Minutes of the Mull Community Council (MCC) Meeting held on
Wednesday 9th July 2008
1.0
Present:
Linda Cameron (Chairperson), Graham Brown (Tobermory), Ronnie
Campbell (Bunessan), Adrian Fitness (Craignure), Paul Forster
(Salen, Vice-Chair), Bert Leitch (Ulva Ferry), Andrea MacPhail
(Tobermory), Cllr. Mary-Jean Devon, PC Finlay Christine (Strathclyde
Police), John Clare (Minute/Correspondence Secretary).
Also in attendance:
James Hilder (MICT), Alan Parker (Holiday Mull), John Gilbert (RAF
Community Relations Officer –
Scotland) and Martin Caldwell.
Apologies:
Fiona Brown (Pennyghael/Tiroran), Jim Corbett (Lochbuie), Tony
Proud (Dervaig, Treasurer), Cllr. Gordon Chalmers.
Action
2.0
Police Matters:
2.01
PC Finlay Christine reported that improvements to parking
arrangements for
the collection of schoolchildren in Tobermory were
successful.
2.02
Sgt., Angie McDonald, has been appointed and will be taking up the
post shortly.
2.03
Current under manning is being coped with well, but extra personnel
are
available if necessary.
3.0
RAF Low Flying:
John Gilbert (Squadron Leader – retired), the RAF
Community Liaison Officer for
Scotland, gave a presentation on the necessity for
low flying exercises highlighting
a number of main points:
-
Low flying is an essential skill
for RAF pilots, which cannot be adequately taught
in flight simulators for a number
of reasons including because of the physical
effects on pilots from G-force and
lack of reality of weather effects, etc.
-
Planes are allowed to fly to a
minimum height of 250ft. anywhere above Mull.
-
Flights are monitored by inboard
equipment and external, independent radar
tracking. Pilots can be court martialled for
deviating from operating instructions.
-
Annual figures are issued showing
numbers and areas of low flying exercises –
Northern Scotland (including Mull) has an around
average UK amount of low flying.
-
Complaints can be made, and
compensation claims submitted, about damage or
injury caused by low flying –
contact RAF Community Liaison on 013873 81156
with as much information as
possible about the incident.
John Gilbert also confirmed that a limited number of
flying displays are available for
major events and that if notified, the RAF will avoid
flying over agricultural shows,
major horse events, etc. where noise from low flying
could create a hazardous situation.
Linda Cameron thanked John Gilbert for a very
informative presentation and Cllr. Devon
expressed a consensus that putting up with the noise
from low flying was the least the
Mull community could do in support of our armed
forces.
4.0
Minutes of the meeting held 11th June
2008:
Corrections: Item 5.03 should read ‘..Cllr. Devon has
identified an element of match funding..’
Item 10.00 should read ‘..Ronnie
Campbell is to report to MCC.’
The amended minutes were proposed by Graham Brown and
seconded by Paul Forster.
5.0
Cal-Mac:
5.01
Cllr. Devon reported that a petition is being prepared in support of
the 40%
fare reduction for the residents of those islands not
covered by RET. Another
meeting to discuss this issue is to be held at 11am
on 19th July 2008 at the
Council Chambers in Oban, where video conferencing
with the other islands will be
in operation. It was confirmed that no minutes of
the first meeting were taken.
Concern was expressed regarding the exclusion of
hauliers from concessionary
fares. Cllr. Devon suggested that individuals with
strong feelings or knowledge
about the issue should attend the meetings and
contribute to discussions.
5.02
The rearranged Mull Ferry Committee AGM was held on 23 June 2008
with the
Cal-Mac Port Manager in attendance. The next meeting
has been arranged for 20th
August 2008 and is open to the public.
5.03
The closure of the Iona slipway is to be delayed until September,
when more
extensive repairs will be carried out.
5.04
The message regarding single track
road driving is not being read out by one
Chief Steward. A letter of complaint is to be sent
to Cal-Mac.
Chair/Sec
(It was noted that the registration number of
obstructive/dangerous drivers should
be reported to the police.)
5.05
The proposed harbour empowerment
orders for Fishnish and Tobermory have
been withdrawn due to the level of objections
received at present.
6.0
MICT Report:
6.01
New Business Centre - Fundraising is ongoing. A decision on
the
European funding application is expected by the end
of August.
6.02
Native Woodland Officer - Funding for another 2 years of the
post has
been secured.
6.03
The Scottish Government may hold a meeting regarding rural issues
and
community empowerment. MICT to notify MCC through
secretary.
MICT
6.04
Salen recycling bins
– Paul Forster is to contact local residents to establish
whether placing of notices on the bins has reduced
the noise. Relocation is still
required.
Paul Forster/MICT
6.05
Mull Renewables
- The remaining
Renewable Energy Forum funds of
£ 331-81 have been handed over to
MICT. The July meeting was cancelled.
7.0
Holiday Mull:
It was reported by Alan Parker that the membership
rules have been changed.
