Action Note of East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum held on 25 August 2008
Present
Cllr. Deirdre Mackay Highland Council
Cllr. Ian Ross (Chair) Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray Highland Council
Bill Faassen de Heer Brora Community Council
Iain Miller Golspie Community Council
Evelyn Mackenzie Helmsdale Community Council
Alistair MacIver Rogart Community Council
Gordon Clunie Dornoch Community Council
Ann Keatinge VGES
Acting Insp. Peter Allan Northern Constabulary
Phil Tomalin Highland Council
Ian Hargrave Highland Council
30 Members of the Public
1 Apologies
Edderton CC
2 Action Points/ Matters Arising
Children Helping Other Children through Sport (CHOCS)
CHOCS are working on an application to the Ward Discretionary Budget.
Travellers at Strathsteven lay-by
The travellers moved on shortly after the last Ward Forum. The lay-by is the responsibility of Transerv. The Council has a duty to monitor encampments. In this case a site visit was made and the site was found to be tidy. The travellers requested bins which were provided.
3 Ward Discretionary Budget
Sheet circulated with details of grants to date. Approx 50% of the grant has been distributed this year.
4 Licensing Standards Officer - David Inglis
Opportunity to introduce new officer. Role is to inform and guide applicants through alcohol licensing process. David covers Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross area. David Inglis can be contacted at:
Council Offices, Market Square, Wick, Caithness KW1 4AB
Tel 01955 607774; Fax 01955 603021; email david.inglis@highland.gov.uk
5 LEADER
Nicola Ewing - LEADER Programme Manager
LEADER programme not yet launched
• awaiting agreement from Scottish Govt
• rules and regulations not yet clear
• £6,630,000 allocated to Highland so far, decision awaited on possible additional funds (Convergence Funds)
LEADER Programme Aim:
To enable people in the Highlands to realise their ambitions to live in communities where they can fulfil their personal, social and economic potential
Target Groups:
• young people
• women
• under employed
• young adults (up to 34)
• older people (over 65)
• micro-businesses
Each area has Local Area Partnership, comprising at least 50% community representatives. Local Area Partnership develop local plan and make decisions on funding
William Sutherland - Sutherland Partnership Manager
• Sutherland Partnership is Local Area Partnership managing LEADER in Sutherland
• Amount for Sutherland not yet determined but several hundred thousand pounds over next five years
• Development plan outlines expenditure
• Development plan based on Highland programme and seven priority themes.
o Culture and Heritage
o Training and learning opportunities
o Access to activities, facilities and services
o Land environment and access to the countryside
o Renewables
o Tourism
o Social enterprises and micro-businesses
HC consultation from 2007 and input from people working in the fields covered by the seven themes in Draft Plan has been distributed to approx 250 contacts through VGES and CVS North.
Can also be downloaded from www.sutherlandpartnership.org.uk/News-g.asp
This evening is an opportunity for Ward Forum to contribute to process by identifying whether any of the themes are regarded as local priorities and to suggest projects and /or initiatives for each of the seven priority themes
Discussion points:
• Funding allocated to different areas across Highland on bases of population (2/3) and area (1/3)
• No split between different wards - in Sutherland funds will be dealt with at Sutherland level
• LEADER website has enquiry form at: www.highland.gov.uk/livinghere/communityplanning/highlandwellbeingalliance/leaderprogramme
• Glossary will be included in final report
Result of the consultation exercise that followed will be used in the final write-up of the Sutherland LEADER Development Plan
6 Police and Community Safety – Acting Insp. Peter Allan
Staffing
• Insp. MacKinnon on secondment to HQ in Inverness until later this year. Peter Allan acting up as Inspector.
• New posts coming to the area by October, inc. new officers for Tain, Lairg, Brora (2), North Sutherland and new post of Community Safety Officer.
Current campaigns
• National campaign on rural roads last week
• Mobile phones whilst driving Weds 27 Aug
• Speed and seatbelts Thurs 11 Sept
Dunrobin Rally benefiting Police Dependants Trust was a big success. Another event due to be held in Inverness this weekend.
