1 Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council Chairman: Clerk: Mr John Priest Mrs L Fraser Farmhouse West Burrafirth Reawick Walls Shetland Shetland ZE2 9NJ ZE2 9NT Tel: 01595 860274 Tel: Walls 01595 809203 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Minutes of a meeting of Sandsting & Aithsting Community Council held in Bixter Community Hall on Monday 9 September 2019 at 7.30pm. Present: J Priest Mrs S Deyell A Johnston G Morrison M Bennett Mrs J Fraser J D Garrick Ms D Nicolson Ex officio: Cllr C Hughson Cllr T Smith In attendance: Mrs L Fraser, Clerk Mr J Priest presiding APOLOGIES: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr S Coutts and Mrs R Fraser, Community Involvement & Development Worker. MINUTES & HEADLINES: The minutes and headlines of the meeting held on 12 August 2019, having been circulated, were taken as read and were approved. Moved by Mr M Bennett, seconded by Mr J D Garrick. BUSINESS ARISING: Police: The August Police Report was received and had been circulated to the members. Only routine incidents have been recorded for this area, including report of a theft Mobile working is being introduced across Highlands & Islands Division of Police Scotland. This means that Police Officers will be operating mobile devices as part of their operational duties. The Officers will be able to use their mobile devices to remotely access police systems which will increase officers’ time working with the public and on incidents – or conducting patrols and preventing crime. Broadband: Nothing further. Mobile phone coverage: A reply was received from Mr John Ewen at WHP Telecoms assuring us that the expected coverage will extend to coastal fishery waters as well as the areas noted south and east which will link to existing network infrastructure without having to move further up the hillside or extend the height of the proposed mast and is deemed the best approach to extending network without undue visual amenity intrusion. Road Matters: Road past Garderhouse: No further information but Cllr C Hughson will follow this up. Speed of traffic coming down the hill towards Sandsound junction: Nothing further. Roads Reports: Weekly reports were received from Mr John Johnson at the Roads Dept and had been circulated to the members. Moving of bus shelter at Tresta: Cllr C Hughson reported that this work is programmed for the October holidays. Grids at Skeld: The tenants involved had replied to the Clerk saying that they intend to fence the area and hope to carry out the work soon. Funding: Details of some funding opportunities were again received from Mr M Duncan. 2 Association meeting: The agenda, etc for the Association meeting on 17 September were received. Ms D Nicolson will represent this Council. Community Development Fund: CDF Project: The project is now completed and the receipts will be forwarded to Mr M Duncan informing him that the project has been completed. Community Choices Fund now the New Investing in Communities Fund: No decision until the end of October. Local Government Boundaries: An email was received from Mr Alistair Grant of the Scottish Boundary Commissions’ Secretariat with a letter from the Local Government Boundary Commission saying that the consultation on the 2019 Review of Electoral Arrangements will run from 10 September to 2 December 2019. The Commission will then make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the ward boundaries and councillor numbers for next government elections expected in May 2022. A News Release from the Boundary Commission was also enclosed. Some of the members expressed concern that it is proposed that the number of SIC Councillors to cover some of the wards, including the westside, will be reduced from 3 to 2 . This reduction could result in Community Councils in those areas not being represented on all Committees Viking Energy Wind Farm: The result of the Contract for Difference has not yet been announced. Shetland Community Benefit Fund (SCBF): This Agreement is dependent on the result of the Contract for Difference. The next meeting of this group is scheduled for 24 September. Unadopted Roads: The length of one of the short unadopted roads was confirmed. CC Training: A number of Community Council training events are to be held:- Saturday 14 September – Induction Saturday 21 September – Clerks training (only open to CC clerks) Saturday 28 September - Planning Saturday 5 Ocotober - Funding, Project Planning & Participatory Budgeting The Clerk hopes to attend the Clerk’s meeting and Ms D Nicolson will attend the Planning meeting. Transport