WEST ARDNAMURCHAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL (WACC) DRAFT MINUTE OF THE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 12 APRIL 2021 AT 7PM (via MS Teams) [If you wish to contact WACC please e-mail: [email protected]] 1. Welcome and apologies. Present: Chair - Rosie Curtis (RC); Vice Chair - Jessie Colquhoun (JC); Secretary - Jim Frame (JF); Gill Calver (GC); Davie Ferguson (DF); Cllr Ian Ramon (IR) Attending: 5 members of the public Apologies: Mairi Hunter The Chair welcomed all present and attending. She intimated that Sarah Houston has stepped down from WACC due to other commitments and thanked Sarah from her contributions to date. 2. Approval of previous Minute (Monday 8th March2021) – proposed by JC, seconded by DF. 3. Matters Arising 3.1 Road repairs – (i) Laga Bridge damage has been raised as a complaint via the HC “Report a Fault” system (ref. FS-Case-320851974) – response awaited; (ii) Kilchoan signage concerns (item 7(ii) in previous Minute) also raised as complaint with HC (ref. FS-Case-320870530) – response awaited; (iii) all other items raised in email to HC and response received from Senior Engineer. Significant issues being dealt with by Strontian DLO had caused a backlog of maintenance works. He intends carrying out various site visits to get a clear picture of the current conditions and has the B8007 on his planned route. He believes that the DLO has a Patching subcontractor hire arranged for the latter part of April and that the B8007 is part of the works planned. He will also be visiting the location in Laga that, he has been informed is subsiding, but the description given would suggest the area is wheel tracking, but he will inspect the site. He will also review the location and extent of the existing speed limits in Kilchoan. (iv) Kilchoan Cemetery signage was also raised with Roads dept but related correctly to Amenity Services, who have confirmed that they will look at appropriate signage, similar to that used at Arisaig cemetery, for Kilchoan. Further confirmation awaited. 3.2 NHS services 20210308jhf Page 1 of 4 i) Emergency Responders (ER) – RC has spoken to Scottish Ambulance Service – they will contact the 3 community members this month, who have volunteered to provide support to our current ERs. Training will be arranged a.s.a.p. ii) Telehealth considerations are ongoing and delayed due to current pandemic restrictions, but it is hoped that progress can be made soon. iii) Dail Mhor Care Home, Strontian – GC to attend their next meeting on 15th April – further update to be provided. 3.3 Corran Ferry steering group – no further update at present. DF to contact Murray Bain. Action: DF 3.4 Kilchoan Cemetery signage – see 31 (iv). 3.5 B8007 passing place signage – see 3.1 (iii). 4 Treasurer’s Report MH unable to join meeting. JF provided brief update on current account status – former RBS account balances to be transferred to new CB account and thereafter closed. Previous Secretary and Treasurer have provided RBS with necessary confirmation and signatures to allow old accounts to be closed. 5 Secretary’s Report Planning consultations received (all noted, no comment) – i) Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, Keepers’ Cottages restoration and refurbishment – 2 applications; ii) New church building, Kilchoan Manse. Correspondence – i) WACC cc’d into correspondence between a local resident, HC Roads and Police Scotland regarding obstructed views at a road junction in Kilchoan – noted and shared with CC members; ii) Information for circulation to WACDC Board and WACC re Community Garden operators – noted and shared with CC members; iii) Coran ferry update meeting with Kate Forbes – update from M Foxley – noted and shared with CC members; iv) HC – Community resilience briefing 12/03/21 – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; v) HC – CC Support – letter re annual grant – noted and shared with Treasurer & Chair; vi) HC – invite to resilience network meeting – noted and shared with CC members; vii) HC – payment by BACS of WACC annual grant for 2020-21 – noted and shared with treasurer & Chair; 20210308jhf Page 2 of 4 viii) HC – notice of Dementia & Veterans Awareness training sessions from Age Scotland – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; ix) Acharacle medical Practice – notification of new website – shared with CC members and Mailing List; x) Ardnamurchan Distillery – COVID-19 statement – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xi) NHS Highland – papers for Lochaber Health & Social Care Steering Group meeting – noted and shared with CC members; xii) Ewan’s Room – March newsletter – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xiii) Local resident – concerns raised re pedestrian safety in Kilchoan – noted and relayed to HC Roads; xiv) HC – Community resilience briefing 19/03/21 – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xv) Digital Connectivity Scotland – letter to stakeholders re Scottish 4G infill programme – noted and shared with CC members; xvi) Caledonian MacBrayne – email notification re technical problems with MV Loch Tarbert – shared with CC members and Mailing List; xvii) NHR Highland – papers for meeting – noted and shared with CC members; xviii) HC – email re election employment at Scottish Parliamentary election – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xix) NHS Highland – Lochaber Travel & Transport Subgroup – email re role & remit – shared with CC members; xx) NHS Highland – email re community reps for Lochaber Project Team – shared with CC members; xxi) Local resident – email re Glenborrodale comms mast – noted and shared with CC members; xxii) HC – Community resilience briefing26/03/21 – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xxiii) Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust – notice of new publication – shared with CC members and Mailing List; xxiv) HC – roads maintenance – confirmation of ref nos. for complaints raised re Laga Bridge (ref. FS-Case-320851974); xxv) HC – roads maintenance – confirmation of ref nos. for complaints raised re Kilchoan signage (ref. FS-Case-320870530); xxvi) HC TECS – response to WACC re Kilchoan cemetery signage – relayed to Amenity Services; xxvii) HC Amenity Services – response re Kilchoan cemetery signage – costings to be assessed and further response awaited; xxviii) HC Roads Senior Engineer – response to WACC concerns re roads conditions in area – see Matters Arising item 3.1 (iii) for detail; xxix) HC – Scottish Community Councils winter newsletter – noted and shared with CC members; xxx) HC – response to WACC request for correction to WACC email address on HC website – in hand with HC; xxxi) HC – Community Council support – year-end instructions – noted and shared with CC members; xxxii) HC – new SSE Communities fund – noted and shared with CC members; 20210308jhf Page 3 of 4 xxxiii) Kilchoan Grazings Committee – email confirming placement of signage at Kilchoan cemetery on Common Grazings land; xxxiv) Local resident – letter re Glenborrodale comms mast - see AOB item 7 (i); xxxv) Mowi Scotland – notification of online event – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; xxxvi) NHS Highland – papers for meeting Lochaber Health & Social Care Steering Group – noted and shared with CC members; xxxvii) Local resident – notice of job advert for Adopt-a-Monument Engagement Officer: Ardnamurchan Programme – noted and shared with CC members and Mailing List; 6 Police Scotland report – no recent updates. 7 AOB i) Glenborrodale Communications Mast – a local resident gave update and enquired if WHP Telecomms has consulted with WACC as they had promised. JF confirmed that no consultation had been received so the resident will pursue WHP further. GC commented about colour scheme for the mast and some discussion followed. Further consideration to be given on receipt of consultation from WHP; ii) On behalf of WACC RC expressed vote of thanks to Rev Fiona Ogg for her many years of devoted service to the parishes of West Ardnamurchan and wished her and her husband well in their retirement; iii) On behalf of WACC RC also expressed our congratulations to the West Ardnamurchan Jetty Association for the great work they have done on refurbishing and improving the Kilchoan Jetty and moorings facilities, which will be a huge asset to the community and visitors; iv) Again on behalf of WACC, RC also congratulated the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust in successfully obtaining crucial grant aid and funding to make crucial improvements and refurbishments to the Lighthouse premises and facilities, all of which will be of huge benefit to our community and visitors alike; v) GC intimated that she had attended the recent online meeting concerning the future of the “De Tha Dol” and urged anyone who would like to be involved in the future operation of the publication to join them at the next online meeting. Contact WACC for the necessary link; vi) JC asked if there was any indication of when the new surgery premises would be ready in Kilchoan Community Centre. Secretary to contact Pines Medical Centre for an update. Action: Sec’y 8 Date of next meeting (PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WACC MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE 2ND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH). Our next meeting will be on Monday 10 May 2021 at 7.00 pm via MS Teams. The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and participation and closed the meeting. 20210308jhf Page 4 of 4 .