Nairnshire Partnership/Ward Forum
Agenda
Action Note of Nairnshire Partnership/Ward Forum held on Wednesday 5 December 2007 at 6.00 pm in the Chamber, the Court House, Nairn.
Attendees
Provost Liz MacDonald, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (Chair) (LM)
Iain Bain, Editor, Nairnshire Telegraph (IB)
Sheena Baker, Association of Nairn Businesses (SB)
Inspector David Bushell, Northern Constabulary (DB)
Ed Chambers, Council for Voluntary Service, Nairn (EC)
Louise Clark, Ward Manager, Highland Council (LC)
Roddy Dyce, HIE Inverness & East Highland (RD)
Iain Fairweather, Tourism Sector (IF)
Councillor Laurie Fraser, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (LF)
William Gilfillan, Corporate Manager, Highland Council (WG)
John Mackie, Chairman, Nairn Suburban Community Council (JM)
Campbell Mair, Practice Manager, Lodgehill Clinic (CM)
Councillor Graham Marsden, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (GM)
Councillor A S Park, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (SP)
Jack Starke, Chairman, Auldearn Community Council (JS)
Mrs J Tolmie, Chairperson, Nairn River Community Council (JT)
Dick Youngson, Nairn Suburban Community Council (DY)
Helen Guy, Community Development Officer
Dorothy Maxwell, Projects, Asset & Archaeological Manager, Highland Council
Maureen MacKenzie, Administrative Assistant, Highland Council
John Dolan, Local Resident
Ian Ramage, Reporter, Press & Journal
Reporter, Inverness Courier
1. Apologies:
Apologies for absence were received from Liz Bow, Nairn Access Panel and Anna Dougan, Youth Forum.
Provost Liz MacDonald in the Chair.
2. Minute of the Previous Meeting
The Minute of the Previous Meeting held on 26 September 2007 was approved as a true record.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Extra Item – LM reported that funding for the Small Town Network had been unsuccessful.
3.2 Community Development Officer – EC introduced Helen Guy, who has recently taken up the post of Community Development Officer. Helen confirmed that she was involved with a project for the Nairn Drug & Alcohol Forum – a Healthy Living Event which would take place on 22 February in Nairn Community Centre – with an additional three projects in the pipeline. On the question being put by WG, EC confirmed that projects would mainly come through the Project Group, thus involving the Partnership more.
3.3 Website Project Group – LC confirmed that the Project Group had met and discussed in detail the content of www.nairnscotland.co.uk and what information should be rationalised. LC also confirmed that the trainer had been contacted and a date was due to be set shortly for four staff to receive the relevant training.
3.4 Shop Front Scheme – RD confirmed that he had discussed this project with his senior managers at HIE but it was unlikely that it would attract any funding. WG commented that there is a scheme in Inverness whereby council officers contact businesses about works which are required to their shop-fronts, which the council undertake, and then recharge for the relevant work. LC commented that Paul Brown from the Housing & Property Service, who was involved in this scheme, had been invited to attend the next meeting of the Project Group.
3.5 A96 Corridor and Nairn By-Pass – SP reported that he had held discussions with various Scottish Government officials, including the First Minister, at the recent Highlands & Islands Convention and had received a fairly positive message. SP reported that he would be meeting with John Mather, John Swinney and Stewart Stevenson early in the New Year to discuss the A96 Corridor, the Nairn by-pass and the Airport Link Road.
ACTION: SP undertook to regularly update this Group on developments.
3.6 Tourism/Events Group – LC advised that she had spoken to two hoteliers who were, in principle, in agreement that a new Hotels Association be set up but would require assistance to make this happen.
ACTION: LC and RD to meet to discuss this.
WG commented that a DMO (Destination Management Organisation) for Nairn had previously been discussed and he would like this to remain on the agenda. RD commented that the impetus for the DMOs set up in Loch Ness and in Badenoch & Strathspey had come from the private sector. SB added that it is difficult to get people involved and to give up their time.
