TONGUE COMMUNITY COUNCIL INCORPORATING THE VILLAGES OF MELNESS, TONGUE & SKERRAY A meeting of the above was held on Tuesday, 17 th Connection, Tongue. September 2013 in North Coast Present Attending Patrick Gray (Chairperson) Richard Mackay (Vice Chairperson) Vince Kelly Barry Sutherland Karen Robertson (Treasurer) David Macleod Cllr Linda Munro Suzanne Mackay (Secretary) 1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES Meg Telfer sent her apologies for the meeting. 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 20 th August 2013 Proposed by Barry Sutherland and seconded by David Macleod as a true record. 3. ACTION REVIEW 3.1 Suzanne Mackay Contact Cllr Linda Munro regarding the No Overnight Parking signs (COMPLETE). Linda reported that under European Legislation the signs had no legal standing therefore the Highland Council removed them. However it was acknowledged this was now causing lot of problems for Communities therefore it was possible to raise a traffic order to reinstate the signs. Action: Suzanne Mackay Contact Strathy and Bettyhill Community Councils regarding requesting a traffic order be raised to reinstate the No Overnight Parking signs. 3.2 Barry Sutherland To prepare a specification for the drainage work required to Castle Varich path and arrange for the path to be strimmed (ONGOING). Barry reported that he had spoken to the local Council workers regarding similar drainage work at the football pitch and described the work which was required. Members agreed that this was the way forward and prices would be sought from local contractors once the specification was available. Barry added that he had spoken to Nicky Martin regarding strimming the Castle Varich path. 3.3 Barry Sutherland To order notice board (ONGOING). Barry reported that this action was ongoing until a location for the notice board had been agreed. 3.4 Barry Sutherland/Patrick Gray To discuss forward plan for Youth Group, now that money has run out (COMPLETE). Patrick reported they had spoken to Stuart Mingham and Gary Macleod. The Youth Group was not running at the moment but the plan was to speak with the Youth
Group and leaders in the next couple of weeks to discuss what the kids wanted from the Group and find a way forward. 3.5 Suzanne Mackay Contact Andy Mackay to ask whether placing the Angel statue at the parking area on the causeway would require planning permission (COMPLETE). Suzanne reported that Andy Mackay had said that planning permission would be required. Patrick agreed to contact the planning department to find out what was required to be done to get planning permission for siting the angel. Action: Patrick Gray Contact planning department regarding siting of Angel on causeway. 3.6 Suzanne Mackay Contact Lehna Edwall to arrange an early October visit and get more details of the statue (COMPLETE). Suzanne reported that she had arranged the early October visit with Lehna Edwall but had to cancel it due to the constraints of obtaining the planning permission in advance. Once it was known how long the planning permission process would take, a new date for the visit would be arranged. Action: Suzanne Mackay Contact Lehna Edwall to organise November visit. 3.7 Suzanne Mackay Contact Highland Council regarding Skerray streetlights being constantly switched on (COMPLETE). Linda said that she had reported the streetlights but was unsure whether it had been sorted. 3.8 Suzanne Mackay Contact Highland Council regarding bin collections at public areas (COMPLETE). Linda reported that she had requested that either the bins be replaced with larger bins or that additional bins be placed at tourist/beauty spots to accommodate the additional rubbish over the summer months. 3.9 Patrick Gray Contact local BT engineer regarding cable over Melness playpark. (ONGOING). This action was ongoing. Vince requested that the BT line not be removed, as the Melness Community Centre may require the use of it in the future. 3.10 Cllr Linda Munro Arrange a meeting between Patrick Gray and European Department of Highland Council (ONGOING). This action was ongoing. 3.11 Cllr Linda Munro Feedback to Highland Council regarding lack of information about traffic diversions (COMPLETE). Linda reported that she had discussed this matter with the Highland Council and they stated that they already gave as much information as they could, given the constraints on such work, such as weather. Barry agreed to be a contact for the notification of any future work in the area, as he could advertise it on the Melness and Tongue facebook page. 3.12 Richard Mackay Submit Ward Discretionary Budget application form for clearing of football pitch area (COMPLETE).
