Aird and Loch Ness Ward Forum
Action Note of Ward Forum held on 30th January, 2008, at the Phipps Hall, Beauly at 7.30pm p.m.
Attendees
Cllr Margaret Davidson – (Chair)
Cllr Helen Carmichael
Cllr Hamish Wood
Chief Inspector Ian Cox – Northern Constabulary
Francis McWilliams – Inverness South Community Council
James Campbell – Beauly Community Council
Seona Fraser – Beauly Community Council
B Maxwell – Beauly Community Council
A Gould – Beauly Community Council
C Crawford – Kirkhill Community Council
K Young – Kirkhill Community Council
E Hogg – Kirkhill Resident
Hamish Douglas – Kiltarlity Community Council
N Grant – Kiltarlity Community Council
D Ward – Kiltarlity Community Council
H MacLennan – Kiltarlity Community Council
Ken Knott – Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Council
Molly Doyle – Strathglass Community Council
T Dunn – Strathglass Community Council
J Martin – Dores & Essich Community Council
Jess Christman – Servite Housing Association
V Sweeney – Inverness Courier
David Haas – City Manager, Highland Council
David Polson – Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area Planning & Building Standards Manager, Planning & Development Service, Highland Council
Malcolm MacLeod – Development Plans Manager, Planning & Development Service, Highland Council
Murray Cochrane – Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area Housing & Property Manager, Housing & Property Services, Highland Council
Paul Brown – Housing Development Officer, Housing and Property Services, Highland Council
Fiona Duffy, Ward Manager – Aird & Loch Ness Ward, Highland Council
Nikki Gilbert – Partnership for Rural Inverness
Members of the public:
J.S Russell – Beauly
G Macaulay – Dunmore
A Dennis – Beauly
Mr & Mrs Lowe – Beauly
D Cameron – Inverness
Mr & Mrs Chisholm – Beauly
Mr Workman – Kiltarlity
Plus 5 other Ward residents
Apologies:
Cllr Drew Hendry
Cris Ford – Head Teacher, Kirkhill Primary School
Margaret Matheson – Head Teacher, Beauly Primary
Russell Thomson – Highland Waterways
Graham Robertson – Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue
Agenda
1. Welcome, Apologies & Introductions – Cllr Margaret Davidson
2. Community Safety Update – Chief Inspector Ian Cox
Chief Inspector Cox outlined the modern challenges associated with policing in the area, along with current structures and ways of working.
He confirmed that Northern Constabulary is assessing its physical assets and referred to provision in Cannich and Drumnadrochit as current examples. However, he stressed the fact that the community would be consulted on proposals for change and that the service and Officer presence would not be lost from the area.
Chief Inspector Cox went on to update on activities underway since the last Ward Forum, which was held in Dores in October 2007. He confirmed that there is now a project between the police and the children from Aldourie Primary to encourage motorists to slow down, and that similar model will be trialled in Invergarry.
For information: Beauly Police Station opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Officers are in the building when not out on patrol but contact can always be made through the main Northern Constabulary phone number - 01463 715555.
Action: Ward Manager to arrange meeting between Northern Constabulary and Highland Council to discuss community involvement in proposals for future policing in Cannich.
3. Housing In Our Ward
David Polson (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Planning & Building Standards Manager, Planning & Development Service) and Malcom MacLeod (Development Plans Manager, Planning & Development Service) gave a brief outline of their roles, which included discussion around the following themes
Changes in national planning policies
Local plan review and provision for ward 13
Land availability for affordable housing as well as standard housing development
Facilities and services for development – planning for communities and community consultation/engagement
Developer contributions
Murray Cochrane (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Housing and Property Manager, Housing and Property Services) and Paul Brown (Housing Development Officer, Housing and Property Services) gave a brief outline of their roles, which included discussion around the following themes
Local Housing Strategy
The Highland Council Programme for the Administration commitments
The Highland Housing Register – launched today
Current Highland Council housing stock and ward 13 stats
Sheltered housing provision
Disabled housing provision
Working with housing associations and other providers
Advice and support to local organizations on housing issues
Identifying and buying suitable sites for affordable housing provision
Q: Developers consulting with Communities?