Discussion points
• Net increase of 100 officers across Highland in current recruitment drive
• Also recruitment drive for Special Constables. Anyone interested can contact Acting Inspector Peter Allan at Dornoch Police Station 01862 810222
7 Voluntary Sector Ann Keatinge
• Involvement in LEADER consultation
• Success of BT Payphone consultation
• VGES e-bulletin
• VGES Website and community toolkit
8 Community Council Issues
Golspie and Brora
Gordonbush Windfarm Access
• Community concerns regarding River Brora bridge and Victoria Road in addition to turn at old school and Strathbrora road
• Route via extended Kilbraur Access road is the only acceptable route. SSE and landowners need to resolve any difficulties
• Important that communities work together to raise the profile of the issue and to ensure that SSE are aware of the strength of feeling.
• Upcoming CB discussions should be suspended until the access issue is resolved
ACTION PT to write to SSE on behalf of Ward Forum Members expressing view of the Ward Forum that the only acceptable route is via Kilbraur
Golspie
Vegetation at Drummuie
Vegetation has not been cut and is an eyesore
When is the lighting on the path to be installed, is low level lighting a possibility?
ACTION Ian Hargrave to follow up lighting spec. and vegetation management at meeting on Tues 26 Aug.
Golspie and Helmsdale
Village speed signs
• Signs at Golspie and Helmsdale still have not been repaired
• Ian Ross and Police have been in touch with Transerv in the last few days to remind Transerv of their commitment to repair/replace both signs.
• Ian Ross has also been in contact with Transport Scotland.
Brora
Mural
• This is now ready to be erected in the car park at Capaldi’s in Brora
9 Issues Raised by Members
Primary School Staffing
• Despite new housing and in Brora school roll has not reached required pupil numbers
• Reduction of teaching staff by one was confirmed by Education Culture and Sport Committee
• Teacher has transferred to Helmsdale from Brora.
• If Brora reaches threshold, teacher will be reinstated, and teacher transferred to Helmsdale will be given option of returning to Brora
• Aim of the campaign was to minimise disruption to both schools
Skills Training
Support for this transferred from HIE to HC/Highland Opportunity Ltd (HOL). Grants used to be available from HIE, but HC/HOL only offer loans.
ACTION PT to follow up with HC Ec Devt team / HOL
Change of Administration
• Following recent changes at Highland Council. all three Ward 5 Councillors are now part of the Administration Group
• The Programme for the Administration, which outlines the priorities for the Council will be largely unchanged, however there will be:
o more work on small scale local flooding
o increased focus on land and environment issues
o review of Housing in Countryside policy
Navidale and A9 improvements
Ward Forum welcomed improvements to A9 at Navidale. Councillors plan to write to Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to encourage further improvements on A9 in particular Cambusavie bends and Brora to Helmsdale (inc Portgower).
10 Questions from Members of the Public
Kinbrace Rail Crossing
The warning lights do not always work, or are difficult to see when the sun is shining, and poor visibility due to vegetation. 40mph speed limit for trains is often exceeded by the 9.30 train which no longer stops at Kinbrace.
Ian Ross is setting up a meeting with National Rail at Kinbrace crossing to explain the issues with the site and to examine the evidence. It is also hoped that someone from Rail Safety will also attend. Any additional information that local people can provide would be extremely useful. Ideally the crossing should have a barrier, but Network Rail likely to resist this request.
Update on Dornoch Sports Hall
• Planning consent has been granted
• Further meetings due with HC Education Service regarding funding
• Project enjoys support of local Councillors and Dornoch Community Council.
Council Phone Numbers
Difficulty of obtaining direct phone numbers for staff in Drummuie.
ACTION PT to find out and clarify Council procedures for phone numbers.
11 Date of Next Meeting
The next East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum meeting, will take place on 27 October 2008 in Edderton Village Hall.