Action Notes of  Ward Forum held on 30 August 2007 at 6.00 pm in Culbokie Primary School

Agenda

Action Notes of  Ward Forum held on 30 August 2007 at 6.00 pm in Culbokie Primary School.

Present: Councillors, David Alston (Chair), Isobel McCallum,  Billy Barclay, Craig Fraser, Donna Haldane, Resolis Community Council, Gwyn Philips, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council, James Cornwall, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council, Anne Short, Cromarty and District Community Council, Douglas McPhee, Cromarty and District Community Council, Mike Wilson, Avoch and Killen Community Council, Hamish Gatt, Knockbain Community Council,  Owen Smith, Knockbain Community Council, Joy Winnick, Ferintosh Community Council, Hamish MacCulloch, Ferintosh Community Council, Kurtis Toy, Youth Representative, Inspector Pamela Ross, Northern Constabulary and Chief Inspector Paul Eddington, Northern Constabulary.

Officials in attendance: Diane Agnew, Ward Manager (HC/Chief Executive’s), Jim Tolmie, Jim Yuill, David Summers (HC/TEC Services).

Apologies: Killearnan Community Council, Susan Russell (NHS), Bob Cameron (HC)

For Action:

Item 3
Adoption of National Standards of Community Engagement adopted.
ACTION: All to work to those standard.

Item 4
Background to Ward Forum
Purpose:
a. Act as forum to raise issues of concern
b. Resolve these issues or refer them appropriately
c. Scrutinise local Council delivery and performance
d. Consultative forum
e. Engage communities to help them make choices
f. Promote and encourage Community Safety
g. Update the Ward Profile /yourcouncil/yourward/ward10/
h. Rationalise the various community consultations
i. Enable Elected Members to reflect local concerns at strategic committees
ACTION: All to note.

Topics and  for future Ward Forums
It was agreed that suggestions for future topics/agenda items for the Ward Forum should be submitted to the Ward Manager diane.agnew@highland.gov.uk (01349 868477) two weeks prior to the Ward Forum.

ACTION:  ALL members of Ward Forum and Ward Manager

Dates, times and locations for future e Ward Forums
Date:  Thursday 25 October 2007 @ 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Venue: Culbokie Primary School
Topic:  Services for Older Adults

Date:  Thursday 13 December 2007 @ 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Venue: Culbokie Primary School
Topic:  Roads and Transport (TEC Services)

ACTION: All to note and Ward Manager to put arrangements in place. Ward Forum to review suitability of timing of meetings in December 2007.
ACTION TO DATE: Noted.  Culbokie Primary School booked – main hall, side room area.

Item 5
Community Safety
ACTION: Inspector Pamela Ross to give community safety updates to the Ward Forums with crime statistics for the Black Isle Ward.
ACTION TO DATE:   Inspector Pamela Ross will be in attendance at Forum on 25 October 2007 and will give report on stats.

Item 6
Public Transport and Transport Related Issues
ACTION: Ward Manager/David Summers to arrange for presentation by David Summer, Transport Development Officer to be put on ward web site /yourcouncil/yourward/ward10/ along with web links for Hi Trans, 
/yourenvironment/roadsandtransport/publictransport/ and winter edition travel line leaflet and useful telephone numbers.
ACTION TO DATE:  Link now in place for Dial a Bus.
ACTION: David Summers (HC)/Stage Coach note the difficulties faced in the Black Isle in recent weeks with resultant missed appointments by members of the public due to the scheduled bus not running as advertised.
ACTION TO DATE: David Summers has met with Stage Coach.  Steps taken to minimise diversions to scheduled bus to ensure that it runs to time.  David highlighted the frustrations expressed.  David Summers has also reported back to Weekly Business Meeting with Local Members on actions taken and discussed future way forward options for Dial a Bus on the Black Isle/scheduled bus.
 ACTION: David Summers (HC)/Stage Coach) to ensure that administration and marketing of the Dial a Bus service is reviewed and improved. Consideration being given to reviewing  standards clause.
ACTION TO DATE: David Summers met with Stage Coach.  THC offered to hold training session with the admin staff who take bookings.
ACTION: David Summers (HC)/Stage Coach to ensure that the scheduled bus service continues as advertised and is not affected by the Dial a Bus service.
ACTION TO DATE:  David Summers met with Stage Coach and then fed back to Local Members at Weekly Business Meeting.  Following discussion it was agreed that Chair of Forum would take item back to Forum.
• What is the feeling of the Forum on the number of scheduled bus days per week and pattern vs the no of dial a bus days?
• The acceptable mileage to deviate from scheduled bus route for dial a bus – suggestion was about one mile?
• ACTION: David Summers (HC)/Stage Coach to ensure a training session is put in place for staff taking bookings for Dial a Bus
ACTION TO DATE: David Summers met with Stage Coach who are giving further training to their admin staff.  THC offered to hold a training session with the admin staff who take bookings.
ACTION: David Summers (HC) to provide Ward Manager (for Ward Forum) with statistics on first three months’ usage of Dial a Bus service.
ACTION TO DATE: David Summers to supply the usage stats to Ward Manager by 11 October 2007.  David currently liaising with Stage Coach – Stats should be available for next Forum 25 October 2007.

