GLENORCHY AND INNISHAIL

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of Council Meeting

 held in Dalmally Village Hall

 on 26 October 2005

 

 

Present: Alan Thomas, Kate Craig, Pam Whitehead, Cavin Crawford, Karl Pipes, Averil Watson, PC Greg Bryce plus 10 members of the public

 

 

1.                   Welcome

 

The Chairman thanked Averil Watson, Kate Craig, John Smith, and all others who have helped with the GO&ICC in the past and announced his intention to finish by 2030 hours despite the many items on the agenda.  He felt the council should concentrate on what can be done to influence matters and for each item there should be a briefing, followed by a discussion then a decision on what actions should be taken.

 

2.                   Apologies for absence

 

Allan Macaskill

 

3.                   Minutes of Inaugural Meeting on Wednesday, 12 October 2005

 

It was noted the Community Council has 4 months (i.e. by the end of February 2006) to make comments regarding the Model Constitution, Standing Orders, and the Code of Conduct.  It was agreed to put this on the agenda for the next two meetings (end November 2005 and February 2006).

 

It was agreed that the Chairman and Secretary would look at the weekly Planning notifications list, notify all other Community Council members of any likely issues, and respond to any issues within 14 days, to keep to the Argyll and Bute Council planning timetable.

 

It was agreed the two vacancies for Community Council members (Dalmally) would be discussed in the New Year.

 

 

4.                   Proposed Argyll and Bute Health Board arrangements

 

The Chairman indicated the current status and stated the three options:

 

The options are 1. All A&B Council area goes to Highland HB and the rest to Greater Glasgow HB; 2. As for 1, but the former Dumbarton DC area (west of Loch Lomond etc) also goes to GGHB; 3. As for 2, but Cowal Peninsula, Dunoon, Mid Argyll, etc also go to GGHB (This would give a boundary half way up the road from Inveraray to Dalmally).

 

The Chairman then asked for a discussion bearing in mind the following points:

 

i.                     Who is on the Community Health Partnership?  Do we leave it to the Health professionals, GPs, etc, and Councillors, or do we have our say? 

ii.                    What are the CHP’s objectives and plans?  How do we influence them?

iii.                  What is the current and future funding?  And clinical and professional staffing?

iv.                  Cooperation between Oban and Fort William Hospitals, and likely effects.

v.                   Out of hour’s services effects.

 

The Chairman had prepared a brief paper in September, which emphasised the needs of the bottom up approach, and not the top down bureaucracy.  He stated this was available to all Community Council members, and others.

 

There followed a general discussion including particular concern regarding the effect on the out of hour’s service and the need for specialist services to be retained by Oban and Fort William hospitals.

 

It was agreed that the Community Council would send a letter to the Scottish Executive, copying Argyll & Bute Council, saying that the meeting favoured Option 1, and were note keen on Option 3.  The Community Council also felt that it, or the Association of Community Councils should be represented, or have a voice into, the new Community Health Partnership. 

 

It was also noted that contact had been made with the Scottish Ambulance Service and that it was still planned to go ahead with training of volunteers for the First Responder service.  SAS had however indicated that Dalmally was below the criteria for a First responder service but that they hoped to continue the arrangements.

The need for the First Responder service was supported by the Police representative, PC Greg Bryce.

 

5.                   Police Report

 

PC Greg Bryce gave a full report of police activities in the Community Council area over the past 12 months.  This included the three road traffic accidents within a month at St Conan’s Kirk corner in Lochawe.  Because of this Strathclyde Police have written to the Scottish Executive to recommend the speed limit be reduced to 30mph in Lochawe (and Taynuilt). PC Bryce mentioned he felt there should be a crash barrier installed by the corner and the road covered with an anti-slip surface.   It was agreed the Community Council would write to Strathclyde Police to request that Dalmally also have a speed limit reduction to 30mph.  PC Bryce felt the reduction was important as villagers have to access the surgery, pharmacy and post office via the main road (A85) (where there is presently a 40 mph speed limit).

 

PC Bryce also mentioned the need for a plain clothed policeman to accompany the High School bus, and that there had been vandalism at Dalmally Primary School during the summer.  He also stated he was looking for volunteers to become Special Constables in the area, and that in 2006 when phoning Dalmally Police Station the call will go through to Strathclyde Police Call Centre.  This was not welcomed.

 

A member of the public enquired about the possibility of introducing ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ signs in Glenview.  PC Bryce said it would be difficult to enforce, as he wouldn’t get a 3 second hold on a car with his speed gun. 

 

It was agreed that Cavin Crawford would follow up with the Community Council and PC Greg Bryce on road safety matters at Bridge of Orchy.

 

6.                   Planning items, including third party right of appeal

 

Karl Pipes presented the problems in relation to this issue, and it was agreed that the Community Council would write to the Argyll & Bute Council Planning Department asking for an update on this issue, and details of proposed Scottish Executive changes in the Planning process.

 

The Chairman summarised the Update from the Argyll & Bute Council on Planning arrangements and noted the situation in relation to the monthly Area Team meetings, and the Lorn Plan (likely to take more than a year to be agreed).

 

7.                   Water supply problems

 

Pam Whitehead and others summarised the repeated problems encountered in Dalmally and Lochawe over the past 6 months. The Chairman summarised the response he had received from Scottish Water regarding the 14th September 2005 incidents.  It was agreed that the Community Council would write to Scottish Water, with a copy to Argyll & Bute Council, demanding a comprehensive works programme in the near future to correct the underlying problems in Dalmally and Lochawe, and not to rely on short term fixes.  The letter would also ask whether new housing applications in the area were being turned down because of inability to provide appropriate water supply.

