Ward 8 –Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum
Meeting held on Thursday 22 November 2007

in the Hall, Milton Community Wing, Milton Primary School, Milton

Agenda

 

Present: Cllr Richard Durham (Chair)
  Richard Cross, Chairperson – Nigg & Shandwick Community Council
  John Scott, Chairperson – Fearn Community Council
  George Dobbie, Chairperson - Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council
  Fiona Robertson, Tain Initiative Group/Inver Community Council
  Liz Whiteford, Fearn Peninsula Partnership
  Maureen Ross, Seaboard Initiative/Balintore and Hilton Community Council
  Rose Hazel, KALE Action Group
  Ron MacAulay, Network Rail
  Inspector John Chisholm, Northern Constabulary
  Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager – Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
  Caroline MacAskill, Ward Manager Tain & Easter Ross
  5 Members of the Public

 

Apologies Cllr Alasdair Rhind
  Cllr Alan Torrance
  Hazel Bailey, KALE Action Group
  Angus Scobbie, Balintore and Hilton Community Council
  Bill MacKenzie, Inver Community Council
  Roddy Robertson, Tain Community Council
  Hamish Mackenzie, Tarbat Community Council

 

1. Cllr Durham welcomed the Forum and Members of the Public to the third Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum.

 

2. Feedback on Action Points from Forum held on 23 August 2007 and 4 October 2007

Feedback from Council Services on Action Points raised at the Ward Forum on 23 August 2007 and 4 October 2007 is contained in Appendix 1.

• It was requested that if Community Councils discuss priorities for Surface Dressing/Resurfacing requirements that the information be passed to the Highland Council so that these details can be considered when future programmes are being designed.

 

3. Presentation by Ron MacAulay, Network Rail
 
Ron MacAulay provided a presentation in relation to the services of Network Rail – the issues covered in the presentation included:

 

• Route Plans
Route Plans form part of a larger regulatory process
  The routes detail what the line will look like
The route plans forms part of the Strategic Business Plan and are used for setting targets
 
• Flooding
The flooding that occurred in October 2006 was, in Network Rails experience, a 1 in 180 year event.
130 sites were affected by the adverse weather
The impact of the flooding resulted in one bridge being washed away
The Railway was brought back into use in 3 weeks due to the help and assistance from Northern Constabulary for which Network Rail are very thankful

 

• Level Crossings
There are over 600 Level Crossings in Scotland which are considered safe if used properly
  96% of risk at Level Crossings is due to drivers
Over the last few months a campaign has been run on TV and Radio – “Don’t run the Risk” to raise awareness of the dangers of level crossings.
Risk Assessments are carried out for all Level Crossings.  Public Crossings are reviewed every year and look at usage, sight lines etc.
The Risk Assessments are used to prioritise work to upgrade crossings.
The Level Crossings in the surrounding area e.g. Delny and Dingwall are considered to be safe.

 

• Refurbishment of Rolling Stock
A project is currently underway to refurbish Class 158’s and to improve disabled access.

 

• Invernet Services
This initiative is considered a success by Network Rail with more people using the service than was originally envisaged.

 

Cllr Durham thanked Ron MacAulay for his presentation and invited questions/comments from the Forum and the Public.

 

Local concern was raised in relation to the Delny Level Crossing that the angle of the sun at certain times of the day prevents drivers from being able to see the red light.  It was suggested that the Risk Assessment for the Delny Level Crossing needs to be completed at a time of day when the sun impairs vision.  It was requested that the people doing the Risk Assessment are asked to take this concern into consideration.

 

The response from Network Rail is that Delny Level Crossing would not have featured highly as an “at risk” crossing prior to the fatal accident.  Since then discussions have been held with the Highland Council and partnership working has helped to provide improved signage on the approach.  The Risk Assessments completed for all Level Crossings take into consideration low sunlight and the effect that this may have on the visibility for drivers.

 

It was highlighted that Delny Level Crossing used to be manned but this was no longer the case.  Network Rail confirmed that there are now very few level crossings that are manned as this is no longer required.

 

From a community perspective, there are barriers at Nigg (these have been in place for some time) with no reported accidents but the Delny Level Crossing has no barriers and there have been 3 major accidents.  The outcome of the judicial case may make recommendation in relation to the crossing.

 

4. Community Safety

 

Inspector Chisholm advised that he was happy to report that there was no serious crime to speak of in the Tain and Easter Ross Ward.

 

The Christmas Campaign will be starting soon which will target drink driving.

 

The Scottish Government has announced a scheme through Safer Scotland which is a national campaign to combat violent crime over the Christmas period.

 

A meeting was held between the Police Sergeant, Street Lighting and the Tain and Easter Ross Ward Manager with a view to improving street lighting in Tain to increase the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras.

 

Inspector Chisholm reported that new measures are now in place and if reckless driving is reported to the police the outcome may be the seizure of the car.

 

It was reported that petty crime is on the increase in the Seaboard Villages – the police are able to concentrate on the pettier crimes at present given that there has been a reduction in serious crime across the Ward.  Inspector Chisholm confirmed that all crimes in the Ward are taken seriously.

 

The Forum was advised that the police visit Primary Schools regularly to speak to the younger children and explain the consequences of crime and criminal behaviour.

 

It was reported that people in the community are being targeted, particularly if they confront youths.  Inspector Chisholm confirmed that the police are happy to take details and investigate any incidents in the communities.

