MINUTE OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

7th May 2013 – Service Point,

ICC Members Present: Glen Roberts - Chair GR Hamish Campbell HC Geunda Young GY David Boyd DB Alice Stewart AS

Argyll & Bute Council: Cllr Robin Currie RC David Ferrier – Roads Department DF

IET/SPR: Andrew MacDonald – Project Officer SOI Tidal AM

Police: PC Lynne Easton LE

Apologies: Islay McEachern, Ina Glover, Roberta MacNeill, Alastair Redman, John McGillivray, Sgt Rae, Cllr Anne Horne

Action 1. Welcome – Glen Roberts opened the meeting and noted apologies from those mentioned above.

2. Minutes of the ICC Meeting of 8th April 2013 - The minutes of this meeting were agreed as a true record and were adopted, being proposed by Hamish Campbell and seconded by Glen Roberts.

3. Matters Arising

a. Offshore Development Planning - Following the meeting of 8th April 2013, Ms Fiona McLeod expressed an interest in the proposed offshore developments and associated planning processes and requested that ICC nominate a liaison officer to provide guidance for the community during these formalities. HC agreed to meet with her and act in the requested capacity

b. Ferries - Although the majority of attendees at the ICC meeting of 8th April 2013 left at the conclusion of the DPE presentation, those who remained voiced their opinions that the 50/50 split of Calmac ferries serving and was overall a good compromise for the entire island. ICC suggested that it would be beneficial if politicians were to convey this message to the community

4. Tidal Project Update – Andy MacDonald gave an interesting presentation outlining the progress of this project.

1

All is going according to plan with one of the turbines to be used having been on test at EMEC () for over a year now, and good results have been seen. This turbine is now currently out of the water for some ‘communication’ repairs and following those, it will be put back in situ to continue the test.

In 2015, the first set of turbines will be installed in the Sound and it is anticipated that this will be carried out using a barge-based system. Using this method has the potential to allow locally-based labour/facilities to be used.

Investigations are being carried out to have a Visitor Centre at Port Askaig which could be sited on a mezzanine floor within the Calmac waiting room and would include a lift at the rear of the building to provide disabled access. AM noted that a similar establishment at Whitelee Wind Farm had proved to be very successful.

Part of the project involves the building of a sub-station, for which a planning application is expected to be submitted within the next 2-months. This will be sited on Dunlossit Estate land, to the east of Lossit Farm and although it will be a sizeable building, every effort will be made to mitigate visual impact.

AM noted that slippage with the timeline meant that it was hard to keep the attention of businesses who might wish to be part of the supply chain. During this project, SPR have wherever possible, used local companies and this policy will continue. Mention was made of possible funding from REIF (Renewable Energy Investment Fund) with one of the criteria being local participation.

The question was asked if, once the project is fully commissioned, could it supply electricity to Islay and Jura in the event of the mainland supply being compromised. AM explained that there could be technical constraints with this notion but agreed to ask SPR for further details.

GR thanked AM for his comprehensive and interesting update on this project.

5. Police Report – Constable Easton advised the attendees that there were currently travellers on the island, selling items without a licence. Although there have been no recorded crimes related to this, some members of the community have reported this activity to the police.

Between 25 and 26 April a Grey Volkswagen Polo, was driven without owners permission. Enquiries are on-going.

6. Treasurer’s Report – In the absence of the Treasurer, the report was deferred to the next meeting.

7. Roads a. Capital Works - DF announced that the capital programme is about to commence with the first works being the surface-dressing of the section between and Portnahaven at a cost of £120k. In mid- June, Breedons, who carry out the overlaying process will begin, although the precise order of work is not yet known. The roads budget for Islay, Jura and Colonsay amounts to £650k (roughly 10% of the and Bute roads budget), with an additional £120k. Some

2

un-adopted roads have now been included in the programme, accounting for £72k of the £120k

b. Road Signs – ICC requested that DF take action regarding the size of the ‘ Military Cemetery’ signs. The signs for installation at each of the 3 entries to Bridgend are expected to be in situ by the end of May

c. Unauthorised Signs – DF reiterated that fly-posting is not allowed and the amenities team will remove any signs/posters which have been attached to Council property

8. ICC Healthcare Sub-Group – HC reported that the Review Group is taking time to set up, but an update will be submitted at the next ICC meeting in June. DB advised the meeting that he has a meeting scheduled with Professor Gordon Peterkin to discuss the potential of a fully-integrated healthcare service for Islay, operating from a new, single premises.

9. ICC Renewables Sub-Group – HC reported that ICC had had a meeting with SKS who had been tasked with carrying out a Needs Analysis on Islay. During this meeting, concern was expressed that the following question might be misinterpreted:

‘The objectives of IET are to develop renewable energy project for the benefit of the community and reduce Islay’s carbon footprint. IET requires funding to continue to do this. Do you agree that IET should receive a proportion of the funds generated by the community wind turbine?’

It was agreed that the context of this question will require further explanation.

10. Data Protection Act – ICC had received a communication suggesting that all Community Councils should sign up to the Data Protection Act, although this would not be obligatory. It was agreed that as ICC does not handle personal information about individuals, this would not be necessary.

11. SNH – A request had been received by ICC that SNH should give a presentation on the upcoming goose management project. It was agreed that this should take place at the next ICC meeting on 3rd June 2013.

12. ICC Ferry Users Sub-Group – It had been suggested that following the conclusion of the Ferries Review, the Ferry Users Sub-Group should continue to operate, but AS reported that this suggestion had been met with disinterest. ICC agreed that it is vital to continue with such a group to oversee the interests of the entire community.

ICC was pleased to note that AS had agreed to continue to head-up this group which would meet three times a year, one hour in advance of the normal Community Council meetings. AS to investigate who might be interested in AS joining this group. AS also to establish from Robbie Brown of Calmac, when the Winter 2013/14 timetable will be drafted.

3

13. AOB a. Emergency Planning – GR to meet with Morag Brown of Council to establish why and to what extent Community Councils are being asked to become involved in the process of GR formulating emergency plans. GR will report back to ICC and also advise Lesley Anderson of IJCVS of the outcome

b. Review of Scheme for Establishment of Community Councils – Following the review of the consultation feedback, a set of proposals for further consultation on changes to the Scheme, associated GR documentation and boundaries needs to be agreed, and a request has been received to input to this process via an A&BC website. GR to complete feedback

c. Community Councillors Public Communication – It was reported that ICC had again been drawn into a public debate concerning a housing development in Port Ellen. ICC agreed that when any Islay Community Councillor is communicating in a public forum, it must be made clear that it is a personal view which is being expressed. ICC members must be apolitical and this is an issue which will be discussed at the next ICC meeting

The meeting closed – date of the next meeting:

Monday 3rd June 2013 – Service Point, Bowmore – 7pm

4