Inverness Ness-Side Ward Forum
Green Drive Hall, Lochardil, Inverness on Thursday 24 July 2008 at 7.30pm
Action 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 and Castle Heather Community Council
Christine Cameron - Hilton, Milton and Castle Heather COmmunity Council
Sandra Gorman - Lochardil and Drummond Community Council
Anne MacIver - Lochardil and Drummond Community Council
Peter Mackay - Lochardil and 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.