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Minutes of Mull Community Council Meeting
held on
Wednesday 10th October 2007, Craignure Hall
PRESENT:
Linda Cameron,
Chair
Adrian Fitness, Craignure
Andrea MacPhail, Tobermory PC Finlay Christine, Strathclyde
Police
Paul Forster,
Salen
Tony
Proud, Dervaig Cllr Gordon Chalmers Bert Leitch, Ulva Ferry
Gordon Turnbull, SSMEI Linda Dawson, Minute/Correspondence
Secretary
1.
Apologies:
Fiona Brown,
Pennyghael/Tiroran, Graham Brown, Tobermory, Ronnie Campbell,
Bunessan, Jim Corbett, Lochbuie, Cllr Mary-Jean Devon
2.
Police Matters:
Rally weekend
starts Friday 12th October, extra Police will be drafted
in. Fred Hall, new Chief Inspector appointed, based in Oban, it is
hoped he will attend a future meeting of MCC
3.
Chair welcomed Gordon Turnbull from the Scottish Sustainable Marine
Environment Initiative (SSMEI)-Sound of Mull:
In post since
June 2007 working 2.5 days per week, Sarah Benfield employed
full-time. First task is to establish a working group for the
project, this will be fundamental in developing and implementing the
voluntary marine spatial plan. Individual consultations with
representatives of all relevant organisations and interested parties
will be held to discuss the project and any matters concerning each
organisation, i.e. marine, diving and yachting activities. After 3
years feedback will be required, therefore important people become
involved. No legislation will be put in place from the study. This
is a working group and will be an independent body, an independent
chair will be appointed and meetings with be held quarterly in the
first instance. Adrian will represent MCC on the group. There is
also no connection with any proposals for a Marine National Park.
4.
Approval of Minutes from 12th September meeting:
With the
exception of the following amendments, these were approved as an
accurate record, proposed by Paul Forster, seconded by Andrea
MacPhail
Item 3.1 Shell
Cards-take
out the words: “by 40%.” Item 4.4 RAGS-Cllr Gordon Chalmers
also attended meeting.
Item raised by
Alan Parker, response from him noted
4.1 Action
Points from the Minutes:
Bunessan Show
Dance:
Sgt. Erskine
spoken with Chair regarding issue raised
Craignure
Toilets:
issue raised at
Argyll and Bute Council Area Committee meeting, aware there is a
serious need of internal alteration; some work could start with
funding from existing budgets, other funding being sought. Cllr
Chalmers will keep MCC updated on
progress
Action: Cllr GC
Craignure Hall:
Letter and form received from Sheena Allen, Chair Craignure Village
Hall Committee. Due to limited numbers of members present agreed to
discuss at next meeting. Sheena would be informed of decision.
Action: LD
Mull and Iona
Transport Guide:
Paul discussed
with Bill Pollock will be rectified in a future edition
Action: PF
Marquee:
ready to go
away for repair. Letter to be sent to MacLean Gathering requesting
contribution towards repair
Action: TP
Telephone
Boxes:
as these are no
longer profitable, BT has made the final decision to remove the coin
boxes.
As the mobile
phone coverage is not good in some areas, suggestion put forward
that a non-urgent number (999) is allocated to save wasting Police
time e.g. car breakdown
(punctures) Action:
LD
Proposed
Developments around Tobermory:
discuss at next
meeting Action: Cllr MJD/GB
Parking at
Craignure (not car park):
caravans
arriving in this area, notices will be put on asking to remove, can
be dealt with and will be treated as abandoned vehicles
National Member
Survey 2007:
completed and
sent off
5.
Correspondence Received:
5.1
Friends of the Earth Scotland-Training for Change:
letter received
regarding training for Community Councillors on the planning system,
media and communications and community and project development. As
the courses are in Edinburgh, suggest a representative attend a
future meeting of MCC Action: LD
5.2
Change in Service by Royal Mail:
e-mail received
from President Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce requesting support
with campaign by Royal Mail to change delivery of mail and papers
from first to later ferry, which could affect businesses and
residents on the island. Chair stated there were two issues going
on here; Cllr Chalmers stated that MCC should wait until after the
current industrial action is completed when a clearer picture should
emerge as to whether the service is going to deteriorate. Copy
letter regarding time of arrival of newspapers from Menzies
distribution may be affected, a carrier could perhaps solve this
problem and being looked into. The Cllrs are very aware of
situation and doing all
possible
Action: Cllrs
5.3 Mull
and Iona Progressive Care Centre:
following
correspondence between MCC, Gregor Cameron, West Highland Housing
Association and James Hilder MICT, requesting that information and
design proposals for the PCC could appear on MCC web site. This was
agreed, awaiting contact details before sending to Alan Parker for
web site
5.4 Re-cycling Update from MESS:
Information
received. MESS operate can, textile and plastic banks, A&B Council
operate the glass and cardboard/paper banks, these are jointly run
by both organisations
5.5 Minute/Correspondence Secretary of MCC:
Resignation
letter received. Advert placed in Round and About and Am Muileach,
to date no response. Suggestion put forward to split the role; i)
taking minutes at MCC meetings, ii) correspondence secretary.
