys and full access to the youth club room.

Sexual Health Advice
Caithness and Sutherland Sexual Health Group has confirmed this as an issue, therefore it will be flagged up again by ECS staff to the group and hopefully a partnership plan taken forward. This would typically include:
• consultation among young people (would need to check this hasn’t already occurred recently, perhaps in some other context – if so, then use the information accordingly)
• mapping of current provision locally
• a look at good practice elsewhere
• take forward an action plan.
Youth Development Officers are also available for non judgemental advice and support, and for signposting, and further support, to appropriate services e.g. Brook.

Young people are encouraged to be more aware of the Sutherland Youth Forum and Highland Youth Voice which are recognised mechanisms for enabling the voices of young people to be heard by decision and policy makers.

Drummuie Costs
The overall building costs will be a maximum of £3.5m, but receipts for offices that are sold as a result of the move (e.g. The Meadows, Dornoch) will be deducted.

Staffing changes at Sutherland Swimming pool
The new staffing arrangements replicate those of other facilities in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and are as follows:
1 Facilities Manager (Golspie/Tain)
1 Senior Leisure Supervisor
1 Leisure Supervisor
1 Part-time Leisure Supervisor
1 Lifeguard
1 part-time Lifeguard
1 Receptionist/Lifeguard
1 Part-time Receptionist/Lifeguard

Brora Library photocopier
This is now working again.

Speeding Police Cars in Brora /Golspie -
Insp. Mackinnon submitted a reply:
On the basis of the time that the car was seen speeding through the village, Northern Constabulary have been able to establish that the vehicle was a British Transport Police car attending the incident at the crossing at Kinbrace. Northern Constabulary vehicles arrived at the incident earlier at approx. 9.30. British Transport Police have been informed of local concern in Brora and Golspie.

3 Ward Discretionary Budget

A paper listing the grants made to date was circulated. There were no questions.

4 BT phone consultation; Ward Forum Consultation

• Reminder of consultation on BT phone box closures on www.highland.gov.uk. Consultation closes on 1 August 2008
• Final call for submissions to Ward Forum Review.

5 Children Helping Other Children through Sport (CHOCS) - Brian Fraser

• Group of parents, professionals and carers that meet on Mondays
• Provides sports coaching and opportunities to 17 young people with learning and physical disabilities in Sutherland and Easter Ross
• Offer coaching opportunities for all young people
• Need funding for equipment, travel costs, training costs and clothing/strips.
• Fundraising from businesses/ Sportsmatch, Highland Council and start up grants from sister organisations
ACTION Brian Fraser to bid for £500 from Ward Discretionary Fund for purchase of camera, samba goals and clothing

6 Development of Sports Hall at Dornoch Academy - Brian Fraser

• Building is of agric. shed type design which has kept costs low
• Size for 4 badminton courts / 5-a-side football
• Asset for school and East Sutherland community
• Current cost is £350,000
• Funding £100K Year of Culture, £100K Dornoch Common Good Fund, £100K ECS.
• Planning application has been submitted

7 Modernisation of Learning Disability Services

Jonathan King – Head of Operations Community Care
Donellen MacKenzie – Asst. Community Care Manager, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

Background
• The strategy was launched in 2001 and has been updated twice, most recently Autumn 2007. An action plan was developed in March 08
• HC is committed to making budget savings, however the change in the population of people requiring support means that budget will rise over time.
• Change in focus in care of people with learning disabilities from institutions such as Craig Phadric to ‘whole system support’ where people with learning disabilities are offered support to live in the community throughout their life
• Beachview continues to offer respite and day care

Respite Care
• Service covers a very large area and is not convenient for people in other parts of Highland such as Lochaber.
• Users and carers have differing needs for support
• HC is committed to increasing the availability of respite care available
• Plans for future of service are not in place and HC is currently consulting respite service users and carers to try and work out best way forward.

Day care service
• No longer suits the aspirations of many users
• Clients want support to do other activities
• Increasing numbers are asking for direct payments
• HC has increased funding to Crossroads to provide support for people at home.

Discussion Points
• Letter inviting users to consultation events used complex language and euphemisms - should have been simpler or addressed to carers. Consultations using diverse methods will take place next week. Invitations have been sent to users
• Beachview service will not be withdrawn before a replacement service is in place
• Current guarantee for planned respite sessions in 3 months. It is accepted that is insufficient when carers are trying to plan holidays. HC is looking to extend this to 6 months
• Importance of respite service to carers is well understood
• Scottish Govt. commitment to 10,000 weeks respite care refers to all services across Scotland. Respite care for users with learning disabilities in Highland will be a minor proportion of these. Highland provision certain to exceed this.
• Current respite provision choices are very limited: Beachview or Crossroads
• Layout of Beachview may not be appropriate for services that may be delivered there (e.g. noise)
• In general, communications surrounding the potential changes to the service and consultation could have been better.
• Social Services will consult on the final proposals but at the moment are gathering views to help design those proposals.

8 Police/ Community Safety Issues.

Insp Mackinnon sent apologies.

9 Voluntary Sector

Community Council training
Little response from Community Councils although Dornoch CC and Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra CC have expressed an interest. Assynt CC recognised a need but questioned availability of trainees. Edderton do not require training.

BT Phone Consultation
VGES conducted survey and received 64 responses, these have been passed to HC

10 Community Council Issues

Golspie
Travellers at Strathsteven
Although a lay-by it is also a car park for visitors to the broch who may be deterred from stopping.
ACTION PT
Establish who responsible for the lay-by (HC or Transerv)
Explore options
Explore feasibility of preventative measures.

11 Issues Raised by Members

• Regional Woodland Park - CCs requested to submit letters of support.
• Fuel Costs – HC and Sutherland Partnership making representations
• Golspie pool now open

12 Education Issues – Graham Nichols

Brora Primary School
Brora PS has fallen below threshold of 97 therefore teaching staff will reduce from 5 to 4. No flexibility exists within the policy. If school roll rises to 97, fifth teacher will be reinstated.
Discussion points:
• Fear of disruption to composite class structure if number of teachers fluctuates
• Any additional pupils will not be ‘bussed’ to other schools
• Composite classes not universally popular, particularly for P7 pupils

Golspie High School
• HMIE report highlighted some weaknesses in the school
• HC accepts the findings of the report
• Plan for moving forward likely to involve some changes and support from Education Authority

Delays in appointing Head Teachers
• Difficulty of convening appointment panels comprising Chair / Vice Chair of Council’s Education Committee, local Councillors and Parent Council reps.
• Shortage of candidates, esp. in context of policy of minimum size of shortlist.
• Small school HT posts are class committed and less attractive to candidates