SUTHERLAND ACCESS PANEL Minutes of the meeting of the Sutherland Access Panel held on Tuesday 12th March 2002 at 11:00am in Rosehall Village Hall, Rosehall. PRESENT: Shirley McHardy Andy Dawson Martin MacLeod Lily Byron Ann Keatinge Christian Goskirk In the absence of both Monica Mouat & Denise Carroll, Shirley McHardy took the Chair for the meeting. 1. WELCOME & APOLOGIES Apologies were received from Joyce Buchanan, Jamie Stone MSP, Cllr Rita Finlayson, Carl Lemkes, Gerry Lemkes and Sandra Peterkin. 2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING Item 6.1 It was stated in the Minutes that the Access Panel had until the end of November 2002 to complete the its Access Guide, this should have read Access Audit. Subject to the above alteration the minute was approved. 3. MATTERS ARISING 3.1 Balance in Bank Ann Keatinge stated that the Access Panel has at present a bank balance of £5,471.23 3.2 Access Issues * Golspie Health Centre/Lawson Memorial/Cambusavie Wing/Raigmore Hospital - Shirley report that she has written to the Estates Department of NHS Highland regarding the above. No response has been received. * Dornoch Sheriff Court - Shirley has again tried to contact Mr MacLaughlin re the Access to the Court. He has not responded. * BEAR SCOTLAND - No further contact has been received for BEAR re the proposed works to the Car Parking facilities at Golspie Post Office. * Public Toilets, Fountain Road, Golspie -Works according to the comments made by the Panel will be undertaken. * POST 16 - Shirley made available information. It was noted that according to the information booklet schools in Scotland are not covered by the DDA. * Disability Rights Commission - The DRC are to hold a meeting in the Marine Hotel, Brora on 28th May 2002. The details of the meeting are not yet known. 3.3 Planning Applications * Evelix Filling Station - Comments were sent to the architect. No response has been received. * Strathnaver Hall - All comments made by the Panel to the architect were responded to. It was noted that the Panel must be careful when asking architects to provide more detailed drawings as this may lead committees and individuals to further expense which they had not budgeted for. * North & West Sutherland Advice & Information Service - Shirley has asked for clarification on a small number of points. * Halladale Public Hall - Plans are to be sent to the Panel from Highland Council's Planning Department. * Dornoch Tourist Information Centre - The architect stated that to the best of his knowledge the toilets are fully disabled accessible. The garden area is as far as he is aware a "phase 2" project. 3.4 Highland Access Panel It was reported that Shirley & Christian had attended the meeting of the Highland Access Panels in Inverness on 5th March 2002. The Sutherland Access Panel was requested to provide information on how it started and the issues it faced as a "guide" for other new Panels. All present were happy for this to be done, stressing that the panel is an advisory body which is non confrontational. SCVO has recently undertaken a review of Access Panels on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The Sutherland Panel was not included in this; therefore Shirley had contacted those leading the review to ask that we be included. A questionnaire has been forwarded. All present were happy for Shirley to complete this, according to the comments voiced and return. As requested Shirley had asked at the meeting if any of the Panels knew if there were regulations governing ATM's. Dr Sen had forwarded information to Shirley. 4. ACCESS AUDIT The proposed questionnaire had been made available to all Panel members prior to the meeting. Comments and suggestions were noted. Christian reported that she had contacted Consignia (formally known as the Post Office) with regards distribution of the questionnaire. Unfortunately the information had not arrived in time for it to be made available before the meeting. A number of points for clarification arise out of it, which Christian will follow up. It was suggested that pre publicity through the Northern Time, Am Bratach, and The John O'Groat Journal would encourage a greater response rate. 5. Planning Applications * Hairdressers, Brora - Plans had been received and members had no comments to make. * Brora Railway Station - Plans were received for alterations to the Station at Brora to include a café. These will be distributed for comment. * Tea Room, Skerray - These were passed on for comment. 6. Access Issues There were no new access issues. 7. AOCB There was no other competent business. 8. DONM The next meeting of the Sutherland Access Panel will take place on Tuesday 23rd April at 11:00am in the Ferrycroft Centre, Lairg.