June 2011 Minutes

A letter was received from Ralph Roberts, Chief Executive of NHS Shetland, replying to our query about the withdrawal of physiotherapy services from Unst. He states the “Physiotherapy Department has had to continue to balance staffing issues with a priority for reducing waiting times and providing appropriate access.” He also explains that some of the patients travelling to Lerwick for these appointments also needed other services (i.e. X-rays). Mr Roberts states that wherever possible appointments will be booked together so that the Physiotherapy does not require an extra journey. This approach has been applied to all areas of Shetland and therefore Unst is not being specifically targeted. If a patient cannot travel because of mobility issues, the Physiotherapy Department would continue to provide a domiciliary visiting service. Members felt that even if other areas of Shetland are being treated in the same way it is so much farther to travel from the North isles.

Simon Yates – Defence Estates property

Simon Yates met with members of the Community Council on Tuesday 7^th June 2011 at 31 Setters Hill Estate, Baltasound. He told them that Defence Estates are still trying to sell houses at the front. Hjaltland Housing Association will hand back the empty houses to Defence Estates by the end of March 2012. He had no knowledge or information about the Council moving families here from Lerwick while their houses were being renovated. Councillors are concerned that with no maintenance being done to these houses their condition is deteriorating.

ASCC – Community Benefit Steering Group (CBSG) – 9^th June 2011

Tim attended this meeting in the Voe hall. The Community Benefit Steering Group’s remit is to establish a Community Benefit Organisation after deciding what type of organisation this would need to be. There was a presentation by Bob Yuill, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd (SAOS). Mr Yuill’s organisation has done a lot of advisory work, especially around wind farms and community benefit from alternative energy providers. Where Communities haven’t been organised they have lost out financially. Tim said that the CBSG voted unanimously to set up a Co-operative for the Benefit of the Community organisation. It was decided that there is a need to look further into the benefits or otherwise of charitable or non-charitable status before a decision is made on that.

Baltasound Playpark

The Clerk is to write again to Magnus Malcolmson about the refurbishments which were done at the Baltasound Playpark.

Mobile Phone Reception

The Clerk is to write to Tavish Scott, MSP asking if there has been any progress with improving mobile phone reception in Shetland.

Tourist Signs

The Clerk is to write to the Council asking for better signage at the easting Beach. Also to find out about the new sign that has been put up at Lund.

Investing in Unst Funding

Stuart Robertson, Area Manager, Highlands and Islands Enterprise replied to our letter enquiring about the “Investing in Unst” grants. He listed the applicants and project details of all the grants awarded under this fund. All the successful applicants through the “Investing in Unst” grants are classified as Small or Medium sized Enterprises so their Period of Obligation in both the standard terms and conditions and the legal undertakings last for three years from the date of the last payment of the grant. It is over three years since all these grants were paid out. The Clerk has a list of successful applicants and project details if anyone would like to see them.

Catriona Waddington, The role of the Shetland NHS Board

Catriona said that the board is made up of 14 members, 7 staff, and 6 Non-Executive Board Members and a member of the local council. The Board isn’t geographically representative. It takes all complaints seriously and investigates each one. Catriona explained that costs in the health sector are increasing. The capital budget is usually set at over 5 million pounds, this year it is £200,000. This will involve drastic cuts in services over the next few years. NHS Shetland has been conducting a review of its Clinical Services with meetings held in most areas to ask for community views and to answer any questions. The meeting about this was held in Unst in January.

The themes for the clinical strategy are:

Reduce unnecessary patient journeys, particularly to Aberdeen;

Integrate community and hospital services especially nursing;
Develop a one stop shop approach to making appointments, starting with the hospital;
Retain GP services in their current location;
Develop a more responsive mental health team;
Proceed with a formal process to close NHS inpatient services on the Montfield site;
Strengthen resilience of healthcare on non-doctor islands;
Remodel clinical staffing to respond to the national shortage of junior doctors and challenges to the recruitment and retention of staff.

There was a discussion about the dental services in Yell. If you get a prescription from the dentist this has to be filled with your own Doctor. For residents of the south end of Unst this means an extra journey to Baltasound after the visit to Yell. The Clerk is to write again asking if these prescriptions could be filled in Yell. Catriona was asked about the carpark at the surgery, she said that the funding to resurface the carpark was no longer available and that it was not in the plans for this year either. The clerk is to contact Josie Simpson, he was checking up progress with the NHS on this matter, and also write to the NHS Chairman, Ian Kinniburgh. Members felt that if this work has been cancelled both the Community Council and surgery staff should have been notified.