Planning: Details of the Area Transport Forums were received. The meeting for this area will take place in the West Mainland Leisure Centre on 18 September and Mr G Morrison and Ms D Nicolson hope to attend. Westerskeld graveyard: Cllr C Hughson had enquired about the grass cutting in this yard but had been informed that, if the yard has a war grave the Commonwealth War Graves Commission may employ a contractor to strim a path up to and around the grave but that it is unlikely that they will apppoint a contractor until 2020. Cllr Hughson had also asked for a breadkown on what yards the SIC cut last year compared to this one. She will continue to follow this up. Macular Degeneration Support Group: Everyone had found the visit from Mr & Mrs P Hurst to be very interesting. Cllr C Hughson declared an interest in all the Planning applications and did not take part in the discussions. MARINE PLANNING APPLICATION: 2019/009/MAR To deploy 2 x 240m twin-headline longlines for production of mussels adjacent to existing mussel farm planning permission SFA/ZET/096 (retrospective) for use in conjunction with a reduced level of development permitted by planning permission SFA/ZET/096 at Slyde, Aith Voe by Mr Richard Tait. No objections. PLANNING APPLICATIONS: No 1 - 2019/246/PPF Proposed erection of Dwelling with ASHP and access track at Plot 1, Sand, Garderhouse by Mr and Mrs John-David & Margaret Morrison. Welcomed. No 2 - Mr J D Garrick and Mr G Morrison declared an interest in the following application and did not take part in the discussion. PLANNING APPLICATIONS: No 2 - 2019/238/PPF Installation of a floating pontoon 24m long by 4m wide at Aith Pier, Aith by Mr Peter Morgan, RNLI. No objections. 3 WORKS LICENCE: The Chairman and Mrs S Deyell declared an interest in the following application and did not take part in the discussion. 2019/020/WL To undertake approximately 49.3 sq m of land reclamation and install a sea outfall to serve new sewage treatment plant at Skeld Caravan Park, Skeld by Josephine Scott, Skeld Waterfront Development Trust. No objections. REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS: Ms D Nicolson expressed concern about the manner in which repeat prescriptions are to be dealt with at the Bixter surgery. A leaflet had recently been circulated informing the patients that repeat prescriptions will have to be ordered at least a week in advance to allow the prescriptions to be filled at a pharmacy in Lerwick and delivered to the Bixter surgery or the patient can collect the prescription at a pharmacy of their choice. The suggestion is that the delivery will take place 3 times per week. Ms D Nicolson requested that an email be sent to the Health Board asking what rationale has been used for this plan. This was agreed. SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION SURVEY: An email was received from Mr M Duncan enclosing an email from the Scottish Land Commission giving details of their survey seeking views on communities across Scotland about community engagement in decisions relating to land. The survey is open until the end of September. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The Clerk presented the draft Financial Statement for 2018/2019. It is presently being audited and will be forwarded to Mr M Duncan when the audit is complete. It was approved, moved by Ms D Nicolson, seconded by Mr J D Garrick. COMMUNITY LED SUPPORT TASTERS SESSIONS: An email was received giving information of the series of ‘Community Led Support’ taster sessions across Shetland. Along with their partners, National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi), the Health & Social Care Partnership would like many practitioners and members of the public to come along and hear how they can help them to deliver social care and support in the right place and at the right time. A meeting had been held in Aith on Tuesday 3 September but none of the members had attended. SKELD HIDE: The Return of Particulars for the Skeld Observation Hide was received. It had been completed by the Clerk and returned to the Assessor’s Office. CUTTING OF GRASS VERGES: The grass verges at the inner end of the Sandsound Road, also near the Skeld School and near the Gudataing junction have not been cut this year. An email will be sent asking whether this is to be carried out as it is felt that these areas are a visual hazard. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held in Bixter Community Hall on Monday 7 October 2019 at 7.30pm. Chairman: …………John Priest.................................... Date …14-10-19……… .