Bute Community Council

1

BUTE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the 5thmeeting of the 12th Bute Community Council held in the Pavilion at 7.30pm on Wednesday 9thApril2014.

Present: Miss G. Strong, Convenor; Mr F. Baxter; Mr M. Catlin; Mr M. Common; Mr G. Gillespie; Mr W. Gillespie;Mrs C. Sprowl; Mr H. Tait; Mr P. Wallace.

Argyll and Bute Councillors: L. Scoullar,R. MacIntyre, I. Strong

Press: Ms K. Keith

Police: Sergeant D. Wilkinson

3 Members of the Public

1. Apologies fromMr R. Beverley, Mr M. Blair, Mr K. Bye, Mrs E. Cromack, Mr P. Duffy, Mrs B. Hill, Mr D. Williams,

2. Declarations of Interest: none

3. Notification of any additional agenda items: none

4. Minutes of previous meeting, 19/2/2014

The adoption of the minutes was proposed by Mr I. Gillespie and seconded by.

Mr G. Gillespie

5. Matters arising from Minutes

a. In regard to item 7c, Mr H. Tait reported that he had taken the letter of reply from Argyll and Bute Council (see item 7m below) to a meeting of the Sport Hub, which intended to continue to press for early action at Rothesay Joint Campus.

b. In regard to item 6b, Miss G. Strong asked whether there was any information on the change to the mileage limits for school bus passes. Councillor Strong reported that she had made enquiries, but had yet to receive a reply.

c. In regard to item 7e, Mr I. Gillespie reported that he had observed a broken bus stop sign in Montford and reported it to the number given there. The sign was quickly repaired.

d. In regard to item C in Councillor Strong’s report, Mr I. Gillespie asked about progress in dealing with the puddles. Councillor Strong said that the matter was being attended to.

e. In regard to the problems with the speed warning lights reported at 17, Mrs C. Sprowl reported that she had, as promised, reported this to the number given at item 7e. The lights have not yet been repaired.

f. In regard to item 7f, the Secretary noted that a list of suggested questions for Mr Richmond had been circulated, and read out a number of questions received after compilation of that list. There was discussion of some issues arising. Councillor Strong asked whether Mr Richmond would be coming alone. The Secretary said that it was his understanding that Mr Richmond would be accompanied by at least one other Calmac person. The Secretary asked whether all the suggested questions should be sent to Mr Richmond. It was decided that all should be sent. The Secretary asked whether BCC wanted to prioritise the questions in any way. Mr M. Catlin expressed the view that the question concerning a breakwater at Wemyss Bay was the most important. Councillor Scoullar stated that in view of the cost and jurisdictional problems, construction of a breakwater was very unlikely. It was decided not to prioritise the questions.

6. Matters raised by BCC members

No further matters were raised.

7. Correspondence and matters arising

The list at item 7 on the Agenda was noted. The secretary reported that two more communications had been received after the Agenda was written, and circulated to members as follows:

m. Received 4/4/14: email from Argyll and Bute Council replying to BCC letter about synthetic pitches. Circulated.

n. Received 8/4/14: email invitation from Argyll and Bute Council to participate in survey on streamlining planning process. Circulated.

In regard to item 7i, Mr I. Gillespie asked about the cost of the bus shelters, and where the money was coming from. Councillor Scoullar said that he did not know the cost, but thought it to be in the region of £30,000, and that the money was coming from Argyll and Bute Council, being taken from an underspent budget head. Mr H. Tait asked why the work was going to an off-island contractor. Councillor Scoullar said that he had only learned this today. It was suggested by a member of the public that this was due to with EU tendering legislation. Councillor Scoullar said that the amount involved would not have necessitated observance of such legislation and suggested that the work may have gone off-island because it involved design as well as construction. Mr F. Baxter noted that information about the tendering was given in the email at Agenda item 7i, which had been circulated to BCC members.

8. Councillor’s reports:

Councillor MacIntyre reported that:

1. Due to disturbance of the people living in the janitor’s house, access to the old Academy had been changed from the top of the site to the bottom. He had noticed that this had been left open one night, and offered to rope it off. However, he had now noted that there was a new chain and padlock in place.

2. He had attended the Area Committee meeting which had considered Third Sector Grants. There were 20 applications in all from Argyll and Bute, of which 4 were from Bute.

