3. Matters Arising : Check if past 3 months minutes have been circulated to new representatives MS & JF.

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1 Minutes of meeting held 30 th September 2015, in the Service Point, Bowmore commencing at 7 pm. 1. Present: Clllr R Currie BY VC link, B Mundell- Haulier, M Spears I&JTM Group, J Knowles I & J T F, K Laurie S I D, J Porteous S I D, B Abbott NFUS, C Bell NFUS, G Roberts ICC, I McE, -Chair IJ F comm. J Waterworth FSB & Minute Secretary. Apologies: DE Darroch J CC, C Gilchrist ICC. 2. Minutes of the meeting, held 23 rd September- these were circulated at the meeting tonight and will be circulated to full group. Acceptance : Proposed J P and Seconded BA. 3. Matters Arising : Check if past 3 months minutes have been circulated to new representatives MS & JF. 4. Winter 2015/16 Timetable: IMcE advised that S R wishes to meet next week 5 th October to finalise proposed timetable. He is also meeting with AB Council next week. Agreed not able to give a decision, until previously raised questions are answered. Pressure is due to meeting proposed with the TM. Options to discuss are two small vessels on route or one large capacity for the period of two months January and February, then MV Finlaggan has to go off for her own winter servicing and is due back on or about the 19 th March, just before Easter. This means we have normal two boat service for the October to January period only. Finlaggan could do 3 return runs each day, smaller vessels could do 4 to cover same tonnage requirements. Should H. Isles have breakdown issues then the I Of A would have problems coping with tonnage and a large backlog would develop as this previous winter. JP Reminded the group that under the Ferries Plan, TS reserve the right to withdraw a second boat at any time for network needs. BM expressed his concerns that if we accept two smaller ones and there are breakdowns as in 14/15 season then we have no back up vessel with adequate capacity. ACTION : We need a written confirmation of contingency plan if there is a breakdown. And how long it will take to re deploy an alternative vessel to the route. Cllr RC advised that the Colonsay community are not at all happy with the proposed timetable it means they get no fresh supplies or post from Thursday to Monday. Also need a vessel with open decks for the restricted goods carriage H & S regs. i.e hay, fuel Use of the Isle of Mull would further restrict the communities service. ACTION - Ask for clarification as to which vessels would serve Colonsay. Timetable as proposed by Calmac is overall 3 round trips a day lose 0700 ex Islay and have only one crossing a day into Port Ellen and two crossings per day to and from Port Askaig. If Finlaggan then capacity is 1700 car trips a week and 10 lorries per day. If Heb. Isles and another it would be ten lorries less. Finlaggan is able to make up an additional run with time if disrupted by weather or heavy demand to catch up. Earlier this year x 44 sailing were cancelled during January & February, and an average of 9 a 1

2 week were diverted due to weather. Should same weather be experienced then number of sailing to each port would possibly be evened out. Cllr RC.- which ever port is the lesser problem, than the loss of Capacity. Given proposed known infrastructure business traffic and Distillery improvements could the Finlaggan on its own cope? On proposed timings BM agreed that south distillery traffic would use AM crossing out of PE and the northern traffic would utilise the PA crossing out of PA. he also advised that there is a need to repair the linkspan in PE this is planned for January? He also advised the potential tonnage for Bruichladdich expansion plans was 70 loads of concrete and over 500 tonnes of steel to be brought from January to March. And that Ardfin Estate Jura, has a major refurbishment plan valued at several million, and Machrie Hotel rebuild commence imminent. Aprox 50 staff to be accommodated and movements. Colonsay is Saturday service ex Islay necessary? Yes - Used by local trades to service the island so would be a big loss. ACTION Question why not proposing equal sailings to PA & PE and why all evening sailings are proposed into PA. Also confirmation of the timings for the repair to PE linkspan and proposed closure of port to accommodate installation. PINCH POINT identified for heavy tonnage need to get specific information from the Contractor involved. ACTION Confirm in writing that the Finlaggan could do four runs a day if the required. ACTION Get clarification if the crew sleep/rest period required is approved on Finlaggan if she does extra run a day. Can a core of extra support crew be employed to run during the night? We know historically that this occurred in the Orkneys for a two year period of growth. ACTION Check that the date of the MARCH & APRIL cattle sales have been noted by CALMAC.- NFUS. ACTION repeat request for figures from the SWA advised visitors increasing, some production quantities static others on the increase. ACTION Qualify which two vessels would replace Finlaggan during her dry dock period. And if demand increased would the two vessels do five return sails a day. SUBJECT to the answers to the above points group agreed that the retention of the Finlaggan would be the best option, as previously requested. Including two extra sailings for Thursdays, and Fridays throughout. Also for Easter and Whisky Feis on summer service. Contact to be made on Thursday 1 st October so that a final decision can be made via links to give an answer to SR & TS, for the next meeting on Wednesday 12 th October. 2

