Dingwall and Seaforth Ward 9
Action Notes - 30th October, 2007

Present: Councillors, Angela MacLean (Chair), David Chisholm, Peter Cairns, Dingwall Community Council, Nigel Greenwood, Muir of Ord Community Council, Tom Davis, Ferintosh Community Council, Colin Craig, Dingwall Initiative, David MacDonald, Highland Youth Voice, Andrew Cronie and Siannie Moodie, Northern Constabulary, Inspector Pamela Ross, PC Carrie Shanks, Highland Council, John Macdonald, Senior Community Learning and Leisure Officer, Simon Jeffrey, Area Youth Development Officer, Stephen MacKay, Area Team Manager (Children & Families), Liz Cowie, Ward Manager, Dingwall and Seaforth.  Twenty five members of the public were present including representation from local youth groups.

Cllr. McLean took the opportunity at the beginning of the meeting to explain the format of the Ward Forum and how it operated.  She detailed that the Ward Forum is a formal meeting conducted in public and that agenda items are discussed by the Forum Members.  She clarified that there is an opportunity for members of the public present to ask questions in the last 20 minutes of the meeting but that the discussion in the main part of the meeting is limited to Forum Members. 

However, given that there were a large number of groups present representing youth organisations, Cllr. McLean suggested that this particular meeting be more interactive with an open discussion on youth issues for the Ward.  This was agreed by the Forum Members.

Apologies:  Councillor Margaret Paterson. 

Listed below is the action required as a result of the discussion and decisions taken by the Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum at their meeting held on 30th October, 2007.

Item 2 – Action Note from Previous Meeting
2.1. Liz Cowie reminded Forum Members that the requested Planning training for Community Councils had been scheduled and that there was an event in Dingwall on the 15th of November from 6.30 – 8.30 pm. 
2.2. Ross-shire Voluntary Action had been contacted re organising a ‘fund finding’ workshop and had indicated that this would be possible with support from the Ward. 

Item 3 – Public Consultation
3.1. The recently published summary of the Highland Council Public Performance Survey was referred to.
Action: All present were advised that the results were available on the Highland Council website, or hard copies could be obtained from the Performance Manager, Chief Executive’s Service, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.

Item 4 – Community Safety
Inspector Pamela Ross gave an update on crime statistics for Ward 9.  Tom Davis, Chair, Muir of Ord Community Council, queried if the information included road statistics and also asked when the Police Station in Muir of Ord would be staffed again.  With works to the Police Station almost complete it is anticipated that the Station will be operationally staffed again shortly.  Mr Davis advised that the next Community Council meeting would take place in Dingwall Police Station.

Picking up on the Forum theme, PC Carrie Shanks, Community Safety Officer, then outlined the proposals underway to run ‘Blue Light Events’ in the Ward.  These have been successfully trialled in Fife and have had a significant impact on trouble ‘hot spots’ in that area.  Events are now being held across the country and are hugely popular with young people.  The events are targeted at the over 12 age group and are ‘ticket only’.  Tickets can be as little as £1 for entry.   There is a disco, ‘chill out’ room and advice, information and help is available throughout the event for young people on a range of subjects.  Participants are searched and breath tested and anyone failing the test is denied entry and accompanied home by the Police.  Incentive and reward schemes can also be tied to the events.  PC Shanks advised that it is intended to visit one of the events in Fife early in the year.  Cllr. McLean asked if some young people could go to the event with the Police to give their input.  This suggestion was well received.
Action: PC Shanks to liaise with Youth Development Officers to take forward the proposal to include young people in the proposed visit.  Further information on the events can be found at http://www.bluelight.uk.net/

Item 5 – Discretionary Budget
Update given by the Ward Manager who advised that although spend was still low on the discretionary budget, there were several applications pending.  The availability of funds was discussed with some of the groups present and Highland Alternative Music highlighted their successful application.  They also highlighted the ongoing problems with revenue costs for their project and this was echoed by all the voluntary groups present.  The action point from the previous Ward Forum on organisation of a ‘Fund Finding’ workshop was further discussed and it was agreed that funding from the discretionary budget could be used to support such an event.  This initiative was welcomed by those present.
Action: All to note that Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Discretionary Budget Forms are available on the Ward Profile on the Highland Council web site or by contacting Liz Cowie, Ward Manager on 01349 868681 or by e-mail at   liz.cowie@highland.gov.uk

