MINUTE OF ISLAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING 20th April 2016, ICCI, Bowmore ICC Members Present: Glen Roberts – Chair GR John McGillivray – Treasurer JMcG Catherine Gilchrist – Secretary CG Mairi Lawson ML Islay McEachern IM Billy McFarlane WM Jim Porteous JP Geunda Young GY Others: Garry Maclean – South Islay Development GM Public: Barbara Woodrow Apologies: Cllr Anne Horn, Robert McEachern and Petra Pearce (A&BTSI) Action 1. Welcome – Glen Roberts opened the meeting and noted apologies as above. 2. Declarations of Interest – None. 3. Minutes of the ICC meeting of 23rd March 2016 – The minute of the meeting was agreed as a true record and adoption was proposed by CG and seconded by JMcG. 4. Matters Arising – Roads – CG advised the meeting that despite there being several communications, she had not received a response to her questions regarding the classification of Islay roads (44 or 20 tonnes). A note had been received advising that representatives of the A&BC Roads Department would not be able to accept the invitation to attend the Community Council meeting. However, a brief visit is planned for 19th May, but as this would be during office hours, this would not be suitable for ICC members. The meeting CG agreed that an additional visit be proposed to take place of an evening when all ICC members would have the opportunity to participate. 5. Correspondence – The Scottish Rural Parliament is planning a meeting on Friday 22nd April 2016, 5.30pm, Bowmore Hall. As yet no notice received by ICC regarding change of time and venue. ICC had already sent apologies regarding the original date given. CG and ML intend to be present. 6. Planning – Nothing to report. 7. ICC Islay & Jura Ferry Users Group – JP provided the following update: I. Breakdowns, Cancellations and Diversions – The service has recently deteriorated as a result of breakdowns across the network. MV Finlaggan suffered an engine breakdown on Easter Monday. All 1 vehicles and passengers were disembarked and 3 sailings were cancelled. An extra sailing by Hebridean Isles was not enough to clear the backlog. Bookings were transferred to other sailings with long delays and some not able to be accommodated. MV Isle of Arran was sent to relieve on the following day. The mezzanine floor on MV Finlaggan became inoperable during w/c 28th March, causing a loss of 16-17 car spaces. As a consequence there were over-bookings on Sat 2nd April and vehicles had to be transferred to other sailings or be diverted via Colonsay to Oban. Further delays were caused on 9th April by an oil leak on MV Finlaggan. On 11th April, Calmac advised that due to MV Isle of Lewis breaking down, MV Hebridean Isles would be servicing the Colonsay/Oban run at the same time as Kennacraig/Islay route and that on 12th April, 3 Islay sailings would be cancelled. Both MV Isle of Lewis and MV Arran are now in dry dock. The IJFC wrote to Martin Dorchester of Calmac, with copies to the Transport Minister and Mike Russell MSP outlining the foregoing problems and requesting assistance. Calmac subsequently adjusted the timetable to accommodate the Colonsay/Oban deviations without further sailing cancellations. Regarding the mezzanine deck issue, Calmac firstly informed us that discussions were being held with engineers and then subsequently that they were in contact with the manufacturers. Mike Russell MSP has agreed to meet IJFC members on Friday 22nd April to discuss. JP noted that in a period of six days, there had been 9 diverted sailings to Oban and 16 to Port Askaig. Worries were expressed as to what the situation would be regarding Feis Ile week(s). Either the mezzanine floor has to be fixed or additional sailings need to be scheduled. An additional complication is the night-time roadworks being carried out on the Glasgow side of Inveraray causing ferry passengers who have arrived at Kennacraig off the 8.15pm from Islay to divert via Dalmally. Work on the linkspan at Port Ellen has been deferred until the Autumn II. Further Passenger Implications – WM gave an illustration to the meeting of the hardship endured by passengers as a result of the Easter Monday evening disruption. 14 booked cars being turned away, (whose passengers had neither alternative accommodation or food), whilst a camper van occupying several car spaces was allowed to travel. The ferry that sailed that night ran out of food, despite Calmac knowing what the upcoming situation was going to be. However, previous petitioning by IJFC had resulted in Calmac making sandwiches available (at a cost) for those people stuck for hours in Kennacraig. Reports of B&B bookings being cancelled have been received due to potential visitors becoming aware of the unreliability of the ferry service III. IJFC Plan – Despite IJFC regularly informing Calmac of verbal complaints from the public, these seem to fall on deaf ears. The meeting agreed that gathering hard evidence of passenger complaints should be the next step. IJFC will place an advert in the Ileach, encouraging people to report and IJFC will formulate a questionnaire to be put on the ICC website with paper copies available to shops, hotels and B&Bs 2 IV. Vessel Replacement and Deployment Plan – Concern continues to be expressed at future plans being devised based on flawed data. WM and JP will again be raising this on 12th May at the next meeting of the Argyll FUG, to be attended by Transport Scotland, Hitrans, Calmac and other user representatives. They have requested more regular meetings V. Beach Rugby and Jura Fell Race - amended timetables will operate for these events CG 8. Roads – CG to put questions in writing to David Ferrier (hot tar plant costings etc). 9. Population – No report. 10. AOCB i. ICC AGM – 9th May 2016. 3-weeks notice to A&BC regarding co- option of members. 5 vacancies exist with Garry Maclean and Barbara Woodrow expressing interest. In line with compliance, ICC members who have not attended a meeting in 6-months to be CG contacted ii. ACHA have agreed to investigate additional housing in the smaller villages of Islay and the outcome will be based upon demand iii. ML expressed serious concern that twice in the last six weeks, for a 48-hour period on each occasion, there has been no midwifery IM cover which has necessitated an expectant mother to be flown off the island. IM agreed to pass this question to Dr Pat McGrann 11. Next meeting – AGM 9th May 2016 which will be followed by a general business meeting 3 .