Author: Nancy Heubeck
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Company: Dunrossness Community Council

DUNROSSNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Chairman			 		    	Clerk
Mr Donald Robertson					Mrs Shirley Leslie
7 Toabsgeo			Ringesta
Virkie			Quendale
Shetland  ZE3 9JJ					Shetland  ZE2 9JD
Tel:  01950 460300					Tel: 01950 460868
							Fax: 01950 460922
                                                                           E-mail:dunrossness.cc@zetnet.co.uk
					           www.dunrossnesscc.shetland.gov.uk

Minute of Meeting of Dunrossness Community Council held in Dunrossness Primary School on Monday 25 October 2004.

PRESENT:
Mr D Robertson 	Mr R Tulloch		Mrs E Mainland		Mr B Robertson	
Mr R Nickerson		Mr J Ridland 		Mr I Garrick		Cllr W Tait		
APOLOGIES
Mrs F Mitchell 		Mrs S Jones		Mr J Sinclair		Cllr G Mitchell	
P.C. Courts

IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs S Leslie (Clerk)	     

04/36 	MINUTE

The Minute of the meeting held on 23 September 2004 was adopted on the motion of Mr Nickerson. 

04/37	MATTERS ARISING

1.	Road Matters: 

a) Road Flooding: David Coupe, SIC Roads, had replied to the Community Council’s letter stating that the drainage problem at the Moull is currently under investigation and works necessary to rectify any problem discovered will follow.  It is also his intention to improve the drainage at the A970/North Bigton Junction by installing two new larger culvers, repositioned to be more effective.  These works are now in progress.

04/37/1b
25 October 2004						page two of eleven

04/37	MATTERS ARISING 

1.	Road Matters (continued): 

b) Ditches at Ireland: According to David Coupe, SIC Roads, the ditches in the Ireland area will be added to the ditching programme.  Mr Nickerson informed the members that the ditches have now been cleared.  The members were appreciative of the SIC’s prompt response.

2. Westvoe, Grutness and Levenwick Beach Car Parks: Vic Hawthorne, SIC, had replied to the Community Council’s letter regarding the above stating that he has spoken to his engineering colleagues who have advised him that, as car parks are outwith their statutory remit, these works are not a priority and hence the delay in the production of drawings for the proposed projects.  The engineers had advised Mr Hawthorne that something may be done in the future if resources are available.  Mr Hawthorne suggests that a possible way forward may be for the Community to engage an engineer to develop the schemes and the SIC engineers can then ‘sign off’ on the detail, ensuring the schemes are developed to an appropriate standard.    Mr Hawthorne states that he maintains his ‘commitment to improving these areas as the environmental amenity is being eroded by the informal nature of the parking provision’ and he feels ‘it would be possible to develop informal parking at these sites to benefit all’.   Mr Nickerson suggested that the Community Council obtain quotations from SIC approved engineers for the upgrading of the car parking facilities at Westvoe as it has been ongoing the longest.  This was agreed.  Cllr Tait enquired if financial assistance would be available.  Mr D Robertson suggested approaching Shetland Enterprise and 
Mr Tulloch suggested Linda Coutts, SIC.  It was therefore agreed that the Clerk request a copy of the design guidance and a list of SIC approved engineers from Vic Hawthorne and then write to the engineers inviting them to quote for producing drawings for the project.  With regard to the possible upgrading of parking facilities at the Levenwick Beach, Mr Garrick agreed to make enquiries regarding ownership of the land in the area.

3. Ireland Footbridge: There was nothing new to report.

4. Proposed Grutness Development: The Clerk informed the members that AB Associates expect to have their report completed by Friday 29 October 2004. 

5. Scousburgh Hill: There was nothing new to report.

6. Ireland Beach Launching Ramp: There was nothing new to report.

7. Levenwick Beach Temporary Toilets: There was nothing new to report.

04/37/8
25 October 2004					page three of eleven

04/37	MATTERS ARISING (Continued)

8. Car Park opposite Church of Scotland: A copy of the plans for the proposed extension to the Dunrossness Burial Ground had been received from Jim Grant, SIC.  According to Mr Grant, the works are scheduled to commence this financial year and will include the re-surfacing of the car park.

9. Boddam Böd: The Clerk informed the members that enquiries are still ongoing regarding ownership of the building.

10. Broadband for Bigton: The Clerk confirmed that she had written to British Telecom enquiring when their technical trials to extend ADSL reach will be complete and requesting that they reconsider including the Bigton Telephone Exchange in their programme for upgrading.  A reply had been received stating that ‘there are no plans to make this exchange broadband enabled, in the foreseeable future’.  The writer had therefore suggested that as many people in the Bigton exchange area as possible should register their interest in having broadband in the area.  Mr Nickerson suggested that the Clerk send a copy of the letter from BT to Mr Jim Wallace, MSP (carbon copy to Tavish Scott, MSP) seeking confirmation that the Bigton area will be included in the Scottish Executives procurement plans, as indicated in his letter of 17 August 2004.

11. Best Value Review of Education Service: A copy of the Minutes prepared by SIC of the discussions held regarding the ‘Best Value Review to Education Service’ at the previous Community Council meeting had been received and passed to the members for their information.

12. Inter-Island Air Services: In reply to the Community Council’s letter seeking assurances that the current level of inter island air services will be maintained beyond 2006, Graham Spall, SIC, had forwarded a copy of a press release issued shortly after the announcement that Loganair was not the preferred bidder for the air ambulance contract.  The Press Release reads:

The Council’s Infrastructure Committee agreed today to tender the provision of inter-island air services to Fair Isle, Foula, Papa Stour and Skerries for one year, up to March 2006.  The existing contract, operated by Loganair Ltd, expires on 31 March 2005.

Speaking after the Committee met, the Council’s Transport Spokesperson, Councillor Gordon Mitchell, said that the one year contract would secure the provision of the service while the Council evaluated the changes currently being made to the ambulance service contract. 

04/37/12 
25 October 2004	 					page four of eleven

04/37	MATTERS ARISING 

12. Inter-Island Air Services (continued):

 “These services have traditionally been provided by the same operator and that has meant that the overhead costs associated with basing an Islander aircraft in Shetland have been shared.  Clearly that position will change but the existing ambulance service contract runs for another year and by aligning our arrangements with that date we are giving ourselves time to properly evaluate the position and plan for the future.”

He added that he did not want people in the islands to be unduly concerned about the future of the inter-island air service.  “The Council will be responsible for the Public Service Obligations on these routes and will continue to specify the frequency of the service and the fares.  If we put out a one year contract now we will have a full year to put together proposals for the future and we will be consulting the island communities to get their input before any recommendations go to the Council.”

Mrs Mitchell had expressed her concern at a report in last weeks Shetland Times regarding the decision by the infrastructure committee that a full in-depth review of internal air service provision should be carried out.  According to the report, this puts Tingwall Airports future at risk.  The committee agreed to set up a new group which will include the committee chairman, the vice-chairman and the councillors for Fair Isle, Foula, Skerries and Papa Stour.  It was agreed not to pursue the matter further at present until the groups findings are known.  

13. Dunrossness Electricity Supply: Following the Community Council’s letter to Scottish and Southern Energy regarding the continuing short interruptions in the electricity supply in the Dunrossness area a reply had been received from Bob Kelman, Operations Manager, Shetland.  Mr Kelman states that, due to the increasing number of faults on the main 33,000 volt line from Lerwick to Sumburgh Substation, refurbishment works have already been programmed for week commencing 11 October 2004.  
Mr Kelman is sure that the community will see the benefit of the refurbishment works in the near future but he points out that the majority of faults in the area are transient, caused by 3^rd parties such as bad weather, birds and lighting strikes.  A number of Pole mounted Reclosers have been installed on the system in the last two years as part of their automation programme.  These are designed, in the main, to recognise transient faults and restore power in seconds rather that the hours it took in the past.  The system is designed to switch off and then back on again with this type of fault.  

