Ward 8 –Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum
Meeting held on Thursday 31 January 2008
in the Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack
Present:
Cllr Alan Torrance (Chair)
Cllr Richard Durham
Roddy Robertson - Tain Community Council
Hamish Mackenzie - Tarbat Community Council
Richard Cross, Chairperson – Nigg & Shandwick Community Council
John Scott, Chairperson – Fearn Community Council
Fiona Robertson - Tain Initiative Group/Inver Community Council
Liz Whiteford - Fearn Peninsula Partnership
Maureen Ross - Seaboard Initiative/Balintore and Hilton Community Council
Acting Inspector Dougie Watson - Northern Constabulary
Ian Hargrave, Corporate Manager – Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Caroline MacAskill - Ward Manager Tain & Easter Ross
19 Members of the Public
Apologies
Cllr Alasdair Rhind
George Dobbie, Kilmuir and Logie Easter Community Council
Hazel Bailey, KALE Action Group
Angus Scobbie, Balintore and Hilton Community Council
Bill MacKenzie, Inver Community Council
1. Cllr Torrance welcomed the Forum and Members of the Public to the fourth Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum. Cllr Torrance introduced the Forum to the Members of the Public and invited the audience to introduce themselves to the Forum.
2. Feedback on Action Points from Forums held on 23 August, 4 October and 22 November 2007
Feedback from Council Services on Action Points raised at previous Ward Forums is contained in Appendix 1.
• Cllr Durham suggested that a meeting be arranged between the Elected Members for Tain and Easter Ross, Network Rail and TEC Services to discuss the options to be considered in relation to the vegetation at properties bordering the Level Crossing at Delny.
3. Nigg Fabrication Yard - Presentation by Geoff Robson, Head of Environment and Development
Cllr Torrance introduced Geoff Robson to the Forum and the Members of the Public and declared in interest, as a Member of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, in the matter being discussed i.e. Nigg Fabrication Yard.
Geoff went though a presentation detailing the history of Nigg Fabrication Yard, the current Planning Permission for the yard and the procedures to be followed in relation to a Compulsory Purchase Order.
During a question and answer session the following points were clarified:
• The back to back agreement would reimburse the Highland Council’s for all of the costs associated with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO)
• The whole site, following the CPO would be passed on to the Developer which means that there would be no drain on or risk to the Public Purse
• Promoting a CPO is an extremely complicated, legally complex and resource intensive exercise that can take a considerable period of time to complete hence there may not be an instantaneous result
• Highland Councillors have been advised that what is being proposed is a legally competent, robust, transparent and fair process.
• The plant at the Nigg Fabrication Yard is deteriorating and the Highland Council’s preferred outcome is for the two parties with an interest in the Yard to reach a mutual agreement
• The intention to CPO may focus the attention of the private parties in reaching a negotiated solution
• If the CPO option goes ahead the current lease between the two parties (Wakelyn Trust and KBR) will lapse
• The current lease on the affected piece of land expires in 2031 which means that there is no rush, on behalf of the tenant, to act on the terms of the lease relating to reinstatement
• The developer who enters into the Back to Back agreement would be responsible for decontamination of the site and reinstatement that may be required as a condition of a future planning consent
• The Consultant preparing the Master Plan will be asked to consult with various private and public bodies, in addition to the local communities
• Following receipt of the formal document from the Consultant there will be wider consultation. The timescale for this is the end of the year.
• Any different use of the Yard would require Planning Permission as this would form the basis of the Back to Back Agreement. Some of the suggested uses includes; Production of Renewable Energy Components, Waste Energy, Oil Platform Construction etc.
• The Consultants appointed to consider the Masterplan will be asked to engage with the Local Community – this process with start in 2 months.
• The Consultants will be asked to produce a Method Statement detailing how they will engage with stakeholders
• There are local concerns about the future of the Nigg Fabrication Yard and the impact this could have on the communities
• Meetings have already been held between the Chair of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee, the Director of Planning and Development, KBR, DSM and CFPA and the Wakeland Trust but no agreement has been forthcoming.
• Cllr Durham has also met separately with representatives from KBR and the Wakeland Trust to try and reach a solution but felt that not solution could be reached by Mutual Agreement
4. Community Safety
Acting Inspector Dougie Watson introduced himself to the Forum and advised that he is currently based in Alness.
Inspector Watson confirmed the Crime Statistics since the last Forum meeting are as follows:
• No house break ins
• 5 thefts
• 1 break in to a business premises
• 9 Assaults – all detected
• 7 Domestic incidents – 6 out of the 7 appearing in Court from custody
• 1 incident relating to Child Protection
In the Milton area the following crime statistics were supplied:
• 2 thefts – 1 theft was connected to the school
• 3 Vandalisms - 2 of the vandalisms were connected to the school
• 1 motor incident
Inspector Watson advised that the vandalism is the biggest problem being encountered in the area with Tain and Balintore being the worst affected areas. Officers in these areas have been speaking with locals which has helped detection. Inspection Watson was advised that the increased police presence in Balintore is working and is very much appreciated.
There is currently an anti crime initiative in the area which will see police patrolling main and side roads utilising intelligence.
The changes to the structure of the Northern Constabulary will result in the Inspector for Tain being based in Dornoch instead of Alness. The Inspector based at Dornoch is Neil Mackinnon.
