East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum

Action Notes of East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum held on 24 August 2009 at Helmsdale Community Centre

Attending

Cllr. Ian Ross (Chair), Highland Council
Cllr. Jim McGillivray, Highland Council
Cllr. Deirdre Mackay, Highland Council
Alistair MacIver, Rogart Community Council
Evelyn Mackenzie, Helmsdale Community Council
Yvonne Ross, Dornoch Community Council
Iain Miller, Golspie Community Council
Ann Keatinge, VGES
PC Angie Grant-omotosho, Northern Constabulary
Katie Briggs, Highland Council
Ian Hargraven, Highland Council
Phil Tomalin, Highland Council

10 Members of the Public

1 Apologies

Bill Faassen de Heer, Insp. Ramsay Aitken (PC Angie Grant-omotosho attending as substitute)

2 Action Points/ Matters Arising

Community Council Review
• Scottish Govt, COSLA and ASCC initiative
• 3 separate consultations on different aspects up to Dec 2010
• First stage is geographical areas of Community Councils
• Consultation starts in Sept 2009

3 Ward Discretionary Budget

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

4 Highland Wide Local Development Plan - Katie Briggs, HC

• Highland-wide Local Development plan replaces old Structure Plan and is a high level plan outlining the major issues for Highland.
• Highland is a pathfinder area - new integrated approach.
• Importance of stakeholder contribution.
• Detailed policies about sites and settlements contained in Local Development Plans.
• Highland moving to 4 Local Development Plans.
• Caithness and Sutherland plan will replace Sutherland Local Plan in future (2011).
• Also refers to Local Housing Strategy, Coastal Strategy and Local Transport Strategy.

Areas of national importance
• Inverness / A96 hub
• Marine energy
• Nigg
• Coordination of rational investment
• Fragile areas

Content of plan
• Vision
• Spatial strategy - key growth areas
• General polices e.g. Housing in the countryside
• Supplementary guidance e.g. detailed policy on affordable housing
• Scope of plan is very broad

A96 corridor
• Important for whole of Highlands
• Range of options for the development (timing and location) of Inverness

Caithness and North Sutherland
• Recent loss of jobs - need to attract investment in the area, inc. tourism, marine energy, transport links

Fragile areas

Big issues for Highland
• Do we need better transport connections?
• Where should new housing go?
• Is the open space good enough?
• How can we help the environment?

Process
• Main Issues Report and consultation
• Proposed Plan (more detailed that Main Issues Report) and consultation
• Plan sent to Scottish Ministers
• Reporter makes recommendations
• Plan finalised
Whole process due to take approx. 2 years

Publicity
• Web page and blog
• Information days
• Ward Forums
ACTION PT to forward dates for info days and web links to CCs

Discussion points
• Much of Highland coastline, inc part of Dornoch Firth, is identified in national framework as having potential for marine development. Crown estates are also developing proposal for management of sea bed under its control. Also reflects Beatrice pilot which has proved successful.
• Employment opportunities esp. for young people in fragile communities acknowledged as a key issue, esp. outside main areas of development.
• Flexibility required in planning approach in fragile areas, however certain commitments and land designations have to be protected and maintained.
• Importance of partner contribution to the plan e.g. Crofters Commission, HIE etc.
• Scrabster Harbour is identified as key asset for servicing marine energy projects in Pentland Firth. Also opportunities for Wick harbour servicing any expansion to Beatrice and leisure marine. Road connections to both are key.
• Roads around Inverness. Inverness congestion affects north as all journeys south, east and south west pass through Inverness.
• Portgower Helmsdale stretch of A9 of particular local concern.
ACTION Councillors to seek update meeting with residents and trunk road authority on this stretch of road.
• Plan based not only on national guidance but also on historical knowledge and on monitoring reports and gathered data. Data monitoring reports available on HC website. Furthermore consultation allows additional concerns to be raised by communities.
• Community facilities - Planning is not an obstacle – more likely to be funding.
• Coastal erosion - plan takes into account risk from flooding and refers to coastal strategy. Difficult to identify impact of coastal erosion.

Sutherland Local Plan Update
• With Scottish Govt. Directorate for Planning and Environment Appeals
• Guidance for PLI awaited
• Recommendations expected early 2010

5 Community Safety

Mountain rescue and missing persons part of community safety and can tie up significant resources for long periods of time. Recent events in Assynt and Durness required Police, Coastguard, Mountain Rescue teams, RAF and Coastguard helicopters and dog teams. Both ended with missing people found safe and well, but sadly this is not always the case. Where people are not found, activity continues. For example following recent case of person missing in Sutherland for eight weeks, activities are still continuing. Where necessary police are drafted in from elsewhere to cover normal policing activities. Costs are not shared, and are certainly significant.

6 Issues raised by Voluntary Sector

• VGES now has more than 200 members
• Recent successful LEADER bid to provide community training. Also Ward Discretionary Budget contribution
• VGES working with Community Energy Scotland offering energy audits for 16 community buildings throughout the Ward, concluding with a Halls seminar.
• Sutherland Summit 14 Sept – now full
• LEADER awards –
  - GREAN training and textiles recycling
  - SNH Knockan Crag
  - Historic Assynt Hidden Lives research project

7 Issues raised by Community Councils

Golspie – What can be done about buildings bought by developers (and others) that are then left as eyesores?
• Pressure from community can be brought to bear on local individuals but more difficult with companies and people without local connections
ACTION Cllrs find out what enforcement can be taken. Feedback at next Ward Forum

8 Issues raised by Councillors

• Streetscape project in Brora has now been completed. Heritage Trail underway
• LEADER £300K of approx £1m awarded to Sutherland has been awarded but beware cash flow difficulties
• Olsen House work under way and will accommodate Service Point, Police and CAB. HC Main St office will be sold.

9 Questions from Members of the Public

Helmsdale only on A9 distance signs from north end of Brora. Helmsdale is junction to north coast (A897) and should be given more prominence. Perhaps when signs are replaced Helmsdale could be included from further south
ACTION Ward Forum to write to Chief Exec of Transport Scotland on this issue

10 Date of Next meeting

Mon 5 Oct 2009, North Highland College, Burghfield Campus, Dornoch.