Action Notes of East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum held on 15 December 2008 at Dornoch Social Club

Agenda

Present

Cllr. Deirdre Mackay Highland Council
Cllr. Ian Ross Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray (Chair) Highland Council
Bill Faassen de Heer Brora Community Council
Iain Miller Golspie Community Council
Alistair MacIver Rogart Community Council
Gordon Clunie Dornoch Community Council
Ann Keatinge VGES
Insp. Neil Mackinnon Northern Constabulary
Cameron Kemp Highland Council
Scott Pearson Stagecoach
William Mainus Stagecoach
David Cowie Highland Council
Phil Tomalin Highland Council

25 Members of the Public

1 Apologies -

Edderton, Helmsdale CCs, Ian Hargrave.

2 Action Points/ Matters Arising

• Gordonbush Access - SSE negotiating with landowners over Kilbraur access route.
• Police attendance at Community Councils - See Item 7 below.
• Forward Scotland Funds - These are not paid to the Council. The Community Environment Renewal Scheme, formerly managed by Forward Scotland, has closed. The funding is now used for Climate Challenge Fund and is managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful. Fairer Scotland is the name for several former Scottish Executive funding streams now combined and used to support existing projects such as Working for Families and Community Regeneration Fund.

3 Ward Discretionary Budget

Sheet circulated with details of grants made to date.

4 Highland Council Transport Strategy – Cameron Kemp

Consultation on Strategy

• Draft strategy soon to be published on HC website for consultation
• Consultation open to end Feb 2009
• Framework covers next 5 years and informs decisions after that
• Consultation process to gather views of public and major transport stakeholders.

Context

• European, national and regional transport strategies
• Wide range of stakeholders from national govt. to community groups
• Replaces 2000 Strategy
• Extensive infrastructure (inc. 962km trunk roads, 6695km HC roads, 1400 bridges, 100 car parks, 108 harbours piers and jetties)
• Car is dominant mode of travel to work (69%)
• Significant growth in traffic levels in inner Moray Firth.

Objectives

• Provide transport network to enable sustainable economic growth
• Provide transport network to enable economic/ social movement
• Manage / reduce impact of transport on the environment
• Increase cycling and walking
• Improve road safety
• Improve integration.

Wide range of issues to embrace

• Road improvements and investment in infrastructure
• Improved rail, ferry, air services
• Community transport
• Cycle paths
• Road safety
• Safe school transport and routes to school
• Encourage/ lobby for improvements to trunk roads in Highland (A9, A96, A82)
• Rail freight
• Council Travel Plan for staff travel to work
• Environmental Impact Assessment of strategy proposals.

Discussion points

• Lack of improvement to A9 north of Inverness in National Transport Strategy
ACTION Ward Forum to write to Minister for Transport
• Rumour of oil transport in tankers on A9 from Lybster – any such development would be subject to a planning application, which would include transport assessment
• Lack of space for walking / cycling on the roads – esp. A9; esp. charity walkers/cyclists
• Active travel surveys in larger settlements to gauge demand for cycle lanes, etc.
• Cycle stands are available in Dornoch
• Car sharing – schemes such as liftshare.com and salary sacrifice schemes for season tickets and bicycles encourage alternatives to car use
• Scottish Govt will be consulted on strategy and public’s comments will be included.

5 Changes to 25X/958 Bus services – Scott Pearson, William Mainus, Stagecoach

• Stagecoach has operated 25X for several years with improved service since Oct 05.
• Stagecoach acquired Highland Country Bus on 16th May 08; fleets and staff have been integrated.
• Some vehicles required replacing shortly after the acquisition while others are more of a desire to replace than a need, in order to meet the required Stagecoach spec of fleet; immediate replacements have been to standard Stagecoach spec. i.e. DDA compatible, but no on-board toilet
• Delivery of new vehicles typically takes 18 months – 2 years from ordering
• Current situation with no on-board toilets likely to continue until at least May 09
• Acquisition of Highland Country Bus presented opportunity to merge 958/ 25X by extending 25X.
• Introduce day return journeys both to and from Caithness, but increased journey time
• Since 8 Dec. 08 introduced two express journeys (fast south of Tain) to enable connections to onward journeys from Inverness and two fast afternoon journeys north
• New timetable in Summer 09 will introduce further enhancements to the service provided.

