Author: Nancy Heubeck
Last saved by: Shetland
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 29 October 2007.

PRESENT:
Mr D Robertson 	Mr I Garrick		Mrs E Mainland		Mr J Sinclair 
Mrs W Kay 		Mr R Nickerson 	Cllr A Duncan

APOLOGIES
Mrs S Malcolmson 	Mrs F Mitchell  		Ms C Laignel 		Mr B Robertson	
Cllr J Budge 		PC Ian Brown		Pat Christie (Community Worker)

IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs S Leslie (Clerk)	

07/49	MINUTE

The Minute of the meeting held on 24 September 2007 was adopted on the motion of Mr Garrick

07/50	POLICE REPORT
	
PC Brown was unable to attend the meeting.

07/51/1
29 October 2007						page two of eight

07/51	MATTERS ARISING

1. Road Matters: 

a)  Levenwick Road Markings: A reply to the Community Council’s letter had been received from David Macnae, SIC Roads, stating that he will arrange for a third arrow to be marked on either side of the blind summit when the contractor is next in the area.

b)  Culster/Baxter Sign: There was nothing new to report. 

c)	Westhouse, Brake to Gravemire, Brake: It was agreed to write to Ian 
Halcrow, SIC Roads, requesting that the SIC archives be checked to establish whether or not this section of road is adopted.  Cllr Duncan will also raise this issue with Mr Halcrow.  

d)  North Haven Causeway, Fair Isle: Mike McGuire, SIC, has been to Fair Isle to survey the North Haven Causeway.

e)  DPS to A970 Widening: Ms Laignel had received an e-mail, which she had passed to the Clerk, from a member of the public seeking support for widening of the road from opposite the property named ‘Rivendell’ to the A970.  The writer points out that this section of road is used by many pedestrians and the lack of pavement or hard shoulder makes it difficult to clear the road, especially when encountering one of the regular buses which travel to the school and croft house museum.  The writer also states that he considers it an ‘urgent and immediate requirement’ that a passing place and appropriate kerbing is constructed opposite the drive of Rivendell as the area is a single track blind summit and traffic is committed to using the road before they can see oncoming traffic.  This has resulted in the edge of the road dropping away in this area.  It was agreed to write to Ian Halcrow, SIC Roads, regarding the problems opposite the entrance to Rivendell.

2. Westvoe Car Park: There was nothing new to report.

3. Grutness Car Park: It was agreed that the Clerk e-mail Vic Hawthorne, SIC, and enquire if there has been any progress with the preparing of a lease agreement for the car parking area at Grutness Beach.

4. Levenwick Graveyard Access and Paths: There was nothing new to report.

5. Museum – Tom Henderson Plaque: There was nothing new to report.

07/51/6
29 October 2007						page three of eight

07/51	MATTERS ARISING (Continued):

6. Fair Isle NHS24 Cover:  Mrs Mitchell had reported to the Clerk that an NHS24 Nurse Director and Shetland NHS staff have recently visited Fair Isle.  A ‘public involvement meeting’ was held to discuss various issues and it is hoped that there will be some improvements in the service as a result of action now planned.  

7. Fair Isle Fire Station: There was nothing new to report.

8. Water Issues: 

a) Scousburgh/Bigton: The Clerk reported that she understands the issue of procurement of land for the siting of the new tank at Scousburgh has now been resolved.

b) South Voe: There was nothing new to report.

c) Scatness: The Clerk had received an e-mail from Stephen Scott, Scottish Water.  Mr Scott states that he has discussed the water problems at Scatness with the engineering staff at Lerwick who inform him that the frequent low pressure problems and discoloured water experienced by Scatness residents is “almost certainly due to the regular fire fighting drills carried out at Sumburgh Airport.  The large, sudden draw of water will cause a drop in pressure and also stir up sediment in the mains, causing discolouration”.  The clerk reported that she had discussed this with the Airport Fire Service who informed her that the majority of the water used by them for fire training is obtained from an Emergency Water Supply Tank which is then refilled slowly, much the same way as a domestic system.  On occasion the ‘deluge’ valve on the tank is used, but this is not a common occurrence.  The Fire Service also reported that when the airport hydrants are tested, the water is often very discoloured although the water from the newly installed pipes and hydrants on Runway 09/27 is always clear.  Mr Nickerson stated that it is Scottish Water’s responsibility to provide consumers with an adequate water pressure.  Mr Garrick suggested that the Community Council reply to Mr Scott stating, contrary to the suggestion in his e-mail, that our research indicates that it is extremely unlikely that the water supply problems experienced by Scatness residents is caused by the Airport Fire Services training activities. 
Mr Garrick suggested that the reply be copied to Tavish Scott, MSP.  This was agreed.

d)	Fair Isle Hydrants: There was nothing new to report.