3. He had recently received the disturbing news from Transport Scotland that RET was to be introduced on the Ardrossan-Brodick route in the winter this year. This was bad for Bute as it could mean that it would be cheaper to go to Arran than to Bute. He reported that last February he, along with the other Bute councillors, had met with the Transport Minister and asked about the delayed introduction of RET for Bute, without receiving a satisfactory answer. He regarded the delay as a major mistake by the Scottish Government.

Councillor Scoullar thanked BCC for its good wishes during his recent period of incapacitation, as a result of which he had no recent activities to report. He said, with reference to the February 2013 meeting, that the Minister had said that RET for Bute would be introduced within the lifetime of this Parliament.

Councillor Strong reported that:

1. There was a meeting of the Council on 20th March.

2. On Sunday 23rd March I attended the Sports Sessions at Rothesay Joint Campus. This was a great success with over 500 people attending and numerous activities for young people to participate in both indoor and out and has certainly raised the profile of sports clubs on the island.

3. On the 27th I visited the exhibition by the windfarm company who hope to develop in Cowal. There was plenty of opportunity to discuss the plans and look at photo montages.

4. Later that day I attended a meeting with the Ambulance Service with particular reference to Patient Transport where there had been concern about the risk of

cancelled appointments due to transport not being available. We have had feedback and the situation is being monitored.

5. The Area Committee was held in Rothesay and items on the agenda included the Care Inspectorates update on Adult Care (Phoenix Centre) and Care at Home and

again I raised the issue of the lack of Nursing beds on the island. School Holiday dates were set and care was taken that they would not cause problems for the Agricultural Show. Also Third Sector Grants were given to Bute Advice Centre, Bute Community Band and to the Pass it On Project.

6. At night the Parent Council of the Joint Campus met and they also raised the issue of the 20mph speed limit lights which I have referred to Kilmory. I also added in the North Bute lights as well.

7. PPF Meeting. This took place on 2nd April and we heard updates on the staffing situation and information for Patients at the Health Centre

8. Pavilion Board. I attended for a short time as I had to go to Inveraray but was able to hear about the funding package and the plans for the building.

9. AST Training. This is the Support for Children’s Hearings. The training took place in Inveraray and we heard from various people at National level as well as local. There was also a presentation by the TESSA project which delivers programmes in

schools about Domestic violence , cyber bullying etc.

10. Seminars held at Kilmory- Risk Register, Marine Renewables, Mobile Coverage. These were very informative.

11. Meeting re Bute House Hotel Windows – held in closed session.

Questions to Councillors:

Members of the public.

There were no questions.

Community Councillors

Mr M. Catlin asked how the introduction of RET was prioritised. Councillor Strong said that Western Isles were first because they had a plan and were suffering depopulation. She was making the case to government that Bute also had a problem of depopulation. She said that it seemed that the longest routes went first because that was where RET brought the most benefit. It was pointed out that under a pure RET system the benefit would tend to be smaller the longer the route. Councillor Scoullar reported that he was chairing Argyll and Bute Council’s Our Islands Our Future Committee, and that a letter to it from BCC expressing its concerns about the delayed introduction of RET for Bute would be welcomed. The Secretary was instructed to write such a letter.

Mr F. Baxter asked what could be done about the disintegrating caravan in the West Church car park, which could present a danger to children, and whether this was a matter for the police. Sergeant Wilkinson said that as it was council ground, it was not. Councillor Strong said that she would look into the matter.

Mr G. Gillespie referred to the lights in the High St and asked whether the flashing lights or the 20 mph sign took priority. Sergeant Wilkinson said that the 20mph limit applied when the lights were flashing, and that he would look into the problems with this installation.

Mr I. Gillespie asked about the situation in the West Church car park, in view of the fact that residents had been planning on creating a wildlife garden but were wary on account of the danger from the abandoned church building. Councillor Scoullar said that there was little Argyll and Bute Council could do, as the building was not their property.

Mr F. Baxter asked when the road lining machine was coming back to the island as there were still problems with parking at the entrance to the West Church car park. Mr G. Gillespie suggested that the capacity to do the necessary work existed on the island.

9. Police report:

Sergeant Wilkinson reported that since the last BCC meeting 23 crimes had been reported, of which 6 were undetected. There had been 2 detections of drugs possession, one dangerous dog incident, and 7 ASBOS had been issued. Six illegal immigrants had been found working at Rothesay take-aways. In regard to motoring offences – one careless driving, one not wearing a seatbelt, one use of a mobile phone.

