Action Note of Inverness South Ward Forum held on 28 October, 2008 at 7.30 p.m. in Inshes Primary School, Inverness.
Attendees
Councillor Jim Crawford
Councillor John Holden
Councillor Roy Pedersen
Councillor Thomas Prag
Chief Inspector Julian Innes, Northern Constabulary
Lynne Stephens, Strathdearn Youth Group
Alan Hardwick, Strathdearn Youth Group
Reg Campbell, Strathdearn Youth Group
Duncan Hendry, Strathdearn Community Council
Audrey Anthony, Highland Council (Highland Youth Voice)
Catriona Burns, Highland Youth Convener, Highland Council
Gillian McCreath, NHS Highland
David Sutherland, Air Training Corps
Gerald MacDonald, 18th Inverness (Muirtown) Scout Group
Arthur Scott, Youth Action Team, Highland Council
Ian Milne, 18th Inverness (Sea Scouts)
Mairi MacPherson, SACRO Community Mediation Services
Hector Robertson, Area Education Culture & Sport Manager
Catriona Johnson, Westhill Community Council
Dougie MacKay, Youth Development Officer
Ben Hesling, Youth Development Officer
Liz Gilchrist, Inverness South Community Council + Bluelight Steering Group
Robert Roberts, Inverness South Community Council + Bluelight Steering Group
Ian MacFarlane, Inverness South Community Council
Jean Pumford, Inverness South Community Council
Cathy Sengupta, Inverness South Community Council
Barry Haycock, Inverness South Community Council + Milton of Leys Residents Association + Inverness Crime Prevention Panel
Nigel Collins, Milton of Leys Residents Association
Alison Lowe, Croy Community Council
Bruce Strachan, Croy Community Council
Alisdair McKay, Ardersier Community Council
Christine Wordin, Ardersier Community Council
Sandy Devidge, Ardersier Community Council
H. Ross, Inverness Courier
Jessica Wilkins, Inverness Courier
Catherine MacKinnon, Action for Children
Shirley Buchanan, Action for Children
Grahame Cooper, Action for Children
Hazel MacDonald, Girls Brigade Highland Division
Frances Anderson, Girlguiding Inverness-shire
John Anderson, Kincraig Community Council
Douglas Wilby, Senior Community Learning & Leisure, Highland Council
Charles Stephen, Ward Manager – Inverness South Ward, Highland Council
Cllr Thomas Prag in the Chair
1. Welcome, Introductions and Preliminaries
It was highlighted that there was approximately £40,000 still available in the Ward Discretionary Budget.
2. Community Safety – Northern Constabulary
Chief Inspector Innes updated the forum on anti-social behaviour issues and then answered questions from the public.
3. Theme: Youth Provision
Presentation by Dougie MacKay and Ben Hesling, Youth Development Officers. Other Youth Organisations present were also invited to talk about the work they did in the area. The main issues raised were lack of funding and volunteers.
Questions from the public:
Q. Mr Sutherland, Inverness Air Cadets – Can anyone give advice on volunteers as there is a shortage in the organisation? Also is there funding available?
A. Douglas Wilby – There are organisations that focus on volunteers but each group will have different needs.
Graeme Cooper, Action for Children – We approached Lifescan and Tesco who provide their staff as volunteers for ‘personal development’. They have also provided fruit, water, etc. Suggest approach large organisations.
Catherine MacKinnon, Action for Children – Students who hope to gain employment in working with children will be interested in volunteering – ask at the college. A lot of people do not read the local papers; it would also be beneficial to advertise on the local radio.
Duncan Hendry, Strathdearn Community Council/Shop Mobility – We have found that it is reaching out to volunteers that take time and money. But we have invested in a worker who goes to groups to seek volunteers and this has worked. There is also funding available to do this.
Q. Lynn Stevens, Strathdearn Youth Group – Is it possible to simplify the Disclosures process so only one disclosure is needed per person?
A. Douglas Wilby – The rules are set by Disclosure Scotland. But generally if someone has a disclosure, if a second is required it will be processed more quickly. It is helpful to talk applicants though the process.
Q. Liz Gilchrist, Inverness South/Blue Light Discos – There has been an issue with venues for the discos and it was £350 to hire facility at the Spectrum Centre per night. Could the Council help as the organisation was losing money?
A. Douglas Wilby – The Spectrum Centre is owned by the Council but run by a voluntary group and it would be up to the group whether they negotiated the price. Venues such as Inshes Primary School were low cost to rent.
Q. Inverness South Community Council – Over the holiday periods, young people can be exposed to adults drinking and youth services need to be available to them. Is there a new youth facility at Millburn Academy?
A. Hector Robertson – Millburn Academy, like Inshes Primary, is open every day except at Christmas and New Year. They have no management committee. To ensure good access and reception facilities, interviews will be held for 3 leisure attendants to cover evenings and weekends. As with letting arrangements in other schools, preference is given to youth groups which are generally free lets. However there is a caveat that in any given area there is a presumption that one school would be available more often than neighbouring schools (but this does not apply to secondary schools and Inshes Primary School). There are set Council charges for the let of schools with no management committee but there was no charge to youth groups. Those with management committees set their own charges.
Q. Douglas Wilby – There is a planned youth work open day to gauge the needs of organisations. It was possible that something could be done on voluntary work around this – maybe a workshop to share ideas. Would this be useful?
A. General response:
– Officers get paid but volunteers don’t and this will use up more of their time.
– Organisations are short of manpower and facilities.
– Children do not want to go to school outwith school hours and need a facility of their own that they can take responsibility for.
– Youth groups should not be called ‘youth clubs’ if they are aimed at 15 – 17 year olds.
– It would be useful to have a directory listing the contacts available (*if it is run by ECS then there is funding and this is being worked on).
4. Questions from members of the public.
Q. Inverness South Community Council – Could the Council help at Milton of Leys? Young people recently attended a residents association and asked for a shed. (Culduthel and Slackbuie could also benefit from a facility like this).
A. Charles Stephen – In other areas there has been youth shelters which have consisted of 4 poles with a roof and some seats. It gave a focal point and only informal supervision was required. It is possible that the Inverness South Ward Discretionary Budget could be used to provide this and TEC Service could erect it. Discussion is needed with Tulloch and the Community Councils.
Alison, Croy Community Council – Developers need to provide community facilities but it is the responsibility of planning to ensure this happens.
Cllr Jim Crawford – many residents will be unhappy about having the facility outside their home.
Q. Mr Sutherland, Inverness Air Cadets – During school holidays the cadets are charged for the use of the Inverness High School. Could the Council provide the let free of charge?
A. Hector Robertson – It is not my decision. There is a cost involved in opening the school in the holidays if it is not a PPP school. The janitor is required to open the Inverness High School. In smaller schools there is a trusted key holder so organisations can open the facility themselves. This can be looked into for the Inverness High School.
5. Date and Location of Next Meeting
The Chair thanked everyone for attending. Information about the date and location of the next meeting will be advertised in due course.
The meeting ended at 9.40pm.