Final Minutes of Meeting of Yell Community Council

             Monday 17th December2007 in Mid YellSchool at 7.00pm

Present:                     Mr D Thompson (Chairman), Mr R Jamieson, Mr L Odie, Mr M Gray, Mr L Tulloch and Mr I Johnson

In Attendance:            Ms Fiona Robertson, Hjatland Housing Association;

                                 Mr J Smith and Mr J Wilson, Burravoe Development Group; Ms F Stirling, Mid Yell Development Group;

                                 Mrs M Morris, Initiative at the Edge, NI Ltd

                                 Mrs L Baisley (ex-officio) and Mrs J Smiles (Clerk)

Apologies:                  Mr W J Anderson, Mr G Nisbet and Ms A Smiles

                                      …………………………………………………………….………………

 12/07/2    Visitors – Fiona Robertson, Housing Services Manager, Hjatland Housing Association

                  The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Ms Robertson and inviting her to update on  Hjatland Housing Association (HHA) projects to date. Ms Robertson outlined HHA plans and policies for the North Isles followed by much discussion, the main points noted being:

§         Planning permission now received to go ahead with building eight new family houses at Cullivoe starting spring 2008, expected to let within twelve months. After much discussion Ms Robertson noted HHA wouldn’t rule out building further properties in Yell in future years if the demand could be proven.   YCC agreed land has been difficult to acquire in Mid Yell in the past and smaller communities such as West Sandwick or Burravoe would be just as suitable as land known to be available there.

§         As planning permission wouldn’t be given for a new settlement, HHA have to place housing in areas where local amenities are already in place.

§         It was noted there are currently 14 applications for Yell but only eight houses to be built which will go to the families with most points on the system and not necessarily local folk first. YCC agreed this seems to be unfair but Ms Robertson explained HHA are subject to European regulations and policies for allocation of housing and have to comply with these regardless of personal circumstances of people already living within Shetland.

§         It was agreed YCC and local community groups should encourage folk to put names forward to HHA/SIC for housing to show how much and where there is a real demand in Yell. HHA will work with HIE Shetland and IatE NI to identify needs and suitable sites. Ms Robertson noted it would be three years plus before any building would take place after all criteria filled to prove a need.

§         Grants/Home owner help – further help ad advise available from HHA at www.hjaltland.org.uk

The visitors left the meeting after the Chairman thanked them for attending.

 12/07/3    Minutes

The minutes of Yell Community Council meeting on Monday 19^th November were approved by Messrs Johnson and Odie subject to the following changes:

§         Title should read Monday 19^th NOVEMBER, not December 2008.

§         11/07/5 – should read, “boarding of vehicles at TOFT”.

12/07/4    Any new business for discussion with NI Councillors

.1   Mid YellSchool Project - Mrs Baisley reported this project has been approved by the Capital Programme and should go ahead as stated regardless of the new AndersonHigh School project. Mrs Baisley also noted the SIC Head of Depts for both Social Care and Education are consulting on the issue of placing the proposed new care centre alongside the new school building to share amenities. During further talks it was agreed vast amounts of time and money have been spent on paperwork to date and if small schools close this will only be a one-off benefit and SIC will still have to look at something in to cut back on in a few years time.

.2 Social Care Provision – Meals on Wheels - Additional contingency arrangements include one days’ worth of food prepared by the care centre in Unst and frozen ready for reheating in Yell incase of ferry service being cancelled. Staff have now been recruited and meals on wheels service in Yell will be done from Isleshavn after the school holidays.

.3 Poor Broadband Provision, Sellafirth - Mrs Baisley noted this should improve with the new Faroese link.

(Mrs Baisley left the meeting at this point.)

 12/07/5  Outstanding Business

                  .1 Ferries – Outstanding matters 

§         Boarding of Vehicles at Toft  - YCC not satisfied with reply to date as loading should not give priority to certain vehicles. This is a road usage problem and should be timetabled for a longer gap between Yell and Bluemull Sound. YCC agree if drivers booked and on time they should be taken before unbooked vehicles. The main problem arises from vessels departing later than scheduled from Toft.

§         Calor Community Awards – clerk to reply with brief outline for notices.

§         Vending machines – YCC request clarification on the procedures for maintaining the vending machines in the passenger lounge.

§         Festive Timetable –it was again agreed that this needs to be looked at well in advance and passenger usage should be monitored and taken into consideration for next year.

§         Gutcher bus connections –bus arrives Gutcher at 16.10 to catch 16.15 to Fetlar then waits for the 16.15 departure from Belmont arriving Gutcher at 16.25 causing a 15 minute wait for bus passengers travelling onto North Yell. Mr R Jamieson advised this was caused by changes to Bluemull Sound timetable from 16.10 to 16.15. YCC query why this was changed in the first instance and suggest it could go back to 16.10 departure from Belmont.

