Action notes of Ward Forum held on 25 October 2007 at 6.00 pm in Culbokie Primary School, Culbokie

Agenda

Present:  Councillors David Alston (Chair), Isobel McCallum, Billy Barclay, and Craig Fraser, Donna Haldane, Resolis Community Council, Caroline Eccles and Margaret Leggatt,  Avoch and Killen Community Council, Joy Winnick and Hamish MacCulloch, Ferintosh Community Council,  John MacIntosh, Killearnan Community Council, James Cornwall and Janet Sayer, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council, Anne Short, Cromarty Community Council,  Hamish Gatt and Elaine Jones, Knockbain Community Council, Kurtis Toy, Youth Representative, John Darcy, Area Commander and Inspector Pamela Ross (Northern Constabulary), Sue Scott Dickens and Angela MacDonald, NHS

Officials in attendance: Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager, Ross, Skye and Lochaber (HC/Chief Executives’s), Diane Agnew, Ward Manager (HC/Chief Executive’s), Larry Wilmot, Area Community Care Manager, Ross, Skye and Lochaber (HC/Social Work Services)

For Action:

Item 2

Adoption of National Standards of Community Engagement – reminder of adoption.
ACTION: All - As agreed all to work to those standards.

Item 3

Action Notes from previous Ward Forum
Updated action notes which included actions to date were circulated. 

ACTION: Dial a Bus – Statistics requested: David Summers (HC) to give daily breakdown of useage for three months. Ward Manager to circulate when received to Cromarty, Resolis and Ferintosh Community Councils Dial a Bus.

ACTION: Dial a Bus – Community Councils to feedback to Ward Manager their views on:
 (a) acceptable deviation from scheduled route e.g. (1 mile?)
 (b) no of days for scheduled service vs Dial a Bus

ACTION: Ward Manager to feedback views to Local Members and David Summers.

ACTION: Cllr David Alston and Anne Short, Cromarty Community Council. It was noted that there had been positive feedback on the Dial a Bus service and it was suggested that in order to help publicise the service a good news story should be organised with the press.  Anne Short, Cromarty Community Council to contact a lady from Raddery who was willing to talk about Dial a Bus service and possibly have photo taken.

ACTION: There was a request to extend the service to evening and weekends. Ward Manager to feedback to David Summers.

ACTION: David Summers - Publicity – suggestion to review publicity campaign. Reprint the brochures/flyers.

ACTION: Community Safety – Cycling (Dingwall and Inverness Pedestrian Ways).  It was noted that the Police do not have to witness a situation – it can be reported to them.  Local issues of concern should be taken up with the relevant Community Council.  Ward Manager  to advise relevant Ward/City Managers.

ACTION: Lisa MacKellch to monitor the safer routes to school.  Feedback findings to the Ward Manager and Black Isle Members.

Item 4

Main Topic: Services for Older Adults – Larry Wilmot, Area Community Care Manager, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, Highland Council

Cllr David Alston introduced the topic followed by Larry Wilmot giving a  brief outline of services available through Highland Council’s Social Work Services.   There followed a lively, informative and thought provoking discussion.

ACTION: Ward Manager to make briefing note available on the Web Site. Highland Council Community Care Services

ACTION: Larry Wilmot – recruitment campaign required as Larry Wilmot highlighted the need for more staff locally.   Seek support of local press to run a story on the shortage of carers generally and particularly in Black Isle area.

ACTION: Ward Manager – to send out copies (to all Black Isle Community Councils) of Fair Access to Community Services (A document produced for the public to clarify circumstances in which people will be eligible for a Community Care Assessment) and provide information about services that will meet their assessed needs.

ACTION: Larry Wilmot and all to note – Team Manager for Older Adults should be in place January / February 2008.

ACTION: Sue Scott Dickenson, NHS – to look into the current situation re Prescription Service on the Black Isle and report back via the Ward Manager.

ACTION: ALL to ensure that they promote the use of existing facilities and projects such as Leisure Centres, HealthWays, Green Gym, NHS Projects and Community/Sports Clubs  already in place which promote health thereby encouraging and maintaining healthy lifestyles. 

ACTION: After full discussion aided by Janet Sayer, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council it was agreed that the Forum would like to form a Working Group to focus on Services for Older Adults – to agree where we want to be; and how we get there. 

- Community Councils to notify Ward Manager of names of individuals from the Community Council who would be interested in being part of the Working Group.

- Cllr David Alston (HC), Ward Manager (HC), Larry Wilmot and Alison Phimister (NHS) to meet prior to next Ward Forum.

- At next Ward Forum to agree suitable date, time and venue for the Working  Group to meet up to take forward.

Item 5

Community Safety

Inspector Pamela Ross gave a community safety update on the Ward crime statistics.   There were 280 incidents, 62 crimes or offences, 39 detected, 45% were in Fortrose.  Particularly highlighted were the number of road traffic incidents/accidents on the dual carriage way.  It was also reported that there had been 8 incidents of speeding detected in October 2007.

Item 6

Ward Budget

ACTION: A paper on the Black Isle Ward Discretionary Budget Expenditure was circulated.  Ward Manager to place on the Ward web site Black Isle Ward Discretionary Budget Expenditure.  All to note that application forms for discretionary funding are available on the web site. 

Public Question Time
Concerns were raised about the levels of funding to independent village hall committees, particularly since the reduction in the annual running cost grant available through Education, Culture and Sport in 2005/06 – reducing the maximum grant available to £800. 

ACTION: Councillors, David Alston and Isobel McCallum to meet with ECS Officials to discuss a review of support to halls in general.  Black Isle Local Members to discuss at Weekly Business meeting then report back to future Ward Forum.  Community Councils to report back through Ward Manager on any specific immediate issues that a hall committee may be facing – it may be that the Ward Discretionary Budget could assist.

ACTION: Tore Cemetery – Ward Manager, Councillors Billy Barclay and Isobel McCallum and John MacIntosh, Chairman Killearnan Community Council to meet up on site to look at progress made since the Council’s Pest Control Officers recent visits and to look at the fences on the north side.   All to note that new / refurbished gates are on order and should be in place before Christmas funded from the Ward Discretionary Budget.

Item 7

Topics and arrangements for future Ward Forum

It was agreed that the topics for the next two Ward Forums would be:

Date:  Thursday 13 December 2007 @ 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Venue:  Culbokie Primary School
Topic:  Roads and Community Works including Winter Maintenance

Date:  Thursday 21 February 2007 @ 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm (to be confirmed)
Venue:  Culbokie Primary School (to be confirmed)
Topic:  Services for Young People