A cyclist had had a fatal accident; it did not appear that any other vehicles were involved.

The ‘Who are You?’ campaign is ongoing.

Rothesay police had been instrumental in facilitating a family reunion after many years.

Given that there is no longer an Inspector post at Rothesay police station, the Area Inspector would be happy to come to a BCC meeting, should that be thought necessary.

The Secretary was instructed to write to Inspector Anderson expressing BCC’s appreciation of and thanks for his work on the island and cooperation with BCC.

Questions

There were no questions.

10. Treasurer’s Report:

In the absence of the Treasurer there was no report.

11. Health Report:

a. Miss G. Strong reported that she, and Councillors Scoullar and Strong, attended a meeting with representatives of the Scottish Ambulance Service at which problems regarding patient transport were discussed. She said that Bute is quite well served, but there are difficulties with the booking system. Bookings are now made by patients. This can be done any time between 30 days in advance of an appointment and noon the day before it. Each afternoon the next day’s trips are prioritised, mainly on the basis of clinical need. This is why patients may be advised the day before their appointment that there is no transport. There is a problem in that patients missing an appointment because of this, or because of ferry problems, go to the bottom of the list. Patients to whom this happens should phone the hospital immediately and consult their GP.

b. Regarding the Patient Participation Group, Miss G. Strong reported that:

Dr Blunt leaves in June, there being no replacement

Dr Pond is due back in June

A Practice Nurse has been appointed but is not trained

A new member of administrative staff has been appointed

Argyll and Bute is 9 GPs short

Dexi scans cannot be done at IRH because it is not part of the service level agreement for Bute.

The work at the Dental Surgery is finished.

Physiotherapy staffing is down as one person is on secondment; only a temporary post can be advertised.

12. Transport Report:

Mr F. Baxter referred to the matter of ambulance transfers on the pier, and suggested that since Bute’s Argyll and Bute councillors supported the provision of shelters for patients being transferred they would be in a good position to press for this, given that Argyll and Bute Council owned the pier. The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Martin Gorringe, Manager of Ports, expressing BCC’s view that shelter provision was necessary.

13. Planning Report:

Mrs C. Sprowl reported that Mr K. Bye was in contact with the organisers of an association to be set up to receive the community funding should the proposed windfarm at Bachan Burn go ahead. Mr Bye had attended the PNE presentation on the proposal on March 27th, as had Mr F. Baxter who reported that PNE’s provision of information on what would be seen from Bute was very good. In his view the visual impact for Bute would not be a major problem as the turbines were on the eastern side of the Cowal hills.

14. HolidayLeisure and Tourism Report:

Mr I. Gillespie reported that the Victoriana Shop had told him that there had been 27 coaches per week coming to the island recently, which implied about 800 visitors per week. Mr M. Catlin asked which ferry the coaches used, and the answer was that most come on the top ferry.

15. Licensing Report:

No report

16. AOB

Mr H. Tait reported that he had heard that representatives from G. Leslie had met with representatives from Argyll and Bute Council at, and about, Ardbeg Point. The councillors present knew nothing about this.

Mr G. Gillespie asked, in regard to the visit of Mr Richmond from Calmac in May, whether additional (to those sent in advance) and supplementary questions would be

allowed from members of the public and BCC members. It was decided that they would be allowed.

Mr I. Gillespie reported that the fence in Montague St opposite the Original Factory Shop is to be replaced by Bute in Bloom.

Mr M. Catlin asked about progress on the works at Bogany Point. Mr H. Tait said that they were proceeding according to schedule.

Miss G. Strong reported that she had received a phone call about the new space next to the TSB. Councillor Scoullar said that this was to find out whether BCC was organising an opening ceremony. After some discussion it was decided that there would not be such an event, as the garden had been in use for some months. The question of changing banners and signs for special occasions, such as the Jazz Festival, was raised. Councillor Strong said that this could be done without Argyll and Bute Council permission. Mr I. Gillespie asked whether permission was needed for events there. Councillor Strong said that Argyll and Bute Council permission was not needed, but that police permission might be needed.

The meeting closed at 9.10 pm.

Date of the next meeting: 21st May2014, at 7 pm in the Pavilion.

Signed Convenor…………….. Date

Secretary………………………. Date