 

In relation to detecting drugs when a driver is stopped – Inspection Chisholm confirmed that techniques have been introduced to help officers detect drugs.  If a person is suspected of driving whilst under the influence of drugs the police can take the person to the station for further tests.

 

Inspector Chisholm confirmed that the cost of public speed cameras is currently being investigated for speed control on the Shore Road at Invergordon.

 

A question was raised in relation to Electric Scooters on public roads – Inspector Chisholm confirmed that they are road legal but would recommend that they are used on a footpath wherever possible.

 

5. Update from Initiative Groups

 

Apologies were received from KALE Action Group – no update available.

 

Tain Initiative – The Small Towns Network which includes Tain has made an application for funding from the Big Lottery fund.

 

Seaboard Initiative Update – Maureen Ross provided an update in relation to the Seaboard Initiative:

 

The Project Co-ordinator who has been in post for the last 10 years will be finishing at the end of November.  Fears were expressed at the loss of the post.

 

Over the last 10 years 50 projects have been completed and these are half the projects identified.

 

A report completed by Steve Westbrook highlighted the projects undertaken by Seaboard Initiative which attracted funding of £1.8million.  Fundraising by Seaboard Initiative is also considered to be a huge achievement.

 

Following the installation of the mermaid and the salmon sculptures in the village there has been an upturn in trade to the café in the Seaboard Memorial Hall.

 

A question was raised as to who Seaboard Initiative now contact if they wish to progress a project – could the Ward Manager assist?

 

The completed projects have created a maintenance commitment and the question was raised – what is going to happen?  Will these continue to be maintained?

 

The Community needs an assurance, in writing, that the ground maintenance of projects completed will continue to be done.

 

It was confirmed that funding was no longer available from HIE for the Project Co-ordinator.   The Highland Council had continued to fund the post from March to end of November.

 

It is possible that a wider Easter Ross Initiative needs to be considered so that more communities can be reached and assisted.

 

The Community Regeneration Funding will be altering and we are facing a large area of change.

 

Project Co-ordinators for communities are seen as essential and it was requested that this be raised through the Council’s Administration.

 

6. Ward Discretionary Budget

 

Information relating to the Ward Discretionary Budget is provided in Appendix 2 (PDF 19 Kb).

It was suggested that Community Councils may wish to debate part funding a Project Co-ordinator for Tain and Easter Ross.

 

7. Date of Next Meeting

The next Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum will be on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 7.30pm in the Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack.  The topic for the Forum will be the Nigg Fabrication Yard.

 

8. AOCB

• The purchase of “Smiley Face” for the Tain and Easter Ross Ward was discussed – the cost for this piece of equipment is approximately £3,000.  Shifting the “Smiley Face” would be free of charge as the Community Works Officer can do this as they are passing.  Similarly the equipment is rechargeable so running costs are minimal.  Community Councils were asked to consider a contribution of £100 each towards the cost to purchase the equipment with the balance being met from the Ward Discretionary Budget.
• It had been suggested that the representatives from the Community Councils may wish to meet prior to the Ward Forum to discuss issues of common concern.  It is therefore proposed that the meeting facility be available from 7pm for a pre-meeting.
• Similarly, Community Councils were asked to consider the provision of tea and coffee when the meeting is held in their community.  The Highland Council will supply the materials but would request that the Community Council arrange for the making of tea and coffee prior to the start of the meeting.
• It was agreed that the Discussion Notes/Action Notes from the Ward Forum be copied to the Community Council Secretaries.
• It was agreed that the Highland Housing Alliance be added as a topic for a future Ward forum.
• It was agreed that the date for the ward Forum in March can be changed from 13th to 6th March.
• A report which went to the Housing and Social Work Committee on 7 November 2007 which detailed the outcome of the Modernising Services for Older People – Consultation and Communication Strategy, was available at the Ward Forum.
• A report which went before the Planning, Environment and Development Committee on 14 November 2007 in relation to the Nigg Fabrication Yard was also available at the Ward Forum.
•  TIGHRA Event – TIGHRA are holding a Tenants Conference and Consultation Forum on Saturday 12 January 2008 in the Marriot Hotel, Culcabock Road, Inverness to consider the Scottish Government Consultation Paper – Firm Foundations: The Future of Housing in Scotland.  Details of this event will be sent to each Community Council should they wish to attend the event.

9. Questions and Action Points

• An issue was raised in relation to Garty Road – details of the background and response is contained in Appendix 3.
• Following discussion it was agreed that there may be an increase in traffic using the road when the new housing development is completed.  TEC Services are to be contacted and asked if there is anything that can be done to slow traffic down e.g. installing rumble strips.
• A meeting took place in Milton recently with the Council and Albyn Housing Society when various properties were looked at and action agreed.  There has been no feedback from the Council or Albyn Housing Society and this is to be pursued.

Action Points

• Network Rail are to investigate whether the vegetation at properties bordering the Level Crossing at Delny can be cut back to improve visibility.
• It was reported that the B9175 road to Nigg is regularly used as a race track.  The police will investigate.
• Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager is to request that a letter be sent from the Highland Council Chief Executive to Balintore and Hilton Community Council responding to the letter from Seaboard Initiative in relation to the proposals put forward.
• Are there figures available which will provide details of the number of tourists who visited the Seaboard Villages?  Visit Scotland to be contacted to ascertain what information they have available.
• Community Councils to discuss purchase of “Smiley Face” and possible contribution.