minutes of a meeting held in - Shetland Communities

Association of Shetland Community Councils 

telephone: 01595 743906, email: ascc@shetland.org 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON SATURDAY 11 th APRIL 2009 AT 11AM IN THE 

SHETLAND MUSEUM, HAYS DOCK, LERWICK 

2009/04/01 PRESENT 

Theo Smith 

Tom Mainland 

Bobby Hunter 

Donald Robertson 

Sherri Malcolmson 

James Rendal 

Jim Anderson 

Averil Simpson 

John Alex Crommarty 

Maree Hay 

Ian F Walterson 

Ian Isbister 

David Sandison 

Douglas Anderson 

Chris Smith 

June Johnson 

David Hughson 

David Anderson 

Dan Thomason 

Laurence Tulloch 

Alison Duncan 

Ex Officio 

Bobby Hunter 

Kate Massie 

In Attendance 

Catherine Hughson 

Jan Riise 

Brian Hill 

Simon Bokor-Ingram 

Peter Smith 

Hannah Nelson 

Douglas Irvine 

Bressay CC 

Bressay CC 

Burra & Trondra CC 

Dunrossness CC 

Dunrossness CC 

Fetlar 

Lerwick CC 

Lerwick CC 

Northmavine CC 

Normathivine CC 

Sandness & Walls 

Sandsting & Aithsting 

Scalloway CC 

Skerries CC 

Skerries CC 

Tingwall, Whiteness & Weisdale CC 

Whalsay CC 

Whalsay CC 

Yell CC 

Yell CC 

SIC Councillor (Shetland South) 

ASCC Vice Chairman 

ASCC Administration Assistant (note taker) 

Executive Officer, Shetland Council of Social 

Service 

Head of Service, Legal & Admin, Shetland Islands 

Council 

Legal & Admin, Shetland Islands Council 

Director of Clinical Services, NHS Shetland 

Islands Council 

Scottish Ambulance Service 

Development Plans Manager, Shetland Islands 

Council 

Head of Business Development, Shetland Islands 

Council 

O:\ASCC Meetings\ASCC Meeting 11 April 2009\Approved Mins 11 April09 kmassie.doc 

1

In the absence of the ASCC Chairman, Mr Jim Gear, Mr Bobby Hunter took the Chair and 

welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2009/04/02 APOLOGIES 

Apologies were received from Mr Jim Gear, ASCC Chairman and Mr Arnold 

Duncan, Scalloway Community Council. 

2009/04/03 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 11 TH OCTOBER 2008 

Following amendment at item 2008/10/01 to included Ms Kathleen McGrath 

as being present the minutes of the meeting held on 11 th October 2008 were 

approved by Mr Jim Anderson and seconded by Mr Donald Robertson. 

2009/04/04 MATTERS ARISING 

4.1 Soft Verges – update 

A report from Mr Ian Halcrow, Head of Service – Roads, Shetland Islands 

Council had been circulated to all Community Councils. The Chairman 

asked the members for their comments. 

Mr David Sandison said some work had been carried out in the Scalloway 

area. 

Mr Dan Thomason pointed out that the road at Cullivoe in Yell could be 

dangerous for pedestrians as there was a lot of trucks and heavy traffic that 

used this road and there are no hard verges for pedestrians to walk on. 

The members went on to discuss the problems pedestrians encounter when 

trying to walk along roads in Shetland, especially in rural areas, where there 

are no hard verges and it was agreed that ASCC should ask SIC Roads 

Department to consider the possibility of providing hard verges on one side 

of the road. 

The Chairman asked the members if there were any further actions they 

wanted the ASCC take and it was agreed that if Community Councils have 

further concerns re hard verges they should write to Kate Massie and she will 

compile a priority list which will be forwarded to SIC Roads Department. 

There will be an update of this item at the next meeting. 

Action: Community Councils & Kate Massie 

4.2 Change of Licensing Laws – update 

Mr Brian Hill presented this and circulated papers to the members. He said 

that his department had received more applications for licences than normal. 

Following his presentation Mr Hill asked if there were any questions. Mr Ian 

Isbister asked about under 14 year olds being admitted to local halls when 

there was a licensed bar. Mr Hill said that there is no law restricting 

admittance of under 14 year olds to licensed events in local halls this is more 


2

an issue of protecting children in this environment. Mr Isbister pointed out 

that these events are difficult to steward and it was agreed that this is a 

problem. 

