Cromarty Firth Ward Forum
Action Note of Meeting 30th August 2007

Agenda

Attending

Cllr Mike Finlayson,
Cllr Martin Rattray
Cllr Maxine Smith
Cllr Carolyn Wilson (Chair)
Alister Ferguson, Alness Community Council
John Edmondson, Ardross Community Council
Fiona Dendy, Kiltearn Community Council
Leslie Logan, Kiltearn Community Council
Alpin Macdonald, Kiltearn Community Council
Jaki Gardner, Invergordon Community Council
Margaret MacPherson, Invergordon Community Council
Helen Williamson, Saltburn & Westwood Community Council
Norma Young, Saltburn & Westwood Community Council
Nicola Ewing, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Inverness & East Highlands
Inspector John Chisholm, Northern Constabulary
Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager, Caithness Sutherland & Easter Ross
Steve McDermott, Waste Management Assistant (Recycling)
Helen Ross, Ward Manager (Cromarty Firth)

17 members of the public

Apologies – None

Action Note

Cllr C Wilson opened the meeting and welcomed everybody to the first meeting of the Cromarty Firth Ward Forum. Cllr Wilson noted that whilst the intention was not to provide a verbatum minute of the meeting a note of the actions agreed would be provided and made available on the web or on request.

For Action

Northern Constabulary (NC)
Chief Executive’s (CE)
Housing and Property (H & P)
Transport, Environmental & Community Services (TECs)

Action Points From Presentations

Recyling – presentation given by Steve McDermott (TECs) outlining key issues and providing a summary of the Council’s  services and planned developments around  recycling followed by a question and answer session. No specific actions arising.

Community Safety – short presentation by Inspector John Chisholm, Northern Constabulary and Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager, Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross outlining key aspects of community safety followed by public question and answer session. Action Points noted as follows:

• NC to check data protection legislation in relation to CCTV coverage of car parked outside curtilege of dwelling (NC)
• NC to consider use of mobile CCTV van at Natal Gardens, Invergordon (NC)
• TECs to be asked to consider if road safety can be improved at the Alness Academy/Morrison’s area possibly by upgrading the walking path (TECs)
• Community warden to be asked to contact member of the public re dog fouling in their area (H&P)
• Feedback will be provided to the next Ward Forum in relation to road safety concerns raised in relation to the back road from Evanton to Dingwall following a meeting between police and TEC Services.
• Information to be provided at next Ward Forum of the number of Fixed Penalty Notices that had been given out for Dog Fouling.

Other Matters Arising

• Concerns were expressed in relation to withdrawal of the Handy Person Scheme.  Cllr Wilson confirmed that this Service would continue until March 2008.
• Information to be requested from H&P on current position re sheltered warden service in Evanton (H&P)
• Community Councils asked to consider whether they would like to join with Alness Community Council and enter into a partnership with Lycksele, Sweden (CCs)
• Know your Council handbook to be issued once finalised (CE)
• Anyone in ward who is unable to receive broadband because it is not available urged to contact Ardross Community Council as they are trying to make progress on this issue which affects some in that Community Council area
• Information requested about why there has not been further development on land bought by Council some years back in Evanton by Teandallon (H&P)
• It was noted that there is a Ward Discretionary Budget of £56,818 available. Some applications have been received and approved but further applications are welcomed. The budget is there to meet local priorities and any queries should be passed to Helen Ross, Ward Manager
• Dates for Future Ward Forums to be noted on the Council’s website (CE)

Agreed topics for Future Ward Forums:

• Health
• Young People and Education
• Housing Development
• Emergency Planning
• SEPA, their role and local issues