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Isle of Arran Community Council

Minute of Isle of Arran Community Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010 Ormidale Pavilion, Brodick Those present were: Campbell Laing, Chair, Alison Prince , Secretary, Harry Davidson , Treasurer, John Inglis , Willie Kelso , Ian McCallum, Brenda Stewart , Richard McMaster , Ian Small , Charles Currie, Gillean Langley , Cllr Margie Currie Also in attendance Sgt R.

Written by Alison Prince
Thursday, 1 April 2010

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Minute of Isle of Arran Community Council Meeting
held on Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
Ormidale Pavilion, Brodick

Those present were:
Campbell Laing, Chair, Alison Prince , Secretary, Harry Davidson , Treasurer,
John Inglis , Willie Kelso , Ian McCallum, Brenda Stewart , Richard McMaster , Ian Small , Charles Currie, Gillean Langley , Cllr Margie Currie
Also in attendance
Sgt R. MacKay Strathclyde Police, Chief Supt W Fitzpatrick (Divisional Commander, U Division), Jim Nichols (ACVS) and 4 members of the public.

Apologies for absence
Jenny Meade

Declaration of Interest
Nil

The Chair welcomed Chief Supt Fitzpatrick to the meeting.

1. Minutes of Meeting held Tuesday 26th January 2010 were agreed as a true record.

2. Matters Arising

Arran goes Green
It was noted that the CC had agreed with the Aims as presented, and supported the bid in principle.

3. Police Matters

The Chair welcomed Chief Superintendent Fitzpatrick to the meeting.

The following is a resume of the presentation:

• The primary mission of the police is to watch, guard and protect communities , and to prevent crime.
• In small communities, there is the need for overt rather than covert policing. The public want to see and know their police officers.
• The police demonstrate their effectiveness through performance in a range of issues including:

Disorder and violence
Protection of children
Management of sex offenders
Counter terrorism
(To keep) a tranquil and peaceful society.

• This is achieved through patrol responsibility, visibility, policing of licenced premises, and promoting public safety.
• Logistically, there is a fixed resource on Arran, and additional resources can’t be added to easily.
• Policing needs the consent of the community-the people who stay there. If consent is eroded, we have to move forward. Some discussion had been too wide and inappropriate. Some interventions were not helpful.
• The Officers on Arran are all volunteers, who have made a huge commitment to move here with their families. They have been well received here.
• Officers have to be part of the social vibrancy and the economic community. It is about partnership working.
• There are no ‘league tables’ on Arran (or anywhere else).
• Chief Supt Fitzpatrick will be visiting all 77 CC’s in U Division in the next 12 months.
• His job is to protect the reputation of Strathclyde Police at all times.
• No member of the public should fear making observations or criticism. No one will be treated anyway other than fair if they make an observation.

Brenda Stewart praised the help and support given by Sgt Mackay in the establishment of the motor-cross club, and the skate park.

Cllr Currie noted that Sgt Mackay had made himself available to the CC, and came to nearly every meeting.

Chief Supt Fitzpatrick commented that Arran is a busy beat. eg Road crashes had increased 40% in the last 6 years (2009c/f 2003). It is necessary to work collaboratively to both educate people and to improve the roads. Public safety is a big agenda, and he would work through the Council services to get support there if necessary.

Alison Prince believed that, by and large, Arran does not have a criminal community, and in many cases ‘self-policing’ takes place.

Gillean Langley asked how long police officers stay here. In reply, it was confirmed that there is no fixed tenure. It was expensive to relocate officers to Arran in terms of moving house, family etc.

The Chair thanked Chief Supt Fitzpatrick for his visit.

3. Correspondence
Correspondence was reported as under:

3.1. Katy Clark MP – Survey
It was noted that a recent survey carried out by Katy Clark had revealed that , in the case of Arran, Affordable Housing was the top of the list of issues. In the case of the Mainland, the same issue was 7th.


3.2 CC Expenses
Harry Davidson reported that he had received a further letter from NAC indicating that the money received from the Council for expenses could not be increased. The figure would remain at £910 per annum (£410 admin grant and £500 in respect of travel costs).
It was noted that there was no set mileage rate in the figure, neither was there provision in the Constitution in this regard.
The Chair felt this should be taken up with the Association of Community Councils, but regrettably the mileage rate of 40p per mile could not continue.



3.3 Environment – Water
In respect of the Lighthouse, a further letter has been sent to Sally Campbell making the points again.


5. Housing

5.1 Planning Meeting
John Inglis reminded the CC of the Planning Forum to be held Monday 8th March 2010 in Brodick Hall, as part of the development of the new Local Plan for North Ayrshire.

6. Planning
The following was noted;

• Crofters Cottage, Kilmory

7. Roads

• Ian Small spoke of the continued deterioration in condition of the roads on the Island. He requested that the Roads Department come to Arran and go round the island to inspect the roads, ideally with him present. Cllr Currie agreed to ask if a senior Roads Engineer would be prepared to meet with representatives of the CC.
• Ian Small stated that he had asked NAC who would be responsible if there is a fatality and it is attributed to road condition.
• Cllr Currie reported that the NAC roads budget had not fallen, and had received an extra £728000 this year.

8. AOCB

• Jenny Meade reported that she had been in touch with NAC Estates Dept regarding Lamlash Hall. The building had been offered for sale, but if this does not happen, the building will be demolished. Being a grade 3 listed building, any purchaser would be bound by the listing conditions, which might prove expensive.
• Brenda Stewart gave an update on efforts made to contact the owner of St Georges Church. A letter has been sent via Clydesdale Bank in an attempt to progress this.
• Richard McMaster reported that only 2 swings had been refitted at Kilmory School, whereas formerly there were 3. Cllr Currie agreed to make enquiries.
• Ian Small reported that, following the opening of the new Seafront Walkway in Brodick , 2 separate car accidents had occurred relating to the new disabled access path projections. Damage to both vehicles had been costly. High visibility bollards will be installed shortly.
• Bollards will also be installed at the new footbridge, following reports of a vehicle crossing the bridge.
• The Calmac ‘Explore’ brochure has, in error, omitted the 0815 sailing from Lochranza.
• Further delays were reported in respect of the proposed CC Website. After discussion, it was agreed to cancel the existing contract, and await the return of the money paid in advance.

The meeting closed at 9pm.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 27th April 2010, at 7.30 pm in Ormidale Sports Pavilion, Brodick.

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