04/37/13 
25 October 2004	 					page five of eleven

04/37	MATTERS ARISING 

13. Dunrossness Electricity Supply (continued):

Bird flight deflectors have also been fitted in a number of sections of line where they have been advised by the RSPB that there is a high risk due to the flight path of geese and other large birds.  It is also Scottish and Southerns intention to fit a new type of 33,000 volt spacers on the main line this year to try and prevent line clashing during bird strikes or high winds.

14. Water Supply: In reply to the Community Council’s letter regarding problems with the Dunrossness Water Supply, Scottish Water states that:

a) The Airport Fire Service has been contacted regarding the pressure problems that occur in Scatness when they use water for training purposes.  The Fire Service has referred this to their Headquarters and Scottish Water are awaiting further consultation.

b) Bigton suffered a burst pipe at the same time as the general South Mainland Zonal problem.  It was a separate incident and was not related to the Zonal problem.

c) During the Zonal incident, the tanks at Sumburgh dropped to such a low level that supplies were interrupted for a period of approximately 1.5 hours (although this affected some customers for a longer period).  Sumburgh Water Treatment Works is still in the process of conversion from a WTW to a service Reservoir.  This means that there is not currently as much storage capacity in the tanks as there will be when the conversion is complete

15. Collection of Prescriptions: The Clerk had written to the ‘Surgery’ expressing the Community Councils concern at the lack of consultation on the discontinuation of Saturday openings and enquiring if it would be possible for them to hold a late surgery at least once a week.  The following reply had been received from Sheila Mann, Practice Manager:

We are sorry that you feel there was not enough public consultation regarding the arrangements which have recently been introduced to cover Out of Hours services.
NHS Shetland visited all rural areas with a highly publicised programme of public meetings to discuss the issues surrounding the proposed changes.  The panel included a GP who was representative of all the Practices.

04/37/15 
25 October 2004	 					page six of eleven

04/37	MATTERS ARISING 

15. Collection of Prescriptions (continued):

As regards collection of repeat prescriptions: the only change is, as I explained in my letter of 14 September, that the surgery is closed on Saturday mornings.  We accept that there are difficulties for some patients but all that we can currently offer is to have the collection of medicines available from 08.15 am.
In relation to your request for an evening surgery: all acute medical problems arising in the evening are now dealt with by the Out of Hours service.  Our doctors are part of the rota which provides this service.
We hope that you find the new arrangements more manageable than anticipated.

It was pointed out that, although there were public meetings to discuss the new ‘Out of Hours’ service, no mention had been made at these meetings that the collection of prescriptions on a Saturday morning would no longer be possible.  The members saw no reason why the dispensary at the Surgery could not be open for a short time on a Saturday.  It was also agreed to suggest that it would be more appropriate to hold a Surgery on Wednesday evenings as opposed to Wednesday afternoons.  Finally, the members considered it would be helpful if notices detailing the Surgeries new opening hours were sent to the local shops.

The public are requested to inform the Community Council if they have experienced any problems with NHS24 and/or the new arrangements at the Surgery ie. not being open on Saturdays. 

04/38  	FINANCE AND GRANT APPLICATIONS

1. Ness Boating Club - To assist with the cost of the annual Fireworks Display: It was agreed on the motion of Mr B Robertson, seconded by 
Mr Garrick to award the sum of £1000, as requested, towards the cost of the annual Fireworks display.

2. South Mainland Community Association – To assist with the annual expenditure incurred in providing playing field facilities for the local community: It was agreed on the motion of Mr Garrick, seconded by 
Mr B Robertson to award the sum of £1750, as requested.