Richard reported that the application had been submitted. 3.13 Cllr Linda Munro Enquire whether the Tongue notice board could be erected on the wall of the public toilets (COMPLETE). Linda reported that it was acceptable to site the notice board on the wall of the public toilets but added that the Highland Council would accept no liability for any damage done to the notice board. 4. SPECIFIC TOPICS 4.1 Youth Group This was discussed under the action review. 4.2 Unite Hope Project Angel This was discussed under the action review. Once a date for the visit was set, the visit would be organised. 4.3 Letter from Melness Resident A letter was received from a Melness resident requesting that a number of issues be addressed, including clearing the guttering of Melness public toilets, removing a tree that has fallen across a footpath and erecting a sign at the carpark area for Skinnet beach. It was agreed to contact the Highland Council in the first instance to address these issues. Action: Suzanne Mackay To contact Henry Flett regarding the issues to be addressed in Melness. 5. CORRESPONDANCE 5.1 Northwest and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on Police and Fire Services Correspondence was received regarding the Northwest and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on Police and Fire Services which was to be held in Lairg Community Centre at 11am on Saturday 26 th of October. Linda encouraged everyone to attend as it was a very important matter for the area. 5.2 Sutherland District Partnership Meeting Correspondence was received regarding the Sutherland District Partnership meeting which was to be held in Drummuie at 3pm on the 4 th of October. 6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 6.1 Tongue Playpark Linda reported that the Highland Council will not fence the Tongue playpark but suggested that an application be submitted to the Ward Discretionary Budget for up to 1000 to allow the fencing to be carried out. Suzanne agreed to complete the application. Three quotes were to be obtained for the fencing work required. Action: Suzanne Mackay Complete application to Ward Discretionary Budget for fencing of Tongue playpark.
Action: Richard Mackay Ask Alisdair Robertson and Ian Keith for fencing price for Tongue playpark. Action: David Macleod Ask Tommy Mackay for fencing price for Tongue playpark. 6.2 Traffic Lights at Ardgay Vince enquired what the long term traffic lights outside Ardgay were for. Linda informed the Community Council that the road was subsiding and, until the money was available to repair the subsidence, the traffic lights would be used to keep vehicles off that part of the road. 6.3 School Minibus Availability Karen reported that a number of issues had arisen at the Parent Council Meeting regarding the lack of availability of the school minibus and the effect it was having on a number of areas, including afterschool activities. Linda replied this was something she was already investigating and hoped to have an answer in the near future. 6.4 Christmas Lights Vince reminded the Community Council that the erection of the Christmas lights and village Christmas trees would need to be organised. It was agreed that it would be organised at the Community Council meeting in October. 6.5 Whale at Talmine Pier Vince reported that a dead whale had been washed up at Talmine pier and enquired who should be contacted to report it for disposal. Suzanne agreed to report it to Henry Flett. Action: Suzanne Mackay To contact Henry Flett regarding the dead whale at Talmine pier. 6.6 Castle Varich Barry reported that he had met again with Dougal Lindsay and he had enquired whether the Community would like to take ownership of Castle Varich. The Community Council stated that they would only take ownership once the necessary repairs had been carried out to stabilise it. 6.7 Secretary Resignation Suzanne informed the Community Council that she was handing in her notice as secretary. She agreed to put out posters advertising the post to get a replacement. Action: Suzanne Mackay To put posters out advertising secretary role. 7. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will take place on the 15 th of October at 7.00pm in North Coast Connection, Tongue.
ACTION TABLE ACTIONEE ACTION STATUS Suzanne Mackay Contact Strathy and Bettyhill Community Councils regarding requesting a traffic order be NEW raised to reinstate the No Overnight Parking signs. Patrick Gray Contact planning department regarding siting of Angel on causeway. NEW Suzanne Mackay Contact Lehna Edwall to organise November visit. NEW Suzanne Mackay To contact Henry Flett regarding the issues to be addressed in Melness. NEW Suzanne Mackay Complete application to Ward Discretionary Budget for fencing of Tongue playpark. NEW Richard Mackay Ask Alisdair Robertson and Ian Keith for fencing price for Tongue playpark. NEW David Macleod Ask Tommy Mackay for fencing price for Tongue playpark. NEW Suzanne Mackay To contact Henry Flett regarding the dead whale at Talmine pier. NEW Suzanne Mackay To put posters out advertising secretary role. NEW Barry Sutherland To prepare a specification for the drainage work required to Castle Varich path and obtain ONGOING quotes from local contractors. Barry Sutherland To order notice board. ONGOING Patrick Gray Contact local BT engineer regarding cable over Melness playpark. ONGOING Cllr Linda Munro Arrange a meeting between Patrick Gray and European Department of Highland Council. ONGOING