It has been recognised within Northern Constabulary that the central location for telephone calls can cause problems and that there has been relaxation by the Control Room if the caller explains the reason for their call it is possible that they can be transferred to the local station.
5. Ward Discretionary Budget
Information relating to the Ward Discretionary Budget is provided in Appendix 2 (PDF 24 Kb) The Forum were advised that the Ward Discretionary Budget is now fully committed. However, applications for funding from the 2008/2009 budget allocations can be submitted now.
6. Members Leaflet
A leaflet has been designed which provides contact details for Members and suggested attendance at Community Council and Parent Council meetings. The feedback for comments on the leaflet was 31 January 2008 and the Ward Forum were asked to consider the suggestions made in the leaflet.
Comments received include:
• The 3 Councillors have different talents which benefit the Community Councils and these may be lost if all the Councillors do not attend meetings at various times
• Democracy may suffer
• Accountability – if the three Councillors do not attend Community Council meeting there would not be the same opportunity to have issues raised at Strategic Committees
• It was felt that all Members some of the time should attend all Community Council meetings given the Multi Member Ward
• It is more important to be able to contact an Elected Member than to have wait a month until the next meeting
• Mobile phones should be provided to Members so that they are more accessible
• Email addresses should be added to the contact details for Members
• Leaflet should be exclusively for contacting the Councillors
In response to the comments the Elected Members advised:
• All three Members represent the whole Ward and the leaflet has been produced to try and address the workload of the Members
• The Ward Forum provides an opportunity to air issues openly when all three Members are present
• The Council’s Administration has advised that all Elected Members are to be issued with mobile phones
• The leaflets would be available at various locations, notice boards, Community Councils etc
It was agreed that further discussion is required on the leaflet and further consultation will take place following any amendments made.
Attending Community Council meetings on rotation was suggested as an alternative option.
7. Purchase of Smiley Face
The Elected Members for Tain and Easter Ross have agreed that the cost to purchase the “Smiley Face” will be met from the Ward Discretionary Budget and will be controlled through the Ward Manager
8. Revised Opening Times of Recylcing Centre Tain
The recylcing Centre in Tain is now closed Sunday and Monday and open 10.00am -5.00pm Monday to Friday (closed from 2-2.30 for lunch) and 9am -5pm on a Saturday (closed from 2-2.30pm for lunch).
A query was raised in relation to the whether there are costs associated with the disposal of scrap metal which has a value and could generate income.
All agreed that it was very fortunate that there is a recycling centre in the Ward and that the operative is very helpful to all users.
A copy of the leaflet with the revised opening times is to be sent to Community Councils for distribution to the communities.
A question was raised in relation to the opening times in the summer months which needs to be raised with TEC Services.
9. Date of next Ward Forum
The next Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forum will be on Thursday 6 March 2008 at 7.30pm in Fearn Hall, Fearn.
10. AOCB
A Policy and Information Briefing Note was available at the forum. The Briefing Note provides details of the Origins of House Buyers in the Highlands during 2005 and 2006, with the information broken down into Wards
A Village Halls Summit is being held in Aviemore on Saturday 23 February 2008 – the Keynote Speaker at the event will be Richard Lochhead MSP. Details of the Seminar and a booking form were available.
The issue of low flying jets was raised and it was commented that the jets appear to be louder than last year and are causing a disturbance to people in the Ward. A reduction in flying time would be appreciated. John Thurso MSP has a letter confirming the RAF would look at ways of minimising disruption. Cllr Torrance will pursue this issue.
Kildary Post Office will be affected, in the Tain and Easter Ross Ward, though the proposals suggested by the Post Office Network. The consultation period is from 8 January to 18 February 2008 for objections to be submitted.
Cllr Torrance advised the Forum and the Public that a Public Inquiry pre meeting in relation to the proposed supermarkets in Tain will be held on 26 February.
9. Questions and Action Points
• Two questions were received in advance of the Forum. The questions and the Council’s response are contained in Appendix 3.
• In relation to the question raised by Fearn Community Council it was suggested that they approach the bus service provider and ask that they attend a future CC meeting. People using the service should be asked to attend the meeting.
Action Points
• TEC Services and Network Rail are to be asked to attend a meeting with the Elected Members for the Tain and Easter Ross Ward to discuss the options to be considered in relation to the vegetation, at properties bordering the Level Crossing at Delny.
• Further discussion and consultation to take place in relation to suggested Members Leaflet
• TEC Services to be contacted in relation to the disposal of scrap metal to confirm whether there are costs associated with the disposal or is an income generated
• Information is to be requested from TEC Services in relation to the opening times of the Recycling Centre in Tain during the summer months.
• Leaflet detailing new opening times for the Recycling Centre is to be issued to Community Councils in the Ward
• A letter is to be sent to the Harbour Board which next meets in February confirming the Tain and Easter Ross Ward Forums unanimous support that the Harbour at Portmahomack should not be reclassified from Class C to Class B which will result in an overall increase in charges to users of 80%. The letter is to be copied to the Chair of TEC Service Committee and the Director of TEC Services.
• TEC Services, General Manager Harbours, is to be asked to attend a Ward Forum Meeting prior to change in charges being implemented.