Whalsay Community Council

Minute of Meeting of the Council on Tuesday 29th January, 2019 Whalsay School Secondary Department Meeting Room

Present: CCllr Jackie Leslie (JL) Apologies CCllr William Polson (WP) Greg Maitland CCllr John Dally (JD) Michael Duncan – C.C. Liaison Attending : Officer Roselyn Fraser (RF) Comm Plan & Dev PC Simon Findlay SIC Cllr Alec Priest SIC Cllr Duncan Simpson

Minute Taker Moira Dally (MD) The meeting started at: 7.00 pm

Agenda Item Narrative Action & Owner Welcome Chair CCllr JL opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. Apologies were noted.

Declaration of CCllr JL and RS declared interest regarding the WCC Participatory Interest Budget Bids.

Approval of Previous Minutes Minutes of the Meeting held 04.12.18 were approved by CCllr JL and seconded by CCllr JD.

Matters Arising Active Travel Project A progress report from Robina Barton of SIC Transport Planning re the Active Travel project had been forward from Michael Duncan,

for information.

A sub-group has been appointed to develop a consultant brief and a funding

application to SusTrans. ZetTrans has agreed to lead on this process. The

Western Isles has recently conducted a similar exercise, and lessons will be learned from their experience. Consultants will be required to spend time in Shetland and conduct a public engagement exercise. A first step will be to bring together relevant strategy documents, and gain an idea of the kinds of financial contributions across Shetland that could be used to match fund future projects.

Road/Pedestrian Safety concerns Community concerns are ongoing re verges/blocked ditches, with Clerk and CCllr JD corresponding with SIC Roads Dept. on various recent issues. Neil Hutchison , S.I.C. Roads, confirmed by email that a local contractor had been approached to make good the repairs.

Policing Concerns

It was noted that there had been more police presence in the Isle,

recently, which was welcomed by all. Clerk instructed to email CI th Lindsay Tulloch, to let him know that especially around 4 Night, it was felt that there had been a positive reaction to this. Clerk

CCllr JL felt it would be important to share Whalsay ‘event dates’ for 2019, once they were known. Clerk to arrange. Clerk

Community Ferry Hires CCllr JL suggested that this year the WCC might requested a late run on the Gala Day. CCllr WP mooted that during the Summer

Days Events or during the Regatta, when there is a golf

competition running at the same time, might also be a good time.

SIC Cllr AP informed the meeting that during events like ‘Yelloween’ there would be a police presence on the Yell late ferry runs – effectively escorting revellers off the Isle. Main Agenda Treasurer’s Report Clerk gave a financial update to the meeting. Clerk

Meeting Dates for 2019

It was agreed that the Whalsay Community Council Meetings

would be set for the first Tuesday of every month, apart from August and December. Clerk instructed to inform Michael Duncan. Clerk

WCC Participatory Budgeting – ‘Open Night’ planning Planning is ongoing for this event. Eleven Project Bids have been received and CCllrs agreed that all met the criteria. Clerk instructed to inform the various organisations of the next stages, after this Meeting. This drop-in event is to take place in the School

Dining Hall – Tuesday 6th February between 6 – 8 pm. RF

confirmed that she and Michael Duncan are hoping to both attend. Clerk

Transport Poll SIC Cllr AP was advised that the WCC was still waiting, from October, to get a response from J Riise regarding financial assistance from SIC to be able to run a referendum on Whalsay transport links. He was under the impression that Mr Riise was ‘in dialogue with the WCC’. The meeting advised Cllr AP this was not the case. Clerk had again tried prior to the meeting to make contact but without success. The Electoral Reform Services have informed the Clerk that postal charges have changed. Clerk instructed to obtain updated quote. Clerk

On the query of being able to get full registration details of electors, we might have to advise electors on Whalsay that they need to be on the Public Register. CCllr JD produced Minutes from Environmental & Transport Committee 11.12.18 – which stated – Under paragraph 4.5 Risks and Challenges. Officers were asked why fixed links was not included as a solution to the ferry service vessel issue. The Chair explained that there were two pieces of ongoing work carried out alongside the outline business case (OBC) for the Whalsay and Fair Isle routes. The Executive Manager – Transport Planning advised that the issue of fixed links was taken into the National Strategy programme in 2016. The Scottish

Government Island Community review is where fixed links aims sit and will be considered. He explained that when the Strategic Transport Review starts the two issues will be linked and that is likely to start within the first three months of 2019. The Director of Infrastructure Services added that this Committee is part of that information gathering process on ferry options which will be updated and the Committee will be appraised on the process as it progresses. The Chair added that whether the outcome is for tunnels or bridges tunnels would be a long way off but there would have to be an evidence based approach put before the Scottish Government and the National Strategy would do that. Officers were asked if there was an up-to-date quote for a tunnel with more technical data. The Director of Infrastructure Services advised that a geo survey would be required so it was necessary to be practical in terms of costs and investment, He said that in order to make a STAG case the project would have to be closer to shovel than conceptual,

In response to the above (last paragraph) CCllr WP said this is not true. There is an up-to-date quote.

SIC Cllr AP described his frustration with Council Officers who refuse to provide information when asked.

Whalsay Harbour Concerns CCllr WP informed the meeting that Tullochs had started repair work at the outside of the break water. The state of the harbour and old dock and lack of repairs remains of great concern and to this the Clerk has been asked to forward a letter to SIC Ports and Harbour, plus SIC Councillors highlighting this, and reminding them Clerk of their duty of care. CCllr JD noted the following from Harbour Board Minutes 17.12.18 - 2018/19/ Capital and Revenue Projects Report In responding to questions the Team Leader – Port Engineering explained that the damage to the Symbister Breakwater was due to wind and wave action that caused an armour slip in a number of areas. He advised that the delay was due to the availability of contractors, however that they delay did not mean that the works would cost more it would just take place later. The Director of Infrastructure Services advised that officers were looking to source funding from the Marine Scotland Emergency Harbour Repair Fund as this was a project that would fit with that fund.

CCllr WP asked Cllr AP about ferry terminal upgrades and how that would work here at Symbister, as he could foresee problems.

Before SIC Cllr AP left the meeting, he noted the following on his SIC Cllr AP ‘to do’ list - Harbour Concerns -Ask John Smith about repair funding for the Harbour Transport Poll - Contact SIC Electoral Office to query how best to have electors on non-public electoral roll changed to the public roll. Request NPV Analysis from Stephen Cannings, Associate Transport Planner, Peter Brett Associates.

SIC Cllr left the meeting at 9pm.

Coastal Erosion Photos had been shared previously by CCllr WP showing the ongoing erosion of the North Voe. Clerk was asked to forward concerns along with the photos to SIC Infrastructure, and ask if that Department would share the information with the Coastal Erosion Officer. Clerk

Whalsay Community Council By-Election Clerk instructed to enquire of Anne Cogle, SIC Governance & Law, as to whether there had been any interest shown in the vacant positions currently on the WCC. It was noted that the closing date Clerk th was Thursday 7 Feb at 4 pm.

Unadopted Road Gravel Requests Requests were received from eleven households. Seven of these were passed. A combined request from the remaining four were held whilst CCllr WP approached the households to see if they could perhaps seek help from SIC Ports and Harbours since the area in question encompasses the north breakwater. CCllr to CCllr WP report back.

A.O.C.B. ASCC Agenda Items Request

After discussion it was agreed that there were no issues that the

WCC wished to be raised at this meeting. CCllr WP indicated that if th he was able, he may attend. Meeting takes place 26 March.

Surface Dressing, Re-Surfacing and Reconstruction Road Programme 2019 A letter received from Neil Hutchison, S.I.C. Roads, dated 22.01.19 informed the WCC that the Sandwick Road (Junction to Clate) has been earmarked for resurfacing this year. No dates have been given for this work to start – but Clerk instructed to try and find out Clerk more.

Road/verge safety concerns Regarding ongoing road concerns around Shalimar and Heatherlea, RF considered that there was definitely money ‘out there’ and that the WCC should approach SIC Roads Department and Sustrans to see if there was any scope for the two to work together. CCllr WP CCllr WP to take photos highlighting the dangers to pedestrians.

Unst Partnership Publication – Map CClr WP produced a map of Unst which had been printed and produced by Unst Partnership Ltd in association with the Coastal Clerk Communities Fund. Members were most impressed and the Clerk was asked to find out more.

Street Lighting at Harlsdale CCllr JL told the meeting that a street light next to No 4 Harlsdale, has been removed. This is a concern to many especially as it leaves the path which is next to where vulnerable folks reside, in darkness. Clerk asked to write to SIC and report back. Clerk

Cars on Airstrip RF reported that over the course of two recent weekends there had been evidence of car ‘activities’ on the airstrip at Skaw. She said that she would report the activities to Infrastructure Services and report back to the WCC. Although not in regular service the airstrip is still used for emergency airlifts. RF

Letter to S.I.C Councillors re Audit CCllr WP requested that a letter he had written asking for a full audit of the Business Case Study details, for the SIITS Report on Whalsay transport links, be sent by the WCC to our SIC Councillors. Citing lack of confidence in the information and conclusions, members were happy to support his request. Clerk to action. Clerk

Date of Next Meeting Set as Tuesday 2nd April, 7pm

This being the business the Meeting closed at 10.10 pm.

This minute is DRAFT until approved by the Council at the next meeting