Minute of the Meeting of Graemsay, Hoy and Walls Community Council held via Microsoft Teams on Friday, 26 February 2021 at 18:30 Present: Mrs Grace Robertson, Mrs Trish Avis, Mr Colin Bates, Mr Adam Clark and Mrs Rachel Thomson. In Attendance: • Councillor James Stockan. • Councillor Magnus Thomson. • Ms Shona Croy, Strategic Advisor, Renewables and Connectivity. • Mrs Jackie Montgomery, Empowering Communities Liaison Officer. • Ms Kim Dobrzynski, Island Link Officer (ILO)/Clerk. Order of Business. 1. Apologies ............................................................................................................ 2 2. Adoption of Minutes ............................................................................................ 2 3. Matters Arising .................................................................................................... 2 4. Correspondence ................................................................................................. 2 5. Consultations ...................................................................................................... 3 6. Financial Statements .......................................................................................... 4 7. Connectivity Update ............................................................................................ 5 8. Publications ........................................................................................................ 5 9. Any Other Competent Business.......................................................................... 5 10. Dates of Next Meetings .................................................................................... 7 11. Conclusion of Meeting ...................................................................................... 7 1 1. Apologies Resolved to note that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Rob Crichton 2. Adoption of Minutes The minute of the meeting held on 19 November 2020 was approved, being proposed by Mr Adam Clark and seconded by Mrs Trish Avis. 3. Matters Arising A. Overhanging Trees Following consideration of complaints received from residents regarding overhanging trees and damages to vehicles, it was: Resolved to note the update from the ILO that letters had been sent to residents to request that trees are cut back and that Mrs Rachel Thomson would contact A McClaren to clarify areas that need cutting (as requested) and that Mr Adam Clark would contact L Shields (RSPB) to do the same B. Rackwick Road Following consideration of an update regarding the road repairs due to be carried out on the Rackwick Road, members noted that there had been some improvement but that there were still areas that needed to be repaired. Councillor James Stockan confirmed that further works were due but that the existing contractor had fulfilled their obligation, and it was: Resolved that the ILO would ask for further updates from Orkney Islands Council. C. Abandoned Vehicles Following consideration of an update from Mr Colin Bates that the local haulier would consider the removal of abandoned vehicles at Lyness for a fee, it was: Resolved: 1. To look into the removal of the existing 16 cars at Lyness at a cost to the Community Council. 2. That the ILO would place a post on the Graemsay, Hoy and Walls Facebook page to advise that cars dumped in the future would incur a £100.00 fine from the Community Council. 4. Correspondence A. Damaged Kirkyard Gate on Graemsay Following consideration of correspondence from a Graemsay resident to advise of broken gate at Graemsay Kirkyard, and an update from the ILO that Orkney Islands Council were awaiting a date for the repair to be carried out, it was: 2 Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence and update. B. Orkney Ferries Replacement Following consideration of correspondence from Mr Robert Leslie, SNP candidate for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections, regarding an idea for Orkney Ferries replacement vessels, copies of which had previously been circulated, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence. C. Scrap Car Scheme Inclusion Following consideration of correspondence from a resident on Graemsay with a request to be included in any potential Scrap Car schemes, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence. D. Connecting Scotland Following consideration of correspondence from the Community Development Manager regarding an update on the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland Phase 2, copies of which had previously been circulated, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence. E. Road Repairs Following consideration of correspondence from Democratic Services regarding road repairs, copies of which had previously been circulated, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence. F. Connecting Scotland and Orkney Kickstart Following consideration of correspondence from Democratic Services regarding two schemes for getting people connected online and helping young people into work, copies of which had previously been circulated, it was: Resolved to note the information provided. 5. Consultations A. Scottish Water’s Annual Consultative Meeting After consideration of correspondence relating to Scottish Water’s Annual Consultative meeting, copies of which had been forwarded to members on 13 January 2021, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the correspondence. B. Police Scotland - Equalities Outcomes for 2021-2025 After consideration of the consultation from Police Scotland on Equalities Outcomes for 2021-2025, copies of which had been forwarded to members on 21 December 2021, it was: 3 Resolved to note the contents of the consultation. C. DEFRA/Scottish Government - Animal Welfare and Livestock Transportation After consideration of the consultations by DEFRA and Scottish Government on Animal Welfare and Livestock Transportation, copies of which had been forwarded to members on 8 February 2021, it was: Resolved to note the consultations and forthcoming deadlines for comment. D. Verge Maintenance Plan After consideration of the Verge Maintenance plan consultation, copies of which had been forwarded to members on 15 February 2021, it was: Resolved to note that any comments should be returned by 31 March 2021. E. The Circular Economy and the Planning System After consideration of information on events planned regarding The Circular Economy and the Planning System, copies of which had been forwarded to members on 17 February 2021, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the consultation. 6. Financial Statements A. General Finance Following Consideration of the Community Council’s general financial statement, it was: Resolved to note that the estimated balance was £14,673.73 as at 11 February 2021. B. Community Council Grant Scheme Following consideration of the 2020/2021 Community Council Grant Scheme statement, it was: Resolved to note that the main capping limit was fully allocated as at 11 February 2021. C. Community Development Fund Following consideration of the Community Development Fund statement, it was: Resolved to note the balance remaining for allocation of £4,935.04 as at 11 February 2021. D. Seed Corn Fund Following consideration of the Seed Corn Fund statement, it was: 4 Resolved to note the funds remaining for approval of £3,658.47 as at 11 February 2021. 7. Connectivity Update The Chair welcomed to the meeting the Strategic Advisor, Renewables and Connectivity, Orkney Islands Council, who gave an update on the R100 and ongoing 5G projects. Members were given the opportunity to ask questions. Following discussion, the Chair thanked her for the update, and it was: Resolved to note the contents of the update. 8. Publications Resolved to note that the following publications had been made available at this meeting: • VAO Training and Funding Update - October 2020. • VAO Newsletter - November 2020 and January 2021. • VAO Volunteering Summary - December 2020, January and February 2021. • Orkney Ferries - Statistics - October, November and December 2020. • Quit Your Way - Orkney Smoking Cessation Service Information. • Scotland’s Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Consultation – Islands and Rural Contacts. 9. Any Other Competent Business A. Resilient Communities Fund After consideration of correspondence from Scottish and Southern Electricity regarding the grant of £2,060 issued to Graemsay, Hoy and Walls Community Council towards the cost of a satellite phone, asking for an evaluation form to be completed, it was: Resolved: 1. To note the contents of the correspondence from Scottish and Southern Electricity stating that the Community Council can retain the funds so that they can be used towards a suitable resilience project. 2. That the ILO would contact both the Medical Centre and the Ambulance Service on Hoy to enquire if there was any equipment that was needed that the funds can be used for. B. St Colms Play Park After consideration of an update advising that the Play Park had now been signed over to the Park Group and was no longer a responsibility of OIC and the Community Council, it was: Resolved to note the contents of the update. 5 C. Recycling After consideration of an enquiry from Mrs Trish Avis regarding the lack of a facility to recycle plastics at either Hatston or Stromness Household Waste Centres, it was: Resolved: 1. To note the contents of the discussion. 2. That the ILO would send a letter to OIC asking when the facility was likely to be reinstated and to ask about the possibility of having an electrical recycling facility