Item 6 – Young People and Youth Issues
Cllr. McLean outlined that the discussion would centre around ‘what is provided in the Ward for young people and by whom, and how can we improve and move forward'.  She then invited Andrew Cronie and Siannie Moodie, the youth representatives on the Forum, to start the open discussion.  The key points that emerged from the discussion were as follows:
• There is a wide range of youth provision in the Ward however this is mainly provided by the voluntary sector.  Malcolm Lochhead, Youth Highland, advised that statistics show that 80% of youth work is undertaken by the voluntary sector. There is a lack of consistency and a need for rationalisation. There is partnership working and Highland Council do provide services but there was a lack of clarity on what exactly this is.  This has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. 
• Action Point.  It was suggested that there was a need for a ‘Youth Audit’ and a ‘Ward audit’ of what is being provided, where, and when it takes place.  Education, Culture and Sport (ECS) to take this action forward.
• Voluntary groups are finding it increasingly hard to source ongoing revenue funding to sustain and improve their service provision.  This was evidenced in particular by the Dingwall Youth Café and Highland Alternative Music.
• Action Point. Fund finding workshop to be organised as previously discussed and agreed.  Ward Manager to take this action forward.
• Muir of Ord is a community with a growing population that has a key identified need for a community facility.  Muir of Ord Community Association are driving forward a project for a community facility but have been frustrated by the lack of progress with Highland Council.
• Action Point.  Highland Council to address outstanding land issues for the Muir of Ord Community Association.  Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager to take this action forward.
• Graeme MacKenzie, Rector advised that he recognised that there was a need for community facilities in each of the communities in the Ward but outlined that the new Academy in Dingwall will provide a wide range of facilities that will be available to the whole community.  These include performance space, drama studio, recording studio, integrated community library, gym, games hall, Astroturf pitch with weekend use of many of these facilities being encouraged.  The school also has minibuses that can be made available to communities across the Ward. 
• Two sources of funding for youth related projects was touched on.  LAF (Local Action Fund) and ASB (Anti-social Behaviour Initiatives).   Simon Jeffrey, Area Youth Development Officer talked to the issue.  More information on these funding streams is needed urgently given that funds will have to be spent in this financial year.
• Action Point.  ECS to provide further information on how these initiatives will be met.
• Transport for young people to move around the Ward was highlighted as a key issue.  Kirsten Ferguson, Dingwall Academy and member of Youth Voice, highlighted how young people like herself who live in the country off accessible bus routes find it impossible to take part in events etc without parental transport.  She also highlighted the cost of accessing facilities and the cost of transport if it is available as many young people cannot afford it.  Colin Crag, Ferintosh Community Council, echoed this for the Ward in general and in particular for the area covered by Ferintosh Community Council, and suggested looking at linking transport to specific events.
• Action Point.  Transport issues and the issue of integrated transport to be addressed again at a future Ward Forum and highlighted through any audit of youth service provision.  Then to be taken to TEC Services for discussion on how to improve this for the Ward.
• Final comments. David Macdonald, representing both Dingwall Initiative and Dingwall Community Council, wished to comment positively on the new structure and the Ward Forum as it gave an opportunity to feed into issues at a very local level and also to have awareness raised on topics like youth provision for the Community Council. Martha Chisholm, Muir of Ord community Association wished to make the point that over and over again young people had simply asked for somewhere to go and emphasised again the need for a community facility in Muir of Ord.  Angus Christie, Maryburgh Amenities Association, wished to highlight concerns over the future of Maryburgh Hall. 

Cllr. McLean then drew the meeting to a close and asked the youth representatives to give their final comments.  Andrew Cronie advised that the Youth Voice Conference was forthcoming and that he would be taking many of the issues raised at the Forum forward to that event.  He offered to report back on the conference to a future Forum.  Siannie Moodie thanked the Ward Forum for giving the topic of youth issues such a high profile and priority. 

Date of Next Ward Forum
The next Ward Forum will be held on Tuesday 11th December in the Council Offices in Dingwall at 7.00 p.m.  The topic for discussion will be Planning.