MINUTE OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING 14th September 2015 Port Charlotte Primary School, Port Charlotte

ICC Members Present: Glen Roberts - Chair GR Alastair Redman – Vice Chair AR Catherine Gilchrist - Secretary CG Mairi Lawson ML Alastair MacLellan AMcL Liz Redman LR Geunda Young GY

Guests: Robin Creelman – Non-executive Director, NHS Highland RC Alison Guest – Clinical Services Manager, Islay & Jura AG

Public: Mr Donald Gillies, Mr and Mrs Douglas Tott, Mr Willy Inglis, Mr Jim Porteous, Mr Paul Hathaway, Mrs Ann Pilley, Ms Barbara Woodrow

Apologies: Cllr Robin Currie, Cllr Anne Horne, Islay McEachern, William McFarlane

Action 1. Welcome – Glen Roberts opened the meeting and noted apologies as above.

2. Minutes of the ICC meeting of 8th June 2015 – Following a request that ‘metres’ be substituted for ‘tonnes’, the minutes of the meeting were agreed as a true record and adoption was proposed by AR and seconded by LR.

3. Matters Arising

a. Paths – A path from to ICCI has been requested. ICCI Manager to approach the Access Group. Plans for a path from Bruichladdich to

Port Charlotte are under way

b. Buses and Ferries – Awaiting response from Councillor Horne

c. Dog Fouling – A new bin has been provided in on the new path, however, CG reports continued fouling in Bowmore (Jamieson Street)

4. Police Report – A representative was not in attendance.

5. NHS Highland Patient Transport Policy – Mr Gary Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland and Cllr Robert McAlpine had been invited to Islay but were unable to attend. In their stead, Messrs Creelman and Guest were present to further explain and discuss the patient transport policy.

Within the next 6-months, the policy is to be revisited with the main focus being equality of service. The patient transport budget has been de-centralised and is now in the hands of and Bute Council. AG explained that the bottom line was that if travel by ferry and road would have a detrimental effect on any

patient, then a flight should be authorised.

In order to effect future cost-savings, NHS Highland are actively searching to

1 improve local services to avoid unnecessary travel, such as telemedicine sessions. However, this would require an increase in the band width of the Bowmore Hospital VC system which may not be straightforward. In addition, pre-op assessments could be provided locally.

The current system reimburses patients at a rate of 15 pence per mile and £35 for overnight accommodation. RC noted that the mileage rate is more or less in order for the mainland, but not appropriate for islands. It is nigh-on impossible to find acceptable accommodation at a cost of £35. RC felt strongly that island dwelling patients are being seriously penalised compared with their mainland equivalent and this is unacceptable.

AG invited feedback from the community regarding individual experiences and wished to distribute the survey document as widely as possible. The attendees suggested that it could go out as an insert in the Ileach, but AG expressed concern at the potential cost of this. Survey documents could also be placed in GP surgeries and post offices.

The general public can also contact Patient Opinion to complain anonymously via telephone.

There followed an open session with members of the public making their feelings known as follows:

Q Mr Tott wondered why Mull had more clinics than Islay, given the smaller population.

A AG not convinced that there are more clinics held on Mull, but every effort will be made to increase clinics on Islay. The main constraints however are the lack of available space at the hospital and the high cost of bringing in consultants.

Q Mrs Pilley expressed disappointment that prior to the move of the Patient

Transport Services budget to A&BC, there was no prior consultation. In addition, she was disappointed that there was not a GP present at this Community Council meeting.

A RC noted that the consultation plans are not yet known but an Equality Specialist is now in post in Inverness and he will be dealing with this, with the NHS Board taking the overall lead. AG will inform ICC of how this process will unfold.

Q Donald Gillies expressed concern that patients may be forced to receive palliative care in Glasgow, rather than being repatriated to Islay.

A AG was shocked by this allegation and will investigate.

Q Paul Hathaway described the tortuous travel arrangements when forced to use the ferry and public transport. Hospital appointments are frequently timed in such a way that a hospital visit can take 3-days and that is not allowing for full ferries and so on. These 3-days incur the additional cost of food and accommodation.

A RC agreed that 3-day trips are wholly unacceptable but hard evidence to prove this is essential. RC agreed to investigate a software package which would take into account patients’ postcodes when scheduling appointments

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Q Mr Tott wondered why patients could not use their ADS cards to book flights.

A AG explained that the terms and conditions of the ADS card specifically preclude its use in connection with NHS services. However, it might be possible for patients using ADS cards to claim the amount they would have spent on public transport. AG to investigate and clarify.

