MINUTES OF THE MULL COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON WEDNESDAY 10^th JANUARY 2007, ISLE OF MULL HOTEL

PRESENT:

Paul Forster, Vice Chair/Salen  Steve Barlow, Tobermory, Bert Leitch, Ulva Ferry

Fiona Brown, Pennyghael/Tiroran  Tony Proud, Dervaig   Ronnie Campbell, Bunessan        

Hazel Yule, Tobermory    Adrian Fitness, Craignure              Councillor Alistair MacDougall

Linda Dawson, Minute/Correspondence Secretary

1.      Apologies:

Linda Cameron, Chair, Jim Corbett, Lochbuie

2. Minutes and matters arising from the meeting held Tuesday 19th December 2006:

2.1   Minutes:

All items approved as an accurate record.  Proposed by Adrian Fitness, seconded by Fiona Brown

3.      Proposed Coastal Marine National Park:

Response from MCC sent to Scottish Executive, acknowledgement received.  Secretary would forward copy of response to members.                                                                                                                 Action: LD

4.      Planning Application-Carsaig:

Community Councillor for Pennyghael sent letter to applicant’s Architect to appeal against refusal of planning permission.  No further action required

5.      House Building Aros, Salen:

Development Plan Departure Hearing held 10th January 2007, Oban.  Chair invited to attend, but due to illness, apologies sent.  Councillor MacDougall stated that the objectors put their case forward, but these did not concern planning.  Outline planning was, therefore, passed.  Next stage detailed planning.

6.      Ulva Ferry School Sign:

Councillor MacDougall reported that £13,000 approximately would be made available for signage and white lining, any money left over for ditching

7.      CalMac:

“Wish List” required end of February, members requested to send short and long term suggestions to Secretary by end of January; a combined summary response would then be put together from MCC.  Article will appear in Am Muileach.  All present suggested response is also sent to “V” ships, Minister of Transport, MP/MSP’s.  Steve would e-mail ‘V’ ships contact details to Secretary                               Action: SB/ALL

8.      Correspondence Received:

8.1     Government consultation on the post office network:

Comments required by 14th February 2007, MCC would send in response.  Post Offices on Mull maybe under threat of closure, felt not appropriate for PO’s to be located in pubs and local halls, many are not open all the time, particularly in winter, this could devastate the whole island if PO’s were closed.  Councillor MacDougall would be attending Rural Affairs Committee meeting in Edinburgh, would raise Mull’s concerns                             Action: AMacD

8.2     Public Toilets, Craignure:

Letter received from Neil Brown, Argyll and Bute Council, stating work is planned, but details or times not yet available.  Secretary would progress before next meeting.  Still no news on Dervaig toilets                                                                                                                          Action: LD

8.3     Carsaig Pier:

Letter received from Historic Scotland stating “we do not find that it meets the necessarily rigorous standards for inclusion as a building of “special” architectural or historic interest.”  The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland have been asked to consider recording the site so that a formal photographic record of the pier can be made.

8.4     Outdoor Access-Core Path Planning Consultation:

Drop in day organised by Argyll and Bute Council.  Mull event Tuesday 23rd January 2007 Craignure Hall 11.30 am – 6.30 pm

8.5     Local Transport Strategy:

Project team on Mull Tuesday 23rd January 2007 Craignure Hall 11.30 am – 7.30 pm

9.      Local Election Process:

Elections will take place in May and Councillor MacDougall gave an overview on the process involved.  The Boundaries Commission have approved that there will be two wards and four Councillors each ward.  One ward will be Mull, Iona, Coll, Tiree, Kerrera and Oban South.  Voting will also change.  Nearer the time a TV campaign will be run by the Scottish Executive.  Councillor MacDougall stated he would be standing again

10.     MICT Update:

Next meeting Monday 15th January.  Update at next meeting                                       Action: PF

People wishing to know about large items of furniture in storage contact Mairi MacKinnon at MICT

11.     MESS Update:

Next meeting Thursday 18th January.  Update at next meeting                                      Action: FB

12.     Finance Report:

Closing Balance: £2139.97

13.    North West Mull Community Woodland Company Ltd, Dervaig:

Next meeting Thursday 18th January, will be discussing low cost housing, ground has been allocated within the forestry.  Argyll and Bute Council seem to be in agreement on the proposals.  Tony would attend

14.    Housing:

As some people experience difficulties with the planning process, it was suggested that Angus Gilmour, Head of Planning, Argyll and Bute Council, be invited to a future meeting of MCC                              Action: LD

15.     Roads and Transport:

Roads all over the island in a deplorable state of repair with many large potholes, ditches should be cleared or the roads will deteriorate further, but there is some work being carried out on the island.  Now that work is underway on the swimming pool and some ground work carried out on the Progressive Care Centre, Craignure, Adrian suggested that a speed limit should be enforced from Java road end to Craignure.  Letter to Neil Brown, Argyll and Bute Council                         Action: LD

Councillor MacDougall stated that a report by Head of Roads and Amenity Services in regard to Mull roads weight limits was given at Oban Lorne and The Isles Area Committee 10th January.  Documentation has been sent to the Scottish Executive for £15-£20 million to be released; but this figure does not include the Salen-Tobermory road.  It was suggested that a letter be sent to Tavish Scott asking for clarification and inviting him to visit Mull                                                     Action: LD

15.1   Keep Mull Moving:

Next meeting Friday 26th January 7.30 pm Craignure Inn, MP, MSP’s, Argyll and Bute Council have all been invited to attend.  Fiona suggested that the petition should be forwarded to the Minister for Transport.

16.     Area Reports by Community Councillors:

16.1   Steve Barlow, Tobermory:

Drumfin Gardens, Tobermory: air in pipes reducing water pressure, problem eventually sorted out, but no facilities provided for bottled water.

Non-sailing of ferry Craignure-Oban: CalMac stated that work on new link span would not interfere with the running of the ferry, but cancellations reported.  There has been a lack of communication from CalMac

16.2      Ronnie Campbell, Bunessan:

Pavements at Fountainhead: no information at present.  No sign of any work starting to replace the sewerage pipe at Bunessan.  Letter to Scottish Water.                                                                   Action: LD

17.  Time and Date of Next Meeting: