Nairn Ward Forum
Agenda
Action Note of Nairn Ward Forum held on Wednesday 25 May 2011 at 7.00 pm in the Chamber, the Court House, Nairn.
Attendees:
Provost Laurie Fraser, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (LF)
Councillor Liz MacDonald, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (LM)
Councillor Graham Marsden, Nairn Ward, Highland Council (GM)
Sheena Baker, Association of Nairn Businesses (SB)
Sgt Olga Hansen, Northern Constabulary (OH) (representing Inspector MacLennan)
Louise Clark, Ward Manager, Highland Council (LC)
Brian Stewart, Visit Nairn Tourist Association (BS) (representing Rosemary Young)
Dr Adrian Baker, Lodgehill Clinic (AB) (representing Campbell Mair)
Amy Riley, Nairn Youth Forum (AR)
Margaret Robertson, Chairperson, Cawdor & West Nairnshire Community Council (MR)
Graham Vine, Nairn West Community Council (GV)
Stephanie Whittaker, Nairn River Community Council (SW)
Tommy Hogg, Nairn River Community Council (TH)
Dr A Noble, Nairn Suburban Community Council (AN)
Alan Hampson, Nairn Suburban Community Council (AH)
Christie Fullerton, Youth Development Officer, ECS (CF)
Stuart Davidson, Nairn Youth Forum (SD)
Finlay Allmond, Nairn Youth Forum (FA)
Niall McCulloch, Nairn Youth Forum (NM)
Iain Bain, Editor, Nairnshire Telegraph
Maureen MacKenzie – Minute-taker
and 11 members of the public
Also in Attendance:-
Steve McDermott, Waste Management Assistant - INBS, TEC Services (SM)
Paula Betts, Waste Management Assistant – RSL, TEC Services
Jan Baird, Transitions Director for the implementation of Community Care Integration
Ian Thomson, Assistant Community Care Manager – INBS, Social Work
Theresa James, Community Care Integration Manager – INBS, Social Work
1. Apologies:
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A S Park (The Highland Council), Liz Bow (Nairn Community Care Forum), Debbie MacBean (East Nairnshire Community Council), Mrs J Tolmie (Nairn River Community Council), Inspector Willie MacLennan (Northern Constabulary), Edward Chambers (Council for Voluntary Service, Nairn), Rosemary Young (Visit Nairn), William Gilfillan (The Highland Council), John Mackie (Nairn Suburban Community Council), Campbell Mair (Lodgehill Clinic) and Dick Youngson (Nairn Suburban Community Council).
Provost Laurie Fraser in the Chair.
Provost Fraser intimated that Councillor Park had recently undergone an operation and was now at home recuperating and had asked him to pass on his thanks to everyone for their best wishes.
2. Minute of the Previous Meeting
The Minute of the Previous Meeting held on 26 January 2011 was APPROVED as a true record.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Seaside Award – Dog Signs on the Links
LC commented on the offer by Nairn West Community Council to erect dog signs on the Links outlining where dogs were welcome.
LC reported that the Beach Award for 2011 had now been officially confirmed and the beach criteria stated that reference should be made to dogs being kept “under close control or on a short lead” as defined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. LC added that the existing signs would be removed and new signs erected in due course.
4. Nairn Developments
In William Gilfillan’s absence, Louise Clark reported as follows:-
4.1 Town Centre
The Development Brief, as finalised at the Planning Committee, has been republished (via the Council's web-site). The Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan process has just started and we are in the awareness raising and "ideas" phase of the Plan at the moment and would welcome any views on the wider town centre. Tim Stott is prepared to have a discussion with any community group during May/June. A site options draft (which will include detailed maps for the whole of Nairn, Auldearn; and possibly Cawdor) will be issued in the Autumn and the Council will do their formal public consultation then.
On the question being put by SB, LC commented that there is interest in the Bus Station site from a local group but she did not have any further details at this stage.
4.2 Sainsbury
It is understood that the store will be open in August and appears to be on schedule. Staff recruitment had started in Nairn week commencing 16 May.
4.3 Sandown
Planning has made an application to the Scottish Government Charrette Mainstreaming Project in relation to Sandown. This would effectively mean that the Scottish Government would provide a design team to assist Highland Council with the Sandown Development Brief. The closing date was 4 May, so we are currently waiting to hear if we have been successful. Further information is available on the Scottish Government website or the detail of the bid can be found on the Highland Council website in the section relating to Local Plans.
JH commented that he believed an area of land, namely, the part that was to be used as a Business Park, had been omitted from the drawings; and enquired why.
LC suggested that Mr Hart take this matter up at the time of the consultation.
AN commented that it would be useful to have more information on the development at Delnies, given that this project goes hand-in-hand with the Sandown development, but might actually come in first.
GM commented that the Delnies development was not a live planning application at this time and LM felt that there was perhaps some confusion over the Inner Moray Firth project. Dr Noble’s comments were NOTED.
4.4 Nairn By-Pass
Louise Clark reported that Councillor Park (HC Convener) had left an update report on the traffic lights currently being installed in Nairn and on the Nairn By-pass, as follows:-
4.4.1 Traffic Lights
Following a request for clarification from the Convener, Transport Scotland had replied to Sam MacNaughton on the issue of the upgrades to the trunk road junctions required as part of the Sainsbury development in Nairn as follows:-
“I can confirm that the requirements for the traffic signals as advised in Transport Scotland’s response on the planning application are to incorporate either MOVA control or other approved means of dynamic control and to be linked and incorporate queue detection. This should minimise overall delay to traffic on the trunk road but at the same time facilitate side road traffic and provide improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists”.
Sam MacNaughton has also asked that he be kept advised of the details of the design for the traffic lights as they progress. He also mentioned that the developer was required to link all the traffic lights together so that traffic on the A96 should not be stopped at each and every set of traffic lights on the A96 nor stopped for each and every demand from the side road. Transport Scotland has also advised there had been a lot of reaction locally to the proposals but the objective was to minimise delays on the Trunk Road.
LC reported that the Nairnshire Partnership had queried if the Leopold Street traffic lights were included in this project.
ACTION: Louise Clark to check if the Leopold Street traffic lights were included in this project and report back to the next meeting.
LF commented that he believed the lights would be turned on for a trial period and monitored by Transport Scotland but would not be fully operational until such time as the Sainsbury’s development is finalised.
4.4.2 Nairn By-Pass
The Consultants, Jacobs, should now have finalised their report and sent it to Transport Scotland. Highland Council does not expect to have sight of the report until July.
4.5 Streetscape
Snagging List - LC advised that the contractor had carried out the following work as part of the defects period:-
Kerbs raised at the Brae/A96 junction overrun area.
An extra gully installed at the corner adjacent to Victoria Hotel to alleviate ponding in this area.
Speed table ramp on the south side of table at Court House re-levelled and made secure.
Paviors relaid along channel at parking bays alongside Pat Fraser and R.S. McColl.
Reinstate parking surfacing at gas pipe works on same parking area.
Install new gully on east side of speed table opposite Nickel & Dime to alleviate ponding.
Install 2 no. new bollards at Victoria Hotel corner
LC reported that the snagging period continued until October 2011 and asked that the public report any defects to her direct.
Information Boards - LC reported that she had invited representatives from the Nairn Access Panel, Visit Nairn Tourist Association and the Association of Nairn Businesses to a meeting to go over the content of the information boards and the suggestion was made to locate one board in Castle Square and the second in Academical Square, which the Partnership has now APPROVED.
5. Nairn Ward Discretionary Budget
LC reported that the Ward Discretionary Budget for 2011-12 will be £49,659 and she would be reporting to each Ward Forum on how that budget is allocated. LC added that currently there has been a spend of £2,490 on this budget.
LC further reported that a total of 33 projects went through last year’s Discretionary Budget, with the budget being fully allocated.
6. Community Safety
Sgt Olga Hansen gave the following update:-
• From April 2010 – April 2011 a drop of 9.5% in the detection of crime but still much higher than national average
• 27 domestic incidents
• 8 drugs/drink driving offences
• 6 persons charge with possession of offensive weapons in public places
• 100 fixed penalties issued
• involvement in a major incident involving fire arms
• anti-social behaviour incidents remains high but the Police continue to work with other agencies to tackle this
• 30 seizures of alcohol from underage persons
• Road Safety Initiative
• Involvement in events eg Rock Ness and the Farmers’ Show
• Neighbourhood Watch Scheme (in the countryside) had been promoted by Inspector MacLennan but there did not appear to be much interest
• a Seasonal Traffic Warden for Nairn has been appointed. This is a full time position which will continue until September.
