Action notes - Ward Forum - Eilean a'Cheo (Ward 11)
Meeting held on 9th June 2008
Agenda
Attendees:
Councillor Drew Millar (Chair)
Councillor Ian Renwick
Councillor Sandy Park, Convener, Highland Council
Alistair Dodds, Chief Executive, Highland Council
Lachie MacDonald, Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association
John Darcy, Northern Constabulary
Ian MacLean, Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association
N Campbell, PCC
Mike Taylor, Kyleakin & Kylerhea Community Council
Les Downes, Staffin Community Council
Mark Smith, Transerv
Councillor John Laing
Councillor Hamish Fraser
Councillor Jean Urquhart, Vice Convener, Highland Council
Chrisanne MacDonald, Skye & Lochalsh CVO
Duncan MacLean, Northern Constabulary
R MacNeill, Waternish Community Council
Catriona Leslie, Portree Community Council
Aileane MacKinnon, Portree Community Council
Bill Peppe, Minginish Community Council
Michael Russell, West Highland Free Press
A C Gilmour, DOS
Officials in Attendance
Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager
Debbie Maguire, Leader Development officer
Ann MacDonald, Waste
Jan Laing, Ward Manager
George Speed, TECs
Gordon Fyfe, Public Relations Manager
Apologies:
Robert Muir, HIE Skye & Wester Ross
Listed below is the action required and the outcomes resulting from discussion at the Eilean a’ Cheò Ward Forum meeting on 9th June 2008 held at Tigh Na Sgire, Portree.
1.0 Welcome and Introduction
Councillor Renwick introduced the Convener of Highland Council Mr Sandy Park, Vice Convener Mrs Jean Urquhart, Chief Executive Mr Alistair Dodds and Corporate Manager Mr Bob Cameron.
Mr Park addressed the Forum and explained that this delegation from Highland Council were commited to visiting Wards within the Highland Council Area and that this is the 6th visit that has been made to date. Mr Park expressed how pleased the delegation were to be on Skye and attending this afternoons Ward Forum and to visit the new development at Sabhal Mor Ostaig and phase five of the Broadford/ Armadale road improvement so far in the visit. Other visits arranged include the new Portree School, Columba 1400 and the new housing development at Home Farm.
2.0 The action note from the meeting of 28th April was noted
3.0 Presentation from Colin Clark Head of Waste Management
The following main points were noted:
The Waste Management Team are based in Dingwall. Anne MacDonald is the Waste Management contact on Skye.
A Waste education officer is to be appointed soon.
There are challenging recycling targets of 70% recycling by 2025. This will require significant behavioural change through a programme of education.
The Council will be providing an additional bin into which all cans, plastic and cardboard will go. This bin will be emptied once a month with residual household waste collection remaining the same. The bins won’t be available until mid November as the company supplying them are having a supply/demand issue.
The recycling programme will be targeted at domestic households in the first instance.
4.0 Mark Smith, Area Manager, Transerve
The following main points were noted:
Varrigal phase 3 is on track and on budget.
Resurfacing North of Moll Junction to Sligachan will take place hopefully this year.
The budget has been cut but should be better next year.
Other planned work includes road patching at Clunie & Glenshiel and drainage in Uig
In response to a question from the Forum regarding utility companies working together to minimise traffic disruption, Mark Smith explained that notices do go out to statutory authorities notifying them of the work to be carried out and offering to incorporate other planned work.
Cllr Laing drew attention to the fact that A87 bus stop arrangements for Breakish village needs to be reinstated. Mark Smith agreed to follow up this matter
A representative from Portree Community Council raised the issue of the reduction in lay byes and the implications for anglers. Catriona Leslie is to contact Mark Smith as regards this matter.
5.0 Leader Programme overview
Debbie Maguire, Leader Development Officer gave a comprehensive overview of the new Leader programme.
The following main points were noted;
The Leader Programme will be delivered through the Highland Leader Local Action Group (LAG) which consists of a strategic LAG and local area partnerships (LAPs)
Local Area Partnerships will provide the local focus for the new LEADER programme and it will be there job to co-ordinate and implement a local development plan for their area, work with local groups to identify opportunities offered through LEADER and other funding streams, promote the programme across the area, call for submission of project applications, consider and make recommendations on applications seeking grant assistance and ensure wider community involvement.
The LEADER Programme themes are:
Development planning and community capacity building
Social Enterprise and Micro Businesses
Tourism
Renewables
Training and Learning Opportunities
Access to activities, facilities and services
Land, environment and access
Culture and heritage
The issue of cross boundary projects within Skye and Lochalsh will be carefully considered
Updates regarding the Leader Programme will be made at future Ward Forum Meetings
6.0 Portree Community Council - Notified Question
'Who in Highland Council has responsibility for landscaping and what can the Council supply in terms of materials, equipment and plants (if,as it is thought, HC has its own a nursery in Inverness) for Community Councils in the Region? In connection with this, what funding is available for village officers in the current year and what is envisaged for the future?'
The follow response was noted
- The Council do have a nursery in Inverness but plants are bought in and grown on. The nursery does not supply Community Councils.
- The Council do not have a statutory responsibility to provide plants and landscaping throughout the village but TEC service may be able to offer some support in terms of bags, gloves and transportation of materials.
- Contact should be made with TEC services to get a clear picture of the work they undertake around the village.
- Syke and Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations offered assistance in identifying and applying for appropriate funding with the Community Council.
Supplementary Question:
Is there any clarification available regarding Community benches in respect of the following:
- Are the Council responsible for erecting and maintaining them or does this lie with Community Councils
- What is the position regarding the installation and ongoing maintenance of memorial benches?
Firm advice will be provided to Community Councils as soon as is practicable.
This advice will also be reported back through the Ward Forum
7.0 Community Council Elections
- Concern was expressed about the Community Council elections. The following points were noted:
- It was felt that the guidance made available by Highland Council was unclear in respect of who could propose and second nominations
- The nomination forms did not have guidance notes on them
- Asking Community Councils to identify their own Returning Officer was unreasonable in a small community and this should be done by Council staff.
Alistair Dodds apologised on behalf of the Council and reassured the Forum that the matter would be investigated.
8.0 Ward Discretionary Budget Update
Following a review of operation of the Ward budget, elected members had agreed the following:
Village officer funding will be ring fenced within the Discretionary Budget
Three Awards of up to £10,000 will be made annually
There will be two funding rounds a year, not a rolling programme. The funding rounds will be advised in the local press and through existing networks and contacts
Smaller awards will be made up to £2,000 per organisation in any given financial year
It is likely that the budget will be targeted on specific themes in the future
Priority will be given to projects which can demonstrate they have match funding in place
No decisions on funding will be made until the Leader programme is established as this funding could be used as match funding for the Leader programme.
Further updates will be made at the Ward Forum Meetings
9.0 Any other Business
Chrisanne MacDonald raised the issue of transport and asked that Mr David Summers could attend the next Ward Forum meeting in order to address some issues.
Mr Lachie MacDonald, Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association raised the following issues:
What arrangements have the Council made to secure the land required to enable the link to be made from the Association’s new distributor road at Home Farm and Staffin Road, and can the Council confirm when the funding for the proposed link road has been earmarked within the Council’s Capital Development Programme?
Councillor Laing agreed to pursue the answers to these questions with relevant officers and confirm the position to the Association.
Les Downes, Staffin Community Council raised the issue of response times for correspondence from Councillors. Alistair Dodds explained that Council Staff have a 10 day response time but that elected members are not bound by the same timescale
10.0 Date of next meeting
Monday 11 August 2008 AT 7.30PM Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane, Portree