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MINUTES OF THE MULL COMMUNITY
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes of Mull Community
Council (MCC) Meeting held on Wednesday 14th January 2009
Present:
Linda Cameron (Chair), Graham Brown (Tobermory), Fiona Brown
(Pennyghael/
Tiroran), Ronnie Campbell
(Bunessan), Jim Corbett (Lochbuie), Paul Forster (Salen), Bert
Leitch
(Ulva Ferry), Tony Proud (Dervaig,
Treasurer), Steve Willis (Salen), Cllr. Mary-Jean Devon, Sgt.
Angie McDonald (Strathclyde
Police), John Clare Minute/Correspondence Secretary) and 1
member of the public
1.0
Apologies:
Andrea MacPhail (Tobermory), Cllr. Gordon Chalmers.
Action
2.0
Police Matters:
Sgt. McDonald confirmed that
Christmas and New Year policing
had
been well organised with no major incidents. Officers are currently
very busy
with
ongoing issues.
3.0
Minutes of the meeting held 10th December
2008:
10.00 Add: Fiona Brown commented on the appalling
state of the roads in Pennyghael,
especially at the Carsaig end where there is a steep
drop to the shore at the side of the
road with no barriers/warning. The Council had been
contacted but with no action.
5.01 Add: West Highland Housing has been left short
of funding because the
Government has reduced the amount it will provide per
housing unit.
13.30 Correction: The 9th January 2009
closing date for comments related to proposed
parking charges not toilet closure.
The amended minutes were proposed by Tony Proud and
seconded by Graham Brown.
3.01 Outstanding Action
Points:
9.03
Keep Mull Moving
Cllr. Devon stated that more information is required
regarding the request for
financial assistance. Chair to
investigate.
Chair
6.02
Removal of the
1.00pm Cal-Mac sailings on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Following the NFU meeting, Chair
confirmed that farmers had only requested a late
sailing on sale days (Tuesday).
Cllr. Devon stated that many people thought the
late sailings to be more
beneficial. Ronnie Campbell suggested that concerned
individuals should attend the
Ferry Liaison meetings to air their views.
7.02
Mail Deliveries
Chair confirmed that the letter
had not been sent because the pre-Christmas
improvements in delivery had been
to suit Royal Mail not Mull people.
Jim Corbett suggested that a
letter should 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
Chair reiterated 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 new
projects. Cllr. Devon confirmed that Argyll & Bute
Council had stated that there was
no funding for improved road maintenance
despite admitting that the state
of Mull roads was the worst in the area. Cllr.
Devon is attending a meeting next
Tuesday where she is hoping to get more
information, including a
commitment to support the proposed island tar plant.
Cllr. Devon
13.10
Website
Updated website information was
circulated by Tony Proud. A CV is required
from Steve
Willis for
inclusion.
Steve Willis
4.0
Correspondence Received:
4.01
Proposed Road Upgrade – Salen to Tobermory:
The
RAGS Engineers
Report had been
received and was tabled for viewing.
4.02
Community Council Review:
Correspondence received. Chair suggested
that Councillors should view the
website for more information.
4.03
SSMEI:
Notice of 13th January 2009 meeting received. MCC
representative
still required.
4.04
Royal Society of Edinburgh Report
on the Hills & Islands:
Follow up
meeting to be held in Argyllshire
Gathering Hall, Oban on 19th January 2009 from
12.00 – 2.00pm.
4.05
Consultation on Forestry & the
Scottish Climate Change Bill:
Information received. The website
has full details.
4.06
Forestry Commission Sale of Land:
Notification of a possible sale of
two forestry sites at Glen Forsa
and Tiroran was discussed. It was confirmed
that the FC office in Oban had
closed at the beginning of December 2008.
4.07
E-mail from Gordon Chalmers: Hopes to improve attendance in
2009.
Issues relating to proposed
parking charges in Tobermory were discussed and
it was confirmed by Sgt. McDonald
that parking was not a policing issue
provided there were no
contraventions of road traffic law.
4.08
Renewable Energy Champion:
An e-mail had
been received from
James Hilder confirming that
funding for a part time post had been promised.
4.09
NHS Public Consultation:
A meeting regarding mental health issues is
arranged for 29 January 2009 in
Craignure Hall from 3.00-7.30pm.
5.0
Housing & Development:
5.01
A number of planning issues were discussed. Cllr. Devon stated that
Mull Community Councillors should monitor planning
applications closely and
consider possible impacts. Chair asked Cllr. Devon
to tell those with concerns
and comments on planning applications to notify MCC
by letter so that further
action can be considered.
