Badenoch & Strathspey Ward Forum
Wednesday 18 June 2008, Kincraig Church Hall, The Brae, Kincraig
ACTION NOTE
1. Welcome and Apologies
Attendees: Cllr Fallows (Chair), Cllr Black, Cllr Douglas, Cllr Rimell, Sue Palmer (Ward Manager) members of Community Councils, Donald Henderson (Northern Constabulary), Gavin Musgrove (Strathspey & Badenoch Herald), David Green, Don McKee, Andy Ford, Pete Crane (Cairngorm National Park Authority), Shona Laidlaw (Careers Scotland) and members of the public.
Apologies: Bill Carr (Dalwhinnie CC), Jane Hope (Cairngorms National Park Authority), Richard Eccles, Nigel Small (Community Health Partnership), Sally Dowden (Speyside Trust), Karen Derrick, Ron Mercer, John Rainy Brown (Voluntary Action Badenoch & Strathspey), Alan Rankin (Destination Management Organisation) and James Gibbs (Highlands & Island Enterprise)
2. Matters arising from previous forum 10.04.08 (Sue Palmer 2.1-2.9)
2.1 Parking in Aviemore
Parking is now available on east side of Steam Railway. Final work re street lighting is currently taking place. Cllr Rimell reported lack of parking at Clune Terrace, that police were working with the community to resolve the problem.
2.2 Local Action Fund
Dates have been set re Midnight Football and Battle of the Bands. The Aviemore Triathlon Club is delivering swim sessions for children and young people throughout each week at MacDonald’s Swimming Pool.
2.3 Youth Policy and Funding
Half time Youth Development post is being advertised next week. Also £5,000 allocated to Ward Managers for youth work activity. Administration of funds is currently being agreed. ACTION. Sue will keep us posted.
2.4 Newtonmore Travellers Site
Murray Cochrane (Area Housing Manager) recently attended Ward Business Meeting. He referred to ‘Multi-Agency Action Plan for Gypsy/Travellers in Highlands’, 12 March 08 (spare copies made available). It’s against the law to move travellers off an authorised site, providing they are behaving within the terms of the site agreement. Murray is looking at current needs of travellers in B&S and will report back to members.
2.5 Improvements to Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing Services
One of the new Enforcement Officers will cover Inverness, Nairn and B&S. Interviews take place on 30th June. £52,500 allocated to B&S and spread across the Ward to give improvements to environment (street cleaning and litter picking). An extra full time, permanent Community Works post is being advertised. The remainder will be spent on short term hired labour, hired plant, contractors, purchase of litter and dog bins etc. Gunars Libeks (Kincraig VCC) asked where officer would be based. ACTION Sue agreed to find out.
2.6. Ward Forum Review / Evaluation
Bob Cameron (Corporate Manager) has prepared an interim report following on from the survey. However, few responses back from the public so attendees were asked to complete forms. Deadline is 20 June. Findings will be brought back to future forum.
2.7 Transport
Feedback from last forum was distributed with notes of last meeting. Sue has met with David Summers (Transport Development Officer) and gone through each priority to agree who is responsible and how it can be best taken forward. ACTION David to report back to future forums with further progress.
• Gaps and discrepancies re transport connections currently being fixed
• Questionnaire has been designed for B&S Transport Survey (in liaison with John Thorne, CNPA)
• Timetable info at all bus shelters in B&S has been updated (If this is not the case contact Neil Young 01463 702458, stating which bus shelter/stop & when it was noticed?)
• Travel Guides (19 May-26 Oct 08) now targeted at post offices, service points and tourist offices
2.8 Muir Homes Housing Proposals
Sue has relayed Donald Scobbies comments from the last meeting to the Park Authority.
2.9 Strathspey Steam Railway Extension to Grantown (Basil Dunlop/John Partridge)
John said there were delays by the Council re. conveyance of the strip of land. ACTION Cllr Fallows said this issue would be followed up.
2.10 Community Transport: Impact of Fuel costs on Volunteers (Cllr Fallows)
Cllr Fallows stated that he understood the issue had been taken with Cosla to increase Inland Revenue level.
3. Ward Discretionary Budget / Ward Profile (Sue Palmer)
WD Budget approvals since the last meeting are (total 2008/09 £59,659);
• St John Episcopal Church: Community Hall £2,000
• Nethy Bridge Interpretation Project £2,500
• Grantown Grammar School: Recycling Project £2,000
• Kingussie High School: Recycling Project £2,000
• Aviemore Sports Centre SG (feasibility study/admin) £3,000
• Village arts exhibition (May 08) £500
• Cromdale Public Toilets (maintenance) £1,000
• Kingussie Festivities: Karnival £2,000
• Newtonmore Community Woodland Trust Project £3,000
• Speysound radio: equipment, ariel survey & installation £2,000
• Carrbridge CC: World Porridge Championships £1,400
SPENT £21,400
BALANCE (to date) £38,259
Ward Profile Update
Ward Discretionary Budget Spreadsheet 2007/08 go into www.highland.gov.uk/Council Wards/21 Badenoch & Strathspey/Ward Discretionary Budget (under ‘Current Documents’).
Dates of Ward Forums for 2008 changed to Wed 20 Aug, 8 Oct and 10 Dec (so don’t clash with community councils meetings) go into Council Wards/Ward Forum Year Planner.
Notes from public meeting re Draft West Highlands & Islands Local Plan (14 April) go into Council Wards/21 B&S and under ‘Related Information’.
