Eilean a’ Cheo (Ward 11) – Forum Meeting

Columba 1400, Staffin - 27th April 2009

DRAFT ACTION NOTE (For approval at the next meeting on the 29th June 2009)

Attendees:
Councillor Ian Renwick (Chair)
Councillor John Laing
Councillor Drew Millar
Councillor Hamish Fraser
Judith Wallace, Sconser Community Council/ Portree Community Centre
Ian MacLean - Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association
Rodger Cottis Skye & Lochalsh Environmental Group
Una Maclean, Member of the public
Duncan Maclean, Northern Constabulary
Ruaraigh MacNeil, Waternish Community Council
David Ashford, Lochalsh Youth Action Liaison Committee
Sylvia Porter, Staffin Community Council
Catriona Leslie – Portree Community Council
Marie Noble, Broadford and Strath Community Council
Anita Jones, Broadford and Strath Community Council
Moira Macleod, Dunvegan Community Council

Officials in Attendance:
Jan Laing, Ward Manager
Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager

Apologies:
Mrs Turkington, Skye and Lochalsh Access Forum Lachie Macdonald, Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association

Listed below is the action required and the outcomes resulting from discussion at the Eilean a’ Cheò Ward Forum meeting held on the 27th April 2009 at Columba 1400, Staffin

1 Welcome and Introduction

Councillor Renwick welcomed everyone to the Ward Forum Meeting and introduced Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager, The Highland Council

2 Action Note

The action note from the meeting of 2nd of February was noted

3 Matters arising from previous note

Mrs Leslie reported that there is to be a public meeting to discuss the reduction of beds in Portree and Broadford on the 25th May at 7.30 in the Portree Community Centre. The NHS has been invited to attend and anyone with an interest in the issue is encouraged to attend.

4 Presentation - How the Highland Council Works and How to Contact us.

Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager - How it works

5 Community Council Issues

5.1 Sleat has elected a new council following a recent re run of elections.

5.2 A public meeting has taken place in Glendale to discuss the issue of not having a Community Council. Some letters have been received requesting the Highland Council to run an election. The minimum number of signatures required is 20 and that hasn’t been achieved as yet.

5.3 There is a public meeting planned for Braes in June

6. Ward Discretionary Budget Update

It was noted that at the Ward Business Meeting earlier in the day, elected members had considered 9 applications to the Ward Discretionary Budget.

The details of the applications could not be made public until applicants had been advised of the outcome, however it was noted that three applications were approved, four didn’t meet the criteria, one was part approved and one was deferred.

Details of the awards will be reported to the next Forum meeting

7. Public question and answer session

7.1 The issue of advertising Ward Forums was raised by Mr Ashford as he hadn’t seen an advert in the Westhighland Free Press.

In response:-

Because of the Easter holidays the deadlines were brought forward which resulted in the advert being in the paper earlier than normal. Also the Council are now required to have composite adverts so that the Ward Forum advert will now appear along with other notices posted by the Highland Council and may not stand out as they used to.

7.2 The issue of moving the Ward Forum around the island was raised by Mrs Leslie. It was suggested that Portree was a good location as people attending the Ward Forum could do other things while they are in the town. The comparatively low turnout to today’s Ward Forum might indicate that moving the Forum around wasn’t working as well as it might.

In response:-

Elected members are committed to moving the Forum to different parts of the island. It was felt that the issue may be to do with the subject matter rather than where the Forum was held.

It was suggested that a schedule of meetings be made available. It was noted that this had already been circulated but could be resent as a reminder.

7.3 Mr Cottis raised an issue in relation to wildlife mitigation and roads development.

BC agreed to look into the issue on behalf of Mr Cottis.

8. AOB

Forum members were asked to complete and return the equalities forms that were handed out

9 Date of Next Meeting

Monday 29th June at 7.30pm in Tigh Na Sgire, Portree