(Draft Minutes, subject to approval at next meeting)
Sandness & Walls Community Council
Chairman: Clerk: Mr I F Walterson Modesty Mr D Forrest West Burrafirth 1 Kirkidale Bridge of Walls Walls Shetland Shetland Tel: Walls 01595 809428 Tel: Walls 01595 809746 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Minutes of a meeting of Sandness & Walls Community Council held in the Walls Public Hall on Tuesday 4th February 2020 at 7.00 pm
Present: I Walterson (Chair) I Sandison (Vice Chair), J Laing J Haswell K Smith J Puckey J G Ridland, J Gear Cllr S Coutts
In Attendance: D. Forrest (Clerk)
1. Chairman’s Welcome
I Walterson chaired the meeting and welcomed all present.
2. Apologies
L Moncrieff, M Duncan, M Forrest, Cllr T Smith, Cllr C Hughson, R Fraser
The Clerk stated that he had received a phone call from L Moncrieff to the effect that Mr Moncrieff will be unable to attend any meetings until August at the earliest. He suggested that someone be co-opted in his place during his absence.
Action: The Clerk was asked to contact Mr M Duncan to find out if this is feasible. The Clerk was also asked to send Mr Moncrieff a get well soon card from the members.
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(Draft Minutes, subject to approval at next meeting)
3. Declarations of Interest
J Puckey declared an interest in an AOCB item - PLANNING CONSULTATION Ref 2019/360/PPF
4. Police Report
No report was available for this meeting.
5. Minutes from 7.1.20
The adoption of the minutes for the January meeting was proposed by J Haswell and seconded by J Laing.
6. Matters Arising
Re: 14.2 of 1/20 Letter from Beatrice Wishart MSP regarding lowering of candidacy age to 16 for community council membership
The Clerk indicated he had spoken to the Depute Head Teacher at Aith JHS and that the Sandness and Walls secondary pupils had been invited to become additional co-opted members, but that, at present, none had expressed a wish to do so. He also stated that the Members of the Sandsting and Aithsting Community Council had decided to invite pupils to become additional co-opted members of their Community Council.
15. AOCB (Brought Forward) PLANNING CONSULTATION Ref 2019/360/PPF
(This item was brought forward to permit J Puckey to leave the meeting early.)
The purpose of the application, to install and toilet and necessary plumbing in and around the Papa Stour Kirk, was discussed.
Action: The clerk was asked to respond to the planning application by stating that the members of the Sandness and Walls Community Council welcome the instillation of a toilet in the building and therefore recommend its acceptance.
7. Housing
7.1 Foratwatt/ Rocklea Housing Project
It was noted that there has been no apparent activity regarding the proposed housing development at Foratwatt/Rocklea in Walls.
Action: The Clerk was asked to contact Mr Bryan Leask of The Hjaltland Housing Association to request an update on this project.
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(Draft Minutes, subject to approval at next meeting)
7.2 Council Property on Foula
J Gear raised concerns regarding problems with a chimney on a council owned property on Foula. The concern has been brought to the attention of the SIC Housing Department, but, as yet, no remedial work has been carried out.
Action: The Clerk has been asked to contact the Head of Service for the housing Department on this matter and copy to Cllr Coutts.
8. Roads
8.1 Flooding at the Bridge of Walls
Members raised their concerns regarding the effects of the recent exceptionally high tides on the Bridge of Walls. At its worst part of the parapet had been submerged.
Action: K Smith is going to ask for photographs showing the flooded bridge which the Clerk is to forward to Councillors, Community Councillors and the Roads Department.
Re: 8.1 of 1/20 Street Lighting at Kirkidale in Walls
The clerk stated he had informed Mr Hutcheson of a disabled resident who is most effected by the removal of the lights but failed to receive a response to that email.
Action: The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Hutcheson again copying Cllr Coutts.
8.2 Potholes between the Murrister Quarry and Da Punds
The reappearance of potholes along the above stretch of road was discussed in detail.
Action: The Clerk was asked to contact Mr B Scobie of the SIC Roads Department to request that repairs be carried out in the spring.
9. Participatory Budgeting
This matter was discussed in some detail. A joint meeting of members for both Sandness and Walls and Sandsting and Aithsting Community Councils has been arranged for the morning of Friday 7th February at the Bixter Hall.
10. Shetland Community Benefit Fund
It was noted that Mr Bunyan, Chair of the Shetland Community Benefit Fund has asked for a Director from the Sandness and Walls
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(Draft Minutes, subject to approval at next meeting)
Community Council. K Smith indicated that he was willing to do this but that the timing of the meetings meant he was unable to get to Lerwick in time to attend meetings. I Walterson will continue to attend meetings as an observer whenever possible.
11. Boundaries Commission
Councillor Coutts stated that the Commission would make their recommendations and it would then be up to the Scottish Parliament to accept or reject these recommendations. Cllr Coutts stated he would ask Mr J Riise for an update on the progress of the Boundaries Commission Report. Members again expressed their concerns at the proposed reduction of Councillors from three to two for the Shetland West Ward.
12. VE Day 75
The Clerk stated that the Chair of the Waas History Group had asked for a link to the letter about VE Day 75 that had been circulated by Mr M Duncan but that, to date no other expressions of interest had been received. J Haswell asked if anyone knew of any local WW2 poets whose work he could incorporate in a show. It was suggested he speak to someone like Mary Blance for advice.
(J Haswell and J Laing left the meeting.)
13. Financial Update
The Clerk provided members with the sum that was available to be spent before the end of the financial year.
Members considered funding applications from the following and agreed the figures listed for each of them:
Walls Defibrillator (New Battery) £60
Foula Defibrillator (New Battery) £60
A Duncan (Brass Band Bus) £170
Westside Sharks (Trip to Orkney) £400
Wastview Day Care (Planticrub) £750
Walls 1st Brownies (Up-Helly-Aa costumes) £350
Gruting Community Centre £250
14. Correspondence (including Emails)
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All correspondence has been circulated via email.
The Clerk was asked to forward the Foundation Scotland - Baillie Gifford Programmes email to local groups who may be seeking funding for large scale projects.
15. AOCB
The Association of Shetland Community Councils
The Chairman indicated that he was now vice-chair of the Association and was required to be impartial. He asked if any of the Community Council members would be able to attend the meeting to represent the Sandness and Walls Community Council.
Action: The Clerk was asked to recirculate the email providing the agenda for the next ASCC meeting.
16. Date of Next Meeting
This was set for Tuesday 3rd March at the Walls Hall at 7 pm.
The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance.
The meeting closed at 9 pm.
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