The members thought that it would be better if the Licensing Board had 

dialogue directly with the Community Halls. 

Mr Jan Riise pointed out that there is no legal force not to allow under 14 

year olds into local halls when there was a licensed bar it was up to the hall 

committee to act as responsible license holders. 

There was no further comment on this item. 

4.3 Fuel Cost – update 

Following the ASCC meeting in October 2008 Mrs Kate Massie wrote to Mr 

Tavish Scott MSP with the concerns raised at the meeting regarding the high 

price of fuel in Shetland and the detrimental effect this has on remote and 

rural areas. The letter of reply from Mr Tavish Scott MSP was circulated and 

noted by those members present. No further action was requested. 

4.4 Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of 

Conduct for Community Councillors 

The Chairman asked Mr Jan Riise to comment of this item. 

Mr Riise informed the meeting that the four documents have been finalised 

by the Scottish Government. All local authorities will look at these 

documents for approval and use by Community Councils. Mr Riise said that 

these documents were due to be discussed at Community Council Liaison 

Officers meeting in Glasgow, which had been scheduled for March 2009 but 

had subsequently been cancelled. The meeting has been rescheduled for 

22 nd April 2009 and Jan Riise and Kate Massie will attend the meeting. Mr 

Riise will take the documents to the meeting and will feedback to Community 

Councils with any update. 

The Chairman asked if the Scottish Government Documents were mandatory 

and Mr Riise said no. 

Mr Dan Thomason asked if there was any legislation on how to deal with 

non-attendance at meetings of Community Council members. Mr Riise said 

that in the Model Scheme it recommends that if there is non-attendance of a 

member for more that six months they will be disqualified as a member of the 

Community Council but this ruling has not been agreed locally as yet. 

There was a short discussion and it was agreed that the Model Scheme and 

Code of Conduct would be an agenda item for discussion at the next Joint 

Liaison Group Meeting. 

Following a meeting of the ASCC/SIC Liaison Group in September, a formal 

recommendation will be put to the ASCC AGM in October, with a report to 

Council by the end of the year. 


3

Mrs Massie will arrange a date and venue for the meeting and will circulate 

the details to the JLG members in the near future. 

Action: Kate Massie/Jan Riise 

2009/04/05 AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE 

The Chairman introduced Mr Simon Bokor-Ingram, Director of Clinical 

Services, NHS Shetland to the meeting. 

Mr Bokor-Ingram introduced Mr Peter Smith, Scottish Ambulance Service, 

Lerwick Base to the members. Mr Boker-Ingram went on to speak about the 

allocation of NHS Shetland budget and explained that the Ambulance 

Service was funded separately. He also noted the exemplary commitment of 

service from local ambulance staff. 

Mr Bokor-Ingram told the members that the Ms Pauline Howie from the 

Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) had attended the NHS Shetland Board 

Meeting in January 2009 to discuss the service being provided to Shetland 

and she will also attend the NHS Board Meeting on 12 th May 2009. Mr Ian 

Isbister asked if Tavish Scott would be attending the Board meeting in May. 

Mr Bokor-Ingram said no as SAS requires time to look at improving service 

delivery to Shetland. Mr Bokor-Inram said that Ms Wogan-Blake who had 

been in correspondence with the ASCC was misinformed on what was 

happening between NHS and SAS. NHS Shetland shares the concerns that 

ASCC have regarding SAS service delivery in Shetland and Mr Bokor- 

Ingram said that one of the Consultant Anaesthetists based at Gilbert Bain 

Hospital in Lerwick is presently carrying out an audit on the delivery of the air 

ambulance service in Shetland. It was also noted that NHS Shetland were 

under the impression that ASCC had not invited anyone from SAS to attend 

the meeting but the Chairman said that the ASCC had invited them on two 

occasions but they had not attended. It was agreed that Mrs Kate Massie 

would forward copies of the correspondence to Mr Bokor-Ingram for his 

information. 