ACTION: It was agreed that this would be discussed through the Business Gateway Group (HIE) and the Ward Business Meetings. LC and RD to action.
4. Nairn Town Centre Redevelopment
WG gave an update on the Nairn Town Centre redevelopment:-
• Somerfield have lodged an outline planning permission with the Council and a Traffic Impact Assessment will take place
• The Town Centre Project Group has suggested that notice-boards and boarding are erected during any works
• Discussion is now taking place with Somerfield about the vennels leading on to the High Street
Phase 2 of the Town Centre:-
• The future of Barron House
• A formal green light has been given on the co-location of Social Work and NHS Highland staff at the new hospital. CM added that the project is close to finalising the finance and legal side of things and that work should start on site early next year.
LM thanked WG for the update.
5. Sandown Lands
WG reported that Deveron Homes have until 10 December 2007 to submit an outline planning application. JM expressed concern about digging which has taken place recently at the Park Land but WG explained that these are archaeological digs and part of the evaluation of the site.
6. Any Other Competent Business
6.1 Community Transport – JM expressed concern over funding which had previously come direct from the Scottish Executive via HITRANS for local community transport. LM explained that this funding would now come through the TEC Services Budget with Members making a case for the funds to be used locally.
6.2 Christmas Celebrations/Procession – SB intimated that she was concerned about the amount of public money which had been spent on the Christmas Procession/Switch-on of Lights on Friday 30 November, adding that, in some instances, funding applications had been submitted very late.
LM, SP and RD all expressed the view that the evening had been a great success and a good PR exercise for Nairn.
SB reiterated that it had been a significant amount of public money spent on one event and would like to see the exercise thought through thoroughly for next year.
6.3 Emergency Services – JM reported to the Group on an initiative whereby an emergency number is stored on a person’s mobile phone (under the name of ICE) in case of an accident. Overall the Group were in favour of this type of initiative but Inspector Bushell expressed caution in that the Police had a strict procedure for accessing mobile phones.
There being no further competent business, the meeting moved on to Ward Forum business.
(Helen Guy left the meeting)
NAIRN WARD FORUM
7. Minute of the Previous Meeting
The Minute of the Previous Meeting held on 26 September 2007 was approved as a true record.
8. Matters Arising
8.1 Nairn District Court – LF intimated his disappointment at the closure of the District Court in Nairn and the fact that this cannot be appealed.
8.2 Local Action Fund (Young People) – LC advised that the Nairn Ward had received an allocation of £10,672, for this financial year, with the target group being 11 years old and over. LC reported that two applications are currently being looked at – the Nairn Youth Café and Play Parks. On the question being put by WG, LC confirmed that any further projects would be considered but there was a tight timescale.
ACTION: LC to contact the relevant partners and report back to the next meeting
8.3 Housing Allocations per Ward – WG intimated that he had been asked to pull together information which could be reported at Ward Level and this will be presented to the Administration of the Council next week. If the Administration decide to proceed then the information will be made available at Ward Level from next year. William added that this will allow Ward Forums to scrutinise the Council’s delivery of services.
IB welcomed this type of information adding that it would appear there had been some loss of reporting with the new regime. WG commented that there had been no loss of information but with 22 Wards new systems of reporting required to be implemented. CM commented that he would like to see information coming forward on what is being spent in this locality £ per head on Social Work and this could then be compared with the expenditure on Health Services in terms of “fair shares”.
WG explained that this was just an information-gathering exercise at the moment but would hope that once implemented it would be accessible to a wide range of people through the Ward Profile page on the Highland Council website.
9. Nairn Ward Discretionary Budget 2007-2008 - £58,616
LC reported that the following applications had been approved:-
Nairn Citizens Advice Bureau – manuals/training - £350
Safer Routes to School (Rosebank/Millbank) - £164
Nairn Access Panel - leaflet - £658.82
Fisherwoman Statue – drop kerbs/slabs - £1,500
Winter Procession – Inspire’s Community Project - £3,500
LC further reported that three applications had been received requesting £10,000 and there are seven pending projects, including play parks, which if proceed will account for the remaining budget of £27,000.
