Minutes of Mull Community Council (MCC)
Meeting held on Wednesday 11th March
2009
Present:
Linda Cameron (Chair), Fiona Brown (Pennyghael/Tiroran), Ronnie
Campbell
(Bunessan), Jim Corbett
(Lochbuie), Tony Proud (Dervaig, Treasurer), Susan Royle
(Craignure),
Cllr. Gordon Chalmers, John Clare
Minute/Correspondence Secretary). Also P.C. Neil Walker
(Strathclyde Police), Maureen
Dehaney (MICT) and two members of the public.
1.0
Apologies:
Bert Leitch (Ulva Ferry), Steve Willis (Salen), Cllr. Mary-Jean
Devon.
Chair
confirmed that since the last meeting, Graham Brown had sent his
apologies and is standing down due to pressure of work. This leaves
a position vacant for a co-opted
councillor from Tobermory. Anyone interested in
taking on the position should contact
Chair (tel: 01681 700 372).
Action
2.0
Police Matters:
Operation Easter is due to commence on 16th
March. This would again
utilise officers drafted from the mainland.
3.0
Minutes of the meeting held 14th January
2009:
9.01
Correction -
9.05 should read: “Chair received a phone call regarding the
relocation of the 30mph speed limit sign at Salen
and expressed concern at the
ongoing problem of speeding vehicles entering the
village.”
The minutes were proposed by Susan Royle and seconded
by Jim Corbett.
3.01 Outstanding Action
Points:
7.02
Mail Deliveries
The letter to Postcomm 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?’ was sent and an
e-mail reply received. It explained
that targets for 1st
class deliveries were suspended for the pre-Christmas
period, which enabled an improved
delivery service. Alternatives could
again be investigated but could
impact on island employment. Timings
of passage of post on the ferries
is to be clarified before the next meeting.
Chair/Sec
10.01 Island
tar plant
Cllr. Chalmers reported that no
progress had been made. Cllrs.
Devon/Chalmers
Salen
street lighting/traffic calming
A written report from Steve Willis confirmed that he
had spoken to
Cllr. Devon who is to clarify the
situation.
Cllr. Devon
4.01 Planning Consultation
with Community Councils: MCC has registered
to receive national planning
alerts/updates.
5.01 Progressive Care Centre (PCC):
Funding in place, provided contractors
prices are within budget. Chair
stated that public meetings had taken place –
approx 100 attendees.
Consultation with SEPA, Scottish Water and Roads Dept.
ongoing. Commencement is likely
next year with a potential 2011 opening.
Fiona Brown reported from the PPF
meeting that the second mental
health presentation took place,
but was poorly attended; a new bowel
cancer-screening programme is to be launched; a representative of
the
Scottish
Ambulance Service is to be asked to attend the next meeting;
the upgrade
of Bunessan surgery to go ahead.
9.06
Road
Maintenance Plan
Cllr. Chalmers stated that there
was a growing belief that not only was there
inadequate funding for road
maintenance but that Argyll & Bute Council had
given up even trying to provide an
adequate service. It also appeared that
Stewart Turner treated Mull with a
degree of contempt stating that education
and social services had to be
prioritised. Cllr. Chalmers also stated that it was
known that A & B roads were the
worst in Scotland and that Mull roads were
the worst in A & B. Chair asked
that Cllr’s. Chalmers and Devon impress on
A & B officers the depth of
concern felt by MCC and reiterated that with the
ongoing deterioration of Mull
roads, a maintenance plan is required so that it
can be seen what A & B are doing
to at least protect what we have got left.
Cllrs. Devon/Chalmers
Public Toilets
Cllr.
Chalmers confirmed that the next public meeting regarding Tobermory
Toilets was
on 12th March and that he was hopeful that the issue was
moving
toward a
community takeover. He also confirmed that Ulva Ferry toilets
were to
remain as is, but that no extra funding is available.
Bunessan
Cycleway
Information
was sent by Cllr. Chalmers to Ronnie Campbell who contacted chair:
No
acknowledgment received to date. A copy of correspondence to be
sent to Cllr.
Chalmers.
Chair
4.0
Correspondence Received:
4.01
A letter
relating to three planning applications at Ardura was read out.
Following discussions it was agreed to write to A & B
to express concern and
enable participation in a possible site
meeting.
Chair/Sec
4.02
Climate Change:
A response in thanks for completion of the
questionnaire was received from David Stewart.
4.03
Review
of Community Councils:
Two meetings were held in Oban. A
research questionnaire and review of Scottish Government funding are
proposed from which a Council report is due in June 2009, with
elections
potentially in late 2009.
4.04
Redesign of Mental Health Services:
A meeting, which Tobermory
requested, took place but was very poorly attended.
