Action Note of Caol and Mallaig (Ward 12)

Lochaber North Ward Forum

held on Tuesday 24 May 2011

Present: Councillors Bill Clark (Chair), Allan Henderson, Eddie Hunter, Bren Gormley; Glengarry Community Council; Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council, 14 members of the public; 1 member of the press

Officials in attendance: Andy Tuckwood (TEC); Jon King (SW); Dot Ferguson (CE); Acting Chief Inspector Dougie Allan; Gill McVicar (NHS)

For Action
Chief Executive’s (CE)
Education, Culture and Sport (ECS)
Finance (F)
Housing and Property (H & P)
Planning and Development (P & D)
Social Work (SW)
TEC

Listed below is the action required as a result of the decisions/discussions taken by the Lochaber North Ward Forum at their meeting held on Tuesday 24 May 2011 in Glengarry Community Hall, Invergarry.

Please arrange to take the required action on the basis of this Action Sheet.

1. Welcome and Apologies – there were no apologies

2. Action sheet from 8 February – noted

3. Community Safety update – Acting Chief Inspector Allan updated the meeting with regard to local issues. Locally staffing changes have seen Chief Inspector John Chisholm promoted to Acting Superintendent with the role of Divisional Commander, Wick in North Division.

Detection rate for crime in Lochaber and Skye is currently sitting at around 60% which is an increase of 2.6% on previous figures. There has also been a reduction in reported crime of 4% over the same period. There have been two convictions relating to the supply of Class A drugs.

It is intended to deploy police resources in a highly visible programme to meet the demands of increased numbers of people in the area and to reduce accidents. The camera van will now be based in Fort William allowing it to be utilised for around 15 days per month throughout Lochaber, instead of the current 2-3 days per month.

4. Planning for Integration for Children’s and Adults Services – Jon King / Gill McVicar – Jon King outlined the background to this change in strategy which will see the Highland Council and NHS integrate their resources to ensure the best outcomes for people who use services and their carers. It is anticipated that there will be significant benefits from integrating services – one budget, one set of decision-makers and one fully integrated team around a child, adult or family who is receiving care or support. Such a team can work more effectively together, responding more quickly, than two separate organisations.

This model (referred to as the Lead Agency Model) provides the basis for this joint working. This means that the two organisations will jointly agree what children’s and adult services are required and what outcomes are sought – and both will be accountable for this. Both organisations will agree what resources they will bring to the partnership and these will be combined into pooled budgets. They will each report regularly to the other on performance. Similar models are working successfully elsewhere, such as in Torbay and North East Lincolnshire. In terms of timescale, there will be further consultation between now and April 2012 when it is hoped to begin to implement the model.

It is also hoped to have Local Partnerships (likely to be one for Lochaber) which would bring together community representatives, Elected Members, users and carers, service managers etc. They would effectively be a one-stop shop for issues about services to children or adults.

Some discussion followed regarding this proposal. Most concern centred around provision of patient transport which is very limited in the Invergarry area. It was explained that while there are a number of providers of transport including the Scottish Ambulance Service, voluntary car schemes, NHS use of taxis etc that this model should hopefully provide the format to allow a solution to be found. However, there is also increased interest in provision of community delivery models where there may be a different solution in each community.

In response to a question re care at home, it was reinforced that this new model would ensure that the appropriate care was in place at the right time.

Before concluding this item, the majority of those present did indicate their support for the proposed integration.

5. Rural Skip Service – Andy Tuckwood outlined the reasons behind the withdrawal of the rural skip service. In addition to the necessity to reduce costs, the over-riding factor is the need to reduce landfill and move towards achieving recycling targets set by the Scottish Government.

In discussion, the following questions/issues were raised:

- why can a skip not be provided just for garden waste, as Spean Bridge etc does not benefit from the brown bin service? – cost would be too great for just garden waste
- how much is the skip collection just for Invergarry ? AT to confirm
- why was no-one notified re withdrawal of the skip service until just before it happened? – it was acknowledged that this could have been done at an earlier stage
- withdrawal of this service is likely to increase fly-tipping, as will charging for special collections – considered unlikely as those who would normally go to the trouble of taking something to the skip are unlikely to fly-tip instead. Local Members indicated their belief that charging will increase fly-tipping and pointed out that this decision is to be reviewed by TECS Committee at some point.
- why can’t all fly-tipping statistics be gathered centrally rather than being split between TECS and H&P services? – this is because they have been measured in different ways, where fly-tipping on eg. housing estates has been treated as special collection
- existing skips and skip lorry is fully utilised servicing the Small Isles and the Recycling Centre in Fort William.
- The proposed community project in Lochaline was highlighted as a way of communities helping themselves although it was acknowledged that there were still matters to be resolved.

6. AOCB – ward discretionary budget – the spend for 2010/11 was circulated and all present encouraged to apply at an early stage for the 2011/12 discretionary budget if local projects require funding.

Public Q & A

Drainage / Resurfacing works to Garry Crescent – this was due to be resurfaced after Scottish Water had completed their works. The SW works are now complete and resurfacing and works to drainage now need to be carried out to alleviate the flooding being suffered in Garry Crescent, as well as surface water coming across the A87 from the school. Various explanations were given as to why the drainage is not working properly. It was agreed that Cllr Clark would arrange a site meeting as soon as possible involving Transerv and HC TECS to finally identify and deal with the problem. It was also agreed that Transerv should be asked about the faulty street lighting at the same meeting.

South Laggan public water supply- a request was received to put more pressure on Scottish Water for the provision of a public water supply to South Laggan. Cllr Clark informed the meeting that he had written several times, but that SW have always indicated that the cost is too high at the current time. However, he undertook to write to them again.

Stagecoach buses – it was suggested that Stagecoach should be invited to a future ward forum to discuss the poor state of their buses

Invergarry school house – enquiry was made about what the Council intends to do with the school house, which has been empty for some time. Cllr Hunter undertook to find out and respond asap.

Biomass Plant – the developer of the proposed biomass plant has appealed against the refusal. Members explained that this will now go to the Planning Review Committee.