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.