Action Note of Ward Forum held on 30th August, 2007, at the Inverness Royal Academy at 7 p.m.
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Attendees
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Karen Hamilton, Ward Manager – Inverness Ness-Side Ward,
Cllr David Henderson - Highland Council (Chair)
Cllr John Finnie
Cllr Fraser Parr
William Gilfillan – Corporate Manager – Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
David Haas – City Manager – Inverness
Hector Robertson – Area Education Manager
Douglas Wilby – Senior Community Learning & Leisure Officer
Mr G Glass – Cauldeen Primary School
Mr I Kyle – Hilton Primary School
Mr S Roger – Holm Community Council
Chief Inspector D Henderson – Northern Constabulary
Police Sergeant MacLean – Northern Constabulary
Mr E Mackie – Lochardil Primary School
Ms M Hay – Holm Primary School
Ms M Kerr – Resident
Mr K Rose – Castle Heather Residents Association
Ms J MacLennan – Hilton, Milton and Castle Heather Community Council
Mr R Dyce – Lochardil and Drummond community Council
Ms J MacLeod – Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School)
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Apologies:
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Cllr Norrie Donald |
Consultation Documents Tabled:
Core Paths Plan consultation
www.highland.gov.uk/leisure/countrysideaccess/corepathplans
Highland Licensing Board (S) Act 2005 Draft Policy Statement
Further information from Donald Somerville, Clerk of the Highland Licensing Board, Town House, Inverness. Tel: 01463 724265
The meeting was opened by Councillor Henderson who welcomed everybody to the first Forum for Inverness Ness-side. He also explained that he was chairing the meeting this evening following the drawing of lots with fellow Councillors to establish the rota of Forum Chair.
Agenda
1. Background information on the Forum –
Presentation by William Gilfillan on principles and purpose of Ward Forums. He introduced the Standards of Community Engagement which will be the tool by which success and action is measured at Ward Forums. Made people aware of the Ward Discretionary Budget which is an accessible fund under the overview of the four Members for the Ward. Both documents available on the Ward Profile (www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourward)
2. A Presentation on the Profile of Education within the Ward – Hector Robertson & Community Learning & Leisure Facilities – Douglas Wilby
Key points from Hector Robertson’s presentation:-
All schools in the ward had received positive HMI Inspection reports
The school buildings were in varying conditions across the Ward
There had been a number of successful Traffic management Projects completed to enable children to access school more safely.
The new Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School) has opened and work on the rebuilding of Drummond School has started.
There are primary School capacity issues but projecting school rolls is not an exact science. It can be influenced by house building which itself has dependencies, demographics and the economy of the area. Currently Education work to a ratio of 0.2 children per household.
The Inverness Royal Academy has had a rising school roll, year on year, and this will become a critical issue for debate in the fairly near future. Factors influencing this debate will be the IRA’s status as a Gaelic medium secondary school and the impact of children rising through the newly opened Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School), the standard of the temporary accommodation within the huts and the potentially capped class sizes for S1.
Douglas Wilby went on to talk about Community Facilities and the restructured Community Learning and Leisure Service.
Community facilities are available at the Inverness Royal Academy in particular for sporting activities.
The Hilton Community Centre is a key facility in this area and is run by a Management Committee providing centre based and outreach activities for all age groups.
Lochardil Hall is one of the most well used facilities of its type in the area.
Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School) is planned to become a centre of Gaelic Language and culture and will predominately be used by groups who have the Gaelic language at their core.
The Education, Culture and Sport Service is in the process of appointing Youth Development Workers who will have a key function in both community facilities and schools working with young people.
The role of Active Schools Coordinators, who have a key role in promoting health and physical activity for children and making links between primary and secondary schools and sports clubs, was highlighted.
At the conclusion of these presentations Councillor Henderson invited questions and discussion on the topic from those attending:
Q: Were NHS Staff invited to attend this Forum?
A: A general invite went to all partner agencies but it was recognised that with the number of Forums happening at the moment invitees may choose to prioritise Forums that are more relevant to their area and expertise.
Q: What is the SNP Administration’s policy position on PFI and PPP principles for funding schools?
A: The SNP are opposed in principle to PPP however people should be reassured that those projects in place would not be undermined or threatened by this opposition. It would be hoped that future funding could be secured through loans to the Council.