04/39
25 October 2004					page seven of eleven

04/39	PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND PLANNING MATTERS

1.	Erect garage, South Voe, Dunrossness by Mr John Graydon, 
South Voe, Dunrossness – Copies of letters sent to SIC Planning Department and Mr Graydon, commenting on the above application, had been received.  Following discussion of the matter and viewing of photographs taken of the area, the members agreed that their views on further development of the Southvoe area remain the same as when they considered planning application 2003/306/PCD (Erect Dwellinghouse, Southvoe by Mr & Mrs Pring), and therefore the Clerk was requested to make the following comments to the SIC Planning Department:

a) The Community Council continues to have concerns regarding the standard of the existing road should there be an increase in usage and it is therefore their opinion that some upgrading of the road should be considered.

b) The Community Council is particularly keen to ensure that the character of the immediate area surrounding the crofthouse, an important tourist attraction, is maintained.

2.  Construct twin 20,000 litre septic tank and associated sewer works, Foreshore, Virkie by Scottish Water, Riverside House, Riverside Drive, Dundee – There were no objections.

3. Raise roof (west elevation) and re-roof with asbestos blue/black tiles, Nolcrest, Scholland, Virkie by Mr William Anthony Johnston, Nolcrest, Scholland – There were no objections.

4. Erect dwellinghouse, Gord, Levenwick by Mr A Ludlam, Levendale, Levenwick – There were no objections.

04/40	CORRESPONDENCE  

1. SIC letter ref. Review of Housing Zones: According to the letter, a review of the zoning arrangements for housing is now underway and is being undertaken simultaneously with the first five-yearly review of the Shetland Structure Plan.  Bessie Barron, SIC Planning, states that ‘these two reviews need to be linked, because if the housing zoning systems (as opposed to just the zone boundaries) were to change, it would be necessary to revise the part of the Structure Plan which deals with zoning arrangements’.  

04/40/1
25 October 2004					page eight of eleven

04/40	CORRESPONDENCE  

1.	SIC letter ref. Review of Housing Zones (continued):

SIC Planning Staff suggest meeting with members of Dunrossness Community Council on Wednesday 1 December in the Levenwick Village Hall in order to begin the review.  This was considered to be satisfactory.  Copies of an explanatory note setting out the main points which are to be covered at the meeting were enclosed and distributed to the members.

2. Community Planning Board letter ref. Seminar on Community Planning in Shetland: Two members of the Community Council are invited to attend a seminar on Community Planning in Shetland which is being held on 6 November 2004 in the Lerwick Hotel.  Mr Robertson stated that the ASCC will be represented at the Seminar and Minutes are to be sent to all Community Councils. 

3. SIC letter ref. Regeneration Event Report 2003: Enclosed was a copy of the report from last year’s Regeneration Event.  Using evaluation from last year’s event, together with feedback from a recent Halls Audit carried out by SIC Community Development, it had been decided that this year’s event would take the form of a ‘Hall-I-Day’ and be held in the Brae Hall on Saturday 23 October 

4. The following are available from the Clerk on request:                                                          
-	Draft Shetland Disability Strategy
-	Islesburgh Newsletter, October 2004, Issue 11
-	Hjaltland Housing Association Annual Report and Accounts 

04/41	ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

1. ASCC Meeting: Mr D Robertson and Mr B Robertson had attended an ASCC Meeting on Saturday 9 October at which Jim Gear had been reappointed Chairman and Bobby Hunter Vice-Chairman.  The following points had also been discussed:

a) Community Planning – Jacqui Watt, SIC, had given a presentation on Community Planning.  A Datashare, which is updated regularly, can be viewed on the SIC Website at www.content.shetland.gov.uk/datashare 

b) Alcohol Byelaw Consultation – The proposed Alcohol Byelaw received the support of the ASCC.   Some Community Councils felt that it was a Lerwick concern and had therefore not responded to the consultation.

04/41/1c 
25 October 2004	      					page nine of eleven

04/41	ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

1. ASCC Meeting (continued):

c) Air Ambulance Service – The Health Board expressed their concerns that Loganair appear to have only two pilots available at present.  There were lengthy discussions regarding the desire for a Fixed Wing aircraft to be stationed in Shetland as part of the new Air Ambulance Service contract as there is uncertainty regarding the availability of the helicopter.

d) Forums – John Ridland was nominated to represent the ASCC on the Access Strategy Working Group.

