Skye & Lochalsh Access Panel

Minutes of Meeting at Victoria Cottage, Portree

Wednesday 18 July 2007 at 10.30 am 

Colin introduced :

Guest - Keith Robertson - Scottish Disability Equality Forum - SDEF  

The Minutes of July 2007 were approved by Julia and seconded by Paddy. There being no meeting in August, the Access Panel’s Minutes of September would be approved on 17 October 2007

Keith introduced himself to those present.

He said he would give a resume of the SDEF’s remit.

Keith – Miscellaneous – building regulations, building standards, housing guidance – tactile paving, fire safety and evacuation of disabled people from buildings

Julia said that due to Liz’s long-term sick leave she would be sharing the incoming emails with Liz.

Joan would continue to be Interim Secretary – Minutes, letters etc.

Keith said that Planning Scotland Act 2006 – states that access statements MUST be used for buildings which have public access.

Core paths and new stores – plans to be made available to A/P.

Building Standards (formerly known as Building Control).

Blue badge – UK; Network – National – waiting time

England 3 hours; Scotland no time limit.

Julia said that she gets a Planning list every week from the Planning Dept. No planning permission is granted without A/P knowledge.

The SLAP web site complies with AAA Bobby access.

Colin to contact Inverness AP re Kyle Court problem (Colin has phone number and email address)

At this point (Paddy Heath joined the meeting)

£1250 input from H.C. no increase on this for several years.

Funding – several sites are available – check them out – Ongoing

If surveys are carried out then possible donation for services rendered – check this out with other Access Panels

There are differing degrees of surveys – walk thru, talk thru etc.

Tourist Information Centre– A/P input needed.

Keith – Disability Rights Commission (DRC) Bill

Single Equalities Bill (SE) at the Bill stage - neither of these are Acts yet but being discussed.

SDEF – cannot support the Holders/Scotland asking 260,000 badge holders for £10 pp pa for a ‘vague’ subscription. 

MATTERS ARISING (MEETING OPENED AT 2 pm) 

1. Present:

Colin Hutchings, Julia Rudram,

Paddy Heath (TAD Manager) Mike Dunworth

Joan Turkington (Minute Secretary)

2. Apologies – Mike Taylor, Nora Warby; (On holiday) - John Holt, Liz MacLeod, Una MacLeod
3. Welcome Colin welcomed Keith Robertson to our meeting.
4. Approval of Minutes : These were approved by Julia Rudram and seconded by Paddy Heath

 

MATTERS ARISING

5. Portree Regeneration (PAAC) – Once new Committee have been appointed Colin to contact. O/S
6. Ardvasar Hotel - Una o/s problem step. O/S
7. Broadford Hotel - Julia and Una to visit Broadford Hotel Archie (Manager) See copy of Survey and advice given- (follow up by Julia/Una)- Timescale applied.- i.e.

Priority 1 – IMMEDIATE EFFECT;

Priority 2 – 6 months;

Priority 3 - 18 months

(3.0 Executive Summary – Extract) Page 3 of 9 attached

8. Broadford Co-op. Colin – send further letter to Co-op Manchester. Action: Dec 2007/2008
9. Broadford Toilets/Highland Council – Jim Tolmie and Mark Crowe refer – O/S
10. Edinbane Comm. Garden – Action : Send letter/invite to Moira Macdonald/Jim G Rennie / Alistair Danter(also HC)
11. Skeabost Hotel - Mike and Julia to visit some time. Details to be arranged.
12. Sconser Ferry Terminal toilets – Action: MT to visit/ Highland Council O/S
13. General Funding To be reviewed.

 

AOCB

1. Lifebeat SLCVO 1000 words profile for Lifebeat article SLCVO-WHFP
2. possible funders – Jans, Co-op, etc.
3. Correspondence from Halcrow – Claire
4. Highland Council – Polling stations
5. Gathering hall toilets – Administrator (Alex ?)
6. Pig walk - Way Forward Group Nora Warby
7. Await further info., from Donald Kennedy.
8. Radar keys – signs on doors of Toilets for Disabled where keys can be purchased – outwith S&L. the keys (£3.00 each ) should be free for registered disabled persons.
9. It was stated that Kyleakin school toilet was being used as a store – Education Dept to be contacted. Action: CH/JFT
10. Public liability insurance – Action: Mike Dunworth
11. Communities Scotland – awarded the Pig Walk £5,000 – matching the funding
12. Transerv – letter from CH (via Joan) re Broadford – Thanks.
13. Training by Julia Rudram – Action: JFT

 

ACTIONS OUTSTANDING

1. Surveys - Marketing surveys to be decided upon – i.e. talk thru; talk thru or total report – Costings to be investigated via other Access Panels – Action: O/S - Julia
2. Broadford dropped kerbs etc (Una refers) – On going – In progress? Colin
3. Druim na Pairc, Portree (TAD) – dropped kerbs Action: Cllr J Laing/AP/TECS
4. Skeabost Hotel:  a) Toilet signs are not clear.  b) Gents toilet door and room are far too small as are the ladies. Limited facilities Action: O/S - Julia and Mike T
5. Skeabost Hotel -  Also Smugglers Bar fire exit – hazard etc.  Action: O/S - Julia and Mike T
6. Sconser Ferry Terminal:  action: CH to contact M Crow TEC (Info to Hamish Fraser) MT to visit 17/10/07
7. Funding – Awards for All and (Lloyds TSB) –Ongoing to get more funding
8. ‘Marketing Access Panel’ Surgeries on Skye and Kyle could be contacted re newsletter/Minutes of Meetings/leaflet drop. Una said she would check this out.
9. Alternative accommodation for Panel –The reason for options is due to limited parking for wheelchair users, etc. In the meantime we will use TAD (but keep Victoria Cottage informed) – Action Joan
10. Minutes – Access Panel – to be displayed in each Medical Centre – Action: Una, Joan and Nora
11. Gathering Hall, Portree – Toilets are an apology – Una MacLeod
12. Funding – John Holt suggested we try Fund Finder on the web – for capital, stationery etc. each funder gives monies for different items. Check this out. O/S
13. Funds – it was suggested that we contact: Round Table, Robertson Homes, Co-op and Jans., as possible outlets for new funds.

 

14. Since meeting - LSHA – Joan sent a letter to them re sponsorship for £500. Application granted for £500 – cheque received and banked by Joan (receipt etc obtained) Thank you letter sent by Joan. (copy attached).Hold over till 17/10/2007 (LSHA to be mentioned in our literature)

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 230 pm (Most of the outstanding matters being held over till the next meeting – 17 October 2007).  

Next Meeting: 

Wednesday 17 October 2007

(Venue booked for 1230 – 2 pm)

Commence meeting - 1230 pm at Tigh na Drochaid, Portree 

NB Change of venue and time 

Approval of Minutes

Date 

Proposed by 

Seconded by: