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Minutes of Meeting 13 December 2010
1. Welcome and Apologies
As Wick Community Council (WCC) had just undergone an election in November, temporary chairperson David Sutherland (DS) of Highland Council (HC) welcomed everyone to the meeting. There were no apologies.
As there were several new community councillors, new member Laurel Bush (LB) suggested everyone introduce themselves, this was duly done. DS informed the meeting that one of the elected members, George Crawford had formally withdrawn in writing, leaving thirteen elected members.
LB then made a point of order and asked if this meeting was open to members of the public and if so, why it had not been advertised. DS informed the meeting that there was no requirement in the constitution to advertise meetings. LB made a formal motion to declare the meeting invalid and incompetent. No-one seconded the motion and it was dismissed.
2. Adoption of the Constitution
Proposed by Garry Robertson (GR1) and seconded by Wendy Campbell
A discussion then followed between LB and DS concerning the current constitution. LB deemed it to be incorrect – DS explained that there were anomalies between various community councils and schemes but these were in the middle of being rectified. As of next November, all the community councils will follow the same constitution and will go to election again, as per their constitution. It is a long process which is about to enter stage three and until it is completed we have to stick with the current constitution. The meeting at large was happy with this explanation.
3. Election of Office Bearers
Chair; Coreen Campbell (CC) – Proposed by Geraldine Durrand (GD), seconded by Doreen Turner (DT)
Secretary; Gail Ross (GR2) – Proposed by Coreen Campbell, seconded by Geraldine Durrand
Treasurer; Geraldine Durrand – Proposed by Coreen Campbell, seconded by Wendy Campbell (WC)
4. Minutes of Meeting Monday 4 October
Chair Coreen Campbell then assumed control of the meeting.
Proposed by Wendy Campbell, seconded by Geraldine Durrand
5. Matters Arising
LB enquired why Mary Thain’s name appeared on page one but nowhere else in the minutes as she was the Wick High School (WHS) representative. It was concluded that she had not made any contribution to the meeting that month.
LB asked why the notice of the current consultation on the WHS new build had not been sent to the community council in August. DS told the meeting that the up to date correspondence had been e-mailed to all chairs of Caithness community councils that day (Monday 13 December) and it was also available in Wick Library.
LB asked the meeting what the relationship is between WCC and Caithness Partnership (CP). CC informed him that we work hand in hand for the improvement of the town and its inhabitants.
LB asked about the various sub-groups of WCC and whether or not they all had separate constitutions. He was told they had and they were available on request. He then asked why the meetings of the sub-groups were not open to the public. He was informed that ALL the meetings of the sub-groups were open to the public; they were not advertised as they were not required to be and the dates for meetings were always reported in the WCC meeting prior to them and minuted.
6. Police Report
No one present from Northern Constabulary (NC).
CC told the meeting that all Caithness community councils have been given their own Sergeant to report at their meetings; Sgt George Murray will be attending WCC meeting from now on.
The monthly report shows that the wintery weather conditions were making it difficult for inhabitants of the county.
The issuing of warrants is up on last year by 76.
There were a total of 765 calls to NC in November.
7. Highland Councillors Report
There were no Highland Councillors present; however DS reiterated the point made in section two, regarding the constitution and the amendment of current boundaries. A map was circulated showing the current boundary and the new one. He also informed the meeting that the new Sinclair Bay Community Council was now up and running.
Amendment - He also told those present of a meeting that had taken place in June 2010 regarding the new boundaries. This was attended by representatives from Wick, Tannach, Dunnet, Castletown and Canisbay to propose and agree new boundaries for the respective community councils. Wendy Campbell was the representative from Wick and all boundaries were agreed by all present.
8. Correspondence
Rob Gibson – newsletter
Transerve – letter about A9 maintenance from Navidale to Latheron in December
Fair-trade – leaflets
Scottish Health Consortium – newsletter
Play Areas – leaflet
British Transport Police – letter introducing Matthew O Neil as the new point of contact for the railway
Action – invite him to a meeting next year, send dates
Scottish Water – leaflet regarding the company’s performance in 2009/10
Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG) – newsletter
CVG – annual report
CP – Community Awards Scheme – closing date 14 January 2011
Bluefin Insurance – sales letter
Crown Estate – information on a renewable exhibition in November
Scotland’s Census – advertisement for census enumerators (job vacancy)
Association of Community Councils – Agenda for cancelled meeting for Tuesday 7 December, the next meeting will be held in February. LB requested to see the agenda.
Moray Firth Partnership – newsletter
Denise Davis – letter asking if WCC benefitted from a Windfarm financially.
Amendment – As Wick Community Council does not benefit from any windfarms, a reply to this effect will be sent.
Action – reply
Jennifer Gunn/Margaret Wood – letter of concern regarding cutbacks to staff at the Wick service point.
DS informed the meeting that the registrar is to integrate with the service point, allowing the Town Hall to be used more efficiently for meetings etc and the staff to keep busy in quite times. There will also be a lift installed in the Town Hall to meet the disabled access laws. There was a concern that the private records currently held at the Town Hall would be lost but the Wick councillors are going to make sure they go to the Wick archives.
LB queried the cost of the lift; DS informed him it was being costed at present.
HC – third phase of the review of Community Councils.
DS and CC informed the meeting that there were several options to be considered as the review moves into its third phase. There is a choice to be made regarding community council numbers based on the population of the area. The closing date for submissions is the end of January 2011 and it can be found on the highland.gov.uk website under ‘community councils’.
David Stark – CV
Interested in being co-opted on to WCC
GR2 informed the meeting that Donna Booth of Alternative Vitality had also expressed an interest in being co-opted on as a member
Action – invite David and Donna to the next meeting for co-option
Action –
The meeting also agreed to invite the following people to become associate members who could come along to every second meeting with an update –
Gary Macleod
Barbara Walker
A representative from Pulteneytown Peoples Project (PPP)
A representative from WHS and/or the PTA
A representative from the primary schools PTA (Sindy Rudhall at Pulteneytown Academy)
9. Treasurer’s report
Thanks were given to outgoing Treasurer and community councillor Martin Duffy for all his hard work and dedication to WCC over the years and a welcome was given to new Treasurer Geraldine Durrand.
WCC - £15,480.09
Baskets - £4,145.70
Christmas Lights are having an AGM on Wednesday (15 December) and so their accounts were unavailable
10. Planning report
It was noted by David Dunnett that work has begun on the new PPP building and that the houses at the South Head were being rapidly constructed
11. Christmas Lights
Thanks were given to the Christmas Lights Committee for the recent funday and the switching on of the lights in Wick town centre. Criticism was given to North of Scotland Newspapers (NOSN) for their front page story about local hotelier Murray Lamont and the fact that he has only contributed to the lights on one occasion when other organisations give generously.
DT reported that the prize bingo and the funday, both held in November had been a great success. A bill for £450.58 had been received for the insurance and WCC agreed to cover it.
LB queried where the money came from to keep this sub-group running. DT informed him that they were self funding, they raise money through stalls, bingo, raffle tickets, car boot sales etc. CC mentioned that WCC used to give the Christmas Lights Committee a donation but all the money was now ring-fenced for the matched funding for the town entrances project.
DT then informed the meeting that a bill had also been received for the Christmas tree in the Market Square. WCC agreed to cove r the cost of this and a discussion took place about the need to be a charity before the Forestry Commission would waive the cost.
The AGM will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 15 December in Wick Assembly Rooms.
The Christmas lights will be taken down on Sunday 9 January
12. Wick Paths report
GR1 told the meeting that the walks around Wick during the Mod, organised by Jenny Bruce had been a great success and had attracted a lot of people.
There will be a special meeting in January 2011. The Wick Paths Group constitution states that the group’s office bearers have to be members of the community council and Garry is currently the only member of the group that holds membership to both. The group is hoping that Niall Smith will chair a meeting so the constitution can be adapted. She told the meeting that more members of the WCC need to join the Paths group – LB offered his services.
LB asked how often the group met and if their meetings were open to the public. He was reminded that ALL the sub-groups of the community council meet in public and that the Paths Group normally met four times a year but it was usually more in the summer when decisions had to be made on strimming etc.
13. Baskets/HAPPY
The Baskets Committee continues its ongoing fundraising activities with a stall at the Argyle Square funday. Joanna Coghill (JC) told the meeting that the snow has postponed various planting jobs but hopefully they will be done in due course. She also said that the polytunnel has been soldered.
The bollards in High Street have now been replaced and JC and DT made a request to HC to have them painted black. DS will ask Tec Services but has reservations about motorists not being able to see them as clearly.
WC told the meeting that the HAPPY committee has everything organised for the Hogmanay party. The Chickenpickers and the Harvey Boys are providing the music. There will be hot food available to buy as well as balloons, hats and novelties.
DS was asked to look into the possibility that the HAPPY committee will have to obtain an entertainments licence for events in the Market Square in 2011 at a cost of £340 for three years.
14. Town Entrances
David Dunnett (DD) informed the meeting that Mr J Sutherland will adjust the prices for the town entrances and his discount will be a contribution.
It was brought up that the Homebase sight had changed hands – DD to look into this.
LB asked about the financial side of the town entrances then commented that it seemed to be nothing more than a vanity exercise.
15. WHS
There was no representative of WHS present.
16. Town Centre
DS will arrange a meeting between HC’s Ian Moncrieff and select members of WCC to review the traffic order on the High Street. HC are also looking into changing the wording of the sign at the entrance to the pedestrian walkway from “no admission except for access” to “no admission except for loading and unloading”. LB enquired whether this would make any difference to the legalities of driving through the street or if it would just be a costly failure. DS said it wouldn’t change the legal situation but it might change people’s perceptions. Taxis will still be allowed to pick up and drop off.
17. AOCB
Copies of the community plan were handed out to the new members by the chair.
As a last point of order DT told LB she no longer wanted letters delivered to her personally but was willing to discuss things over the table as they had done since the community council was formed. The meeting agreed.
The chair wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and adjourned the meeting at 9.14pm.
18. DONM
Monday 10 JANUARY 2011 at 7pm in the Mowat Room Assembly rooms, Wick
Gail Ross Seen and agreed
Secretary/Minute Secretary Coreen Campbell (Chair)
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