Whalsay Community Council
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 3rd March 2020.
Meeting held in Whalsay School meeting room from 7pm
Present: CCllr Jackie Leslie (JL) Chair Minute Taker: CCllr William Polson (WP) Ellie Simpson - Clerk CCllr Margaret Hughson (MH) Apologies: CCllr Anne Huntley (AH) SIC Cllr Duncan Simpson (DS) CCllr John Dally (JD) Roselyn Fraser (RF) Michael Duncan – CC Liaison Officer
Welcome
Chair CCllr JL opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. Apologies were noted.
Declaration of Interest
None.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting held 4th February 2020 were approved by CCllr MH and seconded by CCllr AH.
Matters Arising
Road/Pedestrian Safety Concerns
ASCC meeting on 10th March – CCllr WP to attend meeting.
Possibility of cycle path from Huxter to school if funding can be secured through the Active Travel Project. We hope to have an update after this meeting. Michael Duncan gave detailed explanation that Active Travel Project are consulting with community councils so that the strategy can be finalised.
Concerns around Heatherlea Junction/Sandwick Junction as road is being undermined by water, making it dangerous for children and parents walking to and from school. Clerk to email about this again.
School House Road – Sections of road have now been reinstated and tarred.
North Voe Road – Email received from roads department – stating that the road is subsiding around the ditch. Roads department to reassess and repair section if it gets worse. Clerk to email regarding this.
Policing Concerns
Clerk to compile list of upcoming public events and forward this to Police. Concerns raised about event which took place on the ferry involving two 16-year olds and drugs. Clerk to email Angela Manson regarding this.
Clerk to chase up an action taken by police on forwarded information about SORN vehicles.
Community Ferry Hires
1 ferry hire to be used before end of financial year, 31st March. Clerk advertised but no suggestions received.
Clerk to advertise ferry hires at beginning of next financial year for suggestions.
CCllr JD discussed the requesting two ferries to operate on weekends when Linga is scheduled for annual maintenance. This was to be discussed with Sella Ness and outcome would be forwarded to Clerk. Awaiting response.
How ferry hires are allocated to be discussed at Transport Forum meeting on 12th March at Heritage Centre.
Surface Dressing, Re-Surfacing and Reconstruction Road Programme 2019
Installation of the small crane on the Pelagic Pier at Symbister- email received. Awaiting confirmation of date work will begin. Awaiting confirmation of work to begin installing crane.
Street Lighting
Housing scheme street light repairs began on Monday 3rd February and are expected to take 4-5 weeks to complete. Harlsdale street light to be fixed during this time. Conventional lanterns elsewhere in Whalsay will be replaced during the next financial year.
North Voe Beach – Clerk previously emailed regarding street lighting and need for pavement as this area is within walking distance of School. Clerk received email explaining this area would be included in a participatory budgeting event and may receive funding to improve pavement and streetlighting. Clerk to email for an update.
Project
The ‘Welcome to Whalsay’ sign is planned to be placed on grass area below public toilets, just in front of ferry terminal. No further update from the school. Clerk to email Art Machine to obtain a quote for a larger sign than previously thought, as it was felt the smaller size would not be big enough to see properly or to justify the quality of the school bairns’ designs. Discussion held around possibility of carrying forward the project and applying for another grant during next round of Community Development Fund applications. First phase would be design and second phase would be installation.
Clerk to look into costings/design for tourist leaflet.
Repair - Old Dock/North Voe Erosion
Email received from Amenity Trust stating that they have been up to look at the Old Dock and have expressed concerns at the poor state it is in and have passed photographs to Line Manager.
Harbison Park Mast
Nothing further
FOISA Requests
Report has been reworded and Clerk to submit.
Ferries
1. Hot drinks machine on Linga – hot drinks machine now on Linga. Clerk to email requesting second machine to be placed in the other saloon.
2. Laxo Terminal- dive survey to take place on 10th February. WCC to be updated following this.
3. No Show Data- vehicle numbers to be collected from 29th January to 28th February. WCC to receive results once completed.
Community Skip Hires 2019/20
Next community skip on Friday 6th March, 11-1.30pm. Advertised of Facebook and in local areas.
Whalsay Heritage Centre meeting re. roofs
Nothing further.
Transport
Email received regarding transport poll. Clerk to email local councillors and push for poll to be undertaken by SIC. Awaiting response.
Clerk to email Cllr DS regarding dates of possible informal meeting.
Area Transport Forum
Discussion held around email previously received form Cllr AP, detailing people being left behind by service bus. Transport planning are to contact the bus company and ferry crew to communicate between one another.
Clerk to contact bus company and question why they do not reverse down to ferry.
Clerk to email requesting shuttle bus to/from Vidlin to assist commuters to retrieve cars when ferry changes terminal due to weather.
ASCC Agenda Items
Dates for upcoming meetings:
-10th March 2020
-9th June 2020
-8th September 2020
Documentary on Whalsay
Documentary put forward for funding. Awaiting confirmation. No further updates. CCllr MH in contact with Katrina.
Wild Garden
Awaiting date for Shetland wide participatory budgeting event.
SCBF Feedback
Nothing further. Nominee CCllr JD unable to attend next meeting.
Fence at Clate, Dump
Amenity Trust have been up to look at fence. They are waiting to hear if it is their responsibility to repair. Clerk to email for an update.
Participatory Budgeting Event
Successful event. All 5 groups were awarded £600 in funding.
Clerk to chase up feedback forms from last years event.
Clerk to be in contact with Michael Duncan regarding other upcoming funding opportunities.
Gravel Applications
Clerk in contact with local contractor. One query from applicant as to why their application did not meet the criteria. CCllrs JL and AH assessed road and agreed it does meet the criteria so they will be awarded another load of gravel from the CCs own bank account for this error. Discussion held regarding query from public about Houll Loch being tarred. Discussed Active Travel. Clerk to contact Robina Barton asking about any progress.
Main Agenda
Roles and Responsibilities of Community Councillors
Discussion held around code of conduct of all members of Community Council. Community Councillors to differentiate views between personal and those of the Whalsay Community Council.
Discussed By-election. Clerk to find out date for this. Whalsay Community Council has one empty seat.
Members of public can attend meetings but are not allowed to join in discussion until Chair invites them to speak. CCllrs are only to share public documents when any members of public are attending.
Community Payback Unpaid Work
Clerk to contact any groups or projects to see if they would benefit from this. Groups that were mentioned are, Grieves Bod, Wild Garden, Kirk Hall, Livister, Local Halls, Golf Club and Boating Club.
Verge Ditching Programme
Clerk to contact roads department and obtain their plans for year 2020/2021.
Several areas around the isle mentioned as needing attention. These include, Powster Road, Findleyville towards Fernlea, and Spring along road from Gardentown to Saltness.
James Arthur Estate
CCllr JD contacted solicitor for update. Issues with getting wording of will changed. CCllr JD to continue discussion with Solicitor.
AOCB
Planning Applications – No objections
FOI Request- Clerk to forward to whole Council
Wheelie Bins- Clerk to email relevant department to ask that all wheelie bins be put back as they were found. Safety issues as a few bins have not been bungeed back in place, especially on windy days. Safety concern if children are walking near.
Meeting closed at 10pm
Next meeting to take place 7pm on Tuesday 5th May at Whalsay School Meeting Room.