4. Community Safety (Chief Inspector Donald Henderson, Northern Constabulary)
A card was sent to Andy Walker. Cllr Fallows introduced Donald (taken over from Andy). Donald said Les Donaldson had recently moved to Inverness, as part of divisional response dealing with child protection, vulnerable adults and domestic violence. He said there were staffing issues, but 3 staff will come into the area in June/August. He said there were issues housing these officers and whether the Council could assist. ACTION Sue to speak to Housing and Property Services
Donald said mobile CCTV units and foot patrols have been brought into the area at weekends to deal with underage drinking, but young people move between areas so mobile response is required. Cllr Black commented that there had been a huge difference in BOG with the police involvement.
Donald said we need to extend alcohol bye-law to other villages (Kingussie, BOG, Carrbridge, Aviemore) so officers can issue fixed penalties, but needs to include ‘concealed containers’. He said the community need to report incidences and give statements. The police need to work with ward forums, community councils and LAs to problem solve.
Ian Malcolm (Aviemore VCC) asked if there was an actual problem that required a bye-law across B&S. Donald stated that children and young people from across B&S were drinking, ranging from 13/14 year olds to 17/18. Letters from BOG and Kingussie clearly suggest there is a problem that needs solving.
Gunars was in support of Donald’s approach, but hoped cancelled Kingussie events would return next year.
Cllr Douglas said she is taking on role of chair of B&S Drug and Alcohol Forum and would report back to future meetings.
Frank Bardgett (BOG CC) asked what’s a public place (as some woods are privately owned). ACTION Sue will seek legal view and definition of boundaries with area solicitor.
Cllr Fallows said we need to consider which villages a bye-law would cover, how it is operated and ask all communities their views. Donald said we need to identify ‘hot spots’ and ensure area covered is wide enough. ACTION Sue to follow up with the police and report back to forum
5. Physical Activity Strategy/Consultation (Cllr Fallows)
Cllr Fallows asked that attendees complete the survey. ACTION Sue will return responses to Alan Clark.
6. CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK (David Green, Don McKee, Andy Ford and Pete Crane)
Donald Scobbie (Qus 1 – refer to Questions Sheet). David said there was housing demand within the Park for a number of reasons including work, family, second homes. He said household projections are increasing. David said this information is in the background to the local plan. ACTION David agreed to make sure this information was available
Gregor McKenzie (Qus 2) David said an application goes to common housing register, points given that take account of needs, such as family and working in area, and criteria includes local connections.
Jeannie Munro asked if the National Park could be a world heritage site? Pete said it could be a candidate for its geological importance, but no plans to take this forward at moment.
Don said the Draft Local Plan had received 470 responses which were analysed and responses published on the Park Authorities website (hard copies, CDs also available). Modifications were taken on board and objections addressed. There may be second round of consultation (then proceed to local plan enquiry) but consultation restricted to comments on modifications or objections that have not been dealt with (not new comments), and after 25 July will publicise.
Kevin Bremner (Qus 4) asked Don if they had any input in terms of land in Aviemore? Don said they are allocated some land and try to be flexible as long as it fits in with context of the Park. Kevin said that sale of last plots at Dalfaber Industrial Estate was going to highest bidder. Don said, like the Council, they had no control over who buys or lets sites. ACTION Cllr Fallows agreed to look into issue.
Andy talked about how the visitor experience is down to all of us. Gunars asked what 3 tangible areas of improvement had the Park Authority achieved over the past 5 years. Pete said building the identity of the park to sustain tourism.
Donnie Ross said that crofting and farming were important to people, to see deer and sheep. Cllr Black said the highland games was important in drawing people into the area, to support sheep dog trials, and to allow the visitor a sense of discovery in finding out some information themselves.
Gunars said we should abolish the access policy that Cairngorm Mountain Ltd are forced to enforce as part of grant aid condition. The Park Authority needs to assist the process re accessing the Cairngorm Plateau from the Funicular Railway.
Audrey Mackenzie (Aviemore VCC) commented that the signage re the Cairngorms brand was attractive.
Jeannie said places like Dava should be included in the National Park. Cllr Fallows said that boundaries are a government issue, but members supported the rationalisation of those parts in B&S left out, for strong landscape reasons.
Gunars felt Core Path funding streams are difficult to access especially by voluntary bodies, which means the paths can not be maintained or developed. A "one stop shop" approach is needed.
Jeannie asked if Dava Way was going to be upgraded to a core path? ACTION Pete agreed to check and get back to Jeannie on this issue
Donnie said numbers of people using core paths was disappointing. Pete said use of Speyside Way tends to be shorts walks as linked to other paths, whereas West Highland Way is very popular and used end to end.
Gunars said access agreements with Kinrara Estate re Speyside Way has held up process for past 4 years and had potential tourist income generation opportunities, similar to that of the West Highland Way.
Pete said that Shona from Careers Scotland has information available on “Green Jobs”.
ACTION Cllr Fallows agreed to ensure comments are relayed to David Green (as he had to leave early)
7. Question and Answer Session (Please refer to tabled Q&A Sheet)
Gunars (Qus 3) asked when the grass will be cut at Kincriag Village Green? ACTION Sue will ask Iain Dyce to notify Gunars.
8. Future Meetings:
No further items were added to the list. ACTION Please contact Sue with suggested themes or items.
9. A.O.B
Ian asked Sue to look at health and safety barriers re volunteers litter picking. ACTION Sue to follow up
The next meeting will take place on WEDNESDAY 20th AUGUST, 7-9pm (refreshments from 6.30) venue to be finalised.