Whalsay Community Council

Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 14th January 2020.

Meeting held in School meeting room from 7pm – 10pm

Present: Apologies: CCllr Jackie Leslie (JL) CCllr Margaret Hughson (MH) CCllr John Dally (JD) Michael Duncan – CC Liaison Officer CCllr Pete Gaines (PG) Roselyn Fraser CCllr Anne Huntley (AH) SIC Cllr Duncan Simpson (DS) CCllr William Polson (WP) Minute Taker: Ellie Simpson - Clerk

Welcome

Chair CCllr JL opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. Apologies were noted.

Declaration of Interest

None declared.

Approval of Previous Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held 5th November 2019 were approved by CCllr AH and seconded by CCllr JL.

Minute of the single item meeting held 20th December 2019 were approved by CCllr JD and seconded by CCllr AH.

Matters Arising

Road/Pedestrian Safety Concerns

Further discussions took place re the possibility of a cycle path from to the school if funding could be secured through the Active Travel Project. Clerk to contact Council regarding cycle lane sizing. ASCC meeting on 10th March – agenda item includes Active Travel Project. We hope to hear further information after this meeting. Concerns continue to be discussed around Heatherlea Junction/Sandwick Junction. Road being undermined by water. There has been no further communication from Robina Barton. An email from Bo Hickey, Information Officer, Sustrans was received 3rd June asking for more information from WCC about our priorities for routes. Clerk forwarded letter written by WP. Awaiting reply.

Policing Concerns

2 police officers attended 4th Night. Reports of roads being quiet around the isle that night. Good to see police presence.

Police in contact with WCC and are aware of certain instances occurring within the isle. Unless they receive a complaint, they can’t take the matter any further. Information on SORN vehicles handed to CC which the clerk has forward onto police as we feel this is more of a police matter.

Community Ferry Hires

1 ferry hire to be used before end of financial year, 31st March. Clerk to post on Facebook to obtain date with most demand.

CC would like to remind anyone requesting a community ferry hire to make sure they advertise it in plenty of time to reach as many people as possible and make it worthwhile.

Surface Dressing, Re-Surfacing and Reconstruction Road Programme 2019

Resurfacing of road down north breakwater completed.

Installation of the small crane on the Pelagic Pier at Symbister still dependent on the area having CCTV coverage. Clerk to email for update.

Street Lighting

Harlsdale - There is still no action forthcoming re the Harlsdale light problem beside the sheltered housing. SIC replacing all street lights with LEDs. Clerk to email about this again, as it is a huge safety concern.

North Voe Beach – Street light bulb removed a while ago as end of path nearest to Saltness. Clerk to email regarding street lighting and need for pavement. This area is within walking distance of School.

Seater – Street light working intermittently. Clerk to email.

Clerk to email asking what the programme for Whalsay is regarding changing over to energy efficient bulbs.

Project

The ‘Welcome to Whalsay’ sign is planned to be placed on grass area below public toilets, just in front of ferry terminal. Clerk to set meeting with Gary Spence and Gail Rainey (Art teacher) to discuss getting school bairns to come up with designs for the sign. Clerk awaiting response from Art Machine with amended example drawing.

It was discussed that WCC would judge school bairns competition.

Clerk to look into costings/design for tourist leaflet.

Repair - Old Dock/North Voe Erosion

No feedback has yet been received. WP asked at previous meeting if the coastal erosion fund could be used to tackle this issue. At previous meeting SIC Cllr AP said that it might be possible that the costal erosion fund could be used and was to contact SIC on that heading. Clerk to email SIC AP for update. Clerk awaiting response from Amenity Trust. Clerk to email about this again.

Continued concern of the coastal erosion at North Voe. Concern of deterioration over winter months discussed. Clerk to email regarding this and obtain more photos.

Harbison Park Mast

CCllr JD advised that the mast is still only operational on O2 networks. No further information received from other network providers.

FOISA Requests

WCC sent in request on 25th September. Response received on 1st November. WCC had 40 days to send in an appeal. Appeal didn’t go in, oversight on clerks behalf.

Ferries

1. Hot drinks machine on Linga – awaiting confirmation.

2. Laxo Terminal- awaiting progress of dive survey and WCC to be kept updated

3. No Show Data- should receive months no show data after January.

Community Skip Hires 2019/20

WCC has money to spend before end of financial year so have decided to have another community skip. Clerk to email Northwards to arrange this.

Whalsay Heritage Centre meeting re. roofs

Members had meeting regarding transfer of assets. They decided they weren’t in a position at this time. Heritage Centre owns two buildings. Current roof in poor state of repair. A member is getting in touch with Stuart Stirling, to amend plans to current regulations for approval. Once passed they can begin to fundraise for this project.

Transport Poll

Clerk awaiting response from Jan Riise, Beatrice Wishart and Alistair Carmichael.

Area Transport Forum

Still awaiting response. Clerk to email AP for an update on response from public transport meeting.

SIITS Report

Report sent. Awaiting response.

Dog Fouling

Clerk contacted EH to ask for another metal sign to place around the Houll loch but they didn’t have another to give out.

ASCC Agenda Items

Dates for upcoming meetings:

-10th March 2020

-9th June 2020

-8th September 2020

Two items brought up for agenda:

1. Community Ferry Hires 2. Inclusion of honest clause in council employee code of conduct

Clerk emailed regarding these.

Documentary on Whalsay

Some CCllrs and members of the community met with Katrina Inkster in December. She is coming up in March for 6 weeks to try to get documentary commissioned. Katrina in contact with CCllr MH.

Wild Garden

CCllr AH previously discussed possibility of a path around the Wild Garden at the top of Gardentown. CCllr WP discussed safety issues regarding school and nursery bairns using this path. Trees on outside edge of wild garden are obscuring the corner for drivers. CCllr AH discussed the want for these trees to be removed and the path to go into that space, as not to take away from the main road. Participatory Budgeting Event

Event planned to take place on 12th February 2020 in Primary School Dining Room. It was decided to begin the count of votes earlier this year so that results can be shared on the night. Clerk has advertised on Facebook and has sent out application forms to local clubs. Clerk to chase up spending of money of groups who got funding last year. CCllr JD to look for big cheque used last year.

SCBF Feedback

CCllr JD gave feedback from recent meeting. Looking likely to happen. Work has begun on access road.

Unadopted Road Gravel Requests

10 requests after post on Facebook. Applications to be in by 31st January.

Fence at , Dump

WCC previously informed that wires that held the fence together at the old dump have perished. Clerk awaiting response from Amenity Trust and Council to see who is responsible for repairs.

Main Agenda

Meeting Planning

CCllr JD raised timing concerns of how long it is taking to discuss previous months minutes. Clerk to update Facebook page to include all members of the community council.

Standardised Question Response

CCllr JL raised concerns regarding responses to media questions. It was discussed that a response should come from the community council as a whole and not just the Chair persons view.

AOCB

Ferry Tickets

New orange colour ferry tickets are available for OAPs to purchase. These can be bought on the ferries or at Sella Ness. Not available online as yet.

School House Road

CCllr MH raised concern over section of road opposite Schoolhouse, Brough. This has been dug up for cables but not been reinstated to previous standard. Clerk to contact Roads Department regarding this.

North Voe Road

CCllr WP raised concerns around road at the North Voe. Concerns of road above drain subsiding. Clerk to contact Roads department regarding this issue.

Meeting closed at 10pm.

Next meeting to take place 7pm on Tuesday 4th February at Whalsay School Meeting Room.