Action: clerk contact as above.

                 .2  Roads - Outstanding Matters

§         Houlland Brae, Warning Signs –  order in place and should be erected before March 2008.

§         Mid YellChurch of Scotland Car Park – requestupdate for next meeting.

§         Speeding Concerns at Linkshouse, Mid Yell – request update for next meeting.

§         Speed Monitor, Mid Yell – SIC to inform when the monitor is next available. Clerk request meeting to site monitor with local YCC member.

§         New Road into Mid Yell  - landowners currently co-operating with SIC for land purchase required. Legal Services to check progress in January 2008.

§         Scenic Route Sign for East Yell –  no reply to date, request update for next meeting.

§         Burravoe Footpaths Phase I – Mr L Odie noted still waiting on plans for revised area acquisition.    Request update for next meeting.

     Action: Clerk contact relevant depts as noted above.

                     .3   Mid YellSchool Project  - As discussed with Councillor Baisley above.    

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

§         North Isles Action Group Meeting – Mr D Thompson attended earlier this month along with NI Councillors, SIC Development Dept, HIE Shetland, IatE NI and Unst Community Council. The ongoing NI Development Plan set up by IatE NI was discussed and it was generally agreed to meet bi-annually for updates.

§         Initiative at the Edge, NI – funding has now been approved for an additional year. Lobbying for better Broadband provision in the North Isles still ongoing and IatE NI are encouraging folk to register required needs for Broadband with BT.

                 .5   Post Box, Cullivoe

Reply from Royal Mail Group states, “…The one (post box) in Cullivoe Road was extremely worn and due to the very low volume of mail being posted in this box at Cullivoe road, the Royal Mail Manager took the decision not to replace it … Yell is very well provided for with thirteen Post boxes and five Post Office branches. We believe this is more than enough for an island with only five hundred delivery points … there are no plans to replace or add additional posting facilities in Cullivoe.” YCC agree there should be an external post box at Cullivoe Post Office.

Action: clerk contact as above.

                 .6 Old Pier Road – Gutcher

SIC report nothing to point to a drainage problem arising from their Road network at this area but will keep under review after heavy rainfall. YCC agree if Road dept now take responsibility for this road this should include drainage.

Action: clerk contact as above.

.7 Mid Yell Public Toilets

Pedestrian barrier to be erected by local contractor to keep access clear.

.8 Litter bin – Cullivoe Pier

Not in place to date.

Action: clerk get update for next meeting

.9 SIC Remote Working Policy

SIC study to be completed by January on Home and Remote Working in Shetland. YCC agreed to invite Ms M Dunne to the February meeting to discuss this further.

Action: clerk contact as above.

.10 Visiting Yacht Facilities

No reply to date after putting through Chief Executive’s office for monitoring of mail to SIC employees.

Action: clerk get update for next meeting and request SIC procedures for monitoring of mail.

.11 Sewage Systems in Yell

Noted at December 2007:

Action: clerk to confirm details with SIC Local Plan to date and keep on file for future reference.

12/07/5   .12   Planned Visits

§         February 2008 – Ms M Dunne (SIC Remote Working Policy) – tbc

12/07/6    Planning Lists/Applications

§         Erect dwelling house opposite Mid Yell Police Station by Mr & Mrs C Thomson, Mid Yell – welcomed

§         Aquaculture Planning Applications – comments will now be allowed to be made up to the point where a decision has to be made. This extends the consultation period for comments to seven weeks.

 12/07/7    Finance/Grants

                 The following grants details were approved:

                      §         all outstanding applications for 2006/7 now expired and must be re-applied for if still required.

Action: clerk contact as above

12/07/8    New Business

                 .1   Bluemull Sound Transport Link (STAG) Meeting – 19^th Dec, Sellafirth Business Units

                 Mr D Thompson confirmed to attend.

                 .2 Moving On Project – Job Crews

                 YCC suggest forward to Old Haa Trust for help with disabled access project.

                 Action: clerk contact as above.

                 .3   SIC Refuse Collection – Festive Period 2007/8

                 Noted.

12/07/9    Skips/Recycling

                 Cullivoe and Mid Yell note as full.

                 Action: clerk fax for changes.

12/07/10 Leaflets/Annual Reports

NHS Shetland Annual Report 2006/7; Postwatch Scotland; SEPA View and Moving On project Annual Report and Accounts 2006/7 noted.

12/07/11 Any other Business

                 .1   Seaside Award Scheme

Reply deadline 31^st December. YCC agree no-one able to take this on board at this time.

.2   Community Drugs and Alcohol Service Shetland

Mr D Thompson attended this meeting last week on behalf of YCC.

.3   Changes to Charitable Status of Community Groups

Noted.

The next meeting will be held on

Monday 28th January 2007 at 7pm

In the English Hut at Mid YellSchool

Visitors – n/a