Minutes

Meeting held in Assembly Rooms, Wick

Monday, 1st December 2014    

 

Members Present

N Smith (NS)

Chairperson

 

G Durrand (GD)

Vice Chair

 

J Coghill (JC)

Secretary & Baskets Committee

 

J Banks (JB)

Member

 

D Dunnet (DD)

Member

 

D Turner (DT)

Xmas Lights

 

N McDonald

Highland Council

 

J Coghill

A Farquhar      

W Campbell

N McDonald

J Robertson

G Ross 

B Fernie                        

Secretary

Wick Campus & HAPPY

Member

Highland Council

Co opt member

Highland Council

Highland Council

 

 

 

Non Members Present

J Campbell

Member of public

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apologies:

Police Scotland

 

 

B Fernie (BF)

Highland Council

                                                      J Sutherland                          Co opt member

                                                       S McNeill                                 Minute Secretary

                                                         

Welcome and Apologies

 

NS welcomed everyone, apologies as above  and introduced guest speaker Campbell Stuart

 

Guest Speaker Campbell Stuart Higland Council TEC Services

 

Discussion attached as Addendum 1
 

Minutes of meeting Monday Nov 2014

Proposed by J Banks  and seconded by D Dunnett.
 

Matters Arising  ( Refer Actions )
 

Grizzly Park lights are not functioning

Action 01 GR

 

Nov 06 NMcD   Campbell Stuart provided update as per addendum
 

Aug 09 - Once the new act has been approved the committee will invite Mr D Sutherland, Highland Council to a meeting to discuss how this act will be initiated in Caithness early in the New Year

 

North Head War memorial fencing installed for survey must stay in place to prevent access.  Funding of £72, 000 is available for any memorial refurbishment, however £30,000 must be raised.

Action 02 GR

 

 

PoliceReport

No representation. Current statistics were provided

 

HighlandCouncillorsReport

Members had queried as to why the Inverness Fireworks Event had been funded by HC. Funding had derived from contributions to a  common good account  from rates  in place on  the Victorian Market to the benefit of all.

 

Members had queried as to who owned the steps at the old Coastguard Station as they are in a poor state. NMcD Land belongs to Hempriggs estate , however steps had been installed by HC.

 

North Head War Memorial refurbishment will cost £70k, however only £30k is available.
Preliminary drawings and original photograph are available. Barriers are in place.

 

Police Scotland ward forum is scheduled for 15th December 2014. GR to attend

 

BF A seminar on new broadband is scheduled for March 2015. New superfast broadband installed throughout the county will only be available to those who contact their service provider for an upgrade package.

 

McBraynes Ferries are upgrading their WiFi

 

 

Correspondence  ( available on request )                       

 

Scottish Rural Parliament Report by Jan Banks

Resignation received from Koreen MacDougall as Co opted member

HC TEC Community Services summary report 

Path Repairs Proposals

War Memorials Refurbishment

NHS Highland Lay Members Application criteria

Association of Caithness Community Councils Agenda

Scottish Health Board  Defibrillator procurement and training application

HC Budget Consultation Phase 2

Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice

Community Council Role Enhancement (www.communitycouncils.org.uk)

Public Consultation Police & Fire Services in Town Hall

NDA Archive  Proposal of Application Notice

Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Exhibition and Workshop
 

Treasurer Report

RBWCC - £ 28504.10
Baskets -  £2310.60

HAPPY    £136.70

WCC Annual Levy £20
 

HAPPY
 

Arrangements all in hand (Band, location, toilets and bins ) Final  review of Risk Assessment review by Emergency services required. Concern re volunteers / stewards for the event. 

 

AF queried as to why the Thurso Hogmany Party was being financed  by HC discretionary fund. GR responded that this was available for Wick also, however it must be applied for but unfortunately would be too late for this year.

 

 

Baskets
 

Flowers are still in bloom and wintering arrangements are in hand. JC indicated that location of  some displays are to be revised. Similar concern re voulunteers to help out.

 

XmasLights
 

DT indicated that fund raising had gone well. Bingo, Tescos etc. New lights had been purchased, however some did not arrive in time.   Critism from the public  ( ie Caithness Org )  re  erection & switch on was totally inappropriate. The Xmas lights installation has  been  extended again this year and were functional on   the weekend as planned.

 

Concern was raised  re lack of volunteers. Whilst raising funds is not an issue,  the effort required to maintain,  store, erect and dismantle Xmas lights is considerable. The Xmas lights have been provided for 21 years, however if no additional help is forthcoming, new year could be the last time.

 

The new council offices do not have hooks for the cross wires installed to provide support for the Xmas tree in the Market Sq.

 

Action 03 JC / DT/ AF discuss issues  with HC / Morgan Sindall
 

Town Entrances

A total redesign was proposed resulting from intellectual propery / copyright issues claimed by the designer employed to provide a design. Planning consent for erection of new design would be pursued.


Wick Community Campus & Noss Primary
 

GR confirmed that £29M of the works had been let to date.

Whilst Financial close has still not taken place, Early Works Contracts have been let.

 

Noss Primary is scheduled to open in September 2015.

 

HC have no contingency available to the project, stating that  risk has been transferred to the Contractor.

 

AF confirmed that several requests to the Stakeholders Committee / HC  for Architects rendition of the Noss School  East side ( Girnigoe St ) are still unresolved,  with residents having approached him re the dimensions and  visual impact of the new sports block.
 

