Final Minutes of Meeting of Yell Community Council held on

Monday 17^th March 2008 in Mid YellSchool at 7.00pm

Present:                Mr R Jamieson (Vice Chair), Mr L Tulloch, Mr L Odie, Mr M Gray and

                              Mr I Johnson

In Attendance:       Mr R Henderson (ex-officio) and Mrs J Smiles (Clerk)

                              Mr David Polson, Assistant Marine Superintendent, SIC Ferry Operations

Apologies:             Mr D Thompson (Chairman), Ms A Smiles, Mr W J Anderson and Mr G Nisbet

…………………………………………………………….………………

03/08/2 Visitors: Mr D Polson, SIC Ferry Operations

Mr Jamieson opened the meeting by welcoming Mr Polson and invited him to update Yell Community Council on ferry matters.   Mr Polson addressed the following matters:

•  Gutcher Bus Connection– To change the 1615 from Belmont back to 1610 would not be the best option as both ferries would sail too close together at that time. Unst Community Council still to get back to Mr Polson on this.
• Festive Timetable– changes would have to go to ZetTrans to try and find additional funding for an enhanced service. The most complaints on the previous timetables has been folk travelling south on 25-26^th Dec and 1-2^nd Jan have to get the 1015 from Gutcher as not another ferry until 1800. After much discussion Mr Polson noted various suggestions from YCC to improve this service including 26^th Dec and 2^nd Jan as Sunday timetable and weekday sailings between these dates go back to normal service as most folk back to work. Mr Jamieson also noted the service bus from the Northlink terminal can’t make the 0845 from Toft which has a knock on effect for connections to Fetlar and suggested this could be changed from 0845 to 0910 to coincide with service bus during weekdays.
•   Summer Timetable– agreed too late to make changes for this year and will consult earlier for 2009. Mr Odie noted there are currently nine runs over the 12 hour shift period and suggested at least one more run could be put in place over the summer. Mr Polson noted to look into further.
• 1800 Sailing from Toft - no changes to current timetable but vessels been instructed to wait up to 1805 for the connecting bus if late due to weather conditions and advise 1850 Gutcher departure of this. 
•  Ferry Service Contingency Plans Consultation- looking at system that can have a set of guidelines for all members of staff to follow - draft version out for consultation soon.
•  Voicebank- Mr L Odie noted this is now a very good service but is aware that some folk still don’t rely on it for regular updates. Noted this can be updated from a landline and Mr Polson will look into this further. New technology should be in place later in the year to allow electronic notice boards to be changed directly from a landline to change screen to scrolling messages for times of next sailings etc. Mr Polson also advised changes to service can be sent by email or text to folk registered for this service when available – this will be publicised in the Shetland Times.

(Mr M Gray entered the meeting at this point.)

• Removal of Pay Phone at Toft- this public telephone currently costs in the region of £3k per year from Ferry Service budget and due to extremely low usage will be removed completely as good signal at Toft for mobile phones.
•  Calor Gas Award Notice- Mr Polson took copy of this to be displayed with the awards on each Yell Sound Vessel.
•  Notices at Toft- Mr Polson noted new timetables and fare notices need to be put in place asap.

              Mr Polson left the meeting at this point after Mr Jamieson thanked him for attending.

03/08/3 Minutes

             The minutes of Yell Community Council meeting on 18^th February 2008 were approved and seconded by Messrs Johnson and Gray.

03/08/4  Outstanding Business

             .1  FERRIES

             As above.

            .2  Roads - Outstanding Matters

§      Speeding Concerns, Linkshouse, Mid Yell – traffic counters been placed at Linkshouse road to collect information required. Noted counters also in place between Mid Yell Voe and Mid Yell.

§      Speed Monitor, Mid Yell – should be in place by end of March/early April. SIC contact YCC member to help place monitor on agreed site.

§      Burravoe Footpaths Phase I – Mr R Henderson been advised land acquisition still has to be finalised. Mr Odie noted this is not due to fault of landowners but still with SIC legal dept. It was suggested to contact Mr Alan Rolfe, SIC Asset & Properties Manager to take this forward asap.

§      Flooding, Greenbank Terrace – replacement of roadside drainage is listed for construction under the new Capital Rolling Programme and works carried out once land and other matters are agreed.

§      Streetlights (Mid Yell School and Leisure Centre) – damage to lampposts caused by severe gales now repaired at Yell Leisure Centre by SRT and electrical faults currently being investigated by SIC at Mid Yell School.

§      Lighting at Mid Yell Pier – this system currently being revised and a separate circuit to run the fuel system allowing the lights to be on only when necessary will be put in place in the near future.