8.0
Tobermory Harbour Association:
Graham Brown reported that the day and evening events
of the opening of the
new building were a great success.
9.0
Roads & Transport:
9.01
Tarmac Provision - The offer of a tarmac company to install a
plant on
Mull is to be discussed with Argyll & Bute Council at
a meeting in August.
A letter in support of the project is to be sent by
MCC.
Chair/Sec.
9.02
Keep Mull Moving – Linda Cameron reported that a meeting was
held
(attended by Neil Brown) where it was agreed to
develop a plan to prioritise
work on the worst road sections. It was again
confirmed that funding is not
currently available for the Tobermory-Salen section
improvement, and agreed
that RAGS should be closely involved with KMM.
Two of the original KMM members have dropped out.
Adrian Fitness suggested that KMM should also write
in support of the tar plant.
Ronnie Campbell and Bert Leitch confirmed that
repairs to the roads in their
areas had made big improvements.
10.0
Finance Report:
Closing Balance of £ 1,352-72. Argyll & Bute Council
have paid there annual £500 grant.
11.0
Any Other Business
(including Area Reports from
Community Councillors):
11.01
Details of a licensing application for Craignure Stores were read
out. No
objections were raised.
11.02
Notification of the replacement of a section of water main in Salen
(commencing
28 July 2008) was read out.
11.03
Sound of Mull
– Concerns were raised regarding the apparent lack of local
knowledge by the Crown Office representatives at
their recent presentation. The
next meeting is scheduled for 10th
September 2008.
11.04
Data Protection Act – It is likely that notification to
Argyll & Bute Council
is required (£35-00 fee). Investigation
ongoing.
Chairperson
11.05
Calgary
– The success of management controls of the caravans,
campers, etc. are to be monitored for the remainder
of the summer. An area
of machair is to be restored. Problems of water
shortages are to be investigated.
11.06
Tobermory
– Responsibility for railing painting to be established. Main
Street
toilets are to be reopened until the end of October,
but may then be sold off.
The toilets in the new THA building are public
although not signposted. Graham
Brown
11.07
Chewing Gum
– A machine for removing chewing gum is due to come
to Tobermory in September. If required in other
locations, Cllr. Devon should
be informed.
11.08
Sewage collection/treatment tankers - The Scottish Water
tankers are
too large to gain access to a
number of properties. A request is to be made for
the provision of a smaller tanker
and pre-notification of visits.
Chair/Sec.
11.09
Sustainable Communities Act
– Linda Cameron read out correspondence
confirming that Government will be
writing to local communities in October
asking them to opt in to the
Sustainable Communities Act. The importance of this
in moving towards a more effective
and constructive MCC, and achieving greater
coordination and consensus of
organisations was stressed.
Linda Cameron introduced Martin
Caldwell, explaining his role in assisting her in
the preparation of a proposal for
a more effective Community Council, and circulated
the proposal document. Martin
explained the necessity of achieving a more
structured and effective way of
dealing with Argyll & Bute Council and other
organisations and agencies in an
environment of increasing complexity and
limited resources. The proposal
for two sub-groups was explained and a request
for two Councillors to volunteer
as Vice-Chairpersons was made. Also included is
a proposal for the appointment of
a Programme Support Officer, which will require
a bid for funding or secondment.
Linda Cameron confirmed that
she would greatly welcome comments related
to the proposal from all
Councillors within the next three weeks.
*ALL
11.10
Area Reports:
Graham Brown
(Tobermory): Sewage smells from
leaks in the main sewer
are apparent at various locations
in the Main Street and car park Numerous
complaints have been made but no
action has occurred.
Sewage smells also emanate from
the recent sewage lagoons despite
assurances that they would be
odour free. It was agreed that MCC should
write to Scottish Water asking for
comment/action on both issues. Chair/Sec.
Ronnie Campbell
(Bunessan): The delay in installing the bus shelter
relates to construction of the
base. A letter complaining of the delay
is to be written to Argyll & Bute
Council.
Chair/Sec.
Whilst remedial works (including
removal of asbestos) to Glencruilten
Hostel, Oban is carried out,
children will be housed in rented modular
buildings. Notice of arrangements
to parents was received very late.
Problems related to illegal and
dangerous parking and use of passing
places by wildlife tour operators
and associated passers-by was raised.
The code of contact for wildlife
watching was mentioned and it was agreed
that operators should be contacted
regarding the problem.
PC Christine
Adrian Fitness
(Craignure): Argyll & Bute Council are responsible for the
upkeep of the Java footpath. The
state of the footpath has been reported to
A & B council and action is
awaited.
Bert Leitch
(Ulva Ferry): Problems related to the intermittent water supply
to the Ulva Ferry toilets are
ongoing. Despite numerous complaints to
Argyll & Bute Council, no action
has been
forthcoming.
12.00 Time
and date of next meeting: 8:00pm Wednesday 10th
September 2008 at
the Craignure Hall.
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