Whalsay Community Council
Minutes of meeting held on 9th September 2020.
Meeting held through WebEx at 7pm.
Present: CCllr Jackie Leslie (JL) Chair Apologies: CCllr William Polson (WP) CCllr John Dally (JD) CCllr Anne Huntley (AH) CC Liaison Officer - Michael Duncan (MD) CCllr Margaret Hughson (MH) CCllr Pete Gaines (PG) Minute Taker: SIC Cllr Duncan Simpson (DS) Ellie Simpson – Clerk SIC Cllr Alec Priest (AP) Roselyn Fraser (RF)
Welcome
Chair CCllr JL opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees. Apologies noted.
Declaration of Interest
CCllr William Polson – Planning Application
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting held 7th July were approved by CCllr MH and seconded by CCllr AH.
Matters Arising
Road/pedestrian safety concerns
Email received from Robina Barton regarding Active Travel Strategy.
Community Ferry Hires
Clerk emailed asking about ferry hire allocation but no response so far. Clerk to email again.
Surface Dressing, Re-Surfacing and Reconstruction Road Programme 2019
Surface dressing carried out around the isle.
Project
Funding approved for ‘Welcome to Whalsay’ sign, waiting for this money to come through to account. CCllr JL to contact Whalsay School art teacher for update on project.
Community Skip Hires 2020/2021
Community skip scheduled for 14th September 2020. Clerk to advertise.
Fence at Dump
Email received from Amenity Trust. Clerk to reply and arrange visit to determine actions needed.
Update on Supporting Communities Fund
£15039.69 of funding spent so far. Funding to be spent by end of September 2020.
Discussion held regarding what last amount of money will be spent on. Decided that clerk would order 6 automatic hand sanitising stations, 5L drums of sanitiser, and PPE from Shetland Janitorial. The automatic hand sanitising stations will be placed outside local shops and others can be offered out if/when required for community events.
CCllr JL to contact local shops to ensure food parcels are sent out before end of the month.
Main Agenda
Go Slow sign for Brough Loop
CCllr MH met with member of community. CCllr MH to feedback that members of public can put up Go Slow signs but Council cannot provide.
Clerk to email relevant department to apply to extend speed limit around Powster road, as there are 2 houses planned to be built and 2 others in discussion. Clerk to also email about extending speed limit from Surgery to Marrister.
Planning Applications
CCllrs have no objections to any planning applications received.
AOCB
Housing Concern
Member of community contacted WCC regarding an issue regarding personal house gates at housing scheme.
Discussed concern and concluded that member of public would need to contact Hjaltland Housing Association with a letter of complaint, as WCC could not assist with this matter. If the member of public has issues with contacting Hjaltland then they can contact SIC Cllr DS for assistance. Clerk to reply to email.
Drainage Concern
Email received from member of public regarding blocked drain. Discussed that individuals are responsible for own water pipes. Clerk to email CEPA and environmental health about sewage issues.
Burst water mains
Possible burst water mains below 2 Gardentown. Problem coming up to winter weather, frost and ice. Clerk to contact Scottish Water.
Concern of water on road at George Magnus house corner. Safety concern due to water on road, freezing in winter.
Concern about water coming across road, running down from Findlayville towards Fernlea junction. Clerk to email about this.
Houll Loch
Request received from member of community for path around Houll loch to be tarred.
Discussed major improvements to path by members of community. Queried if path could be tarred and covered in chips? A lot of members of public use the path as it is away from the main road. As it has been improved then it is thought to be accessible to disabled members of community. Tarring it would improve it further.
Active Travel Strategy mentioned.
Path at back of Beach
Questions raised as to why the path cannot be extended at back of beach. Why should the possibility of ferry terminal hinder this? This are is within walking distance to school and is a safety concern due to dark winter mornings/evenings. SIC Cllr DS to email about this. The blind corner above the Sandwick junction was also raised as a safety issue and is also within walking distance to the School.
Cycle Path - Huxter
Discussion held around specifications for cycle paths in Denmark, in comparison to Lerwick one at Clickimin. WP said that naming it a cycle track or cycle lane might allow a track to be a minimum width of 1.2 metres under the present regulations. Clerk to email Robina Barton, Active Travel Strategy. CC to put together list of areas of road safety concern and send to Robina Barton.
Harbour Crane and Old Dock
No one has been in to look at proposed location for crane. SIC Cllr DS to chase this up.
Concerns raised about state of Old Dock. Safety issues.
Replacing Marina Pontoons
Depth survey carried out? CC need to push for dredging to be done.
Meeting to be arranged with Andrew Inkster and Greg Maitland. CCllr WP to arrange with pier users to attend this.
Setting up Symbister Harbour or Whalsay Development Group
To set up a group to be run like the North Yell Development Group. To be able to access more funding to develop the harbour and any future Whalsay projects.
Jamie Arthur Estate
Discussed correspondence between Cllr JD and solicitor.
It was agreed to look into setting up a separate trust to include a member from the Whalsay Community Council and representatives from the Whalsay crofting community in trying to keep as close to Jamie Arthurs original wish to benefit the Whalsay Crofting Community. CC to contact crofters in isle and discuss this with them.
Broadband
Discussed how poor broadband can be in some areas of the isle. SIC Cllr DS mentioned that broadband is high on Council’s agenda. Council are aiming to find out where problem areas are and try to get every area up to an acceptable level. Trying to get funding for this.
SIC Cllr AP mentioned a report due from Shetland Telecom was due in the next week.
Advertise for New Clerk
Clerk Ellie Simpson handed in notice. CCllr JL and Ellie to make up advert for role.
Meeting closed 9pm.
Next meeting set for 6th October 2020.