Badenoch and Strathspey Ward Forum
Wednesday 8 October, Grantown Grammar School
ACTION NOTE
1. Welcome and Apologies Attendees: Cllr Douglas, (Chair), Cllr Rimell, Cllr Black, Cllr Fallows, Sue Palmer (Ward Manager), William Gilfillan (Corporate Manager), members of Community Councils, Ron Mercer, Karen Derrick, Chief Inspector Donald Henderson (Northern Constabulary), Willie McKenna (Cairngorm National Park Authority), Shona Laidlaw (Careers Scotland), Gavin Musgrove (Strathspey & Badenoch Herald), and members of the public. Guests (Education Culture and Sport) Hector Robertson, Irene Carson, Brian Ross, Brian Hemming, Ron Mackenzie, Karen Craig, Isobel McCourt (Kingussie High School Parent Council) Sandy McCook (Grantown Grammar Parent Council).
Apologises: Richard Eccles, Margaret Walker (Community Health Partnership), Sally Dowden (Speyside Trust), John Rainy Brown (Voluntary Action Badenoch & Strathspey), Alan Rankin (Destination Management Organisation), James Gibbs (Highlands & Island Enterprise), Margaret Kinsella, John Robertson, Bill Carr (Dalwhinnie Community Council), Sandy Bennett (Kingussie & Vicinity Community Council), George Alder, Kate Adamson and Basil Dunlop
2. Matters arising: Actions from last forum 20.08.08 (Sue Palmer)
Sue updated progress regarding actions from the last meeting, which have been followed up with the appropriate road official. A sheet explaining the roles and contact details of road authorities was included among the handouts. ACTION: Sue agreed to circulate to community councils and place on the ward profile.
3. Ward Discretionary Budget / Ward Profile (Sue Palmer)
Approvals since 20.08.08 (Amount Allocated for 2008/09 = £59,659)
Deshar Primary School Parent Council: Barbeque £645
Highland Tourist Route Re-Signposting Project £2,000
Grantown Twinning Association £1,500
DANNSA – Strathspe Away £1,878
Grantown Primary School Fund: Strathspey Ceilidh Space £1,000
Carrbridge Community Council: Christmas lights £3,000
Carrbridge Community Arts: Live Festival £2,000
Dulnain Bridge; Our Community Project: Vehicle Activated Signs £800
Cromdale Hall Committee: Tables and chairs £1,000
Spent £44,625.72
Balance £15,033.28
4. Proposed Alcohol Bylaw (Chief Inspector Henderson and Sue Palmer)
CI Henderson provided a brief presentation regarding proposed bylaw to prohibit drinking of alcohol in public places in Badenoch and Strathspey. He said it is a way of tackling anti social behaviour issues. Currently officers can confiscate alcohol from 16-18 year olds and send a letter to their parents (Crime and Punishment Scotland Act 1997, Section 61), with an alcohol bylaw (Local Government Act 1973) they can issue a fixed penalty option in designated public areas. He said we need to decide on areas based on issues. Principle areas include Kingussie, Boat of Garten, Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey and Newtonmore. These were key locations where a consistent approach was required or avoid dispersal. Curfew orders can be used where there is serious behaviour. He stated that parental behaviour contracts don’t always address the issues, “Getting It Right For Every Child” will warn parents and goes to appropriate agency to deal with the child, but the bylaw is a proportionate effective tool to tackle particular individuals. He said he’s had letters of concern from members of the community supporting a bylaw.
Sue presented feedback from the community councils regarding the bylaw, and handouts where available with full details including maps with recommended boundaries from Community Councils and police.
Ian Malcolm (Vice Chair, Aviemore Vicinity Community Council) asked what is the alcohol bylaw, who is it for, how can it be applied and for what reasons?
Kevin Roach (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) asked what happens to 12-16 year olds. CI Henderson stated that 16 years+ get a fixed penalty, whereas younger children fall into another system, but majority drinking are in the 16-18 age group. Kevin asked if the bylaw could be applied to certain times of the day. CI Henderson stated he wasn’t aware of a specific time stipulated in other areas.
Barrie Davison (Chair, Boat of Garten Community Council) asked if youth workers could have input at the meetings.
People were in agreement with open meetings taking place to provide further information and discussion to a wider audience. ACTION: Sue to organise these, ensure youth workers are invited and that the information requested is covered during the sessions.
5. Cairngorms National Park Authority (Willie McKenna, CNPA Board Member)
Willie spoke about the importance of young people experiencing the outdoors and the CNPA and Education authorities to work together to enable this to happen.
6. Community Safety (CI Henderson – covered during item 4)
7. EDUCATION (Short presentations took place)
Karen Craig (Head Teacher, Newtonmore & Dalwhinnie) spoke about developing a child-based, interactive and collaborative approach to learning in early years and primary school.
Irene Carson (Rector, Grantown Grammar School) emphasised the importance of working with parents, young people as responsible citizens and contributors, and opportunities to develop skills for learning, life and work, in the context of the Curriculum for Excellence in secondary schools.
William Gilfillan (Corporate Manager) provided an update regarding Aviemore Primary and Community School. Funding was agreed at full council in September, and a process of consultation will take place with the community. He said the community need to find 760K, a development plan is being prepared, which will allow the community company to put in a bid for external funding. Brian Hemming will lead the project. A traffic impact assessment has taken place. Meetings are to take place in November with Head of Planning, CNPA and the Parent Council. Site conditions are being looked at. A planning application is due in late this year or early next and if no objections due to start on site late 2009/early January 2010. Cllr Gregor Rimell thanked William and others for the work with progressing forward the new school.
Brian Hemming (Estates Strategy Manager) said there were accommodation problems at Grantown Grammar and a science faculty will be built by August 2009 to allow freeing up of science rooms for general use. Sandy McCook (Grantown Grammar Parent Council) thanked the Council. Brian stated that Kingussie High School will have additional accommodation requirements by 2010-2011 and will be the next priority. Seonaid Green asked if this will meet the existing or future accommodation needs. Brian said it will match the school roll now. Mairi Robertson (Head Teacher, Grantown Primary) asked that the primary school is not forgotten regarding necessary upgrades.
Hector Robertson (ECS Area Manager) discussed resourcing and staffing of schools. Significant funding has been devolved to schools in recent years with head teachers to determine. Special educational needs provision and transport remains in a central pot. Staffing is allocated according to the school roll as stipulated in the ‘DSM Manual’. He stated the current issues include budgetary constraints, energy costs; additional support needs demand, keeping up to date with ICT, school buildings and aging teacher staff.
Anne Howe asked why there was no outdoor activity programme at Kingussie High School.
ACTION: Hector agreed to discuss with John Tracey (Head Teacher)
Sandy McCook said parents were unhappy with in-service days planned in February next year. They are being added to the long weekend so the days off are Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday which makes it difficult for families to take over-seas winter holidays. The Parent Council has asked if days could be changed to the same week to make four consecutive weekdays. ACTION: Hector agreed to speak to Donald Macdonald about amendments to the 2010-11 Programme.
Willie McKenna asked people to approach the Scottish Government or elected members to get more money to fund the Curriculum for Excellence.
8. Question & Answer Session (Please refer to handout for Questions)
Isobel McCourt (Chair, Kingussie High School Parent Council, Question 1) asked about accommodation at Kingussie High School and the need for more classrooms and problems of water coming in through the windows near the computers.
ACTION: Brian agreed to follow up these issue regarding classrooms and the leaking windows
Isobel McCourt (Question 2) Hector said he has tried to protect the teaching staff and so has instead reduced the amount of cleaning.
Isobel McCourt (Question 3) Hector said that with the current financial climate saving had been made by delays in some appointments which had included the janitor. However, a new janitor has just been appointed and will start at the school shortly.
9. Future Meetings:
Barrie Davison (Boat of Garten Community Council) asked if a meeting could be held locally regarding Digital Switch-over
ACTION: Sue will contact the organisation to discuss organising a meeting in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Next Meeting; Wednesday 10 December 7-9pm (refreshments from 6.30) – venue and theme to be confirmed