Minutes of Meeting of Yell Community Council Monday 20th July 2020 via Zoom Online Conferencing Present: Mr L Odie (Chair), Mrs A Jamieson, Mr R Jamieson, Mr A Ross Apologies: Mr J Nicholson, Cllr D Anderson (Elected Representative North Isles, Mr J Saunders In Attendance: K Lonsdale (Clerk), Cllr Ryan Thomson (Elected Representative North Isles), Cllr A Priest (Elected Representative North Isles), Ms F Browne (North Isles Community Development Worker), Mr M Duncan (Community Liaison Officer SIC) Vice Chair A Jamieson welcomed everyone to the meeting 7/20/1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Mr R Jamieson and Cllr R Thomson declared an interest in the Energy Isles Windfarm item. 7/20/2 MINUTES 15th June 2020- The minutes for the June meeting were approved by Mr R Jamieson and Mr A Ross ACTION: clerk to forward to CC Liaison, NI Dvp Worker, Police, SIC Elected Representatives and post on the website. 7/20/3 UPDATE ON Community Anchor Organisation Mrs A Jamieson provided an update on work being carried out by the CAO during the current pandemic. The CAO comprises Mrs A Jamieson and Mr L Odie as representatives of YCC as well as members of the public across the island. Meetings are also attended by F Browne. A Jamieson reiterated that YCC has ultimate responsibility for financial decisions made by CAO members. YCC received £20000 from HIE, £1500 from SSEN to be used to help those over 70, shielding or pregnant and £2000 from the CORRA foundation to be used for future resilience among other things. The CAO are progressing with their projects, assistance is being provided in the form of help to cover food costs and assistance with connectivity and fuel bills. The CAO were successful in their application for 2 Ipads with Mifi devices provide by Connecting Scotland to ensure 2 isolated individuals had adequate connectivity. Funds allocated for emergency equipment and hospital support have been reallocated, with agreement from the funder HIE, to support a project run by Youth Services to provide boxes to all children on Yell with activities over the summer holidays including a leaflet for mental health support. The admin budget is being used not only for items related to a newsletter sent to all households but also for PPE. Approximately 800 face coverings, a mix of those made by volunteers and premade purchased ones, have been distributed to members of the community through the local shops and buses well in advance of compulsory face covering regulations coming into place. To date the spend is close to £10000 and the group has until the end of September to complete their projects. The CAO is seeing that people’s priorities and demands are changing over time and the flexibility to reallocate funds by the funder is welcome and appropriate. The Shetland Partnership Plan has suggested that Yell suffers from high fuel poverty and increased food costs but these predictions haven’t been matched by requests received for assistance, although this may well be the case. YCC members urged that the group work to spend the money before the closing date as it would be unfortunate for members of the community not to benefit from the funding. Ideas such as distributing vouchers have been discussed by CAO and vouchers sent to targeted groups have been approved. It is outwith the remit of the funding to distribute a blanket voucher to all residents. YCC members and F Browne praised the work the CAO and other volunteers are doing to support the community both financially and by making phone calls, delivering shopping and prescriptions and creating face coverings. 7/20/4 POLICE REPORT YCC noted the police report received via email. 7/20/5 COMMUNITY WORK F Browne reported that all except one community group in Yell has received Business Support Funding from the SIC The transfer of the Whalefirth Men’s Shed is proceeding. The Herra Hall have been having difficulty resolving an issue of being charged water rates when their status exempts them from paying rates. F Browne asked elected representatives for support with the matter. 7/20/6 OUTSTANDING BUSINESS 6.1 TRANSPORT Ferry restrictions All ferry timetable and usage restrictions have now been lifted and the ferries are running to a summer timetable, compulsory booking has also been lifted. Fare Collections Account cards are still the preferred method of payment aboard vessels but ticket books will now be accepted. Concerns were raised that account cards were not being charged at the discounted rate. Cllr Thomson informed members that this might just be human error and would look into the issue. With tourists and others now using the ferries in some instances cash will have to be collected. Sellaness suggested passengers bring the exact fare and that crew members could not provide change, although