Action Note - Cromarty Firth (Ward 7)

Agenda

Held on 26th June 2008

Forum members and speakers attending

Cllr Mike Finlayson
Cllr Martin Rattray
Cllr Maxine Smith
Jaki Gardner, Invergordon Community Council
Fiona Dendy, Kiltearn Community Council
Norma Young, Saltburn & Westwood Community Council
Inspector Matthew Reiss, Northern Constabulary
Helen Ross, Ward Manager, Cromarty Firth Ward
Nicole Wallace, Leader Programme Manager, The Highland Council
Marj Donaldson, Ross & Cromarty Disability Access Group
Shirley Ostler, Ross & Cromarty Disability Access Group
Ken MacDonald, Alness Community Council
Mary MacDonald Alness Community Council
Nicola Ewing, Highlands & Islands Enterprise/Leader Programme

14 members of the public attended

Action Note:

1. Introduction – Cllr M Finlayson opened the meeting and welcomed   everybody. He also noted that Cllr Wilson was not free to attend but noted thanks for her chairing of the ward forum through its first year.

2. Feedback from the Ward Forum held on 24th April 2008
Feedback on actions raised at the previous Ward Forum had been circulated prior to the meeting and copies were available at the meeting (see appendix 1 (PDF 20kb).

The feedback was noted. It was also noted that following a query at the last meeting about the possibility of amending the way planning applications expressed addresses (at present the address shows the town followed by ‘Highland’, rather than noting Ross-shire, Inverness-shire etc). it was advised that the service takes addresses from the National Street Gazetteer. Whilst (for a relatively low cost) the text field which shows ‘Highland’ could be hidden (i.e. the address would then appear as just locality and town) adding in an alternative would be complex and costly as 1 alternative could not be used across Highland. As a result of this no change is proposed.

3. Ross & Cromarty Disability Access Group

Marj Donaldson and Shirley Ostler gave an introduction to the Ross & Cromarty Access Group. They circulated handouts giving information about the group and the Disability Discrimination Act. During the session and subsequent discussion the following key points were noted:

• The group are a voluntary group who aim to promote access to all both to the built environment and the outdoors.
• The group can answer enquiries, carry out access surveys, including a report with recommendations, provide comment on proposed development and also run awareness raising sessions for staff (normally approx 2 hours)
• The group can be contacted via their website (www.rc-access.org.uk) by email (enquiries@rc-access.org.uk) or by phone (tel. 01997 421802)
• The Disability Discrimination Act requires equal access for all to buildings, goods and services, employment and education
• The Act requires ‘reasonable adjustments’ to be made – so there is no need to be afraid of the legislation.  Small businesses are required to do what they can and record what they have done.  If a complaint about access was made, what was regarded as a ‘reasonable adjustment’ would take into account  the size of the business, footfall and other constraints,  eg while being in a listed building does not excuse you from making adjustments, it may limit what can reasonably be done.

4. Leader Funding Stream

Nicole Wallace gave a presentation outlining what the new funding stream ‘Leader’ is, what sort of projects it will be able to fund and how it is likely to be managed. A briefing note giving key details about Leader, its aims and targets etc was circulated (see appendix 2 (PDF 67kb). Helen Ross outlined potential ways in which a local partnership group could be set up to work with the Leader funding stream and also how information might be gathered locally to ensure any development plan is robust and includes all the projects and needs identified in the communities. During discussion the following key points and actions were agreed:

• The Leader programme is not yet open, but is anticipated to open in the coming months.
• All Leader areas will require a local partnership which will have control over a budget and make decisions on Leader project applications arising in their area.  This group must be composed of 50% public sector and 50% private, community and voluntary sector reps; they are also expected to prepare local development plans for their areas. Community Council reps are viewed by the Leader programme as public sector group members.
• The local partnership needs to have good local representation and represent broad sectors of the community, but not all active groups/initiatives need or would want to be on it. It may also be helpful to have  other join the group as required as advisors
• Those present provided suggestions on local groups/organisations which should be invited to a further meeting to develop the local partnership, and also a list of groups/organisations that should be written to and asked for details of projects/needs which they feel should be reflected in any local development plan. Based on these lists Helen Ross will write out to groups and organisation and start work to develop a local group and gather information for a local development plan
• It will be essential to ensure information is easily and widely available locally about the local partnership and the development plan process so that it is open and those not on the local partnership group can link in
• Match funding will be a key issue, although where possible the Highland Council will align budget to match Leader and will work closely with other organisations  who have funds that can help to provide the required match funding
• Nicola Ewing agreed to provide a summary  of the likely future role in strengthening communities of Highland & Islands Enterprise

5. Community Safety

Inspector Matthew Reiss outlined some of the key issues Northern Constabulary has recently been involved with. Key points included:

• 4 local officers are due to go on impairment training – this will assist in relation to those driving under the influence of methadone
• There has been an increase in theft of domestic heating fuel and the use of padlocks is recommended
• Recent incidents which do have an impact on resources have included as recent significant firearms incident, missing person enquires and a serious road accident
• There was a very positive response from the public, eg giving statements  following a recent serious assault
• Police have been supporting local residents with their recent ‘Community Against Antisocial Parking and Speeding campaign (CAAPS) in Alness
• During a recent Scottish national speeding campaign the highest number of drivers caught speeding was in the Northern Constabulary area
• Community safety is an issue for all – not just the police!
• Inspector Reiss agreed to provide  information on recent accidents at Tomich junction to Cllr Smith, as there have already been requests made to transport Scotland to improve this junction, but as yet no improvement work has been agreed

6. Physical activity strategy questionnaire – copies of questionnaires previous sent to community councils  were available for anyone interested to complete and return

7. Ward Discretionary Budget – a report noting projects for the year so far was circulated – see appendix 3 (PDF 20kb).

8. AOB

• Village halls – the Council (the Education Culture and Sport service) will be embarking on a number of public meetings at the end of the summer period in areas where there are council run village halls. The purpose of these meetings will be to consult with communities about whether or not they are prepared to take on ownership and management of halls previously owned and managed by the council. Halls affected in the Cromarty Firth Ward are the Milnafua Hall and the Perrins Centre in Alness, the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Evanton and the Saltburn Hall in Saltburn. Letters will be sent out to arrange the meetings over coming weeks and they will also be advertised locally
• Flooding in Evanton – a query was raised about what action the Council was taking in relation to flooding in Livera Street in Evanton and whether or not works could be supported via the discretionary budget. Cllrs Finlayson and Rattray noted they had met on 25th June with the Director of TECs services and had also been in talks with Scottish Water. Currently a cost for additional works was being sought. Once cost is known further work to agree funding will have to take place, it was noted the discretionary budget was simply not large enough to fund this kind of work. It was also noted that a significant amount of work has been taken higher up the hill to try to improve drainage and prevent the level of water coming down to the village.
• Flood reporting – a member of the public noted that recently when phoning the out of hours emergency number to report flooding in a Council owned car park he was told they could not accept such a report without a postcode which he did not have. It was agreed to investigate this. 

9.  Date of the next meeting – Thursday 28th August at 7 for 7.30 in the Saltburn Hall, Saltburn