Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated by:-

Andrew Hill

June Graham

Kay McGhee

Cammy Rae

Andy McClure

Glenmore Roberts

Peter Howland

Andrew Hemmings

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 7 May, 2013 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising:

No Cold Calling initiative

Melissa Stewart reported on the No Cold Calling initiative.  There had been a lack of funding to support the initiative through the CSF but local  Community Councils were able to access additional funding sources and had been written to advising of various funding avenues.  She advised that some of the Community Councils in the Council area had progressed the initiative.

The Chair requested a further update on this issue.

Safe and Sound event

Melissa advised the group of the event which had been held on 22 May.   The evetn had been very well organised and there had been approximately 21 stalls manned by local partners and organisations providing information, etc.  However, only 37 people had attended the event. 

No update received.

The budget is now -  £1579.00

£293.00 was apportioned to Kintyre Crime Prevention Panel for leaflet printing.

The balance of funding is now £1579, as £293 had been provided to Kintyre Crime Prevention Panel towards the cost of leaflet printing.

Andrew Hemmings has submitted his apologies for the meeting.  The Chair requested an update on the success of the Fuel Theft leaflets initiative at the next meeting.

There were no further applications for consideration.

Domestic abuse figures were down from last year and the detection rate for recorded crimes amounted to 83%  

Inspector Tom Harper reported that crime figures were down on last year and advised on this positive slant for the MAKI area as a whole.

Councillor Taylor enquired on the report compiled by the Chief Constable and questioned if alcohol abuse contributed to incidences of anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.  Inspector Harper replied that alcohol did play a significant  part.

Councillor Horn enquired if footall matches also triggered domestic abuse and Inspector Harper affirmed that violence could escalate.

Paul Martin advised the Group of joint foot patrols being carried out between the Council and Police Scotland to tackle dog fouling.  Twenty letters had been issued to owners outlining their responsibilities and there had been no fixed penalties issued since May 2013.

Robert Cowper reported on the proposed CCTV camera redeployment in Campbeltown.  He advised on negotiations with the Police and a local company to resite the camera.  There was a meeting scheduled for 7 August in which options and costings would be provided.  Robert advised that the Head of Governance and Law would then consider the options available and  make a decision.

The Chair requested that Robert Cowper advise the CSF accordingly.       

This was discussed under Item 5a.

There was no update.

There was no update.

There was no update.

There was no update.

There was no update.

There was no update.

Reports were provided detailing statistics for the MAKI area.  These were noted by the Group.

Verina Litster enquired about MAKI funding to print leaflets for Chimney Fires and Log Burners to be distributed Oct-Dec and for a leaflet on the Muirburn Code for Grass Burning to be distributed Feb-Apr in the MAKI area. The chimney leaflets would be mostly targeted at Islay and the grass burning leaflets to MAKI land owners. In the last year 43% of the total chimney fires in A&B were in the MAKI area and 33% of the total grass fires were also in the MAKI area.

She further advised that  as part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services Summer Strategy that all camp sites in the MAKI area were receiving Caravan and Camping safety leaflets on the use of open fires and using gas cylinders.

Verina Litster updated the group on the provision of free Deaf Alerters.  These were smoke detectors to alert deaf people.  Also available were fire retardant bedding for both adults and children.

The Chair requested that this information be disseminated to local Community Councils.

There was no update.

There was no update.

There was no update as Peter Howland had submitted his apologies.

There was no update.

(List of events to be submitted by all partners where there may be an impact upon another service/organisation)

No new actions were identified.

Update and Memorandum of Understanding by Access Manager.

Douglas Grierson updated the group on issues of concern in regards Wild Camping, primarily at Westport Beach.  He advised that the Memorandum of Understanding had been compiled to address the impact of the irresponsible behaviour by some members of the public.

Jolyon Grierson, Douglas Grierson and Inspector Tom Harper would meet to agree upon various issues. 

Douglas advised that he would be forwarding on the draft signage for the proposed signs at Westport Beach and would appreciate feedback before 16^th August.

The Chair thanked Douglas Grierson for his informative update and endorsed support on behalf of the Community Safety Forum for the proposed signs at Westport Beach. The Chair also requested that the Group receive updates from the Access Team to monitor the effect of the Memorandum of Understanding.

There was no other business.

The date of the next meeting was agreed as:-

Tuesday, 5 November 2013 at 2.00p.m. in Lochgilphead.