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Minutes 07 March 2011
THE ROYAL BURGH OF WICK
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting held in the Mowat Room, Assembly Rooms, Wick
At 7.00pm
on Monday 7th March 2011
1. Welcome and Apologies
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Barbara Walker (BW) is to attend as an associate member. Apologies are noted as above.
2. Minutes of the meeting Monday 7 February 2011
Proposed by Ruth Black (RB) and seconded by Joanna Coghill (JC)
3. Matters Arising
JC told the meeting that the Wick Hanging Baskets Committee is very dismayed following the negative comments made in the Caithness Courier and John O Groat Journal by Laurel Bush (LB).
David Stark (DS) is still collating information about kerbs in the town that should be lowered.
Congratulations were offered from the chair for the new Wick Community Council website. There followed a discussion about the links page after LB asked if there will be a link to his website. David Sutherland is to be consulted on this issue.
No feedback yet about the High School Games Hall being available at the weekends.
4. Police Report
Sgt Ian Sutherland (SIS) told the meeting that Anti Social Behaviour Order’s (ASBO’s) had been served on several drivers in the town for various offences.
With regards to speeding on Thurso Rd and by Tesco, Northern Constabulary (NC) is committed to placing cars as a deterrent.
Vandalism continues to be an ongoing issue with one particular local firm suffering thousands of pounds worth of damage recently. NC asks members of the public to be vigilant and to report anything they see that may help catch the perpetrators.
There continues to be a high detection rate at over 67%
There is a consultation on the future of Scotland’s police on the Scottish Government website; people are urged to leave comments. LB asked if the Association of Caithness Community Councils has taken a stance on this, Councillor Graeme Smith (CGS) replied that he doesn’t know of a group in the county that supports it.
JC told the meeting that she has been speaking to a representative of the Norseman Hotel who told her they were very grateful that NC had increased patrols around the hotel; they were having another problem with laser pens being shone at patrons in the bar. It was agreed that this is dangerous and will be looked into.
Wendy Campbell (WC) enquired whether or not the CCTV at the harbour had caught any of the recent vandalism. She was told that the camera had been facing the wrong way and that its main purpose was to watch the marina.
Garry Robertson (GR1) told the meeting that she was dismayed to see people letting dogs out like cats to wander the streets. SIS said that they are working very closely with the dog warden and they had dealt with four dog related incidents in the last month.
5. Highland Councillor’s Report
CGS told the meeting that at the last meeting of the Highland Council (HC) the Education, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee had ratified the decision to use the current Wick High School (WHS) playing fields for the new build.
There was then a debate about the new community council scheme that is to be introduced this year. This will mean elections will be held again in November and all community councils will have a standard template for their constitution and code of conduct.
LB asked if there had been a decision on the swimming pool and the library, CGS said that had yet to be decided.
The Chair Coreen Campbell (CC) then read a statement from Councillor Bill Fernie regarding WHS which stated there had been a consultation with teachers over 2 days and things were moving along nicely.
6. Correspondence
HC – WHS site selection committee had a meeting on the 3rd of March and it was decided that the school would be built on the existing playing fields. The recommendation is that it should include a library and a swimming pool and the existing facilities will close but this is subject to approval. There would be options looked at for the Carnegie Library and swimming pool buildings. Design is progressing well and outline plans will be ready by the end of March. Construction is due to begin in July 2012 with completion in August 2014.
Lib Dems – Robbie Rowantree introductory letter
HC – Licensing application for Lidl
HC – Insurance for community council
Transerve – upgrading Ousdale to Berriedale from March 1st for four weeks. There will also be upgrading at Weydale but no dates are given.
There then followed a discussion about the ongoing pothole/surface situation on South Road. It was ascertained that Wick Community Council had received assurances that the work would be completed by now but it was deteriorating once more. There is still work to be done to the drains but this is proving to be more expensive the longer time goes on.
Action – letter to Transerve to state disappointment and ask for an update.
Joint Ward Forum – Tuesday 5th April
NHS – violence against women – looking for first-hand accounts of domestic violence, posters were handed out. One will go in CVG, one in Assembly Rooms, one in The Crown Bar.
HC – letter concerning the re-development of the HC offices in Wick. Plans are being re-submitted.
HC – bill for tea and coffee, checked bank statement – cheque waiting to clear.
The Crown Estate – Brochure
Alzheimer’s Scotland – support for people who care for someone with dementia.
7. Treasurer’s Report
Community Council - £18076.31
Baskets - £4525.82
Play Areas - £158.72
No statements for Christmas Lights and HAPPY – will be at next meeting
8. Planning Report
CGS reported that the building site at the South Head had been targeted by vandals
9. Christmas Lights
Members have been on a walkabout to make up plans with the firm that deals with the lights.
10. Wick Paths report
GR1 told the meeting that the Wick Paths Project had met and changed their constitution as was suggested at the last meeting. It now means that there doesn’t need to be a community councillor as an office bearer. There have been changes to the office bearers – David Oliver is now chair, Jenny Bruce continues as secretary, Ian Banks retired as treasurer but no-one came forward to replace him.
Gail Ross (GR2) read a letter that requested members of the public to take walks around the paths and report any broken, missing or general untidiness that needed looking into. This will also be put on the community council website.
11. Baskets/HAPPY
AGM was held and the office bearers remain the same. They are now beginning to plan for the Scotland in Bloom 2011 entry, repair existing poly tunnel and erect the new one. The Scotland in Bloom entry will include the Riverside so the group will liase with the Paths Project on this. They are also keen to work with the HC to cut down some of the trees at the fountain for the CCTV camera. Annual account details have been sent to OScR.
HAPPY – there will be a meeting in April to determine what music will be needed for this year.
12. Town Entrances
David Dunnet told the meeting that he is in contact with the owner of the Homebase site and they are happy to help in any way, he is to send them the plan and a picture of the sign opposite the cemetery road opening.
13. Wick High School
There is currently a consultation about schools catchment areas, this can be found on the HC website and people are being urged to have their say.
CC told the meeting about a meeting held in WHS to consult on what the new school will look like and what facilities it will have. GR2, Garry Macleod (GM) and LB were all at the meeting. There was a general consensus that good access and opening hours for the community were paramount, and there were various other suggestions such as an all weather pitch, swimming pool, poly tunnel, vegetable garden etc. GR2, GM and LB put their names forward for the consultation committee.
There followed a discussion about what the school would look like, if it will be like Dingwall and what it should contain.
14. Town Centre
Doreen Turner (DT) informed the meeting that there had been a meeting about the town centre and a Town Centre Manager had been appointed. Alan Steven will be in position this month for two years.
Action – write to Trudy Morris and invite her and Alan to the meeting in May.
15. AOCB
CGS informed the meeting that the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme was due to end this month but is now continuing for another year so if you live in the conservation area and need work done to your property it will be worthwhile applying for a grant.
The meeting was closed at 9pm
16. DONM
AGM - Monday 4th April 2011 at 7pm in the General Purpose Room, Assembly rooms, Wick
Gail Ross Seen and agreed
Secretary/Minute Secretary Coreen Campbell (Chair)
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