Inverness West Ward Forum
Charleston Academy
Thursday 19th November 2009, 6.30pm
Attendance
Highland Council
Councillor Pauline Munro– Chair
Councillor Alex Graham
Councillor Alasdair Christie
Sam MacNaughton, Head of Transport & Infrastructure, TEC Services
Bill Maclean, Investigator (Anti Social behaviour Team), Housing and Property Services
Stewart Wardlaw, Ward Manager
British Waterways Scotland
David Lamont, General Manager (Scotland)
Russell Thomson, Waterway Manager – Highlands
Mike Lofts
Northern Constabulary
Chief Inspector Andrew Maclean, Inverness Area Commander
Roger Reid, Muirtown Community Council
Ruth Macleod, Muirtown Community Council
Christine M Forbes, Muirtown Community Council
May Smith, Ballifeary Community Council
Jennifer Laws, Ballifeary Community Council
Audrey MacDonald, Ballifeary Community Council
Barry Kane, Dalneigh and Columba Community Council
Dorothy Fraser, Dalneigh and Columba Community Council
Iain Milne, Sea Scouts
Eileen McGarry
A Tarif
P Grant
Item 1. Review of the Canal Bridge Opening Times Protocol
British Waterways Scotland confirmed that since the new Protocol was introduced (on 1 April 2009) there had been one instance to date when a Canal Bridge was swung opened i.e. not in accordance with the Protocol. 6 formal complaints had been received from Canal users about Bridges not being open to Canal traffic. British Waterways Scotland had responded positively to manage these complaints, from operators of commercial vessels. British Waterways indicated that the Protocol was now at the limit of what could be done to restrict Canal traffic, without causing unreasonable levels of disruption.
The Council’s TEC Services had carried out traffic surveys during the summer peak over the same period as last year. The flows on the A82 at Tomnahurich were slightly up on 2008 while those at Muirtown were static. The A82 increase may in part be attributable to the successful tourist season while Muirtown has predominantly local traffic. The traffic surveys showed that the new protocol was generally being adhered to by the swing bridge operators. No complaints were received about Bridge closures.
There was general agreement that the implementation of the new Protocol had been successful, and that the current arrangements had proved a good compromise between the interests of road and canal users. The Review was therefore complete.
Supplementary
A contract had been awarded to expand the bus real-time information system across Inverness with implementation planned by the Summer of 2010. The supplier is discussing with British Waterways how to provide bridge keepers at Tomnahurich and Muirtown with info on buses that are approaching the Bridges. The information received will inform (but not dictate) Bridge operations outwith the Protocol; if the bridge is about to swing and the operator is aware that there is a bus in a couple of minutes, he or she may delay that swing until after the bus has passed and then let the boat through.
A point was made that it was not possible for Canal users to move boats through both Bridges in one trip around the end of the working day, when the Protocol is in operation. Voluntary org such as the Sea Scouts tend to do this at the end of office hours.
Action – Russell Thomson to discuss operations with Iain Milne of the Sea Scouts
The suggestion was made that boats should be brought closer to the bridges before opening. BWS accepted that this was part of good operational practice.
A question was asked about the BWS policy on asset management and what this might mean for tenants. The Sea Scouts leased their property from BWS on a peppercorn arrangement, and were concerned about potential developments in the area. A final decision on the BWS estate had yet to be made, and the implications for Scotland were not clear.
BWS was a proven supporter of the Sea Scouts and their activities in Muirtown Basin, as illustrated by the slipway which was constructed at a cost of £50k. Highland Council had long supported the Sea Scouts, and the local Development Plan should take into account established activities in the area. The Sea Scouts were encouraged to formulate their position, and to contribute to the consultation on the Plan. The issue of tenure was appreciated; a lack of tenure might undermine funding bids to improve the property, as sustainability of any project could not be guaranteed.
Action – David Lamont agreed to ask BWS Head of Property, Katie Hughes, to contact the Sea Scouts for further discussion.
