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A82 WORKING GROUP MEETING – 3rd April 2008
ACTION NOTE
PRESENT: Chairman Cllr Brian Murphy, Scott Dingwall, Alasdair Ferguson, Cllr Michael Foxley, John Hutchison, Stewart MacLean, Cllr Donald MacDonald, Emma Tayler
1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Duncan MacIntyre, Cllr Roddy McGuish, Dave Duthie, Neil MacKay, Cllr Bren Gormley
2. Update on previous actions agreed - noted as follows:
Action / CommentFinance / HITRANS contribution of £2,500 has been received
Argyll & Bute contribution not yet received but Cllr Donald MacDonald stated that it was in progress. / complete
to be pursued
Not progressed discussions with Highland Council re: funding as yet. / to be pursued
Resources / John has outlined what will be the main focus of his work over the coming months. / complete
Emma will continue to provide meeting support for the working and main partnership at present. / complete
Geographically broaden support / Mtg taking place in Stornoway on the 23 April. Brian is co-ordinating. W.Isles council are organising media coverage. Invite to be extended to appropriate hauliers.
Ally to forward invites to appropriate hauliers.
Call for Argyll & Bute to nominate someone from their area to attend the meeting in Stornoway.
South Isles contact – Waiting for Donald Manfield to get back re: appropriate/suitable person. / to be pursued
Western Isles – need to get support through targeting music event etc taking place over the coming months. Key person(s) need to be identified in Uist and Barra. / to be pursued
Skye – Group agreed a delegation from the working group (inc A&B) needed to be sent to meet with Skye members/interested parties. Jan Laing (Ward manager) in Skye has expressed she is happy to assist. Robert Muir has indicated to Scott that the level of awareness in Skye is pretty good already. / to be pursued
Stewart will continue to raise awareness with neighbouring Councils.
Tec Services Mtg 10 April 08 / Brian approached Neil Gillies re: RAP for FW-Inverness. Neil indicated that he is unwilling at present to talk about this.
Next full meeting – 8th May 2008. Work needs to be done to get onto the agenda. Acknowledgement that HITRANS and HC need to influence Transport Scotland to get FW-Inverness RAP. / Working group to continue pressing
National road safety consultation on agenda – will give a potential opportunity,
Mtg with Convener & Vice Chair required if not getting on the TEC services agenda.
E-petition / Closing date agreed (4.4.08). Petitions committee date a problem as they are now indicating the 10th June. Stewart and John Huchison will not be available. John and Brian to pursue a sooner date.
Meetings with MSP’s / Ally & Stewart are meeting with Fergus on the 18th April. Understand that Stewart Stevenson has a meeting date of the 2nd May pencilled in, still no official response though.
Meeting with Jim Mather – Argyll & Bute councillors pursuing / To be pursued
Party Conferences / Brian attended Labour party conference on the 28th March. Quite a lot of people aware of campaign.
SNP – conference. Bren not available to comment on how he is progressing with organising a presence for the campaign. / To be pursued
Media / Verbal agreement obtained to use Bonny Bonny banks as theme tune. Agreed written confirmation is required. / To be pursued
Banners, stickers, leaflets etc / Banners –
Corran Ferry area. Stewart agreed arrange getting this up.
West end - agreed to go up on car park railings (facing North Bound traffic)
Invergarry – agreed should now go up at Lochybridge area
3 & 4 Finance & resources
Covered in previous minute update. Group agreed for John to hold campaign funds. Emma / John to liaise.
Revised financial report distributed to those present. £2,700 will remain uncommitted (includes A&B contribution)
Report on resource distribution circulated. 11,550 leaflets remaining. 8,000 stickers remaining.
5. Campaign Action Plan
To be updated follow meeting
6. Ministerial meetings
Covered in previous minute update
7. Parlimentary Q&A’s
10th Feb update distributed to those present.
Agreed Mary Scanlon to be approached re: Community Safety Question.
Agreed to include planning framework question for Alasdair Allan (?)
