On Monday 11th July 2005

Members Present: Craig Glenwright, Ian Sikorski, John Robertson and Mike Taylor.

Also Present: Councillor Bill Fulton, Inspector Brown and Sergeant Galloway (Northern
Constabulary).

Apologies: Caroline Clouston, Shirley Taylor.

The Secretary had written to Sergeant Galloway saying that we were disappointed with the apparent lack of response to the problem with dumped cars and youngsters racing cars through the village and therefore Inspector Brown and Sergeant Galloway attended the meeting to try and resolve some of the issues raised. They said that their first priority had to be drugs, assaults and burglaries, in which they had a very successful detection rate, and the problems raised in our letter had to take a lower priority as and when manpower allowed. There was then a long discussion between Inspector Brown and Bill Fulton as to whether there was a shortfall of three officers in Skye and Lochalsh. They stressed that the problem with youngsters racing cars could only be solved by villagers being prepared to give statements to the police although we pointed out that some villagers were not prepared, for various reasons, to do this. They were handed a list of dumped vehicles and were told that at least 40% of them had been dumped by one individual, whose name they were given. They said they would contact the Council and ensure the vehicles were moved.

Minutes of meeting on 20th June 2005: Proposed by Mr Sikorski, seconded by Mr Robertson, and carried.

1. Matters Arising From Previous Meetings

1.1 Scottish Water have advised us that site works on the pier section will commence in late September with completion in early December Works within the proposed septic tank have not yet commenced due to difficulties obtaining site entry. Should entry be resolved by mid August 2005 then they should still be able to meet their original completion date.

1.2 The Secretary was asked to contact Marshall Gillespie and remind him that the lamp posts down by the pier need painting.

1.3 Bill Fulton said he was still hopeful that the Scottish Executive would agree to his plans for the roundabout at the top of the village; however they would not allow a sign on the roundabout itself. He suggested that we should submit a design for a "Welcome to Skye" notice to John Laing. Craig agreed to do this.

1.4 Calum Macaskill has now replaced the remaining four windows on the east side of the Old School.

1.5 We have purchased six half whisky barrels and they have been filled with soil and planted. Two have been placed at each end of the car park, one opposite the post office and one opposite Eilean Bàn.

1.7 The Secretary has written to the Highland Council asking for details of changes they are making to the Skye Bridge bus service and when the changes will come into force, but has received no reply.

Post Meeting Note: We have now received a reply from David Summers the existing timetable will be replaced by a new one commencing on August 15th. Buses will run approximately hourly and some of the services will be extended to Broadford. The fare between Kyleakin and Kyle will be 70p for adults and free for children. However fares will be considerably higher on Citylink buses and there will be no free travel for children.

1.8 There was still a problem with overnight parking of Lorries on the old ferry slipway with refrigeration units running and photographs had been taken and handed to the police. Bill Fulton said that we should keep a log of the times and pass the information to Environmental Services.

1.9 John Macdonald has advised us to contact TEC Services regarding a coastal protection project using funding from the Aggregates Levy. He advised us that the Highland Council were involved with a scheme at Torrin funded by the Aggregates Levy (a footpath) and gave a contact at Torrin Community Association who assembled the funding and suggested it might be useful contacting him. Bill Fulton has agreed to set up a meeting with TEC Services.

1.10 Bill Fulton said he had not chaired a meeting on 24th March 2005 on maintenance and public liability insurance of Skate Parks. He had spoken to Annie Davidson and she was now fully aware of the current situation.

2. Correspondence

2.1 We have received the 2005/06 Annual Grant from the Highland Council; the Insurance premium of £77.49 has already been taken off.

3. A.O.C.B.

3.1 None.

Next Meeting: Monday 12th September 2005 at 19.30.