Inverness Ness-Side Ward Forum
Green Drive Hall, Lochardil, Inverness on Thursday 24 July 2008 at 7.30pm

Meeting Note

Present:
David Haas, City Manager
Cllr Norrie Donald - Highland Council (Chair)
Cllr David Henderson - Highland Council
Cllr Fraser Parr - Highland Council
Cllr John Finnie - Highland Council
Claire Roberston - HIghland Council
Chief Insp. Julian Innes - Northern Constabulary
Jean Slater - Hilton, Milton & Castle Heather Community Council
Christine Cameron - Hilton, Milton & Castle Heather COmmunity Council
Sandra Gorman - Lochardil & Drummond Community Council
Anne MacIver - Lochardil & Drummond Community Council
Peter Mackay - Lochardil & Drummond Community Council
5 members of the public

Councillor Norrie Donald in the Chair

1.  Welcome, introductions and apologies.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made of those present.

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Stewart Wardlaw the Ward Manager, and Holm Community Council.

2.  Community Safety

Chief Inspector Julian Innes updated the Forum on matters relating to Community Safety in the local area and wider City area.

3.  Ward Discretionary Budget

David Haas, City Manager explained the Ward Discretionary Budget to the Forum and gave an update on the current balance.  Application forms were available for anyone who wished to apply for funding.

4.  Theme – Your Ward Forum – Looking to the Future

A general discussion took place and the following points were highlighted:

• Community Councils dealt with their own community issues at their meetings and it would be useful for them to come together on a regular basis. 

• Ward Forums were designed to be inclusive and to allow the Council to make decisions on behalf of the Community.  It also provided for communities to engage with each other, giving them the power to resolve issues. 

• Community Councils had access to services and agencies but a forum allowed them to discuss issues which were common to several Community Councils.

• Many people were not aware that Ward Forums existed despite them being well advertised by the Council.  Local communities also advertised the Forums but there did not seem to be a uniform standard.

• It was likely that members of the public would only attend Forums which had a topic of interest to them.

• There was a new Ward Manager in post, Stewart Wardlaw.  His primary role was integration, being aware of what was happening in the Community and engagement.  It was noted that Stewart would make engagement with Community Councils a high priority.

• Chief Inspector Julian Innes had found the Forums invaluable and some of his work had been as a direct result of discussions which had taken place at the Forums.

• If Forums were to continue there could be standing items on the agenda each time relevant to each area.

5.  AOB/Questions from the Public

Reverend Lacey gave the group a brief talk on the Civic Trust and encouraged everyone to join.  

6.  Date and Location of Next Meeting

Stewart Wardlaw would contact relevant parties about the next meeting.