MINUTES of the MEETING of ROUSAY, EGILSAY, WYRE & GAIRSAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL (REWGCC), held in the ROUSAY COMMUNITY SCHOOL on TUESDAY 21 JUNE 2011, at 7.30 pm. Present: Mr R Tipper, Mr JE Dick, Mr A Firth, Mr EJA Flaws, Miss I Murray and Mr E Shortland. In attendance: Councillor S Harcus Mrs D Compton, Clerk 1. ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS Following procedure for election of office bearers, it was:- RESOLVED:- (1) that Mr R Tipper be reappointed as Chairperson of REWGCC; (2) that Mr M Hull be reappointed as Vice Chairperson of REWGCC; (3) that Mr JE Dick be reappointed as Planning Representative to REWGCC; (4) that Mr A Firth be reappointed as Municipal and Roads Services (MARS) Representative to REWGCC; and (5) that Miss I Murray be reappointed as Transport Representative to REWGCC. 2. APOLOGIES RESOLVED to note that apologies for absence had been intimated on behalf of Mr M Hull, Councillor S Hagan, Councillor G Sinclair and Constable T Macleod, Northern Constabulary. 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES – 5 FEBRUARY 2011 The minutes of the meetings held on 5 February 2011 were approved, being proposed by Mr R Tipper and seconded by Mr A Firth. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS a) Development of Local Policy for Requests for Financial Assistance Towards Late Boat Hire (5.2.11, Para 9 (B), Notes – 26.4.11, Para 4 (B)) The REWGCC discussed the issues concerning requests for financial assistance with hiring the MV Eynhallow. Funding from the ‘Fairer Scotland Fund’ ceased in March 2011 and Orkney Ferries had increased the hire charge to £902 for a minimum rental of two hours and £72 per hour thereafter, with annual increases. Fares charged for using the MV Eynhallow are deducted from the hire price and the remaining costs paid from REWGCC funds. Following discussion, it was:- RESOLVED:- (1) to note the comments of the discussion; 2 (2) that each case would continue to be considered individually; 2 (3) that if funding was agreed the REWGCC would pay only /3 of the hire cost, the remaining costs to be paid by the group involved; (4) that if a group were unable to pay the additional amount they could make a further request for funding to the REWGCC, who would consider the application; (5) that groups requesting financial assistance should obtain details of boat hire from other sources with costs, other than using only the MV Eynhallow; (6) that the policy be adopted from August 2011; and (7) that the Clerk would insert details of the changes in the August edition of the REW Review. b) GP Room, Rousay Community School (5.2.11, para 10 (a)) Following consideration of the document ‘The Revised Operational Agreement for Community Schools,’ received from Democratic Services, members heard representation from the Clerk that the Chairperson, Mr R Tipper had requested under point 7 a copy of the plan defining School areas, Community areas and Shared areas. The Clerk informed members that this had been requested but to date had not been received, and it was:- RESOLVED to note the comments. c) First Responders – Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) Clarification of Role and Training to be Undertaken (Notes – 26.4.11, para 11(d)) Following consideration of correspondence received from the SAS and Mr L McArthur MSP, regarding the role of the First Responders, members heard representation from Mr R Tipper who raised some concerns which had been expressed by the ambulance drivers and questioned how NHS Orkney saw the GP’s role in emergency situations. The crux of the issue is whether the First Responder would be required to attend without qualified support or would he/she always be accompanied by or, indeed preceded by, either the District Nurse or the General Practitioner, and it was:- RESOLVED:- (1) to note the contents of the correspondence; and (2) that the Clerk should contact NHS Orkney to ascertain the role of the Emergency Services as they relate to the three islands and the specific response arrangements. d) Local Nature Conservation Sites – Land Owners Maps (Orkney Local Plan Review) (Notes – 26.4.11, para 11 (a)) Following consideration of the additional correspondence received from the Senior Planner (Development Planning and Regeneration), members briefly discussed this issue and heard representation from the Clerk that the cut off date had been extended to 24 June 2011, and it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence and that members could contact either the Clerk or Democratic Services. 