6.0
Cal-Mac:
6.01
Remedial work to Iona slipway should be complete shortly.
6.02
The issue of proposed ferry fare increases was raised and it was
noted
that the price difference between Mull and the areas
receiving RET would become
even more extreme.
7.0
MICT Report:
Graham Brown reported:
7.01
Craignure Business Resource Centre
- Progress is held up while funding
discussions are ongoing.
7.02
Pennyghael
Hall -
Alternative funding to the Council shortfall is being sought.
7.03
Scout Hall,
Tobermory –
funding is being sought for a replacement building.
7.04
Garmony
– Phase 1 of the improvements to the sports facilities are to be
carried out this year.
7.05
Jute shopping
bags (1 free per household) are now available from MESS.
7.06
MICT Annual
Review – Contact
Graham Brown with views on priorities for
the coming year.
8.0
Mull Renewables:
The
Renewable Energy Fair will be held on Tuesday 24 February 2009 in
Craignure Hall. An invitation was given to each Councillor.
9.0
Roads & Transport:
9.01
Tony Proud reported that a file had been kept on road damage
caused by Scottish Water, who say they will undertake
a complete repair.
9.02
Ronnie Campbell reported a recent serious accident on the road
approaching Bunessan. Sgt. McDonald confirmed that
it had been due to
driver error. Various improvements to road
safety/signage in the area were
discussed, and Sgt. McDonald confirmed that a
representative of the Council
roads department could visit the spot to assess and
recommend any
improvements.
9.03
The appalling state of repair of many of the Mull roads and the lack
of
response to reporting of damage was reiterated by
Councillors. Chair asked
that every member of MCC write a letter of complaint
to MSP’s, Cllr’s., etc. All
Graham Brown agreed to investigate and implement an
e-petition in protest
at the state of Mull
roads.
Graham Brown
10.0
MCC Marquee:
It was agreed to raise the suggested rate of
contribution for borrowing the
marquee to £280-00 and floor to £70-00.
11.0
Councillors Reports:
Cllr. Devon confirmed that the petition for retention
of the Tobermory toilets
had been signed by c. 300 people (from a population
of c. 1,000). Attendance
at the first meeting had been only 5, with 21 at the
second. A significant
number of residents are in opposition.
Cllr. Devon reported that residents of the new
development in Salen had
requested improvement of street lighting. Steve
Willis is to investigate
the
situation.
Steve Willis
12.0
Finance Report:
Closing Balance of £ 2,690-24.
13.0
Any Other Business
(including Area Reports from
Community Councillors):
13.01
Scottish Water are hoping to alleviate the problem of over-large
septic
tank lorries, which are unable to access all Mull
sites. They should also contact
owners before visits.
13.02
Jim Corbett
(Lochbuie) – The surface of the Ardura road has been
washed away, leaving a deep rut.
13.03 Bert
Leitch (Ulva Ferry) – In addition to the appalling state of road
surfaces, ditches and offshoots are blocked causing water to flow
along roads.
13.04 Ronnie
Campbell (Bunessan) – Chair confirmed that the original plans
for
the bus shelter had been scaled down, but new plans had been
re-submitted
to
Argyll & Bute Council. The go-ahead is awaited.
13.05 Paul
Forster (Salen) – Letter of resignation tendered. Paul thanked
all
Community Councillors past and present and expressed his hope that
he
had
done his bit for MCC. Chair thanked Paul and wished him all the
best
in
his new venture. Steve Willis was welcomed as the new co-opted
Councillor
for
Salen.
13.06 Tony
Proud (Dervaig) – Confirmed arrival of materials for the
construction of the new recycling site.
13.07 Graham
Brown
(Tobermory) – The MCC sub-committee to discuss
parking charges was reconvened with Graham Brown elected as the new
Chair. A copy of the letter of response, which asked for
concessions and
some
guarantees, was handed to Linda Cameron. It was confirmed that
residents have mixed opinions regarding the proposals and that if 9
objections
are
received, further consultation and investigation will be required.
13.08 Fiona
Brown (Pennyghael) – Confirmed that roads all the way
through Pennyghael were in an awful state. Fiona also expressed her
extreme
disappointment at the loss of Leader match funding for Pennyghael
Hall.
13.09 Linda
Cameron (Chair) – Reported the horrendous state of the
Knockvologan road with numerous huge potholes. Situation reported
before
Christmas, but no action has resulted.
Chair
introduced Susan Royle to the meeting, who is a potential MCC
representative for Craignure to replace Adrian Fitness
14.0
Date of next meeting: 7:30pm Wednesday 11th February
2009 at Craignure Hall.
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