 

8.                   Public transport arrangements

 

Pam Whitehead outlined the poor service provided by Citylink, Glasgow regarding the bus service through Dalmally and Lochawe, and particularly the problems with booking seats, which should not be necessary.  The fact that the trains and buses went through at the same time each day was also noted as a problem.  She emphasised the need for a proper local bus service.

After a discussion it was agreed that a letter would be sent to the Argyll & Bute Council official responsible for Transport arrangements outlining the problems, and pressing for improvements in the service.

 

 

9.                   Access to Kilchurn Castle

 

Kate Craig outlined the problems over the past two years with the closure of the railway gates across the public access path to the Castle.

After discussion it was strongly agreed that the situation was unacceptable, and the following actions were agreed,

i.                     Historic Scotland would be invited to meet the GO&ICC to explain their position and indicate what could be done to correct the problem.  (Historic Scotland could also answer other queries relating to other locations within the Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council area.)  The Dalmally Historical Association and local hotel businesses would also be involved.

ii.                    A letter would be sent to the person responsible at Argyll & Bute Council asking for their position on the matter and what could be done to correct the situation.

iii.            Enquiries would be undertaken with the Scottish Executive to see whether the national change in responsibility for railway matters affected the situation.

 

10.                Environment items

 

The Committee and Meeting were asked what other Environmental items should be considered by the CC.  The points raised were,

i.                     Tree Preservation orders.  It was agreed that the Chair would make enquiries with the A&BC regarding the current situation and processes, and the matter would be discussed at a future meeting.

ii.                    The Forestry Commission’s ‘Strategic Timber Network for Argyll & Bute’ – what was this and what were the implications?  It was agreed that this would be raised with the Forestry Commission at a future meeting.  (It was noted that there was a meeting on the 15th November in Dalmally Village Hall sponsored by the FC regarding ‘Forest and Archaeology.)

iii.                  Fly Tipping.  PC Greg Bryce asked for the assistance of the community in reporting to him any fly tipping activities.

 

Wind Farm proposals

 

The Chairman briefed the Meeting on the current situation and noted that other Community Councils in Argyll had participated strongly in the discussion regarding the Wind Farm Proposals in their areas.

It was noted that the time deadline for any comments or objections to the Stacain Wind Farm had already passed, and that A&BC Planning Department were waiting on a number of other submissions from other bodies required by statute to be consulted, before preparing a report and recommendation for the A&BC, expected in the New Year.  It was agreed that the situation would be monitored.

It was noted that the proposal for the Glen/Lochan Shira Wind Farm had not yet been submitted to the Scottish Executive, and the situation would be monitored.

 

The Chairman was asked what opposition there was locally to the Wind Farm proposals and it was noted that there had been many formal objections from persons and organisations in the GO&ICC area to the Interliever and Carraig Ghael Wind Farm proposals, and this information was in the public domain.

 

It was agreed that the developers of the Wind Farms should be contacted to ask for information from them on the levels of local support or objection. 

 

The Meeting noted the current status of the Wind Farm proposals affecting the GO&ICC area, and it was agreed that enquiries would be made locally to individuals, hotels, community groups, etc, to ask for their reactions to the proposals.  The CC Committee would examine means of doing this.

 

The following action was agreed:

 

1.                    Make enquiries locally of individuals, businesses, hotels, community groups, etc, of their awareness of what is proposed; their reactions to them (For, Against, Not bothered); and ask what follow up should be pursued by the Community Council and Argyll & Bute Council, and the SE.

2.                    Write asking for clarification of current status of all Wind Farm proposals for the GO&ICC area, i.e. from Eredine to Bridge of Orchy, to Scottish Executive, A&B Council, and Wind Farm developers.

(Including asking for further details of how local areas are likely to be affected – views; environment, birds, animals, trees, flora, etc; tourism; employment; costs for electricity.)

3.                    Individual letters may be sent to SE, A&B Council giving own views on proposed developments.

 

 

11.                Website arrangements

 

Kate Craig outlined the current situation with the local Website, and proposed that the GO&ICC should have its own section on the website, giving the details of the CC Meetings, the Agenda, and Minutes of each Meeting.  This was agreed. 

 

12.                Communications with the Community

 

The Committee indicated that they wished the venues for the CC Meetings to take place in several locations in the GO&ICC area, and this was agreed.  It was proposed that the next meeting should be in Lochawe Village Hall in early December. 

 

It was asked that separate Notices could be sent to the Cladich area and this was agreed.

 

13.                AOB items

 

The AOB items discussed were,

i.                     The effect of a 30 mph speed limit on possible developments at the ‘Tightline’ pub in Lochawe, and the request that anyone having concerns regarding possible tree thinning in front of the hotel should contact the Chairman or the pub so that any concerns could be passed on to the owners.

ii.                    It was noted that a list of ‘Community Groups’ within the GO&ICC area would be useful.

iii.                  It was agreed that the Forestry Commission should be invited to a future CC meeting to review all Forestry matters.

iv.                  It was agreed that invitations to the CC meetings should go to Allan Macaskill, as the local Councillor, and possibly the local MSP and MP.

v.                   It was noted that John Smith, the previous CC Treasurer had handed over an up to date statement of the finances of the CC, and that Pam Whitehead would be taking this responsibility in future.

vi.                  Clarification was requested regarding the Eredine Village Fund, and whether it could make a contribution to the improvement of the road in Eredine. It was asked that a letter requesting this information be received by the CC.

vii.                A member of the public mentioned the destructive effects of water leakages at the Keppochan Bridge, Cladich.  It was agreed the CC would write to the A&BC Roads department about the problem.

 

There being no other business the Meeting closed at 2100 hours.

 

 

14.          Dates of Next meeting(s)

 

The date for the next meeting is Wednesday 30 November 2005 at 7pm in Lochawe Village Hall.  It was agreed meetings would be held every two months.