AF provided latest Campus programme indicating  end Sept 2016 for handover, then a 10 week transition from existing Pulteneytown Academy and WHS. However, demolition of  Pulteneytown Academy , Old Wick High School,  landscaping,  outdoors sports facilities completion  and will take  a further two year period ( late 2018).

 

AF had submitted a series of concerns to GR & BF which are yet unanswered  eg  local firms apprentices as work packages let to local firms are of insufficient value to warrant new apprentices ( Only one apprentice admin position has been forthcoming )

Action  04 GR / BF
 

Town Centre

Concerns raised over the lane between CAB and  Social Work Offices ( access down to Bord de Leau restaurant. No ownership confirmed at this time, however originally belonged to Sutherlands Store. Common sense to prevail here as the lane is obviously not fit for use.

 

Members reiterated trip hazards and accidents resulting thereof  in market square following works  in Market Sq. HC have surveyed area  but  have no concerns at this time.

      

Issue of parking in Town centre clearly signed  as pedestrian / no parking area is for Police    Scotland to resolve
 

Caithness Flag

Caithness Flag design to be approved by Flag Institute, Lord Lyon , Ward Manager.

 

Costs / Funding of issue and responsibility for use of flag to be defined  raised by members.

 

 

Any other business
 

Members queried as to the Town Development Plan  / Charette brochure and  its aim, objectives  with  the cost of the exercise vs perceived benefit.

 

A weblinkto the online brochure will be made available to the public.

 

The official War Memorial has been confirmed as being in the Wick Cemetery, however its location is not obvious.  Local historian Ian Sutherland would be contacted to advise.

       NDA Archive exhibition was provided at PPP. PMN also available on Dounreay Site

 

Blackstairs Playgroup has been subject to a legal challenge. GR had not been approached re the issue. RBWCC have been requested to mediate with GR to assume position for mediation.

Action 05 GR 

 

       Wick Youth Club funding cuts are forthcoming .

Date of the next meeting

Next meeting will be held on Monday, 12th January 2015  

 

 

OUTSTANDING ACTIONS  

 

Meeting 7th October 2013

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Oct 07

Reply to HIE re: Wick Town Entrance signs

NS

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 4th November 2013

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Nov 01

Letter to NHS Highland (asking for exact numbers of patients currently being cared for at home) (members to bring any individual cases to the RBWCC and these will be passed to Jill McVicor)

JC

Ongoing

Nov 06

NM to follow up speed limit to Trinkie issue with Highland Council

NM

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 3rd March 2014 

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Mar04

Make contact with the Inverness Community Council ref: progress with the Inverness Campus

AF

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 12th May 2014  

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

May05

BF to follow up with David Sutherland issue about pavements round the town (BF awaiting list of pavements requiring repair – will review this and chase again.  BF will also look into repairs to Market Square)

BF

Ongoing

May06

JC/NS to discuss RBWCC insurance documents

JC/NS

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 2nd June 2014

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Jun01

BF to arrange for the memorial at North Head to be boarded up (fences have been put back up but hole still not boarded up – BF will follow this up)

BF

Ongoing  

 

Meeting – 4th August 2014

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Aug08

Letter to Highland Council requesting a quote to light up the Wick War Memorial. HC provided estimate. AF established local business to provide materials FOC. HC to conduct trials of new lights

JC / AF

Ongoing

Aug09

Letter to Chief Executive, Highland Council regarding the proposed new legislation regarding derelict buildings (take photos of the buildings and email to HC)

JC

Ongoing

Aug10

Enquire if owners of derelict buildings pay rates

NS

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 1st September 2014

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Sept01

Market traders vehicles parking. No contractual arrangement. Police Scotland issue. Letter to PS

JC

Ongoing   

Sept02

Ownership of the land from braehead to harbour. Unknown at this time

JC

Ongoing

Sept03

Request more bins for Green Road park

NM

Ongoing

 

Meeting – 6th October 2014

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Oct01

State of paving around market square causing accidents. HC meeting with contractor

HC

      Ongoing  

Oct05

Letter to Campbell Stewart regarding speed limit at Trinkie . Refer Dec 2014 appendum

NMcD

In Hand

Oct07

Letters to local playgroups requesting Mums/Dad’s/carers volunteer to be on the Xmas Lights committee

JC

      Ongoing

Oct08

Contact owner of Charity Farm regarding land for Wick entrance sign. Due December 2014

DD

      Ongoing

Oct09

Letter to Morgan Sindell regarding contribution to  HAPPY, basket & Xmas  committee funds. Meeting in December 2014

JC

      Ongoing

Oct10

Discuss adapting the County Coat of Arms into the Caithness Flag with BF/GR/NM

NS

In Hand

Oct11

Email BF/GR/NM regarding Grizzly lights, North Head monument repairs, Market Square seats

JC

Ongoing

 

Meeting –  November 2014

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

Nov 01

Trip Hazards and Coastguard & Trinkie Steps. Refer Dec 2014 appendum

NMcD

      Ongoing   

 

Meeting – December

Action No

Action Details

Responsibility

Status

 Dec  01

Grizzly Park Lighting

GR

  New     

       Dec 02

 

GR

New

Dec 03

 Discuss Town Centre issues  with HC / Morgan Sindall

JC / DT/ AF

New

Dec 04

Wick Campus Issues raised by AF

AF/GR/ BF

New

Dec 05

BlackStairs Playgroup legal issues

GR

New

 

Appendum 1

 

Notes Guest Speaker Campell Stuart HC TEC Services

 

TBA