9. Scousburgh Sand Public Toilets: There was nothing new to report.

10. Levenwick Bus Shelter: There was nothing new to report.

07/51/11
29 October 2007						page four of eight

07/51	MATTERS ARISING (Continued):

11. Community Ferry Hires: There was nothing new to report.

12. Sumburgh Aircraft Boarding Cards: A reply to the Community Council’s letter to Loganair has still not been received.  The Clerk will pursue the matter.

07/52	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 Sinclair, seconded by Mrs Kay, to award the sum of £1000, as requested.

07/53	PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND PLANNING MATTERS

1.	To erect two dwellinghouses on land east of Horseshoe Close, 
Virkie by Black & Budge, Bigton House, Bigton – The application was discussed and local zoning maps studied.  It was agreed that the Community Council is obligated to object to this application as virtually all of the proposed Plot 1 and a significant area of the proposed Plot 2 lies in a Zone 4 and is on good agricultural land.  Concerns regarding road safety were also raised in relation to the proposed access to the development. 

2.	To erect two dwellinghouses on land south-east of Sandblister 
Place, Scatness by Black & Budge, Bigton House, Bigton – There were no objections.

3.	To re-roof and alter dwellinghouse, remove chimney stack and 
porch, Kinora, Ireland, Bigton by Mr B Morrison, Laebrak, Ireland, Bigton - There were no objections.

07/54	FEEDBACK FROM EXTERNAL MEETINGS  

1. ASCC Meeting: Mr D Robertson had attended a meeting of the ASCC on 6 October 2007.  The following points were discussed:

a) Parking at Northlink: Lerwick Port Authority are making 50 more spaces available at Holmsgarth.  SIC Transport Department are monitoring and confirm it is included in the Transport Strategy Action Plan.

07/54/1b
29 October 2007						page five of eight

07/54	FEEDBACK FROM EXTERNAL MEETINGS  

1. ASCC Meeting (continued)

b) Works Licence Applications – Quality of Maps: The response from Martin Holmes, SIC, was deemed unacceptable – a solution has been requested.

c) Mobile Phone Coverage: It was agreed to invite the main providers to the next ASCC meeting.

d) Broadband Coverage: The ASCC will continue to press for enhanced coverage.

e) Post Office Closures: Mr Alistair Carmichael, MP, is pursuing the issue with the Post Office and Government Ministers – public consultation with the Northern and Western Isles will commence in March 2008.

f) Soft Verges: The SIC Audit and Scrutiny Committee will be monitoring the outcome of meetings of the Roads Member-Officer Working Group and outcomes on this issue will be reported to the ASCC.

g) Survey of Community Council Clerks: Secretary to the ASCC, Morag Gerrard, will provide assistance to Clerks whenever possible.

h) ZetTrans Presentation: Members received a presentation from Michael Craigie regarding the current proposed fixed link to Bressay and Councillor Allan Wishart answered members’ questions.

i) Aquaculture: Jan Riise responded to DCC’s request for notification of an ‘intent to develop’ a site for aquaculture purposes – but advised that the Council has no power to change the current system, however it is hoped to bring this in to the Planning regime in time.

j) Skip Allocation: Yell CC had requested an increase in their allocation of skips (DCC regularly use considerably more than their allocation e.g. 2006/07 - an additional 29 skips).  Morag Gerrard will ask Community Councils’ to provide her with the necessary information. 

k) Provision of Code of Practice and Review of Constitutions: This was brought up by Bressay CC who thought it was a necessary tool to enable consultation etc. between Community Councils and the local authority.  Catherine Hughson advised that Shetland is being held up nationally as a model of excellence.