3 e) Pier Issues (Notes – 26.4.11, para 11 (h)) Following consideration of correspondence received from Democratic Services informing members that Marine Services had instructed that a survey and provision of estimated costs for the damaged concrete at the pier and other minor works be provided, it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence and request Marine Services to consider putting up railings or kerbing around the new car park as this is seen as a potential Health & Safety issue. f) The Orkney Islands Council (40mph Speed Limit) (Various Schools in Orkney) Order 2011 (Notes – 26.4.11, para 6 (a)) Following consideration of correspondence received from Democratic Services, informing members that the request made by REWGCC regarding speed limits around schools would be included in the report for information, it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence. g) Bag the Bruck 2011 – Wyre Community Association (Notes – 26.4.11 para, 8 (c)) Members heard representation from the Clerk, who informed them that following the recommendation at the meeting held on 26 April 2011, suggesting that an equal portion of the total project be divided between the number of groups applying for assistance and subject to agreement by at least two other Community Council members, it was:- RESOLVED to note the comments and members were advised that following agreement of the above an award of £75 was made under the Community Council Grant Scheme. h) Bag the Bruck 2011 – Rousay School Parent Council (Notes – 26.4.11 para, 8 (d)) Mr EJA Flaws declared an interest in this item. Members heard representation from the Clerk, who informed them that following the recommendation at the meeting held on 26 April 2011, suggesting that an equal portion of the total project be divided between the number of groups applying for assistance and subject to agreement by at least two other Community Council members, it was:- RESOLVED to note that Mr EJA Flaws declared an interest in this matter and following agreement of the above an award of £75 was made under the Community Council Grant Scheme. i) Bag the Bruck 2011 – Rousay Youth Club (Notes – 26.4.11 para, 8 (a)) Members heard representation from the Clerk, who informed them that following the recommendation at the meeting held on 26 April 2011, suggesting that an equal portion of the total project be divided between the number of groups applying for assistance and subject to agreement by at least two other Community Council members, it was:- RESOLVED to note the comments and members were advised that following agreement of the above an award of £75 was made under the Community Council Grant Scheme. 4 j) Bag the Bruck 2011 – Rousay SWRI (Notes – 26.4.11 para, 8 (b)) Members heard representation from the Clerk, who informed them that following the recommendation at the meeting held on 26 April 2011, suggesting that an equal portion of the total project be divided between the number of groups applying for assistance and subject to agreement by at least two other Community Council members, it was:- RESOLVED to note the comments and members were advised that following agreement of the above an award of £75 was made under the Community Council Grant Scheme. k) Rousay School Parent Council – Hoy Trip (Notes – 26.4.11 para, 8 (f)) Mr EJA Flaws declared an interest in this item. Members heard representation from the Clerk, who informed them that following the recommendation at the meeting held on 26 April 2011, suggesting that a donation of £550 be made to assist with financing the Hoy trip and subject to agreement by at least two other Community Council members, it was:- RESOLVED to note that Mr EJA Flaws declared an interest in this matter and following agreement of the above a donation for £550 was made. 5. CORRESPONDENCE a) Orkney Local Access Forum (OLAF) & Countryside Committee Following consideration of correspondence received from OLAF with details of the Annual General Meeting on 6 June 2011 and ‘Minutes’ of the meeting held on 7 March 2011, copies of which had been previously circulated, it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence. b) Empowering Community Renewables – Presentation of Community Renewables at All Energy 2011, 18 May 2011 After consideration of correspondence received from ‘frost-free’ inviting members to visit the All Energy Exhibition and Conference on 18 – 19 May 2011 in Aberdeen, copies of which had been previously circulated, it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence. c) GP Appointment After consideration of correspondence received from Mr R Tipper, informing members that following the interviews for the position of GP for the islands of Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre, copies of which had been previously circulated, that Dr Richard Brunt had been offered and accepted the position of GP and was due to commence in post mid-September, it was- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence. 5 d) Rousay Network of Care – NHS Update Following consideration of correspondence received from Mrs Cathy Cowan, NHS Chief Executive regarding the now ‘proposed’ link between Rousay, Evie and Dounby surgeries and the responses sent by the Chairperson, Mr R Tipper, copies of which had been previously circulated, members heard representation from Mr R Tipper that Mrs Cowan had requested a meeting with the members and other interested parties to discuss the changes now that the Heilendi Practice was becoming independent, and it was:- RESOLVED to note the contents of the correspondence and comments and that Mr R Tipper would write to Mrs Cowan inviting her to attend a meeting week commencing 11 July 2011.