Q: The planned development for house building detailed in the Ward statistics was challenged and clarity sought on the future of 353 new homes to be built in the Ward between now and 2011, as new homes in the area would have a significant impact on school rolls?
A: The figure quoted in the Ward statistics is the number of houses identified in the local plan or with planning permission unconstrained by infrastructure. It was noted that the topic of the ‘Rate of Development in the Ward’ may be the subject of a future Forum.
Action: Karen Hamilton – Ward Manager
Q: How is the Administration’s target of reducing by 40% the number of young people not in education or training (NEET) to be achieved along with the other financial demands on the Education budget?
A: There will always be competing demands for the education of all our children including those with special requirements. It was also commented that those young people with special needs who attend Drummond School should not be sidelined. The discussion moved to wider capital investment into schools to create car drop off zones, etc, and the point was made that widening school catchment areas means that a school is no longer a walkable distance from home for pupils, and the car is an inevitable consequence of our changing lifestyle with working parents and so on. The use of safer cycle routes and safety education of children has encouraged them to use bikes and mini scooters to get to school.
The discussion on safety and access to school lead Councillor Henderson to introduce Chief Inspector Donald Henderson to address the meeting. He made the following points:-
The Force achieved an 85% detection rate in serious crime
This success depended on three issues, being intelligence led, having a high visibility and working closely in partnership with others. An example of the success of these three principles is evident with the Hilton operational team which is working towards the reduction of youth crime and antisocial behaviour in this area.
The number of successful large events that have taken place over the summer in the Inverness area; Rock Ness Concert, Elton John, Belladrum, etc, have placed demands on resources. The success of these events has been down to close working with the council and other services.
Q: Regarding the issue of children accessing school safely, what is the role of the police in relation to safer driving schemes?
A: In general the police direct individuals to the Institute of Advanced Motorists for people who wish to improve their driving skills. The Chief Inspector commented that he was in favour of the use of ‘P’ plates which, although were compulsory in some countries, are only voluntarily displayed in Scotland. He also reassured those present that extremely stringent measures were taken with individuals who were caught drink/driving over certain limits. They are taken into custody immediately and appear in court the following day. It was also commented that responsible citizenship ideas, the education and understanding of the impact of irresponsible driving and so on was taught through PSE classes in schools but the challenge for us all is to make that transition from the classroom to real life. It was also stated that a fund was held by the Corporate Area Manager within the Council to resource initiatives that may reduce crime and ideas for use of these monies would be welcomed. Contact can be made via the Ward Manager.
Councillor Henderson then invited any wider topics to be raised by those present:-
Q: The Castle Heather Residents Association are anxious about the flood relief plans and how they might impact on their locality?
A: The Central Ward Forum to be held on 17th September 2007 at the Town House in Inverness has this topic as a focus for discussion. It may make sense for the Residents Association representatives to attend this Forum initially and if required it can be the focus of a further Forum for Ness-side Ward.
Q: Is there an area to the side of the Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School) set aside for community development.
A: The land is in the ownership of the Council and is to be developed as a public amenity. It was suggested that Lochardil Community Council undertake some consultation as to the best use of this piece of land and information will be provided to the Community Council by Douglas Wilby to take this forward.
Action: Douglas Wilby, Senior Community Learning and Leisure Officer, Douglas Wilby.
Q: Who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the verges on the Southern Distributor Road? The area was planted when the road was built however the view is that it now requires some attention.
A: The Ward Manager undertook to provide an answer to this question and feed this back to Hilton, Milton and Castle Heather Community Council as well as the next Forum.
Action: Karen Hamilton – Ward Manager
3. Date of next meeting
Thursday 22nd November 2007 7pm at the Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, (Gaelic School) Inverness (the venue will be confirmed in due course).
In relation to a theme for the next Forum two suggestions were made through the course of the evening.
Planning and future housing developments
Flood Relief
It was suggested that the Community Councils within the Ward give consideration to these topics at their next meetings and be invited to suggest further topics for discussion. This was agreed and in order that suitable arrangements can be made, speakers engaged, etc, it is suggested that ideas are communicated to the Ward Manager by 12th October 2007
The Forum closed at 9.30pm when Councillor Henderson thanked everyone for their time and lively contribution to the discussion.