07/54/1l
29 October 2007						page six of eight

07/54	FEEDBACK FROM EXTERNAL MEETINGS  

1. ASCC Meeting (continued):

l) Rules and Regulations affecting Voluntary Organisations: Unst CC were concerned at the continually increasing burden of bureaucracy affecting voluntary organisations – especially local halls.

m) Scottish Water – Poor Service: Bobby Hunter advised that anyone with a complaint should write and obtain a response, asking for a log number and timescale for a considered response.

n) NHS Surgeries: Members agreed to request the introduction of more flexible hours at local surgeries.

o) Crown Estate: Due to pressure on time, the presentation on the Crown Estate & Scottish Renewables was very truncated.  Information can be obtained from the following websites:
www.thecrownestate.co.uk, www.offshorewind.co.uk & www.scottishrenewables.com

p) SIC Response to CC Letters: Jan Riise advised that, failing satisfactory response from the relevant department, (and only if necessary) letters should be addressed to Anita Arthur who will create a database and flag up areas of concern.

q) Community Council Funding: Members agreed with DCC and Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh CC that the annual grant should be index linked.

r) Shetland Hospitals – Lack of Cleanliness: It was agreed that improvement is much needed – a letter of concern will be sent to NHS Shetland.

s) Housing Zone Maps – Local Protection Areas: DCC member advised that the maps were good quality but did not always provide all the necessary information.

t) ASCC/SIC Joint Liaison Group: Donald Robertson, DCC, was nominated as representative for the South Mainland Community Councils’ (as there was a lack of representation from the relevant Community Councils at the ASCC meeting).  He agreed, as an interim measure, to cover the vacancy.

u) Date of Next Meeting: Saturday, 05 April 2008.

07/55/1
29 October 2007						page seven of eight

07/55 	CORRESPONDENCE   

1. ‘Thank you’ letter from the South Mainland Community Association for grant received: The letter was noted.

2.  Scottish Parliament letter ref. Flooding in Scotland: The Scottish Parliament’s Environment & Rural Affairs Committee has started a major inquiry into the growing incidence of flooding in Scotland.  Peter Peacock, MSP, writes that he would be delighted to hear the Community Council’s views on the subject of flooding and what it feels the Parliament should focus upon.  The letter was noted.

3.  Dunrossness Primary School Parent Council e-mail ref. Representative from the Community Council: At the Parent Council meeting in September, it was agreed to approach the Community Council and request that a Community Council member be nominated to represent the community on the Parent Council.  Mrs Mainland agreed to take on this role.

4.  SIC Letter ref. Review of Polling Districts and Places: As part of the review, Dunrossness Community Council are asked to consider the ‘terms of the notice and the polling arrangement’ and submit any comments to SIC Legal & Admin.  It was agreed that the current arrangements are satisfactory.

5.  ASCC e-mail ref. Scottish Water Visit to Shetland: Representatives from Scottish Water will be in Shetland in November and will be giving a talk covering: a) outlining the new process for obtaining water and waste water services and infrastructure, b) how developers can obtain provision of site infrastructure and new water and waste water connections, and c) how new connections and infrastructure are funded.  The talk will take place on Wednesday 21 November at 3 pm in the Council Chamber and members of the Community Council are invited to attend.

6. Advocacy Shetland letter ref. request for feedback: Advocacy Shetland is in the process of compiling a Development Plan for 2007- 2010 and requires feedback from stakeholders and prospective stakeholders to help them to plan how the organisation could develop over the coming years.  For this purpose, a questionnaire was enclosed which was completed.

7. The following are available from the Clerk on request:      
•	Report of the Scottish Landscape Forum

07/56
29 October 2007						page eight of eight

07/56	ANY OTHER BUSINESS 

1.  Unused Area adjacent to Dunrossness Industrial Estate: Ms Laignel had reported to the Clerk that she had been approached by a member of the public regarding the area of unused land adjacent to the Dunrossness Industrial Estate.  Mr Nickerson stated that he believed the area was owned by SLAP.  It was therefore agreed to write to SLAP enquiring what their plans are with regard to tidying the area up and making it more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

2. Bigton Telephone Kiosk Door: Mr Nickerson reported that the Bigton Telephone Kiosk door has still not been repaired.  The Clerk replied that she had reported the matter to British Telecom.

3. Hayhoull Place, Bigton: Mr Nickerson reported that he has complained, in his capacity as Councillor, to the SIC Housing Department regarding the mess which has been left around the Sheltered Housing at Hayhoull following recent refurbishment works.

4.  Fair Isle School Children: Mr Nickerson informed the members that the local councillors have ensured that, by means of the introduction of dedicated flights, Fair Isle children now get to school in Lerwick on time, weather permitting.  Previously the children missed a half days schooling on both Monday mornings and Friday afternoons as they relied on scheduled flights to get them to and from school.

There being no other business the meeting closed at 9.30 pm.

                                                                                                Chair

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF DUNROSSNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL 
WILL TAKE PLACE IN DUNROSSNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL AT 7.30 PM ON MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2007.