they are seeing many visitors are registering for an account card before they travel. Members raised that point that fares are not listed on the website or on information boards at the ferries so it is difficult for non frequent travellers to know what the exact fare would be. Members urged that electronic payment facilities need to be implemented as soon as possible. It has been promised for a long time Cllr Thomson has been petitioning for account cards for residents and frequent travellers to remain the norm even after all restrictions are lifted. Paying per journey benefits low income families who may not be able to afford the outright cost of 10 journeys and so miss out on the discounted rate. At this time reduction in contact between passengers and crew is the top priority and account cards are the preferred method. Members felt that the fare policy during the pandemic has been implemented without much consideration or communication with the public and that the far structure needs to be looked at in detail and reports placed before the council and community councils for consultation before implementation of changed policy. M Duncan arrived 20.32 Resilience and reliability L Odie raised concerns that resilience and reliability of the life line service might be affected should there be a second wave. Following guidelines the crews of each vessel work as a ‘bubble’ and should one crew member fall ill the entire crew would have to be isolated. Cllr Thomson assured members that there were 5 crews who could step in to the Yell Sound service should any one crew have to isolate. L Odie suggested it would improve resilience and safety while on shift the crew physically distance in smaller ‘bubbles’ eg keeping deck hands separate from engineers or skippers. Members were assured that ferry crews follow the guidelines suggested by the Scottish government and resilience of the service is of the utmost importance, however Cllr Thomson will raise YCCs suggestion with Sellaness. Follow up meeting Members and elected representatives were keen to have follow up meetings with Sellaness on a regular basis to discuss ferry matters. These meetings would be a good opportunity for North Isles Community Councillors to bring their suggestions and concerns directly. There is an upcoming transport review planned and elected representatives will continue to press for a service that serves the North Isles and the wider Shetland community, particularly if Shetland sees a predicted second wave of the virus in the autumn and winter. Members would like to see fewer restrictions implemented on the service if this is the case as it badly affects businesses in Yell who are reliant on the ferries for the continuation of their businesses. Maintenance Cllr Thomson reported that the vessel that is away for maintenance is on, or ahead, of schedule and will be due back on or ahead of the expected date. 6.2 ROADS Cullivoe Road At a previous meeting with the roads department members asked that a press release be sent out regarding easing of planning restrictions in Cullivoe. A press release is expected next week after the Strategic Outline Business Case meeting. Crash barrier at Sellafirth There was no response regarding the request to push forward the time scale of the work Tree obstructions An area of the road in Cullivoe is badly obscured by trees and presents a significant safety risk. ACTION: Clerk to contact Roads Hillend Water Scheme Rd Residents report little progress due to the current pandemic West Sandwick Graveyard road Constituents have raised complaints to YCC members and elected representatives about the condition of the road to the beach and graveyard. Cllr Thomson has already taken the complaints to the roads department. ACTION: Clerk to contact Roads Sign at the head of Mid Yell Voe The sign was removed in order to replace the poles but this work still has not been completed. ACTION: Clerk to contact Roads Crash Barrier Hilldesay, Hillend, Mid Yell An area of excavation at the back of Hilldasay, Mid Yell is still exposed and part of the crash barrier has been removed. ACTION: Clerk to contact Roads 6.3 NHS ISSUES L Odie reported that on the evening of the meeting 20th July there would be no GP on call for Yell between 5pm and 9am on the 21st July, the shift would be covered by a band 5 nurse who would make home visits and call an ambulance should one be needed. Members felt that this was an unacceptable disruption to the 24/7 service of GP cover in Yell and that the NHS should respond to why this had occurred and provide reassurances that the isle would not be left without GP cover in future. ACTION: Clerk to contact NHS Members requested an update on the status of the Yell Ambulance Service after reporting seeing the Lerwick ambulance in Yell.