4.05
Core
Path Consultation:
Two presentations are to be held – 29th
March
(12-6pm) in Bunessan, and 30th March (10am-5pm) in the
Aros Hall.
4.06
Traffic Management Order:
To prevent inappropriate parking and
improve safety at Tobermory High School.
4.07
New-build, Iona:
Following receipt of a letter seeking support for
a new
house, it was agreed that the matter should rest with Iona Community
Council. A response is to be
sent.
Chair/Sec
4.08
Licensing Application for Ulva Ferry: No objection.
5.0
Housing & Development:
Covered elsewhere.
6.0
Cal-Mac:
Next
liaison meeting at the end of March.
7.0
MICT Report:
7.01
Graham Brown was thanked for his work as MCC rep. and the seat was
formerly offered to other Community Councillors.
Susan Royle requested
information regarding the
position.
MICT
7.02
Sue Dewar has been appointed as
temporary Ranger for 2009.
Additional resources are being sought for equipment.
7.03
An access leaflet for walkers has been produced. It was funded by
FC,
SNH and the Mull Deer Management Group. It includes
a telephone number
for information relating to stalking, etc. Jim
Corbett will bring one to the next
meeting.
Jim Corbett
7.04
Mull Renewables: There was a good attendance for the
Renewable
Energy Fair of 200-300.
Interviews for the powerdown officer are imminent.
7.05
Business Resources Centre: A late Autumn start is hoped for.
7.06
Mull & Iona 2030: It has been suggested that the meeting of
19th
March should be postponed due to
lack of new information.
7.07
Recycling
Bins: Chair to
contact about proposed road shows
throughout the
island.
Chair
8.0
Roads & Transport:
8.01
Tobermory Parking: Two
meetings have been held including a public
meeting attended by Neil Brown and Councillors.
Arguments were exchanged
and ongoing procedure outlined. Last Friday was the
deadline for comments.
Chair outlined details of an Area Committee meeting
from April 2007 where
it was stated that a funding shortfall would be met
by savings from the existing
toilet closure - Harbour Association to be paid
£3,900 p.a. for 5 years. Also that
£6,000 from the transport budget would be repaid by
car parking charges.
The position of MCC as a statutory consultee is to be
clarified, and appropriate-
ness of making representation to be established with
A & B.
Chair/Sec
8.02
NFU:
Following a meeting which Chair attended, Cllr. MacIntyre,
Jim Mather and Jamie MacGrigor to be invited to view
again the state of
Mull roads. Chair would be kept informed.
8.03
Road Map: Tony Proud has asked the local press to publish a
map
showing road numbers to enable easier and more
accurate reporting of
complaints. Tony Proud is to investigate web site reporting of
complaints. Tony Proud
Cllr.
Chalmers stated that there appears to have been a breakdown in the
reporting procedure.
8.04
Keep Mull Moving (KMM): Chair reported that KMM is to be
revamped.
More individuals required to help
in organising the ongoing campaign. If
anyone wishes to assist they
should respond to future press articles. Tony
Proud and Cllr. Chalmers expressed
an interest in participating.
A co-ordinated method of reporting
and complaining on the state of the roads
is to be established. The
Scottish Parliament website has been investigated
and an e-petition will be
prepared. Linda Cameron is Chair of KMM and
Linda Dawson is willing to
continue being the secretary.
9.0
Councillors Reports:
Cllr. Chalmers confirmed that he
is investigating the opportunities for using local
food in school meals.
He also reiterated that he has a
good working knowledge of the Licensing issue
and would assist those with
queries.
Chair thanked Cllr. Chalmers for
his recent help and support.
10.0
Finance Report:
Closing Balance of £ 2,512-67.
11.0
Any Other Business
(including Area Reports from
Community Councillors):
11.01 Jim
Corbett
(Lochbuie) – Ardura Brae is still
deeply rutted and
there
is no money for repairs until after 1st April.
11.02 Susan
Royle (Craignure) – Wings Over Mull must be out of their
current premises by 31st May. They have received
overwhelming offers
of
support and are proactively seeking new premises/accommodation.
11.03 Tony
Proud (Dervaig) – Asked for publication of thanks to those
who
helped in relocating the recycling facilities.
11.04 Fiona
Brown (Pennyghael) – Reiterated the appalling state of the
Pennyghael roads.
11.05 Linda
Cameron (Fionnphort) – Work not done on Knockvologan
road
to date.
A
letter explaining how to claim reparation for road damage to
vehicles is
to be
turned into a poster to facilitate claims against A & B Council. It
will
be
circulated throughout the
island. Sec.
12.0
Date of next meeting: 8:00pm Wednesday 8th April 2009 at
Craignure Hall. |