§      Lighting at Ulsta Pier - this has not been taken up by any local groups to manage and not under SIC Ferries remit. Work is to be carried out looking at various marine facilities and structures around Shetland to decide how they should be managed and Mr M Craigie will look into this to see if Ulsta small boat facility can fit into that process and report back for next meeting.

                  Roads - New Matters

§      SIC Roads Performance Assessment 2007 – noted.

§      Tarring 2008 – YCC request copy of rolling programme for Yell 2008.

§      List of outstanding road matters – Mr R Henderson suggested YCC request a site visit from SIC Roads Dept. YCC agreed to list road matters needing addressed in each area and bring to next meeting.

                 Action: clerk contact Road Dept as above.

.3   Mid YellSchool Project

Mr R Henderson reported ground works have been advertised and contract details ready to go out within next fortnight.

               .4  North Isles Working Groups (IatE NI, HIE Shetland NI, NI Action Group)

§      IatE NI Ltd Broadband Service - Mr L Odie attended meeting with BT, CC’s and SIC on 3^rd March regarding service provision in Shetland. Mr Odie put forward problem at business units at Sellafirth and reported main problem comes from the distance from local exchange.

               .5   Bluemull Sound STAF Meetings – February

Further to public meetings in NI’s, the Bluemull Sound STAG Study First Stage Consultation Report available from local shops and www.shetland.gov.uk/transport/bluemull/default.asp. Comments to bluemullsound@shetland.gov.uk or contact ZetTrans directly on 01595 744868.

03/08/4   .6   Seaside Award Scheme

Clerk submitted plans and quotes to SIC for planning permission and awaiting funding to start project.

.7   Housing Issues for Yell

No reply to date from Hjatland Housing Association. Noted currently 17 applicants for housing in Yell. YCC query if all applicants currently living in Yell.

Action: clerk contacts HHA for update for next meeting.

                .8   SIC New Local Development Plan – Briefing for CC Reps

                No further correspondence to date.

                .9   Change of Licensing Laws – Public Halls

                Licensing Board Clerk advised that all changes are now law and can only be altered by act of parliament. After much discussion it was agreed to contact Tavish Scott MSP and Kenny McAskill MSP to put case forward for amendments in new laws for Public Halls. Mr L Odie will draft letter for clerk to forward. 

                Action: Mr L Odie forward draft to clerk asap.

        .     .10 NAFC – Shetland Marine Spatial Plan

              Mrs W J Anderson passed CD plan to Mr D Thompson. Mr M Gray requested next viewing. Comments to be submitted by 16^th May 2008.

              Action: Mr Thompson forward CD to Mr Gray before next meeting.

              .11 Planned Visits

             No new correspondence to date.

03/08/5    Planning Lists/Applications

§      Demolish existing Dwellinghouse to facilitate road improvements works, Lower Camb, Mid Yell by SIC Roads Dept – further to comments submitted last month by YCC l reply states works on outside of this bend estimated at £1m including diversion of BT cables. The cheapest option to improve visibility is to knock down the house, widen the road, construct a verge and improve drainage on the inside of the bend. It was noted YCC generally agreed SIC had not handled this whole matter well from the beginning of the process.

03/08/6 Finance/Grants

             The following grants were approved for payment:

03/08/7    New Business

              .1 Bruck – Gardiestang, Mid Yell

Letter received from local resident requesting help to get fishing gear that has been lying at this beach area for many years removed by owners/otherwise. YCC contacted one owner as per letter and they have arranged removal of their own and any other bruck tomorrow.

Action: clerk reply to resident as above and copy to other owner of equipment at this area.

                     .2 PO Closures – Dave Thompson MSP

Letter offering assistance to raise concerns for closure of local PO’s from Dave Thompson MSP. Contact dave.thompson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk for further details. Full details of Branch Access Report for closure of Camb PO noted details available on request. 

.3 Water Watch Scotland – Meeting 12^th March

No one was able to attend this meeting. No further comments.

.4 Climate Change Bill – Consultation

Noted.   www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechangebill

                .5 Forestry Commission – Consultation Draft Climate Change Action Plan 2008-2010

Noted.   www.fcs.climatechange@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

03/08/8 Skips/Recycling

             Mid Yell x 3, Burravoe x 2, Cullivoe x 1, West Yell to Westsandwick changed between meetings.

03/08/9 Leaflets/Annual Reports

             The Community Councillor Newsletter Feb 2008 noted.

 03/08/10  Any other Business

             No AoB to report at this time.