A: Currently developers need to consult with Communities for developments of 100 houses or more. Highland Council will make representation to Scottish Government to have this threshold lowered, however indications are that it wont be changed. However, Highland Council always suggest that the developer consult with the community before putting in their planning applications.
Q: Average house no longer affordable? Ratio of affordable housing needs to be considered when considering planning applications. In England it is 2 affordable plots for every house being built. Can the numbers of affordable housing be reviewed?
A: Any development of 10 houses or more has to have 25% affordable. New change – on any development of 4 or more and questions of increasing the threshold from 25% to 33%?
Q: Housing in the Countryside.
A: This policy is under review. Policy is there to avoid proliferation of housing and making best use of the services. Will be looking at particular developed housing in the countryside and reporting back to the Members in August. As part of the review will look at developments, planning checks and enforcement. New legislation – developers will have to inform Planning upon commencement and completion of their build in order to get their permission signed off. Fines will be in place where permissions have not been stuck to.
Action: If anyone is not sure that the planning permission is being adhered to then you should talk to your Councillors or phone 720000 and ask for the Planning Department.
Q: Affordable Housing not necessarily for local people.
A: The points system is being changed and those with a strong local connection will get more points.
Action: Beauly Community Council to get someone from TECS, who has knowledge about Flooding issues, to come to a Community Council meeting, as well as Albyn Housing who have said that they have an engineering solution to the flooding problem.
Action: Housing Needs Assessment in Cannich and Local Plan review – Community Council
Q: Housing allocation?
A: Needs based. Points system.
Action: Murray Cochrane to look into two empty houses in Cannich and report back to Molly Doyle – Community Council.
Q: Application for 35 houses – 25 for purchase and 10 affordable – where the affordable are built together are you not stigmatising people?
A: Issue of affordable housing in one place within a development.
Action: Needs to be discussed with Highland Council Officers.
Homestake – something that comes between buying and renting. You can put in 51-81% and the housing association will retain 9-49% of market value.
Action: Homestake Leaflets to be sent out to Community Councils - Paul Brown.
Action: Community Councils need to think about doing a Housing Needs Assessment in their area, particularly with regard to housing for the elderly.
Action: Individual Community Councils can invite Members or Housing/Planning Officers to come to the meetings to give more detailed and relevant information to their particular area.
Q: Road Maintenance Croiarg Road
Action: Community Council to phone into TECS for it to be dealt with.
Q: Verges/drainage/grass cutting
A: New administration is putting in £1million to deal with these issues.
Action: If there are particular problems then contact your Member or phone direct (first point of contact) 720000 (Customer Response System) to report specific problem.
Q: Why does it take so long to allocate affordable housing?
A: Average 8 weeks. If the house needs major work doing on it then it will take longer. Relevant checks also need to take place i.e. electric, gas, pests, etc.
4. Date of next meeting
Wednesday 30 April 2008. Theme – Education, venue to be confirmed.
5. Questions from the public
Q: Why are there restrictions on how many dog bags that can be collected from the service points?
Action: Community members to advise Ward Manager of particular needs and of any public buildings in their communities where dog bags could be distributed in addition to the service points.
Q: When are dog bins emptied?
A: Weekly.
Action: Community members should call the main Highland Council number 01463 702000 if there is a specific problem with a particular bin. It will then be logged on the system and dealt with by the relevant officer.
Q: Road gritting issues in various places were discussed
Action: Community Councils must raise and report road issues in relation to gritting and/or poor weather by calling the main Highland Council number 01463 702000
Action: Ward Manager will investigate whether Highland Council Transport, Environmental and Community Services (TECS) has made any changes that have resulted in the poor services this year.