Eilean a’ Cheo (Ward 11) – Forum Meeting
7th November 2011 Kyleakin Hall
Attendees:
Councillor Hamish Fraser (Chair)
Councillor Ian Renwick
Inspector Duncan MacLean, Northern Constabulary
Chrisanne MacDonald, S&L CVO
Catriona Leslie, Portree Community Council
David Ashford
Michael Russell
Janet Bowen, Lord Lieutenant
Bill Peppe, Vice Lord Lieutenant
Iain MacLean, LSHA
Caroline Gould, Broadford & Strath Community Council
Hector MacLeod, Sconser Community Council
Sue Lyons, Kyleakin Community Council
Craig Glenwright, Kyleakin Community Council
Officials in Attendance:
Liz Cowie, Ward Manager, Chief Executive Service
Fay MacRae, Chief Executive Service
Mervin James, Social Work
Mark Crowe, TEC’s
George Speed, TEC’s
Joanna Hynd, Social Work
Apologies:
Cllr John Laing
Cllr Drew Millar
Joan Turkington
Listed below is the action required and the outcomes resulting from discussion at the Eilean a’ Cheò Ward Forum held on the 7th November 2011 at Kylekin Hall.
1 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Councillor Fraser welcomed everyone to the Ward Forum Meeting and introduced the Councillors and speakers.
2 ACTION NOTE & MATTERS ARISING
The action note from the meeting of 8th August was noted and approved.
3 COMMUNITY SAFTEY - INSPECTOR MACLEAN
The Inspector advised that the Scottish Government are consulting on reform of the police service to create one single police force.
The next meeting of the reform team is scheduled for 25th November 2011. The new structure could be in place within the next 18 months (April 2013)
The Deputy Chief constable for Northern Constabulary Ralph Noble has given assurances that the police numbers will stay the same for Skye and Lochalsh.
Local officers will be carrying out a “Get ready for Winter” campaign so will be stopping and checking vehicles and giving advice and guidance for the forthcoming winter conditions.
There has been a high rate of thefts of scrap metal across the Highlands including the theft of a cattle grid locally. The public are urged to contact the police or crime stoppers if they see any vehicles acting suspiciously.
The area has a dedicated Wildlife Crime Officer, Constable Fraser. There has been no increase in wildlife crime.
4 LUNCH CLUBS – MERVIN JAMES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
The meal subsidy provided by the HC for lunch clubs is ceasing from December 2011 so MJ is helping lunch clubs become more independent.
Broadford Lunch Club – Meets weekly, is already Independent and is run from the Mustard Seed Community Cafe in the village hall (which is supported by both the Free Church and the Church of Scotland).
CG raised the issue regarding the lack of wheelchair access to the Broadford village hall. MJ noted CG’s concern and offer to liaise with her on the issue of accessibility.
Carbost Lunch Club – Meets weekly in a local hotel. There will be slight price increase in the cost of meals. Keen to continue, but the main issue seems to be transport.
Dornie & Inverinate – Meets weekly in the local hall and has over 20 members. Meals are provided by the local school. If the membership continues to rise then there could become an issue with transport in the long term.
Dunvegan Lunch Club – Meets fortnightly in the Old School Restaurant. It has over 20 members and is going well. It is supported locally by the Trust.
Plockton Lunch Club – Meets fortnightly in the Plockton Hotel. Membership has fallen recently down to about 10. MJ is working with them to include other options and increase membership.
Portree Lunch Club – Meets weekly in the Royal Hotel it has about 20 members there has been an increase in meal costs when the subsidy was removed in July. There is an issue with transportation volunteers are using there own cars along with the SCVO mini bus.
CM from L&S SCVO raised the issue of the Community Transport grant being cut. MJ and CM agreed to work together to look at possible solutions to the transport issues.
CM also asked why the hotel is still paying Social Work for lunches. MJ agreed to look into this. It could possibly be due to the subsidy not being removed yet.
Sleat Lunch Club – Meets weekly in the Ardvasar Hotel and has about 25 members. They are working closely with the trust and have a good team of volunteers.
Staffin Lunch Club – Meets monthly in Columba 1400 who provide good value meals and transport. Columba 1400 has offered to run it fortnightly and this is being considered by members.
Waternish Lunch Club – Meets fortnightly in the Stein Inn. Membership is falling as it is not seen as an attractive option by some younger older people.
