SUTHERLAND ACCESS PANEL Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 9th October at the Highland Council Buildings, The Meadows, Dornoch. PRESENT: Monica Mouat Highland Health Council Christian Goskirk North & West Sutherland C C F Shirley McHardy East Sutherland C C F Carl Lemkes Carer Gerry Lemkes User Denise Carroll User Maggie Coupland LEAD Ann Keatinge VG-ES Martin Macleod Sutherland Care & Repair ATTENDING: Dr Su Sen Lochaber Disability Action 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Ann Lynch, Sheila Board, Sandra Peterkin, John Sutherland and Joyce Buchanan. 2. MINUTE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The Minute of the previous meeting was accepted. Proposed by Ann Keatinge, seconded by Maggie Coupland. 3. MATTERS ARISING 3.1 Fundraising Issues * Moray Firth Radio - Shirley has written to MFR acknowledging receipt of the £150 grant. * Camelot Foundation - Shirley had recently had a telephone interview from the Camelot Foundation. A response to our application is expected in mid November. 3.2 Access Issues * Community Councils - Shirley had received a letter from the Secretary of the Golspie Community Council highlighting concerns, including St Andrews Church and the drop kerb near the Dr Ramsey's Dental Surgery. * Golspie Health Centre - Nothing new to report. * Dunrobin Castle - It was reported that Shirley and Christian had met with Lord Strathnaver. The informal meeting and walk within the castle was very constructive and the concerns of the panel were highlighted. Lord Strathnaver is to follow up on the issues raised. 3.3 Planning Applications * Rogart Primary School Extension - Shirley has contacted the architect to raise the concerns highlighted by the panel. A positive response was received. * Evlix Filling Station & Helmsdale Community Centre - Plans requested but not yet received. 4. DR SU SEN - LOCHABER ACCESS PANEL The Sutherland Access Panel was delighted to welcome Dr Su Sen to the meeting. Dr Sen said that Cllr Olwen Macdonald started Lochaber Access Panel in 1995. It was he said a Planning Service led development. Meeting on a fortnightly basis the Lochaber Access Panel has 26 members, who consider all Planning Applications and Building Warrant Applications. Site visits are made by members of the Panel to assess whither the recommendations of the Panel have been followed up. A sub group of Lochaber Action Disability, the Lochaber Access Panel he said has no funding whatsoever, it is entirely voluntary. Dr Sen then answered the questions of those present, which included issues such as transport and consultation. Monica Mouat on behalf of the Sutherland Access Panel thanked Dr Sen for his interesting and informative presentation. 5. PLANNING APPLICATIONS No Planning Applications have been received. 6. ACCESS ISSUES * Helmsdale - Timespan - Concern was raised that while going through the museum it shifts from a light room straight into a dark room with a slope. There is no sign warning of this. 7. AOCB 7.1 Disability Rights Commission Roadshow Christian read out details regarding the Disability Rights Commission Roadshow. It is to be held on Thursday 18th October in Nairn. The panel felt that it was not acceptable for the Commission to hold just one Roadshow for the Highlands. Shirley indicated that she has already requested that one be held further north. 7.2 Central (Highland) Funding Application Christian reported that she had attended a meeting of the Highland Access Panels in Inverness on Monday 8th October. At that meeting it had been proposed that the Highland Panels make a joint application for funding. It was the feeling of the Sutherland Access Panel that it is a constituted body, a registered charity with a bank account, it can therefore apply for funding itself. While the panel supports the idea of an informal grouping of access panels to exchange information, it is opposed to the idea of a central (Highland) funding application leading to the creation of a "core" panel. 7.3 Disability Awareness Training It was reported that Highland Council has made available places for the Access Panel on their Disability Awareness Training course. This is for the able bodied. Christian and Shirley to attend. 7.4 Dornoch Sheriff Court Monica reported that she would no longer be able to attend the meeting at the court, along with Cllr Finlayson. Denise Carroll agreed to attend in her place. 7.5 Disability Day - Dingwall Christian & Shirley stated that they had attended a Disability Day in Dingwall. Present were representatives of many of the local and national charities, i.e. Huntingdon's Disease Society & Chip, as well as service providers. Having discussed it with panel members Christian and Shirley will follow up on this with a view to holding a similar event in Sutherland sometime next year. 8. DONM The next meeting of the Sutherland Access Panel will take place on Tuesday 27th November 2001 at 11:00am in Durness Village Hall.