2. Special Meeting of the Environment and Transport Forum: 
Mr D Robertson had attended a special meeting of the Environment and Transport Forum.  A representative of the Scottish Ambulance Service had attended the meeting.  The S.A.S. rep. stated that none of the final bids had included the use of Islander Aircraft and even Loganair had not made provision in their bid for a Fixed Wing Aircraft to be based in Shetland.  Sandra Laurenson, Shetland Health Board, had raised their concerns regarding the ‘loss’ of key personnel who accompanied patients to Aberdeen and then became stranded as the aircraft would not be returning to Shetland.  
For the whole of Scotland there will be two fully dedicated clinical standard fixed wing aircraft available, one based in Aberdeen and one in Glasgow.  There will also be two helicopters on 24 hour stand by, one based in Inverness and one in Glasgow and the Super Puma helicopter based at Scatsta will be operational 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Regarding adverse weather conditions, it was stated that the Super Puma helicopter can operate in worse weather than the Islander aircraft.  It was confirmed that, if necessary, both the Fixed Wing aircraft and the helicopter can use Tingwall and if the roads are unsafe due to weather conditions, the helicopter can be used to transfer patients.

3. Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee Meeting: Mr D Robertson had attended a meeting of the Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee at which the following points had been discussed:

a) 09/27 Runway Extension – Two well attended public meetings had been held and formal approval had been received from the Scottish Executive on 4 October 2004.  It is hoped to commence works in April 2005 with completion scheduled for October 2006.  The Instrument Landing System and Runway Lighting on 09/27 will be upgraded in conjunction with the extension.

04/41/3b 
25 October 2004	     					page ten of eleven

04/41	ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

3. Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee Meeting (continued):

b) Business Development – The new Loganair early morning and evening service between Shetland and Edinburgh along with the intention to route the mid day flight through Wick and an additional flight through Inverness were welcomed.

Wideroe’s service between Shetland and Norway during the summer had been very successful.  It is their intention to offer the service again next summer and they hope to increase capacity.

c) Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee Constitution – The new Sumburgh Airport Consultative Committee Constitution was adopted.

d) Other Business – The Chairman announced his intention to stand down as Chairman of the SACC in March 2005. 

e) Date of Next Meeting – The next meeting of the SACC is scheduled for 14 March 2005 at 1330 hours in the Control Tower Building.

4. Snow Clearing: Cllr Tait informed the members that SIC Snow Clearing duties will commence at 5.30 am this winter.  This was welcomed by the members.

5. Scousburgh Beach Toilets: Cllr Tait informed the members that Scousburgh Beach is first on the list to receive public toilets, although this is still to be approved by the Council.  Subject to Council approval, sufficient funds for the provision of two sets of public toilets in Shetland should become available within the next year.

6. Peat: Mr Ridland reported that the Crofters Commission had contacted him regarding the possibility of carrying out research into peat on the Scousburgh Hill. 

7. Levenwick Bus Service/Road Works: Mr Garrick stated that during the recent closure of the South Levenwick Junction, Levenwick had had no bus service through the village.  It had appeared that there was no urgency to re-open the junction and instead of it being closed for two weeks, as originally stated, it had finally been opened after almost four weeks.  Mr Garrick was keen that the same problem should not arise when the North Junction is closed, and it was agreed that the Clerk should write to Graham Spall, SIC, requesting that public transport provision be better organised for the duration of the closure and seeking a guarantee that the works will be completed within the specified timescale.  A copy of the letter will be sent to Ian Bruce, SIC.
04/41/8 
25 October 2004	     				page eleven of eleven

04/41	ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

8. Sumburgh Head Lighthouse Pier: Mr B Robertson reported that the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse Pier at Grutness had fallen into a state of disrepair.  It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Shetland Amenity Trust and enquire if they now owned the old pier.

	 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.25 pm.

                                                                                                 Chair

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF DUNROSSNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL 
WILL TAKE PLACE IN DUNROSSNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL AT 7.30 PM ON MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2004.