The Chairman invited Mr Douglas Anderson, Chairman, Skerries Community 

Council for his comments as the patients from Skerries had been affected by 

the inability of the Inverness-based air ambulance to evacuate them within a 

reasonable time. 

Mr Anderson said that on two specific occasions when the air ambulance 

had been urgently required it had proved to be inefficient and on one 

occasion, through local pressure, they had managed to get the rescue 

helicopter based in Sumburgh to airlift the patient to hospital. Mr Anderson 

went on to say that on the other occasion the patient had died but stressed 

that, in this case, a faster air ambulance response would unlikely have made 

any difference. 

Mr Anderson asked about use of Clickimin landing site in Lerwick and Mr 


4

Peter Smith said that the re-opening of the Clickimin landing site is under 

negotiation. Mr Jan Riise said that SIC are undertaking the lead roll on this 

and he should have an update on progress of the reopening of the Clickimin 

landing site at the next ASCC meeting in October. 

There was further discussion about the SAS service in Shetland and the 

Chairman asked Mr Bokor-Ingram to take the concerns raised by ASCC back 

to SAS. 

The Chairman thanked Mr Bokor-Ingram and Mr Peter Smith for attending 

the meeting. 

This item will remain on the agenda for the next meeting. 

Action: Kate Massie 

(Mr Bokor-Ingram and Mr Smith left the meeting following this item) 

2009/04/06 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW 

Gulberwick, Quarff & Cunningsburgh Community Council, requested this 

item. 

Mrs Kate Massie received a letter from the Clerk requesting that ASCC invite 

someone from the SIC Planning Department to explain the Local 

Development Plan. 

Ms Hannah Nelson, SIC Development Plans Manager was invited to 

attended the meeting. Ms Nelson spoke to the members about the new 

policy document. 

As there was no one present from Gulberwick, Quarff & Cunningsburgh 

Community Council to put forward their concerns, and due to time 

constraints, the Chairman decided to move on to the next item on the 

agenda. 

The Chairman thanked Ms Irvine for attending the meeting. 

The Chairman asked Mrs Massie to write to the Chairman of the Gulberwick, 

Quarff & Cunningsburgh Community Council and explain that if an agenda 

item is requested then someone from that Community Council must attend 

the meeting. 

(Ms Nelson left the meeting following this item) 


2009/04/07 HAMEFARIN 

The Chairman introduced Mr Douglas Irvine, SIC Head of Business. 


5

Mr Irvine circulated a presentation to the members and said the Hamefarin 

web site where people can register their interest had been launched in 

January 2009. There has been a lot of interest and it is anticipated that 

visitor numbers will exceed 500. 

Mr Irvine told the members that if they wanted to be involved they should 

contact their local History Group and work alongside them. 

The Chairman asked if there were any questions from the members. 

Mr Laurence Tulloch asked about the number of visitors and the problems 

that might occur with regard to accommodation. Mr Irvine said that some of 

the visitors would be staying with family but they were aware that 

accommodation might be a problem. He said that they had advised people 

wishing to come to Shetland for the Hamefarin to book their accommodation 

as early as possible. 

There was further discussion and Mr Ian Isbister asked about the local halls 

being made available for use as refreshment stops for tours / coach trips. Mr 

Irvine said that the History Groups would liaise with local halls to organise 

this. It was also agreed that all tours should be guided. Mr Irvine said that 

the SIC planes would be used for trips to the small islands. 

As there were no further comments the Chairman thanked Mr Irvine for 

attending the meeting. 

2009/04/08 WIND TURBINE PROJECT 

The Chairman asked Mr Jan Riise to open this item. 

Mr Riise said that Mr Ian Isbister had raised this point at the ASCC meeting 

in October 2008. Mrs Kate Massie had been asked to write to the SIC Policy 

Unit on behalf of the Community Councils asking for some guidance on how 

Community Councils could approach their communities to obtain their views 

and how they would implement public consultation to enable them to make 

informed judgments on the Wind Turbine Project. Unfortunately the Policy 

Unit could only supply a link to SIC website with consultation guidelines. 

Mr Riise told the members that Community Councils do not have a statutory 

roll in this so it is up to each Community Council how they want to progress. 

The Government Energy Unit will not be writing to the ASCC. Mr Riise 

suggested that as an Association we might want to meet on this. 

