Community Council

Minute of Meeting of the Council on Wednesday 3rd April, 2019 Whalsay Heritage and Community Centre

Present: CCllr Jackie Leslie (JL) CCllr William Polson (WP) CCllr John Dally (JD) Apologies CCllr Pete Gaines (PG) Roselyn Fraser Attending : Michael Duncan – C.C. Liaison PC Angela Manson Officer PC Mike Bryant CCllr Anne Huntley CCllr Margaret Hughson CCllr Caroline Watt SIC Cllr Duncan Simpson SIC Cllr Alec Priest The meeting started at: 7.00 pm Minute Taker Moira Dally (MD)

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

Declaration of Initially none – but when discussing the Rotary Monies, CCllrs JL Interest and JD declared an interest.

Approval of Previous Minutes Minutes of the Meeting held 29.01.19 were approved by CCllr JD and seconded by CCllr WP.

Matters Arising Road/Pedestrian Safety concerns Community concerns are ongoing re verges/blocked ditches/lighting, and pedestrian safety. Photographs were distributed showing the school bus struggling to negotiate the corner at Heatherlea. Police Officers present at the meeting confirmed that they could only support the WCC concerns if there was evidence of incidents. CCllr WP informed the meeting that

there was capacity issues with the school bus through the winter

months. The possibility of a cycle path from to the school was mooted if funding could be secured through the Active Travel Project. CCllrs highlighted the issue over the lack of a continuous footpath at the North Voe to the North Park, to the attending PC’s.

Policing Concerns CCllr JL reiterated that the police presence on 4th Night had been very welcome. It was noted that PC Simon Findlay had been present on the Isle for a one-to-one session on Saturday afternoon, and that PO’s had visited the Isle on Saturday evening. As yet no feedback from PC SF’s visit. PC AM stated that she would be taking over PC SF’s role when he left . CCllr JD asked if there was ever an opportunity for the Dogs Against Drug Team to visit. Clerk Clerk was advised that they could be contacted directly via their website. PC’s told the group when asked, that no school visits were planned. In response to CCllr PG’s concerns re social networking bullying issues, PC AM could say that the Police Prevention Team were currently preparing educational packs for distribution to schools.

th th Event Dates shared with PO’s – Regatta 24 – 27 July. Gala Day – th with various bands playing on the Pier – Saturday 27

Community Ferry Hires Clerk advised the Meeting that no notification of the number of Community Hires allocated for 2019/20 had been received, from SIC.

WCC Participatory Budgeting – ‘Open Night’

The Meeting noted that this event had been a great success.

Transport Poll

Clerk advised the meeting that no response had been received as yet from Jan Riise, from October, regarding financial assistance from SIC to be able to run a referendum on Whalsay transport links.

Feedback from ASCC Meeting

CCllr WP had attended this meeting 26.03.19 and wished to report the following exchange.

When asked by CCllr WP how cutting Whalsay ferry runs from 18 to 8 daily helped community connectivity Maggie Sandison replied that the Scottish Government had not given SIC enough money and she didn’t want to see cuts to any of the SIC services. He told her that this did not answer his question and she replied that that this topic was not for discussion at the ASCC and suggested that another meeting be set up. The proposed meeting, to take place when the next few weeks, would be organised between WCC/other CC’s if they wished/J Riise/Maggie Sandison/ and other relevant council officials. Maggie Sandison said that all of the transport data would be fed into the Scottish Transport Study and the people doing that would

be up late in the year. CCllr WP asked at this point if the Peter

Brett people who wrote the SIITS Report could be asked to come to Whalsay this time, instead of previously ‘only viewing the ferry on the route’. MS Sandison nodded.

SIC Cllr AP responses Although SIC Cllr AP was not able to attend this month’s meeting he emailed his responses to his ‘to do’ list which he took away from last month’s meeting - Harbour Concerns -The need for the repairs being an emergency seems to be the driving force for the decision not to include local

companies and materials.

Transport Poll – report back that Jan Riise still needs to carve out some time to find a solution to the issue of getting as many people as possible on the poll, as individuals wanting to take part in the poll will need to ‘opt-in’ to the open register.

Request NPV Analysis from Stephen Cannings, Associate Transport Planner, Peter Brett Associates – still waiting a response to his questions.

Unadopted Road Gravel Requests

Clerk to approach Ports and Harbours to ask for financial help Clerk regarding the upkeep of the North Breakwater road.

Surface Dressing, Re-Surfacing and Reconstruction Road Programme 2019 Clerk Clerk to contact Neil Hutchison SIC Roads Dept., to try to establish a firm date for work to start. Sandwick Road – Junction to .

Street Lighting at Harlsdale Clerk informed SIC Mervyn Smith that a small digger was on the

Isle so perhaps repair of the Harlesdale street light could be

actioned at this time. The digger was in as part of repair work to

the verge side at South Green.

Main Agenda Meeting Duration CCllr JD asked the meeting to consider now that meetings were to be help monthly apart from August and December whether the duration of each meeting should be curtailed to either a 9pm or 9.30 pm finish. It was decided that this issue would be revisited over the next couple of meetings.

Treasurer’s Report Clerk gave a financial update to the meeting.

Core Funding – Proposed Budget Headings 2019/20 After discussion it was decided to defer any decisions regarding this years spend until the next meeting.

Proposed ‘Welcome to Whalsay’ Brochure CCllr WP provided Clerk with various current publications for future considerations.

Repair – Old Dock CCllr WP reminded the meeting as this is a listed stucture funding for repair lies in the hands of the Amenity Trust. One suggestion was that there would be a possibility of ‘de-listing’ the site which would open up funding possibilities. Clerk to investigate. Clerk

Rotary Monies As with previous years the Rotary Club of Shetland donated £100 to the WCC. It was unanimously agreed that this money be presented to the Whalsay Heritage and Community Centre. Other years the local RVS and Whalsay PreSchool Play Group have benefitted. Clerk to write expressing thanks to the Rotary Club.

Community Notifications

CCllr JD proposed that the WCC should advertise future meetings on their Facebook page. He proposed that a list of all current CCllr JD CCllrs. names also be posted. This was agreed.

A.O.C.B. Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland – electoral review of Islands council area This document had been distributed prior to the meeting and proposed changes were discussed. The proposal that the Isle along with Skerries would possibly be part of the North mainland area was not seen as having any benefits. It was agreed that what we have at present would be better – allowing all the Isles to have a voice together. Clerk to contact SIC Cllr AP with the views of the Clerk th Meeting before 17 April.

SIITS Report Shetland Inter-Island Transport Study – Whalsay Fixed Summary Paper CClr WP had emailed prior to the meeting a prepared response to this paper for members to consider. CCllr JD suggested that the collective response should be sent to – All SIC Councillors, Maggie Sandison, Tavish Scott, Alastair Carmichael,MP, The Media, Transport Minister, Transport Minister for the Green Party, and Paul Wheelhouse, Island Minister. Clerk to action. Clerk

Cars on Airstrip No more incidents had been noted.

Greg Maitland Clerk advised that a meeting with Greg Maitland had been arranged to take place on Wednesday 10th to primarily see if SIC would take over the responsibility for the grass cutting in front of the ferry waiting room.

Date of Next Meeting th Set as Tuesday 7 May, 7pm. Venue – School Secondary Meeting Room.

This being the business the Meeting closed at 9.23 pm.

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