Item 7
Ward Discretionary Budget
ACTION: ALL to note and Black Isle Ward Discretionary Budget Forms available on the ward web site or contact Local Members or Ward Manager diane.agnew@highland.gov.uk  or phone 01349 868477.
ACTION TO DATE: Ward Discretionary budget forms and notes now available on the Ward web site.

Item 8
Additional Item – Highland LEADER (2007 – 2013) Consultation
ACTION: Ward Manager to circulate briefing paper and questionnaire to Community Councils interested individuals and groups. 

ACTION: All to return completed questionnaire to Ward Manager before end of September 2007 (completed individually or as Community Council/ group).
ACTION TO DATE: Completed feedback forms have been submitted to Nicola Wallace, North Highland Leader Programme.
Public Question Time
Concerns raised re scheduled buses not running on time due to the Dial a Bus resulting in missed appointments including medical and interviews.
ACTION: (As above) David Summers (HC) to meet with StageCoach and to ensure clear instruction to Contractor (StageCoach) that scheduled buses must run on time as publicised.
ACTION TO DATE: David Summers has met with Stage Coach on 7 September 2007 and reported back to Ward Members at Weekly Business Meeting.  Scheduled buses now running as publicised.
Community Safety – frustrations raised when cyclist ride on pavements – danger and risk particularly to elderly adults.
ACTION: Northern Constabulary/ALL Although Police cannot be everywhere they can take action (preferably with two witnesses but this is not essential) to in retrospect if incident reported.  Report incidents to Police.
ACTION TO DATE:  Noted.
Community Safety – Inverness Railway Station – A problem was highlighted that postal workers in particular are cycling through the Railway Station and causing danger to the public.
ACTION: Inspector Pamela Ross, Northern Constabulary to refer this to Inverness Area Commander.
ACTION TO DATE: Inspector Pamela Ross has referred to Inverness Area Commander.

Community Safety – Speed Limits and speeding through Villages on Black Isle
ACTION: Highland Council and Northern Constabulary to look at speed limits/compliance with criteria.
ACTION: Inspector Pamela Ross, Northern Constabulary  to have programme of speed check on Black Isle when resources are available.
ACTION TO DATE: Inspector Pamela Ross has organised speed checks on the Black Isle.

Community Safety – Safer Routes to Schools – Speed Calming Facility in Culbokie – Electronic Sign
ACTION: Highland Council/Northern Constabulary/ALL – to monitor how effective the signs and traffic calming are.
ACTION TO DATE: A survey is to be undertaken by Safer Routes to School (HC) and it is agreed that Lisa MacKellach Safer Routes to Officer will feedback results to Ward Manager/Local Members.

Education: Avoch Primary School – Avoch Parent Council representative voiced concerns with the level of the school roll dropping below the threshold figures re staffing formula and subsequent loss of teaching staff.
ACTION: Local Members/Area Education Culture and Sport Manager to meet up on Thursday, 5 September 2007 with Avoch Parent Council representatives.
ACTION TO DATE: Meeting took place on 5 September 2007.

Safer Routes to School – Culbokie Village Traffic Calming – concerns raised by resident following traffic calming and in particular sign being placed in front of window without prior consultation.
ACTION: Jim Yuill, Highland Council/Ward Manager to contact Safer Routes to Schools Section to review siting of sign and to improve consultation for future schemes. Safer Routes Travel Plan to be attached to the Action Note. (See Appendix  I).   Query raised on progress on 20 mph speed limit proposals at Schools.  Update on proposals  to be attached to Action Note.  (See Appendix II) 
ACTION TO DATE: Sign now resited.  THC accept need to improve consultation re future travel plans.  Jim Yuill met with Safer Routes to School Officer.