LC added that application forms were available from either Maureen MacKenzie or herself.
SB commented that it would be advisable to have the funding for the flower displays confirmed.
ACTION: LC to contact TEC Services with regard to financing of the flower displays and report back on progress to the next meeting.
10. Community Safety
DB reported that the Police have been concentrating on three main areas recently – road safety, anti-social behaviour and reducing crime.
ROAD SAFETY – targeting drink-driving and mobile phone users, which has been quite successful
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR – fixed penalties have proved highly effective and allow Police to spend more time patrolling the streets.
REDUCING CRIME – there have been good detective rates with various thefts and vandalism; and some positive active in the detection of drugs.
DB commented on an Awareness Night (outlining the very diverse work that the Police are involved in) which had taken place recently, the first in Nairn, and which had been very successful. DB hopes to hold another one in 18 months time.
LM commented that with the Licensing Board now covering the whole Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area would there be any changes to the policy in Nairn. DB replied that at present the policies remain the same but he was unclear if this would change in the future. DB added that he would have difficulty if licensing hours were increased in Nairn as he does not have the resources to cover this and the resultant knock-on effect.
On the question being put by LM, DB confirmed that the Pub Watch Scheme in Nairn was still in operation and currently there are 16 people barred from licensed premises in the town.
SB thanked DB for the very clear and proactive stance which he has taken since coming to Nairn, adding that it was most appreciated.
LM thanked DB for the update.
11. Play Parks
LC reported that an independent inspection of Nairn’s 13 Play Parks had been carried out recently. LC added that no Play Park fell into the high risk category but it was apparent that some of the equipment was nearing the end of its lifespan and would have to be looked at closely as a matter of priority. LC stressed that fortnightly inspections were carried out by the Council’s TECS staff.
LC further reported that an option to upgrade the Moss-Side Road Play Park in this financial year had been mooted, but following feedback from Nairn Suburban Community Council, a request had been made that this be put on hold pending further developments at Sandown.
ACTION: Elected Members to look at other possibilities and what could be achieved by way of upgrades or refurbishments with available funding – possibly including the Discretionary Budget and the Local Action Fund.
12. Nairn High Street Streetscape
LM introduced Dorothy Maxwell, Projects, Asset & Archaeology Manager of Highland Council’s Planning & Development Service, who gave an update on the Nairn High Street Streetscape Project.
Dorothy reported that, at the consultation exercise carried out on 4 December, three options were put to the public. Between 70/75 people attended the meeting and were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the various options put forward. These questionnaires are due to be returned by 18 December and will then be analysed with the findings reported to the Nairn Town Centre Project Group and the Ward Forum. Dorothy added that in light of the funding available priority has been given to “the Brae”.
SP intimated his disappointment at HIE no longer being able to put funding into this project. Dorothy commented that there was £430,000 available from the Planning Budget which would allow the work to “the Brae” to be completed in January/February 2009 and when more funding becomes available then works to the High Street would be discussed. Dorothy added that it would be preferable to have one cohesive design spec for the whole area, for going forward.
LM thanked Dorothy for the update.
13. Open Question and Answer Session
WG stressed that it was important for people to be encouraged to put their questions in writing to LC. This would allow LC to consult with colleagues and prepare a full response.
13.1 Question – Mrs J Tolmie enquired what arrangements had been made between Somerfield and the Highland Council about parking – are Somerfield going to run the car park; where are people going to be able to park; would parking still be free?
Answer – WG replied that the outline planning application showed that parking spaces will be increased. William added that Somerfield will control the parking but are prepared to discuss arrangements with Highland Council as to how this will be managed.
14. Date of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 27 February 2008 with the theme being Youth Issues.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.50 pm.