The members went on to discuss the Wind Turbine Project and how 

Community Councils should proceed. The Chairman asked the members if 

they would like the ASCC to take any further action. Those present 

requested no further action. 

Mr Riise said that the Government Energy Committee are under no 

obligation to consult with Community Councils. He also informed the 


6

members that his department would be organising a seminar when the 

planning for wind turbines comes to them and will follow this up with forums 

to allow Community Councils to voice their views. Mr Riise will inform the 

Community Councils when this is going to happen. 

2009/04/09 BLUEPRINT FOR EDUCATION 

The Chairman asked Mr Jim Anderson to comment on this item. 

Action: Jan Riise 

Mr Anderson said that there could be potential impact on Junior High 

Schools as there may be no formal qualifications at Junior High level. As 

such, these schools would be seen as being devalued and downgraded. 

The Chairman said that the ASCC would note his concerns. No further 

action to be taken at present. 

2009/04/10 ALLOTMENTS 

The Chairman asked Mr Jim Anderson to comment on this item. 

Mr Anderson said that he was unsure why this item had been requested and 

would take it back to Lerwick Community Council for further discussion. He 

will inform Mrs Kate Massie if he requires it to be on the agenda for the next 

ASCC meeting. 

2009/04/11 DECENTRALISATION THROUGH COMMUNITY COUNCILS 

Mr Jim Anderson asked if there is a desire for Community Councils to take 

on more responsibilities. The Chairman suggested that the members should 

take this back to their own Community Councils for discussion and then 

feedback to Mrs Kate Massie if any further action is required by ASCC. 

2009/04/12 UPDATE FROM SIC FORUMS 

Mrs Averil Simpson gave a verbal update on Shetland Drug & Alcohol Forum 

(SDAF), which she attends as a representative of ASCC. Mrs Simpson said 

it might be helpful if ASCC were aware of information and resources related 

to SDAF. 

It was agreed Mrs Kate Massie would get in touch with the Health 

Improvement Department at NHS Shetland and ask them to include her in 

their mailing list when circulating related information which she could then 

circulate to Community Councils for information. 

Mr Ian F Walterson gave a short verbal report of the following forums, which 

he attends as a representative of ASCC – Shetland Shellfish Group, 

Countryside Access Forum, and Environment Forum. As time was pressing 

it was agreed that if any of the members wanted a paper copy of any of the 

forum reports they should contact Mrs Kate Massie. 



7

2009/04/13 AOCB 

(1.05pm – Mr Jan Riise left the meeting) 

Road Safety 

Mr Chris Smith said that he wondered what programme, if any, SIC Roads & 

Transport has for maintaining the white lines in the centre of the road. 

Mr Smith pointed out that through Veensgarth to the Tingwall airstrip, the 

Bixter Brae (not long made two-way), and Gonfirth down to Lower Voe, all 

roads he drives often, the white line on the two-way sections varies from 

barely visible to non-existent. There is a blind bend where the two-way 

section starts at Gonfirth and he feels that there should be signs in each 

direction, indicating that the road becomes two-way and single track. Mr 

Smith said he was concerned about the road safety issue especially for 

drivers not familiar with these roads. 

Councillor A Duncan said that he would bring this up when he next attends 

the Road Working Group meeting and feedback to Mrs Kate Massie with any 

comments. 

It was agreed that Mrs Massie would also write to the SIC Roads & Transport 

Department with the road safety issues raised by Mr Smith and what action 

they plan to take to remedy this. 


Digital Switch over 

Mr Donald Robertson attended the meeting held in Shetland with Digital UK. 

He said that at the meeting Digital UK had informed them that when the 

television service switches to digital the service received in Shetland would 

vary greatly depending on where you live in Shetland. They did not offer any 

solution to this and it seems very unfair that some areas will receive better 

service than others as everyone pays the same for their television license. 

It was agreed that Mrs Kate Massie would write initially to Digital UK 

requesting what they plan to do to provide consistent service to The Shetland 

Isles. 

2009/04/14 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING 


The date of the next ASCC bi-annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday 3 rd 

October 2009 at 11am in the St Catherine Suite, Lerwick Hotel 

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 1.25pm 


8

minutes of a meeting held in - Shetland Communities

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?