On the question being put by LM regarding fires at Culbin last year, Sgt Hansen explained that there were no measures the Police could take against Chinese Lanterns, adding that in most cases the flame is out by the time it lands.
GM commented on the issue of metal being stolen in the countryside. Sgt Hansen replied that the Police had reported this in the “Cop This” section of the local paper but it referred mostly to the Badenoch & Strathspey area. Sgt Hansen added that the Police rely on the public for information and would encourage people to report anything suspicious straightaway.
Stuart Davidson commented on reports about a man preying on the elderly ie trying to buy their jewellery at low prices. Stuart was very concerned about the vulnerability of the people involved. Sgt Hansen reported that this matter had been brought to the attention of the Police, in both this area and other areas, but basically as the goods have been sold there is no offence. Sgt Hansen added that the Police are looking into this matter and are advising the elderly not to entertain any such people ie buying jewellery, carrying out works to their homes, etc.
The Provost thanked Sgt Hansen for her informative update.
7. AOCB
7.1 Nairn Youth Forum
Stuart Davidson reported that Niall McCulloch had been appointed as one of the two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) from the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey area, which means that Nairn still maintains a strong presence in the Scottish Youth Parliament. Stuart added that Amy Riley and Rowena Carlton were formerly the MSYPs for this area and had done an extremely good job eg Rowena was responsible for putting forward a motion for politics to be included on the school curriculum within 3 years, which had been successful.
Stuart congratulated Niall on his appointment.
8. Changes to the existing Refuse and Recycling Services
Presentation by Steve McDermott, Waste Management Assistant, TEC Services, The Highland Council
SM outlined the new refuse and recycling services which will come into place in Nairn and surrounding areas on 4 July 2011. SM explained that the initial trial had taken place in Skye & Lochaber and the new services were now being rolled out to the whole of the Highlands. SM commented that too much waste is being produced and the Scottish Government have set high recycling targets to tackle this and aid the environment.
SM then explained how the new service would operate both in town and in rural areas and outlined the various notices, literature, etc which would be available to explain the new system.
LM thanked Steve for his presentation and commented that she was aware of members of staff visiting the elderly to explain the new services and felt that a lot of good information was being distributed. LM added that Nairn has one of the best records in the Highlands for recycling and feels that the community will embrace this new service.
SM then responded to various questions, amongst them:-
On the question being put by SB, SM confirmed that all recycling goes in to the one blue bin and is sorted out by staff later.
On the question being put by Stephanie Whittaker, SM confirmed that the existing recycling centre would remain as at present; and also that there is no provision for the collection of glass in the recycling bins and this should still be taken to the glass recycling bins available in the town.
On the question being put by a member of the public, SM reported that there will be no reduction in service however he could not comment on the question of staff redundancies. LM added that she had queried this and been told that no reduction of staff was envisaged.
GV commented on the service given by Moray Recycling, based in Forres, where members of the public can donate surplus materials eg bicycles, timber, etc and other members of the public can make use of them. SM responded that this service is run by a community group and although a great idea Highland Council could not facilitate it due to budget restraints and complicated regulations regarding health & safety.
Chris Connolly, local businessman, commented that the forms which businesses were requested to complete had been slightly contradictory and a little misleading. Chris had raised his concerns with Service Point and TEC Services staff but they had not been able to answer all his queries. Chris added that now that he is in receipt of more information he may, in fact, have completed the form incorrectly.
ACTION: SM will contact Mr Connolly regarding his queries and report back direct to him.
A member of the public commented that the glass recycling bins in Harbour Street did not appear to be emptied regularly enough and people are leaving bags of bottles outside the bins which are then vandalised, causing a potential hazard.
ACTION: SM undertook to look into this matter and report back direct.
9. Planning for the Integration of Care, Health and Education in Children’s and Adult Services
Presentation by Ian Thomson, Assistant Community Care Manager – INBS, The Highland Council.
LF thanked Ian for his presentation and asked for questions from the floor.
10. Open Question and Answer Session on the Planning for Integration of Care, Health and Education in Children’s and Adult Services
Please see attached question/answer sheet.
11. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 28 September 2011 at 7.00 pm in the Court House, High Street, Nairn.
The meeting closed at 9.10pm.