Minutes of Mull Community Council (MCC)
Meeting held on Wednesday 10^th December 2008

Present: Linda Cameron (Chair), Graham Brown (Tobermory), Fiona Brown (Pennyghael/

Tiroran), Andrea MacPhail (Tobermory), Tony Proud (Dervaig, Treasurer), Cllr. Mary-Jean

Devon, John Clare (Minute/Correspondence Secretary).

1.0 Apologies: Ronnie Campbell (Bunessan), Jim Corbett (Lochbuie), Bert Leitch (Ulva Ferry), Cllr. Gordon Chalmers, James Hilder (MICT).

Chair apologised officially for not returning telephone calls from Tony Proud and Mary-Jean Devon.

Chair informed the meeting that she had been asked to attend an Emergency Planning Meeting on 4 December together with representatives of the Police, Fire Service, Coastguard and Argyll & Bute Council. Having arrived at the venue at the appointed time, together with the coastguard representative, it was eventually established that the meeting had been cancelled. Neither Chair nor the coastguard representative had been informed of the cancellation.

Action

2.0 Police Matters: No representative of Strathclyde Police was present.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Order aimed at relieving congestion and improving

safety on the roadway outside Tobermory High School was discussed.

3.0 Minutes of the meeting held 12^th November 2008:

3.01 Correction: Item 5.00 should read “The smaller Linkspan at Oban” not Craignure.

The corrected minutes were proposed by Fiona Brown and seconded by Tony Proud.

3.02 Outstanding Action Points:

4.00 Glenforsa Airstrip

Cllr. Devon confirmed that the airstrip manager is not a Council employee, but

operates under contract. Chair reaffirmed that future proposals for the airstrip

should be included the 2030 Plan for Mull and that a representative of the Mull

pilots should attend meetings to enable their input.

7.01 Salen recycling bins

Mairi Greig confirmed by e-mail that the proposed alternative site for the recycling

bins was unsuitable due to cost, that no further complaints had been received about

the existing operation and that a search for an alternative site would be ongoing.

9.03 Keep Mull Moving

A request for financial assistance had been submitted by Chair to Cllr.

MacIntyre as requested. No reply had been received to date – Cllr.

Devon to investigate. Cllr. Devon

11.05 2030 Plan for Mull

Cllr. Devon confirmed that a Working Group had been formed at the 17^th

November meeting, but that representatives from some areas of the island,

and from some bodies including education and health, were still required.

The next meeting is due to be held on 22 January 2009 at 7.30pm in

Craignure Hall.

Argyll & Bute Recyling Improvements

Due to commence April 2009. Meetings will be held to explain the system.

Scottish Parliament

Chair completed and sent the questionnaire.

Progressive Care Centre

Chair wrote to Scottish Water immediately after the last meeting – a response

has not been received.

4.0 Correspondence Received:

4.01 Dervaig Renewables Trust: Information on the proposal for wind turbines

received. An Open Day was held on 22 November and a vote on the proposal is to

be held at a public meeting on 11 December.

4.02 SSMEI: Various items of information received. A replacement MCC

representative is required.

4.03 Community Council Review: A Community Engagement Strategy is being

drawn up. The initial consultation will be complete at the end of March 2009, with a

second draft by the end of May. The final draft will be ready in June 2009. Because

of this the elections will be delayed until September 2009. All positions will then be up

for re-election. Chair confirmed that issues discussed relating to a more effective

Community Councilfor Mull will be covered under this review.

4.04 MCC - Vacancies, Salen & Craignure: Only one application has been received

for the position of Salen representative. A representative is still required for Craignure.

4.05 Community Engagement Meeting: 11 December at 7.00pm in Oban with

agenda items including Community Council Review and road infrastructure on Mull.

Tony Proud is representing MCC and will provide a report. Tony Proud

4.06 Traffic Management in Tobermory: Proposals include the introduction of

Main Street parking charges in an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion and improve

parking for residents. It was agreed that Tobermory councillors should hold a public

meeting and re-convene the sub-committee, with other interested parties, to discuss

the proposals.

5.0 Housing & Development (including Progressive Care Centre):

5.01 Fiona Brown reported that the PPC was discussed at the Lorn Area Patient

Partnership Forum (PPF) meeting where it was confirmed that funding from all

sources was available except West Highland Housing Association.

The PPF would like to know if Mull people wish to attend this meeting, and if so,

what time and venue would be suitable for meetings? (Meetings could be held

on Mull but only if there is sufficient interest.) Health issues should be reported

to Fiona Brown (as MCC representative) to enable her to raise them at meetings.

6.0 Cal-Mac:

6.01 Remedial work to Iona slipway commenced on 24 November and is

scheduled to be complete in mid-January after the Christmas and New Year break.

6.02 Cllr. Devon confirmed that she had received a lot of complaints regarding the

removal of the 1.00pm sailings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, it was

generally thought that the majority were in favour of the later sailings, which were

to benefit the whole island not just farmers. Chair to confirm this. Chair

6.03 Fiona Brown expressed concerns that the last ferry on 30 October had not

waited for the arrival of an ambulance. Cllr. Devon confirmed that ferry captains

were instructed only to wait if contacted by Doctors to confirm a “blue call

emergency”. It was thought that some locums may not be aware of this.

7.0 Mail Deliveries:

It was agreed that the service was much better with earlier mail deliveries and that

a letter should be sent from MCC to the Postcom representative thanking him. Chair/Sec

8.0 MICT Report:

Graham Brown is to attend meetings as the MCC representative.

8.01 Business Resource Centre funding has reached £ 1,436,686 with £79,187

still to find. The date for applying for match funding has been extended to the

end of January.

8.02 MESS are to run road shows to provide information relating to the revised

recycling collections.

9.0 Mull Renewables:

A Renewable Energy Fair will be held on Tuesday 24 February 2009.

10.0 Roads & Transport:

10.01 £ 380,000 has been provided by Argyll & Bute Council to complete the

survey and fund land acquisition for the new stretch of Salen-Tobermory road.

RAGS wish to make a formal presentation to Cllr’s. Chalmers and Devon of their

report by an independent engineer. This includes proposals for an alternative

route.

Chair stated that numerous sections of the main roads of Mull were in an

appalling and dangerous condition and that repairs and resurfacing should be

funded in priority to such projects. Chair asked that Cllr. Devon raise this matter

at the next meeting. Cllr. Devon

Means of taking this matter further were discussed including a proposal that a

new petition (e-petition and paper) should be started with a view to requesting

a meeting with the Scottish Minister. Road survey vehicles had been seen

recently on Mull, and it was agreed that discussions should be held at the MCC

meeting in January when more Councillors should be present.

11.0 Councillors Reports:

Cllr. Devon confirmed that she will miss the January and February meetings and

that any queries during this time should be e-mailed to her.

12.0 Finance Report:

Closing Balance of £ 2,764-41.

13.0 Any Other Business (including Area Reports from Community Councillors):

13.01 MCC web site – Requires updating. Tony Proud

13.02 Healthcare – Cllr. Devon confirmed that she has written requesting the

provision of a paramedic with motorcycle transport (the number of Mull residents

is said to be insufficient to warrant a second ambulance).

13.03 Tobermory Toilets – Graham Brown confirmed that meetings have been

held and a small committee formed to discuss the future of the toilets. The next

meeting is to be held on 20^th December. Public comments are required by 9^th

January 2009 – a petition in support of re-opening the toilets is in Tobermory shops.

13.04 Waste Water Scotland – Cllr. Devon confirmed that WWS are prepared to

come to Mull in May to hear any problems. A new septic tank clearing service is

available.