3 5. Summer 2016 Timetable: Two sets of proposed timetables have been previously circulated. One from SR Blue Sky and a second variation on this drafted, by JK. Both were extensively discussed and the following points made Bus connectivity schedules would be seriously affected by the Blue Sky timings. And has a ripple effect through the county. Not easy to get TS agreement to re schedule, but on the mainland it is easier to get a additional bus as route not running on a subsidy as with Islay. Schools have already moved timings of day to cope with bus run demands and ferry connections. H & S issues at smaller pier in PE. discussed the potential if boats are assigned to attend to one pier only i.e Finlaggan to PA and smaller vessels to PE. Tonnage increases would give further rise for concerns about safety of passengers and vehicles. Proving that the Phase two build is desperately needed for PE whilst planning permission is still valid. TS policy agreed to a 50 / 50 split of service between the ports- weather dependant. This was a hard fought agreement and the Blue Sky suggestions would need a radical agreement change. Currently showing 76 PA / 24 PE sailings. This would need substantial consultation with all aspects of the community timescale is too short to agree this. The peaks statistics from previous year were provided by CalMac one option we are consulting on is to provide extra run on Fridays to relieve pinch points, throughout the year, not just Easter and Feis/ other event weeks. Recent press release from the TM states following intensive discussion with stake holders and ferry user groups he was pleased to announce major improvement to Isle of Barra, Colonsay and other routes service. With increased capacity and more frequent sailings. Yet these are smaller freight producing islands than Islay and no mention of our needs? Cllr RC to press these points at a future MAKI council meeting and to ask the Leader of the Council to take up the points raised, when they meet soon, with the TM. Derek Mackay -TM did ask for statistics and facts to be given to him to justify our points. IJF group need to make a detailed document for him, of our evidence as we are aware the figures presented from CalMac are only of actual carried and do not reflect true demand/lost revenue New IT system this is not yet running so cannot record /prove, lost revenue/demand. Without these facts it is foolish to plan a new timetable. Queried whether the hauliers could make good use of the night crossing for a freight run and if so would this be classed as a CORE time run discussed drivers hours and implications of cost and affects on pricing of goods to the island. BM agreed to contact the Shipping Advisory Service to enquire about the timescale for setting timetables. Historically it is their remit to decide details. Overall the group agreed that there are some good points about the Blue Sky proposals ie. it gives a shorter crossing time and dedicated boat for each port. ICC Have a duty to consult with the community and discussed how best to achieve this timescales need reviewed as this is too complicated to be rushed. All agreed to prefer the use of current timetable with the agreed addition of extra runs for peak Pinch Points Easter Feis, Cattle Sales, 3

4 Shows and Festival and Bank Holiday weekends. With the agreement to spend a substantial time during next year solely on revised timetable suggestions with consultation period to all island needs. Cllr RC questioned whether the details in the Tender Documents for the new CHFS contract would include the details of new service announced this week by the TM? or are these within the remit to be added after the contracts are awarded. JP advised that they were reminded at the Procurement Panel meeting that TM reserves the right to re negotiate the tender at any time. As T S pay all fuel/boat and staff costs if they wish to add to the contract it is at their cost. ACTION To question whether - on the original proposed summer timetable would the 0700 be classed as CORE timetable with guaranteed sailing allowing the hauliers to better plan for staff rotas/costings. Would it be at an incentivised cost to encourage take up.? Final thoughts of each group members were summarised : CB- Feels the time scale demanded by CalMac is too short need to consult better with the communities of Jura and Colonsay. Also need to get a commitment to support the hauliers with better rates on night runs and make as core timetable. BA Bus times better match with our timetable proposals. Takes 6 months to get approval to move bus times and has a large impact across Argyll. JP Strongly in favour of our original timetable suggestions which maintains the hard fought previous milestones of 50/50 and we have been offered a three year trial period like Campbeltown service. Use this time and record traffic. Buses could be achieved with a five minute change to boat. KL Agrees with JP Major requirement is the tonnage capacity offered on a vessel of Finlaggan size- press for additional vessel. Feels that the group would lose its credibility, if the Blue Sky timetable were put out to the community as it stands. JK Press for day ticket at commercial rate to encourage new time, which is a CORE timed run. MS This is too important to rush through, the radical proposals of Blue Sky timings. Need to acquire the statistics on the increased R V traffic which are affecting island business. Likes the increased capacity for summer crossings and encourage commercials onto off peak with incentivised rates. Concerns over the H & S issues at P E. for commercials. GR Agrees that we stick with principles of 50/50 splits and ICC proposed timings. IMcE GR advised that the Ileach is holding a small space for a report on this meeting. Discussed and agreed that we cannot make a statement until the questions raised above have been answered by CalMac. Then we can agree a Winter timetable. There being no AOCB the meeting closed at hrs DATE OF NEXT meeting Monday 12 th October at ICCI. CalMac to attend. 4

5 7. SUMMARY OF ACTION POINTS. ACTION : We need a written confirmation of contingency plan if there is a breakdown. And how long it will take to re deploy an alternative vessel to the route. ACTION Question why not proposing equal sailings to PA & PE and why all evening sailings are proposed into PA. Also confirmation of the timings for the repair to PE linkspan and proposed closure of port to accommodate installation. PINCH POINT identified for heavy tonnage need to get specific information from the Contractor involved. ACTION Confirm in writing that the Finlaggan could do four runs a day if the required. ACTION Get clarification if the crew sleep/rest period required is approved on Finlaggan if she does extra run a day. Can a core of extra support crew be employed to run during the night? ACTION Check that the date of the MARCH & APRIL cattle sales have been noted by CALMAC.- NFUS ACTION repeat request for figures from the SWA advised visitors increasing, some production quantities static others on the increase. ACTION Qualify which two vessels would replace Finlaggan during her dry dock period. And if demand increased would the two vessels do five return sailings a day. ACTION To question whether - on the original proposed summer timetable would the 0700 be classed as CORE timetable with guaranteed sailing allowing the hauliers to better plan for staff rotas/costings. Would it be at an incentivised cost to encourage take up? PRESS RELEASE Advise the community that the ICC is still in ongoing discussion with CalMac regarding the Winter Service, following approaches to Transport Scotland and the Transport Minister regarding the retention of MV Finlaggan for the majority of the winter timetable. 5

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