Minutes of the Mull Community Council (MCC) Meeting held on Wednesday 11^th February 2009

Present:  Linda Cameron (Chair), Fiona Brown (Pennyghael/Tiroran), Ronnie Campbell

(Bunessan), Jim Corbett (Lochbuie), Paul Forster (Salen), Bert Leitch (Ulva Ferry), Susan Royle

(Craignure), Steve Willis (Salen), Cllr. Gordon Chalmers, John Clare Minute/Correspondence

Secretary). 

1.0                    Apologies:    Tony Proud (Dervaig, Treasurer), Cllr. Mary-Jean Devon.  Apologies received from Graham Brown (Tobermory) and Sgt. Angie McDonald (Strathclyde Police) on returning from the meeting.

Chair sent best wishes to Tony Proud following his recent health problems.

Chair welcomed Susan Royle as the co-opted Craignure Community Councillor.

   Action

2.0                  Police Matters:     No representative present.

3.0                  Minutes of the meeting held 14^th January 2009:

The minutes were proposed by Ronnie Campbell and seconded by Fiona Brown.

3.01            Outstanding Action Points:

9.03          Keep Mull Moving (KMM)

Chair confirmed that the letter had been written on KMM headed paper, but was

handwritten.  A further letter would be sent from MCC.                   Chair/Susan Royle

7.02   Mail Deliveries

A letter to be sent stating that the pre-Christmas service had been excellent

and asking if it can be done for that period, why not for the rest of the year?    Chair/Sec

                   10.01  Roads & Transport

Cllr. Chalmers confirmed positive movement toward Argyll & Bute Council

support for the proposed island tar plant. Further information is awaited.     Cllrs. Devon/

                                                                                                                                 Chalmers

                   13.10  Website

                   Website has been updated.  A CV is required from Susan Royle for

inclusion (to Tony Proud).                                                                  Susan Royle

9.03          Two letters had been written regarding the appalling state of the

roads, but no response had yet been received.  Other members are still to

write and a Councillor is required to investigate and implement an e-petition

in protest at the state of Mull roads.                                                                    All

11.0         Steve Willis reported that he had spoken to residents along the

old road in Salen, and confirmed that they are strongly opposed to any

additional street lighting, but would welcome traffic calming measures. 

Chair suggested Steve Willis should contact Cllr. Devon to clarify the

situation.                                                                                         Steve Willis

4.0         Correspondence Received:

4.01    Letter of acceptance of position of Community Council representation

for Craignure from Susan Royle.

4.02    Scottish Government Central Heating Programme:  Chair outlined

grant information (grants cease March 2009).  Councillors and residents should

view the website for more information – www.britishgas.co.uk/scotland

4.03    Argyll & Bute Licensing Forum: Wish to develop a relationship with

MCC in the ongoing review and consultation process.

4.04    Building Standards Users Forum: Notification of an engagement

meeting.

4.05    Planning Consultation with Community Councils: Jane Gillis e-mail

suggesting MCC register for planning alerts/updates.                                                    Sec.

4.06    NHS Public Partnership Meeting: Notification of meeting.  Fiona Brown

to attend as representative.

4.07    Association of Scottish Community Councils: Letter from the National

Secretary seeking members.

4.08    Sound of Mull Working Group:  Information from Sarah Cunningham

including the final draft report.

4.09    Scottish Government Review into Climate Change: Information on

concerns at proposals to lease forests to foreign investors with no

guarantees for continuity of local employment.  Questionnaire relating

to issues was taken by Fiona Brown.

4.10    Ferry Liaison – Future Shape of Ferry Services:  Notification of drop-in

event in Oban on Tuesday 17^th February from 4-7pm.

4.11    Licensing Application – McGregor’s Roadhouse, Craignure:  No objections.

4.12    Review of Community Councils:  Various correspondence relating to the

review including an invitation for MCC to be represented.  A number of local

meetings will be held to explain proposals and take feedback.  The requirement

is likely to be for more involvement and activity from Community Councils with

a greater importance of scrutiny of planning applications.  It was agreed that

Community Councils should have a much greater say (positive and negative)

in the planning process.  A new draft Code of Conduct for Community Councils

has been prepared.  All information is available on the review website.

5.0            Housing & Development:

5.01  Progressive Care Centre:  Cllr. Chalmers reported that West Highland Housing

Association were intending to visit all areas with a roadshow prior to submitting a

planning application in March.  It is hoped to go out to tender in late summer.

Fiona Brown will report back following the next NHS meeting.                             Fiona Brown

6.0            Cal-Mac:

Nothing to report.

7.0            MICT Report: 

No representative present.

8.0            Mull Renewables:

The Renewable Energy Fair will be held on Tuesday 24 February 2009 in Craignure Hall. 

9.0            Roads & Transport:

9.01       Road damage caused by Scottish Water has been repaired.

9.02       Susan Royle reported that a faulty street light in Craignure has not

been repaired despite reports to Mull and Oban Council offices.

9.03       Bert Leitch stated that gritting of icy side roads, including those used by

school traffic, is not being carried out and is not given any priority by A & B. 

