Action Note – Lochaber Joint Ward Forum (Wards 12 and 22)

Monday 7 October 2013

Present: Cllr Thomas MacLennan (Chairman); Cllr Bill Clark; Cllr Allan Henderson; Cllr Eddie Hunter; Christine Hutchison and Maggie MacKenzie, Kilmallie Community Council; John Fotheringham, Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council; Liz Ford, Sunart Community Council; Charles Kennedy MP; 5 members of the public were present

 

In attendance:   Ch Insp Derek Paterson, Insp Donald Campbell and Shane Spence (Police Scotland); Group Manager Robert Scott, Chris Findlay and Michael Foxley (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service); Dot Ferguson (CE)

 

Apologies: – Cllr Bren Gormley; Cllr Brian Murphy; Cllr Andrew Baxter; Mallaig and Morar Community Council; Janis MacDonald, Voluntary Action Lochaber

 

For Action
Chief Executive’s (CE)
Education, Culture and Sport (ECS)
Finance (F)
Housing and Property (H & P)
Planning and Development (P & D)
Social Work (SW)
TEC
High Life Highland (HLH)

Listed below is the action required as a result of the decisions/discussions taken by the Lochaber Joint Ward Forum at their meeting held on 7 October 2013 in Caol Community Centre, Caol, Fort William.

 

Please arrange to take the required action on the basis of this Action Sheet.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Ward Policing Plans

Ch Insp Paterson outlined the consultation process for the update of the ward policing plans with the purpose being to capture the views of local councillors, community councils and interested community groups in order to inform the future priorities.  Target period for discussions to take place is between 1st September and 31st October 2013.  As a result of consultations carried out last year, the current priorities have been Road Safety, Alcohol Abuse, Community Engagement.  A range of activities have been undertaken to address the varying issues under each of these priorities.  As a result of Northern Constabulary’s public consultation survey published in January 2013 the top three Lochaber policing priorities now identified are:
• Road safety / speeding
• Drugs
• Crime prevention / law and order / public safety

While there was general support for these priorities comments made included:

- general statement of support for the continuation of Driving Ambitions and SafeHighlander
- concerns re motorbikes travelling at high speed with little enforcement action being seen by communities
- concerns re slow vehicles causing queues, frustration etc – more signage would help.  It was noted that the new Trunk Road policing unit being based in Fort William could help both of these issues
- concern raised re vehicles queuing on to A82 and A861 during Mull Rally when smaller ferry is operating.  HC is providing parking attendants to manage waiting cars and police will also attend as necessary
- noted that the Lochaber Pubwatch scheme has been highly effective in reducing number of alcohol-related incidents
- concerns around proposed reduction in hours of police counters and lack of presence of officers at community meetings - opening hours will be subject to consultation.  New Area Command at Blar Mhor will have a public counter available 7 days per week

3. Ward Fire Plans

Group Manager Robert Scott outlined the widest remit of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and provided various statistics which demonstrated the levels of activity by the SFRS within Wards 12 and 22.  These included:

Dwelling Fires                       2009/10  2010/11  2011/12  2012/13
Caol & Mallaig                              9            9          9           6
Fort William & Ardnamurchan        9            16        13          6
    
Fire Fatalities    
Caol & Mallaig                               2            0          0           0
Fort William & Ardnamurchan         0            0          1           0
    
Fire casualties    
Caol & Mallaig                               1            1           3           2
Fort William & Ardnamurchan         1            3           2           2
    
      
Deliberate fire setting had shown a marked reduction from 56 to 23 incidents; road traffic collisions had shown an increase from 28 to 42 and unwanted fire alarm signals had maintained a relatively high rate of 120 incidences.
   
On the basis of these statistics the meeting was content to agree the suggested priorities of:

• Accidental House Fires
• Deliberate Fires
• Road Traffic Collisions
• Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS)

In response to questions, it was confirmed that there would be no closures of existing facilities until a full risk and resource mapping exercise was completed – estimated timescale of 2016.  It is hoped to maintain at least three fire control centres with at least one in the north area – a decision should be made by the end of 2013.

4. AOCB

Lochaber Highland Games – can the Council help to regenerate the interest in this event to attract more organisers / helpers? – to be discussed at a Ward Business Meeting

Fort William / Dudley twinning arrangement – could this relationship be revived – perhaps links with the school / community? – to be discussed at a ward business meeting

Commando Memorial – concern was expressed that as there are no public toilets in Spean Bridge since the Council suspended the Comfort Scheme, people are urinating near the monument – to be raised as a matter of urgency with TEC Services