Discussion points

• Capacity of Dornoch public toilets to accommodate comfort break – HC responsibility
• New community built bus stop in Camore welcomed
• Difficulty with onward connections resolved by introduction of 6.35 and 7.15 from Thurso (9.09 and 9.19 Dornoch, 10.29 and 10.34 Inverness respectively)
• Capacity – Stagecoach monitoring situation, but north of Dornoch is ‘new territory’ so still establishing when peaks in demand occur
• Over 60’s travelling on conc. tickets should not be pushed to the back of the queue
• Stagecoach will discuss with Scottish Citylink the possibility of ticketing through Council Service Points
• Customer service is very important to Stagecoach. Ask for patience whilst new staff are trained, but please inform Stagecoach management of any poor customer service with details of service number and time
• Low floor DDA accessible buses are available, but are designed for City operation not longer distance operation (tend to be double-deckers not suited to the long journeys to/form Caithness). Lack of low ramp, long distance and comfortable (confortmable) coaches is an industry–wide design issue
• Wheelchair users can be accommodated, booking service available, 01463 239292
• Stagecoach will highlight issue of Broxburn interchange with Megabus on 16 Dec
• Drivers should be aware that passengers may have onward connections at Tain to central Sutherland. Stagecoach will remind drivers.
• Stagecoach are liaising with Scotrail to improve bus-train connectivity where possible
• Stagecoach have schedule for cruise ship visits to Invergordon, and are liaising with agencies to aid the capacity issues where possible.
• Need for better work-time links between E Sutherland and Tain esp. with jobs relocating to Golspie
• Stagecoach keen to engage with passengers through Ward Forums and Sutherland Partnership Transport Group.
• Stagecoach will investigate possibility of the two fast services to/from Tain/ Inverness having specific indentifier for passengers
• New timetable available at libraries and Service Points, newsagents and website.

6 Sutherland Local Plan – David Cowie

• Local plan provides framework for the development of Sutherland as a whole, settlements and individual, identified sites in Sutherland for next few years
• HC has made a number of changes following the initial consultation exercise
• Now includes policy for sustainable travel
• Changes to particular settlements and sites including business/community use
• The plan’s policy on appropriate development in the countryside is also important; HC is reviewing Highland policy for housing in the countryside and will consult on it during 2009.

Next steps

• Deposit Draft (published 28 Nov) sent to all Community Councils
• Available in libraries, Post Offices Service Points and Edderton Village Hall
• Close of consultation on Deposit Draft is 23 January 2009
• Respondents can contact planners to discuss comments before submission
• Local Plan Team willing to brief CCs if required but need to be realistic about availability to attend meetings given workload and limited timescale.

7 Police and Community Safety – Insp. Neil Mackinnon

Communication between Community Councils and police.

• Police not able to attend every CC meeting, but will attend where appropriate
• Welcome dialogue outside of meetings, and able to send Sergeant or Inspector to address serious issues at meetings if required
• Ward Forum good opportunity for regular contact with CCs
• Reps from CCs reiterated how they value Police presence at CC meetings.

Other discussion points

• Police working with HC on developing partnership for delivery of certain police functions through HC Service Point network
• Police station opening hours dependent on shift patterns so vary from day to day
• Police cars speeding on A9 through Brora and Golspie following recent accident in Wick. Last car at 10.30am, several hours after incident.
ACTION Insp. MacKinnon will look into this.

8 Voluntary Sector Ann Keatinge

Upcoming training events (places still available):
• LEADER/ SRDP, 26 Jan 2009, Brora
• Community Council training, 3 Feb 2009, Lairg
• Child Protection, 3 March 2009, Lairg
Training in Committees; Role of Treasurer; Handling the Media, Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures TBA at next Forum.

9 Issues raised by Community Councils

Dornoch - East Sutherland Rescue Association serves all of E. Sutherland. These communities should consider supporting request for funds for new tractor to launch boat.

10 Issues raised by Councillors

HC Budget

Previous budget gap of £20m has been reduced to approx £14m, but some cuts will still be required. HC considering proposals for Planning, Housing and Property and Chief Exec’s services this week yielding £2.4m savings. Meeting in Feb 09 will consider proposals from TECS, ECS and Social Work. Impact on services is inevitable.

Economic Downturn

HC investing in additional money advice service and funding for Vol. sector advisory services. Also investment in support for employability and provision of business advice. HC capital programme will also be advanced.