Action notes - Ward Forum - West Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh (Ward 10)

Meeting held on 16 June 2008 in Contin Village Hall

Chair: Gordon MacLean, (Contin Community Council)
Present: Cllr Biz Campbell; Cllr Richard Greene; Cllr Audrey Sinclair; Cllr Jean Urquhart; Alison MacLeod (Applecross CC); Murdo Finlayson (Applecross CC); Muriel Cockburn (Contin CC); Isobel Stewart (Contin CC); M. MacLeod (Gairloch CC); Bill Cameron (Gairloch CC); Isabel MacKenzie (Gairloch CC); Sue Tarr (Garve & District CC); Jean Hollingdale (Garve & District CC); Kenneth Morrison (Lochbroom CC); Kathy Ross (Lochbroom CC); Isabel Grant (Marybank, Scatwell & Strathconon CC); Moira McDonald (Stromeferry & Achmore CC); Irene Gibson (Stromeferry & Achmore CC); Katerine Mackenzie (Torridon & Kinlochewe CC).

Officials in attendance: Robbie Bain (Ward Manager); Chief Insp Paul Eddington (Northern Constabulary).

Introduction

Gordon MacLean welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Community Safety

Chief Inspector Eddington reminded the Forum that Community Safety was the business of everyone in the community, not simply the responsibility of the police.

He highlighted that we live in one of the safest places in UK and that crime rates are decreasing especially crimes of violence. Levels of drink driving remained a cause for concern despite the police catching plenty of people. Vandalism is still a problem in some communities. It was noted that the vast majority of young people were good and law-abiding but that a small minority can cause big problems. The “Blue Light” Disco to be held in Strathpeffer on 27th June was an example of the police and other agencies working with communities to provide activity for the youth of the area.

With regard to road safety, Ch. Insp. Eddington outlined the process for dealing with drink driving and the police approach to community concerns about speeding. He noted that the police had written to Transerv about the A835 junction at the end of the Letters/Logie lochside road.

He ended with a reminder that he was available by ‘phone in Dingwall and happy to discuss any communtiy issues even if they needed sensitive handling.

Scottish Government Cosnultation on Community Councils

Jean Urquhart led a discussion on the current Scottish Government consultation, highlighting that this was a chance for communities to make their views known to the Government, especially in respect of the Model Scheme, the proposed Code of Conduct and what constitutes Good Practice. She noted that even within Ward 6 there were very different practices followed by the 20 different CCs and emphasised that CC meetings should be viewed as “meetings held in public” as distinct from “public meetings”.

During discussion, points were raised on:CC Boundaries and the question of whether these should be brought into line with Ward boundaries; the need for a National Code of Conduct; CCs as a tier of Local Government; the need to update the 1973 Local Government Act; lowering the age for voting in CC elections to 16; how to make CCs more representative.

In addition to the above, it was generally felt individuality is important and that within certain confines, CCs should be free to represent their commmunities in the way that was felt most appropriate locally.

Leader Programme 2007-13

Robbie Bain outlined the current position on the Leader Programme. The main points were that Leader funds represented an opportunity for community projects to be developed, with somewhere in the region of £500,000 likely to be available across the Ward. Match funding requirements were not yet clear and it was hoped that the programme would open to applications in September.

In Ward 6, the Board of the Wester Ross Alliance would act as the Leader Action Group, providing the local approvals process for applications.

Wester Ross Alliance

Jean Urquhart, as chair of the Wester Ross Alliance, gave a background and update on the Wester Ross Alliance, noting that the organisation was embarked on expanding its area of activity to match the geography of Ward 6. Plans were being developed to divided the Ward into 5 sections, with each section electing Board Members for the Alliance. The Alliance was also recruiting a part-time Manager.

BT Consultation on Payphones

Further to the previous Ward Forum meeting at which BT had presented their case for rationalising the number of ‘phone boxes in Highland, the Council’s draft comments on each of the specific boxes at risk had been circuated with the papers for the meeting.

Ch Insp Eddington informed the meeting that Northern Constabulary had also responded to the consultation, making general comments but also highlighting road safety issues, poor mobile ‘phone coverage and the fragility of the mobile network in the area.

There was a feeling expressed that in some locations the ‘phones were in the wrong place and that a proper review of the adequacy of the network was needed rather than a cost-based review of individual boxes.

Other Business

Ward Forums. Jean Urquhart noted that this was the last Forum of the first year of operation and that having moved around the Ward for the first year, the Forum would now try a single, central location, with meetings held in Achnasheen. Meetings would be a mix of afternoons and evenings, with the afternoon meetings being those in the winter months.
Data Protection. There was a feeling expressed that this does not apply to CCs. However, the clear guidance from Government is that CCs must register.
There was an expression of thanks from the Police to all those who had helped to trace a man from Contin who had recently gone missing. He had been found the previous day in a remote location following information provided by members of the public.
CCs role in Planning. There was a reminder to CCs that it was worth providing the Council with a holding response if there was no CC meeting able to consider an application by the official deadline for response. CCs should be getting the weekly lists.