Agreed to re-advertise, further discussion at next
meeting
Action: LD
5.6
Re-cycling Banks, Dervaig:
E-mail received
regarding new location, suggestion near the bridge on North West
Mull Community Woodland site, compound would be similar to the one
at Fionnphort. A&B Council would build, part funded and maintained
by MESS
5.7 Hill,
Land and Islands Enquiry-(The Royal Society of Edinburgh):
Visited Mull 27th/28th
September, met with some groups throughout the island and visited
Lagganulva Farm. Disappointed no visit to the Ross of Mull or
Iona. Chair asked to attend meeting in Tobermory, which she
attended with NFU Branch Chairman, (Iain MacFadyen). Cllr Devon
received late invitation to attend. Local Councillors unaware of
this visit taking place
Action: Cllr MJD
6. MICT
Update from MCC Rep. Paul Forster:
Next meeting
will be held 20th October on Iona
6.1
Renewable Energy Forum:
Paul had sent
e-mail to members disbanding this group. Chair stated that a
meeting should have been called as asked to do so in July minutes.
Secretary recalled at last REF meeting the group wished to continue
either independently or under MCC umbrella. Meeting would be
arranged to make final decision as officially still under MCC
remit
Action: PF/LD
6.2
Argyll and Bute Local Plan-Renewable Energy Policies:
Correspondence
passed to Paul for
action
Action: PF
7.
Finance Report:
Closing
Balance: £2732.69
8.
Roads and Transport:
Tony raised
problem of Mull roads with Cllr Dick Walsh at meeting in Kilmory.
Tavish Scott stated two years ago there was £15M on the table to
repair roads on Mull. Cllr Chalmers pointed out that the £15M was
for a number of projects totalling this amount, A&B Council are not
holding on to this money. The Salen-Tobermory road is only at the
design stage, objections to the Salen entrance road have still to be
sorted out, plans and land acquisition still not completed. The
Keep Mull Moving campaign is a whole project for the side roads
throughout the island, feasibility study already done. Why can’t
A&B Council be working on the side roads upgrade now as the project
does not need anything further, e.g. design or planning.
Action: All Cllrs
9.
RAGS:
Meeting held 8th
October in Salen. Most of the objections previously raised have
been dropped. If traffic lights are installed, traffic would build
up in both directions; road markings a better option and would slow
down the traffic. Members were asked to write a letter to Ken
MacDonald, Argyll and Bute Council, requesting that the planned road
is built a further 600 metres north of Salen than currently planned,
which could save approximately £250,000 off the cost of the road,
access for the new road would be where it joins the old road,
suggestions would be included in letter to A&B Council, Paul will
forward letter to Chair before sending
off. Action: PF
10.
Progressive Care Centre:
Ongoing
11.
Declaration of items not on the agenda:
Cllr
Chalmers-Scottish Islands Federation:
Cllr Chalmers
said he would discuss and confirm Mull attendees, when more details
confirmed, with Chair before meeting 15/16 November. Further
information and discussion at next meeting
Action: Cllr GC
TP-Association
of Argyll and Bute Community Council:
Attended
meeting 6th October at Kilmory. Councillor Dick Walsh
opened meeting, with presentations by Crown Estate and Community
Planning Partnership, which may give Community Councils extra
responsibility with the issuing of licences and planning
applications, training may be provided for this. It is hoped this
will speed up the activities of the Planning Department in Oban; any
problems let Councillor Walsh know. The proposal for a Marine
National Park has been put to one side for the moment. At the
moment there are two Associations: A&B Community Councils and
Association of Scottish Community Councils, which may provide closer
links to Scottish Executive with more influence on issues. Chair
thanked Tony for attending
12. Area
Reports from Community Councillors:
Linda
Cameron-Fionnphort:
Following
letter sent to MCC on 12th November 2004, to Douglas
Blades of A&B Council, regarding bus shelter for Bunessan. Meeting
held 5th July 2007 in Bunessan re-siting of bus shelter,
another winter approaching, where is the bus
shelter.
Action: Cllr GC/MJD
Chair also
approached regarding mole hills appearing in the graveyard at Suidhe,
do A&B Council have any resources for this problem
Action: Cllr GC
Bert Leitch-Ulva
Ferry:
Anonymous
concern/comment reported to Bert regarding co-option of Community
Councillors for Tobermory. Although anonymous Community Councils do
not need to deal with the situation, but under the circumstances
felt issue had to be dealt with.
Following
telephone conversation prior to meeting between James Hilder and
Chair, agreed this subject did not need to be raised at this meeti ng,
but as Community Council member had brought subject to the table,
Chair had no option.
Paul
Forster-Salen and Jim Corbett-Lochbuie:
Discussions
taking place with Salen Church regarding cleaning of war memorial,
also liaising with Jim Corbett
Although not
present at meeting, JC asked Secretary to update MCC on war memorial
at Lochbuie. Work almost complete, a rededication service will take
place at 2 pm on 21st October followed by a service of
thanksgiving at St. Kilda’s Church, Lochbuie
13. Time
and date of next meeting:
7.30 pm
Wednesday 14th November 2007, Craignure Hall
Chair’s
response:
I stand by my
decision, which had the backing of the Community Council members,
James had also been sent an e-mail of this decision, way before any
minutes went to press. My decision was not based only on conflict
of interest, which was not just my concern, but also James already
has and holds a position throughout the island. I also wanted to
encourage new members to come forward and represent their area and
this would be in the best interests for the future of Mull Community
Council and the island as a whole. In the event of an election
taking place, James said he would have stood down so an election
would not be necessary.
I don’t mind
taking the shot, but I like the bullets to be fired directly!!
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