Raasay Lunch Club – Meets monthly and has transferred from the day care centre to the village hall. It has over 20 members.
Kilmuir Lunch Club – Many members now attend the Staffin lunch club instead.
MJ is looking to encourage lunch clubs to use school meals where they are available.
Cllr HF introduced Joanna Hynd the Community Care Manager form Social Work to the Ward Forum members.
5 JANET BOWEN LORD LIEUTENANT – THE QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE 2012
Janet Bowen thanked the HC for inviting her to the Ward Forum. JB was appointed to the Lieutenancy in 2007 and took over from Roderick Stirling.
The Lord Lieutenant is the Queens representative in the area which is based on the old ‘shire’ boundaries. The role of the Lord Lieutenant has developed since the 14th Century and includes military aspects, education, industry and the voluntary sector. The Lieutenancy also has the responsibility for Royal visits.
The Main celebration for the Queens Diamond Jubilee will take place on the 1st weekend in June 2012 with a National Holiday. On Sunday the 3rd of June there is to be a river pageant on the Thames with boats from all over the world The Lord Lieutenant is sending a skiff from Ullapool. On the bank holiday Monday there are to be a street parties, and a concert held in Buckingham Palace, with celebration beacons to be lit around the country. The public are being encouraged to participate in local celebrations whether it is street parties, planting trees, parties in schools or lighting beacons. The public are encouraged to take part and celebrate.
Cllr HF thanked the Lord Lieutenant and Vice Lord Lieutenant for attending.
6 WINTER MAINTENANCE – MARK CROWE
Mark Crowe is the Area Community Works Manager for TEC services based in Portree. He is responsible for road maintenance, street sweeping, toilets, burials and winter maintenance.
The Highland Council has 6,711km of adopted road in the highlands with 120 routes and gritters. Skye has 760km of road with 13 routes and gritters. The HC are not responsible for the main trunk road, the A87
Listed below are the gritting routes and the priority levels of the routes. Roads are gritted between 1st of October and the 30th of April if required.
Priority 1 - ‘A’ class roads e.g. Sleat, Dunvegan, Borve, Trotternish
Priority 2 - Service bus routes gritted by 9am
Priority 3 - School bus routes (min 9 seats) gritted by 9am
Priority 3 - All other adopted roads as permitted.
The HC has 3 pavement gritters - but can only carry out work on the pavements next to the trunk road if requested by Transerve.
MC advised that if the HC have 63,000 tonnes of salt in the HC own supplies with a further 14,000 tonnes stored in Inverness harbour which is available for the whole of the Highlands. The HC are also looking at the possibility of storing salt at Kishorn.
MC advised that Skye is in a fortunate situation as most of the gritting staff live along a route so are able to start gritting straight away at 6am when they start work.
MC also advised that if the NHS or Social Work contacts them with an urgent request they will try and accommodate them.
Chrisanne Mac Donald asked who is responsible for gritting Bayfield car park in Portree, MC advised that the HC are responsible for gritting it when the village is completed.
7 PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Catriona Leslie raised the issue of the school transport contracts and asked if Stagegcoach have lost some of the school transport runs which were also used to provide service runs.
Cllr HF advised that there is now a two week cooling of period for the contracts. Members have asked the Transport Manager for an update as soon as it becomes available so they can inform the public.
CL stated that she felt the Community Council elections were poorly advertised by the Highland Council especially for the 16/17 year olds.
CM asked what will happen to the Community Councils that have not formed and what will happen to their funds?
LC advised that she is awaiting guidance from the Chief Executive on the Community Councils that have not formed and will advise CM as soon as the guidance is received.
Mike Taylor raised the issue of public parking at the pier in Kyleakin. Until recently Robbie the Pict’s campaign bus has been parked at the pier - but has now moved to the nearby car park in the village and is very unsightly.
MC advised that if the bus is road legal and has road tax the HC are unable to take any action. A Road Traffic Order can be created limiting parking to a maximum of 24hrs but this would apply to all vehicles in the area including local residents who use the pier for parking.
Cllr HF advised the new Community Council, when formed, to speak to local residents to see if they would be happy with a RTO with a maximum waiting of say 24hrs for the pier and if there are no objections from local residents, Cllr HF and MC would be happy to take this forward. If there are any objections to the draft order this could prevent the order from being made.
7 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Monday 5th March 2012 Tign na Sgire, Portree 2pm