8. Public Awareness
Agreed a need to send out a letter to all councillors with FAQ’s, leaflet, Car sticker and badge.
Ally to continue targeting haulage / courier operators
Ward Forum structure to be used as appropriate – need to find out Ward Forum meeting dates.
9. Petitions committee
Agreed Ally, Stewart and John should attend. If earlier date cannot be set then 24th June to be requested.
10. National Planning Framework Response
JH distributed a draft response on behalf of the campaign group to those present for comment. The following was noted;
· Lots of discussion surrounding definition of corridor. Need to add in A82 as ‘Key economic development corridor’
· HIE response will go to the HIE board mtg mid April. Scott will feed in HC’s and Campaign group response.
· John to sign response on behalf of Brian.
· Response to be circulated for members to pick out 2/3 points to make some additional cases (individually). John to assist process by drafting letters.
· Press group to do release re; plan. JH to circulate draft.
· Highland Council draft response also circulated to those present.
11. STAG appraisal
E-mail of 26 March 2008 referred to from Dave Duthie. JH to offer support of campaign group ie. gathering info. JH to draft letter to Malcolm Reed to this effect.
12. Broadening support geographically
Covered in previous minute update
13 & 14 Highland Council position & Party Conferences
Covered in previous minute update
15. Media
Michael spoke to Gordon Fyfe (HC PR Manager) who has advised that all local media should be dealt with by the campaign media group, however anything big would receive support centrally. Media references to campaign be collated to assist in planning.
Possible opportunity for ‘stunt’ at Golf open championship. Need dates.
Agreed DVD needed to be updated for use at events etc. – provisional cost of £2,500.
16. AOCB
Funding – HIE funded original TRIBAL report. If taking this a stage further might look at this. Tony Jarvis is the principle contact for transport in HIE. Leader funding coming on stream – Dot Ferguson will have more info on this.
17. Next Working group meeting:
Working group - Tuesday 29th April 2008, 12.30-2.30pm North Committee Room, Lochaber House
Main Partnership – Friday 9th May 2008 12.30 – 2.30pm, Council Chambers, Fort William.
SUMMARY ACTION POINTS FROM MEETING
Action / CommentBrian Murphy / To forward Stornoway meeting details to Ally.
To try and influence suitable date change for petitions committee with John.
Bren Gormley / Progress funding from HC
To organise presence at SNP conference
John Hutchison / To ask Donald Manfield to also identify key people in Uist and Barra.
To pursue a new date for petitions committee – May or 24th June.
To contact Stewart Stephenson’s diary secretary in view to getting confirmation of meeting date.
To approach Mary Scanlon re: Parlimentary Community safety Question
To put together Parlimentary question on NPF2
To submit campaign response to NFP2
To draft letters for members to individually respond to NFP2 – pick out 2/3 key points.
To draft letter to go with campaign material to councillors
To circulate draft NFP response to press group
To write to Malcolm Reed in reference to STAG – offer of support from campaign group.
Emma Tayler / Emma to liaise with Jan regarding potential dates/attendees for Skye meeting
To contact Bren re: SNP conference
To arrange erection of West end banner with TEC services
To organise with John transfer of campaign funds to holding place
To find out details of future Ward Forum meetings in relevant wards.
To find out date of Open Golf Championship.
To speak to press office re: collating media references
To speak to Dot Ferguson re: Leader funding
Ally Ferguson / Ally to write letter re mtg with HC Convenor & Vice Chair (TEC services committee) and forward to Emma for posting
To pursue production of DVD with Ally
Donald MacDonald (A&B) / To pursue issue of getting funding released from A&B
To speak to Neil MacKay re: getting written confirmation of use for Bonny Bonny Banks song for all media coverage inc. DVD.
A&B Councillors to pursue meeting with Jim Mather
To identify representatives from A&B for Stornoway and Skye meetings.
Stewart MacLean / Arrange for the erection of the Corran banner
To pursue production of DVD with Ally
ALL / To identify suitable site for Lochybridge area banner