Item 2. Anti-Social Behaviour
During the Summer BWS had noted 21 cases of drivers using the lowered Canal Bridge barriers as a racing track chicane.
The issue of driving motorbikes along the Canal towpaths had elicited a good response from the Northern Constabulary. Recently, one motorbike was seized and crushed. Initiatives to combat dog fouling continued, and the Council’s enforcement officers had issued fines. The combined efforts of the various organisations were very welcome.
Bill Maclean introduced the definition of Anti-social Behaviour as
“Act in a manner that causes or is likely to cause alarm or distress: or pursue a course of conduct that causes or is likely to cause alarm or distress to at least one person not of the same household as them”
The criminal offence of “Breach of the Peace” remained. Chief Inspector Maclean confirmed that this was very much a part of day-to-day policing. About 50% of custodies on an average Friday night would be for Breach of the Peace. The Chief Inspector referred to an increase in dealing with alcohol-fuelled incidents as a key difference between current police work and his own experience in the early 1990s.
The Council’s Anti-social Behaviour Team worked closely with the Northern Constabulary. A Police Officer worked alongside the Team, a post which is funded jointly by Highland Council and Northern Constabulary.
The result of a court case decided the previous day was described, with Anti-social Behaviour Court Orders applied to four individuals. The Orders apply anywhere in Inverness, if the individuals shout, swear or intimidate people.
The City of Inverness accounted for two-thirds of Anti-social Behaviour complaints. There were currently around 400 active cases across Highland. Bill Maclean currently had 19 cases at various stages of investigation, and was managing 13 existing Orders.
There was a general discussion about the relationship of cases of homelessness and housing allocations policy and procedures, to Anti-social Behaviour. The issue was recognised as controversial, and points were made on the crisis of a list of hundreds (currently over 300) of outstanding households to be allocated homes, Tony Blair’s commitment to eradicate homelessness, social engineering in New York and the increasing fragmentation of society.
The discussion moved on to issues raised when Anti-social Behaviour was established. The point was made that proven Anti-social Behaviour should threaten the occupant’s continuing right to tenancy, as should criminal convictions e.g. for drug dealing.
Bill Maclean confirmed that the local authority can consider eviction in such cases. The Chief Inspector confirmed that closure of premises can also be explored, once other processes have been exhausted.
Item 3. Community Safety
Chief Inspector Maclean encouraged people to report any information on criminal behaviour to the Police, and outlined the various routes to do this i.e. calling 999, calling the Area Command office on 715555 and calling Crimestoppers (0800 555 111). Intelligence gathered in this way was often key to a successful conviction.
The Chief Inspector described recent operations in the Blackpark area, following reports from residents about the behaviour of young people. There were no serious incidents and police patrols had a positive response from the young people, who were local and not from other areas. The police would keep a close eye on Blackpark in the run up to Christmas.
The process of applying for a dispersal order was Process akin to the Anti-social Behaviour process. There was a need to demonstrate that all other avenues had been explored to address the problem before an order can be made. This was not applicable to Blackpark. An order was considered in another area of Inverness a couple of years ago, in serious circumstances, but was not eventually applied as the problem was reduced by other means.
A suggestion was made that there might be locked gates on play parks, this was generally viewed as impractical and restrictive.
A comment was made about the lack of places for the young people to gather, and of things to do. The Ward Members have (using the Ward Discretionary Budget) provided the youth shelter at Charleston, following the positive input of local young people. Also the Council, with significant contribution from the Ward Budget, has provided local activities, such as the street football successfully operated by Action for Children, and the created new facilities, for example the two Multi-use Games Areas at the Community Complex, that are to be available for use by the community.
Item 4. Questions from the Public
There were no further questions.
Item 5. Date and location of next meeting
No date was set, pending confirmation of City Forums and other planned events. The date would be advertised on the web site and notifications made in the usual way.
NB Ideas for future Forums (from suggestion forms);
“Leachkin Road Parking & Safety”