Action Notes of East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum held on 29 June 2009 at Brora Community Centre

Agenda

Present

Cllr. Deirdre Mackay (Chair) Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray Highland Council
Cllr. Ian Ross Highland Council
Alistair MacIver Rogart Community Council
Evelyn Mackenzie Helmsdale Community Council
Sandy Mackintosh Brora Community Council
Yvonne Ross Dornoch Community Council
PC Angie Grant-omotosho Northern Constabulary
William Scott Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service
James Sanderson Highland Council
Phil Tomalin Highland Council

2 Members of the Public

1 Apologies

Ian Hargrave, Ann Keatinge, Ian Miller, Pol McClelland,

2 Action Points/ Matters Arising

• Reply received from Transerv. Verges are cut according to contract. Transerv are aware of overhanging trees and will take action in the autumn
• AESCC - Positive response from Dornoch, Rogart and Helmsdale. Lairg and Creich may also be interested in joining. No response yet from Golspie and Brora.
• Copies of Highland Council budget brief circulated.

3 Ward Discretionary Budget

• Sheet circulated with details of grants made to date in 2009/10. There were no questions

4 Community Safety

Introduction
Community safety is right to live safely and without fear. Community safety partners include HC, NHS, Police, Fire Service and Drug and Alcohol Team
Priorities include:
• Reducing crime
• Reducing drug and alcohol abuse
• Reducing domestic abuse
• Promoting safer driving esp. young drivers.

Angie Grant–omotosho, Sutherland and East Ross Community Safety Officer Northern Constabulary,
One More Pint – The True Cost. A story of the how three middle-aged drinking partners tied up the emergency services over one night of drinking through domestic abuse, a fatal chip-pan fire and drink-driving the following morning. The incidents were all based on true cases. During the course of their evening and the aftermath the three friends tied up one fire appliance for one incident, an ambulance for two coinciding incidents and two police units for three incidents as well as the following detention and report writing required. The story indicated the extent to which a couple of incidents can tie up the entire emergency resources available to rural communities.

William Scott, Assistant District Manager, Highlands and islands Fire and Rescue Service
• Alcohol is a major cause of domestic fires.
• Other fire risk factors include forgetfulness amongst the elderly and faulty/unsafe equipment
• Education and prevention are very cost effective
• There are at least 6 firemen in each of Highland’s 95 stations who are trained and provide home fire safety visits
• 8 community safety advocates (soon to be 12) including male/female and language mixes
• Funding has been used to provide free thermostatically controlled chip pans, multi-way plug adapters, fire blankets etc. Programme now limited by funding difficulties and remaining equipment targeted to vulnerable groups
• Portable DVD units in shops, GPs etc
• Budgetary constraints having impact on sustainability of fire station network and training and equipment provision.

Discussion points
• Most common callout is Road Traffic Accidents
• HIFRS also involved with initiatives that promote safer driving inc. as Safe Highlander and Driving Ambitions
• Home Fire Assessments are very thorough. They are free can be requested by anybody.
• Total cost of a domestic fire is approx £800K inc. emergency services costs. Avg. cost of fire damage is £25K per room.

James Sanderson Education and Enforcement Officer
• Deals with litter, dog fouling and fly tipping
• Visits schools, youth clubs, Community Councils etc.
• Litter is a particular problem around schools at lunchtime. Work has been done with schools to encourage pupils to use litter bins provided
• Dog fouling is a priority for communities
• Where a problem exists JS will patrol and check that people have bags, handing them out to those who do not have any
• When working in pairs, or with other officers, Education and Enforcement Officers have power to fine offenders but only do so as a last resort, preferring to work with people
• Fly tipping - In JS experience this has not increased since introduction of bulky uplift charges.

Discussion points
• Dog fouling is an offence wherever the public have access. This does not include for example sheepdogs on private fields. Exemptions also in place to recognise difficulties some disabled people may have, such as those with impaired sight.
• Dog free areas present difficulties. Some responsible owners (who clear up after their dog) take the dog for a walk when the children are playing in the play park. Dog f ree areas are not legally enforceable

5 Issues raised by Community Councils

Helmsdale - Following last Ward Forum significant progress has been made with housing issues in Helmsdale

6 Issues raised by Councillors

Councillors reminded CCs of the upcoming Community Council Review, which will involve consultation on a range of operational and constitutional issues.

7 Questions from Members of the Public

Is it possible to fine under16’s for dropping litter?
• Some Councils do do this, but against HC policy
• JS believes that education is more effective
• Need to recognise that this is a long term project, but there have been some improvements.