After speaking to Kaz Rigby it was conformed that no gritting is carried out

before 7am, after 5pm or at weekends (Chair had passed gritting machine on

the way to the meeting?).  He requested improved resources before a serious

accident occurs.  Cllr. Chalmers agreed to investigate the situation.                 Cllr. Chalmers

9.04       Jim Corbett stated that the deeply rutted surface of the Ardura road

had still not been repaired despite a report to Argyll & Bute Council.

9.05       Chair received a phone call regarding the relocation of the 30mph speed

limit sign at Salen that expressed concern at the ongoing problem of speeding

vehicles entering the village.  Proposed construction of 22 additional houses will

increase traffic congestion and danger and will require traffic calming measures.   Chair/Police

9.06       Ronnie Campbell expressed his disgust at “Drive Carefully” signs on the

badly potholed section of road at Pennyghael, which has been awaiting repair

for months.  Chair asked Cllr. Chalmers to investigate the provision by Argyll &

Bute Council of a proposed road maintenance plan (6 monthly) to enable MCC

and residents to know when repairs are likely to be carried out.  Chair also        Cllr. Chalmers

asked Cllr. Chalmers whether anything could be done to push for reasonable

road maintenance for the island to include ditch clearance, tree clearing,

spraying rhododendron re-growth and all other aspects in addition to general

resurfacing and repairs.  Bert Leitch asked why amounts of public money of

approaching £1million were given in grants for constructing a forestry road when

no money was available for reasonable maintenance of the main Mull roads.

Note from Chair (or rant!)

Following a report in the Oban Times that only a “handful of complaints” had been received by Argyll & Bute Council, I would like to ask is there someone new in this office?  They certainly haven’t been to Mull or had any damage to their car.  We know Argyll & Bute Council do not have money to fix or upgrade Mull Roads apart from a stretch from Salen to Tobermory (although where is the money? and when 6years? 10years?)  So what happens to the rest of our island’s main roads, never mind the side roads!  We need to get Argyll & Bute roads department and our Councillors to get an immediate maintenance plan, plus their future vision of what they are going to do for Mull to protect what we have left of our infrastructure.

Some suggestions/moans:

·         There is only one member of staff for Ross of Mull - this is ridiculous - what about health and safety?

·         Coping stones lying beside a bridge (just need lifting back in place), metal railings crushed and bashed (health and safety?) never replaced and beside the main road for over a year.

·         Water lies and runs down our roads and erodes them away (just needs offsets dug out).

Side drains, some the same height or higher than the roads, causing water to flood onto

the roads (require digging out).

·         Bracken and bushes obscuring visibility (need to be cut back at the right time for maximum visibility and safety, not when visitors have gone home).

·         Stop filling potholes with cold tar, chips, etc. then run over them with a vehicle to roll in – heavy rain comes and they appear again (bigger) almost immediately (false economy).  We need hot tar made on the island (other islands have them).

The above would not cost millions - perhaps our taxes need to be used more efficiently and then our potholes could stop singing “Happy Birthday” to each other!!

We know Mull has been given a lot of money from the budget for sections of the islands roads compared to other areas of Argyll & Bute, but we must remember that Mull has also been neglected for a long time.

This looks like a wish list, but to me it is common sense (or is it?) while we try to somehow get millions to bring our roads up to 21^st Century standards and not grind to a halt!

Safe Driving - Linda

10.0       Councillors Reports:

Cllr. Chalmers confirmed that the revenue budget was due to be considered on

12^th February and that there shouldn’t be a reduction in the funding for

maintenance of public conveniences.  He also confirmed that he was heading a

group investigating the re-opening of the Tobermory public toilets to be run

by the community.  It was hoped that they would reopen in late spring or early

summer. 

Cllr. Chalmers also mentioned the review by A & B Council of public toilet provision

and the possible closure of the Ulva Ferry toilets.  Bert Leitch stated that the toilets

served a very useful public health function and must be maintained.  Cllr.

Chalmers agreed to contact Bert Leitch to discuss the issue.                         Cllr. Chalmers

11.0       Finance Report:

Closing Balance of £ 2,566-45. 

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

12.01  Ronnie Campbell (Bunessan) –  queried the proposed closure of the

road in Bunessan to prevent traffic crossing the cycleway.  He confirmed

that the road was regarded as a vehicular right of way, which was necessary

to provide an alternative access to the village.  Chair asked Cllr. Chalmers

whether MCC had the power to do something about this situation.  Cllr.

Chalmers agreed to investigate and contact Ronnie Campbell.                       Cllr. Chalmers

Ronnie Campbell also mentioned that problems were occurring with deer

poaching on the island at night.  Anyone seeing anything should contact

the police.

12.02  Bert Leitch (Ulva Ferry) – Reiterated the appalling state of roads.

12.03  Tony Proud (Dervaig) – The new recycling site has been constructed

and the bins are to be relocated to it.

A complaint has been sent to the Community Health Partnership regarding

abrupt discharge of a patient from Glasgow to Mull.

12.04  Linda Cameron (Chair) – Confirmed the terrible state of the Knockvologan

road which has huge potholes that have not been repaired for over a year.

13.0      Date of next meeting:  7:30pm Wednesday 11^th March 2009 at Craignure Hall.