Gordon thanked Catriona for attending the meeting.

Unst Partnership Update

Gordon said that Hannah Eynon has started work as the Community Development Officer; she can be contacted on 711495 or up@unst.org. Chas Hollis, one of the UP Directors, is working on a walkers welcome signage scheme. There are no islands at present in this scheme. There was a discussion about signs and concerns were raised that there is a fine balance to be drawn with the amount of signage on the island.

Blueprint for Education in Shetland

The decision to close the Uyeasound School has been called in by the Scottish Parliament. The Parliament will notify the Council of its decision within the next few weeks.

Application for Planning

Erect office building, Uyeasound Pier, Uyeasound, Unst by Lakeland Unst Ltd

There were no objections.

Da Voar Redd Up

The clerk reminded everyone signing Voar Redd Up forms to complete the grant form as well. No monies can be paid out unless the form has been completed and the group checked with the Council. Several forms have been returned without the grant forms. The Clerk has contacted these groups about completing the form.

Community Council Finances

The accounts have been audited by Baker Tilly. The grant for 2010 – 2011 was £11845; this was all disbursed, including some of the funds which had been carried forward from previous years. Grants, donations and Voar Redd Up payments totaled £8155, Administration costs were £6445.

A.O.C.B.

SIC – Area Transport Forum

The SIC Transport Service held an Area Transport Forum (ATF) in Mid Yell in December last year. Billy Thompson, SIC Service Manager for Transport Planning and Support, wrote to ask if there should be a similar meeting held in Unst. Members decided that it would be better to draw up a list of all transport matters and send them to Mr Thompson. The Clerk will collate the list and forward it on to the SIC.

Unadopted Roads

A poster will be put up advertising unadopted grants. The closing date for applications will be the 12^th August. The SIC isn’t tarring in Unst this year.

Unst Water Treatment Works

Steve Scott, Regional Community Manager, Scottish Water has contacted the Community Council to ask if he can come to one of the next meetings to discuss the proposed Water Treatment Works. The September meeting has been set for the 26^th September, so the Clerk will email him to invite him to that meeting.

Scenario Planning event – 9^th and 10^th June 2011, Muckle Roe

The event brought together people representing the Council, NHS, other public sector services, the voluntary sector, young people and different business sectors. Tim attended this on behalf of the Community Council. He said that they looked at the current key influences and Shetland’s key drivers for change, and building possible scenarios for Shetland’s future in 20-30 years’ time. More information will be gathered over the summer which will be used to shape the Community Plan and inform exiting policies, e.g. Local Development Plan and Local Housing Strategy. There will be another meeting in October 2011.

SIC – Biodiversity Officer

A letter was received from Austin Taylor, Infrastructure Services Department, SIC in response to our letter concerning the relocating of this post to Lerwick. It was decided to write to Alistair Buchan, SIC Chief Executive, outlining the concerns of the Community Council about the centralisation of this job.

North Isles Ranger

There has been no reply to the letter sent to Paul Harvey, Shetland Amenity Trust about the moving of the Ranger’s post to Lerwick.

Alistair Buchan, SIC Chief Executive

It was agreed to write again to Mr Buchan and invite him to a meeting of the Community Council. As Mr Buchan is advocating the decentralisation of SIC jobs, the Community Council want to ask him why the Biodiversity job and North Isles Ranger’s job are both being centralised in Lerwick, with additional mileage and travel costs being incurred because of this. These two jobs are very important to the community of Unst and the removal of them sends out the wrong message to other SIC Departments or other prospective employers. The Community Council has been pushing for decentralising jobs for the last few decades.

Resignation from the Community Council

Cheryl has decided to resign from the Uyeasound Ward of the Community Council. She has decided to pull back from some of her community involvement. She has been very heavily involved in the fight to keep the Uyeasound School open. Everyone agreed that she will be a great miss from the Community Council and it was with a lot of regret that her resignation was accepted.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 15^th August 2011 at 7pm in the Baltasound School

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 27th June 2011 at 7.00 pm at the Baltasound School, English Room

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 27^th June 2011 at 7.00 pm at the Baltasound School, English Room