Jim Porteous advised the meeting that employees of Scottish Government are currently given an allowance of up to £110 per person per night which makes the £35 per person per night look somewhat paltry.

Mhairi Lawson mentioned that she had experienced very good service in this area

and noted that patients can always telephone their clinic and advise of the time constraints and usually, the appointments staff will do their best to accommodate.

In conclusion, RC stated that any policy will need to take into account the issues mentioned, but NHS Highland cannot simply sign a blank cheque. It must retain control.

A local Area Manager for integrated social and healthcare will shortly be in place for Islay and Jura.

GR thanked RC and AG for their attendance.

6. ICC By Election – Jim Porteous has been elected as a Community Councillor and th will take up his position on 8 October. The Board agreed that Robert McEachern (having missed the deadline date for the election) will remain as a skills-related associate member.

7. Correspondence – Nothing to report.

8. Treasurer’s Report – The Treasurer was unable to attend this meeting.

9. Broadband – AR and AM had organised a petition which contained 266 signatures to present to Government in connection with the lack of fibre optic high-speed broadband being extended from Port Charlotte to . Willy Inglis suggested that AR contact the NFU as they would surely offer support.

10. Planning – LR advised that there were no planning applications which would be of concern to the community.

11. Roads – The Roads Technician (David Ferrier) was not present. However, mention was made of the planning difficulties experienced by Port Charlotte residents who wish to retain the original lights sited on their houses. ICC agreed that CG should write to Argyll & Bute Council regarding the formula used to calculate the road maintenance budget. The monies available clearly do not take into account the usage by extremely heavy commercial vehicles connected with the distilling industry on the island. It is these vehicles which cause extensive damage. Other issues that have been repeatedly asked about are:

a. The road at Ballivicar b. The bridge parapet to the south of Glen Machrie c. The bridge parapet on the approach to Port Charlotte

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d. The lights in the public lavatories in Bruichladdich which have not worked for more than 2-years

12. Health Committee – Nothing to report.

13. ICC Islay & Jura Ferry Committee – Jim Porteous and IMcE now sit on the Independent Procurement Reference Panel (also included are the Mull and Arran Ferry Users groups). The purpose of this panel is to oversee the upcoming tender process (Calmac vs Serco) to ensure that it is transparent, equitable and without bias. During the previous tender process, the criteria were split: 80% cost and 20% service. This time, the split is 65% cost and 35% service which is a clear improvement. Transport Scotland will shortly be reporting back to the IPRP. JP and IMcE will be visiting Calmac in Gourock to discuss how reporting to Transport Scotland is carried out. Calmac have always reported the overall numbers shipped, but not the volume of those who wanted to travel and failed to secure a booking. Transport Scotland cannot possibly plan for future capacity if they are not in possession of the full facts. Lost sales and unsatisfied demand data must be captured. AMcL pointed out the issue of time-sensitive goods (eg shellfish) going out and perishables coming in. The Ferry Users Group have been assured that there is a prioritisation system in place.

14. AOB I. Social Housing – AR stated the need for an increase in the provision of social housing, but particularly in the smaller villages such as Keills, Portnahaven and Port Charlotte. GR advised that the CEO of ACHA is due to visit Islay on 1st and 2nd October 2015 and he has offered to speak with ICC. The Board agreed that AR and AMcL meet the CEO and report back to ICC

II. Shoreline Project – Mr Willy Inglis (Factor, Islay Estates) was present to give an update on this project. The first phase of 20 affordable homes built by ACHA has been completed and the second phase of a further 10 homes is underway. As the development combines residential and commercial premises, come of the commercial aspects need to be addressed. In order to widen the involvement within the island and to access funding that might not otherwise have been available, Islay Estates are working with Islay and Jura Community Enterprises Limited in order to bring the project forward. It is essential to identify the need for small business premises and before 6-12 small units are built, the need must be clear. Islay Estates is also going to re-visit the question of whether a larger shopping facility on the south side of Bowmore could be required. Information-gathering will begin with a stakeholder consultation and drop-in event planned for 29th October (date to be confirmed), with a public meeting on that date and a further meeting on 30th October at The High School to hear what the future residents of Islay might have to say. There will be an article published in the Ileach confirming all dates

The Chair thanked the attendees and confirmed that the next meeting will be held on Monday 19th October 2015 at 7pm – Ballygrant Hall, Ballygrant

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