Author Archives: John Holliday

Copy of Freedom of Information request tendered to Live Argyll 9th May 2025

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Dear Live Argyll,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information relating to the closure/repurposing/change of format of Tiree Library:

Closure of Library

  1. The date on which the decision to close Tiree Library was made.
  2. The date on when the decision to not close Tiree Library was made.
  3. When was Argyll and Bute Council informed of the closure and to who?
  4. When was Argyll and Bute Council informed of the rescinding of the closure and to who?
  5. Copies of all reports, meeting minutes, correspondence (including emails), and internal documents that informed or discussed the decision to close the library.
  6. Any correspondence with stakeholders or elected representatives concerning the future of the library or alternative proposals to closure.
  7. Details of any public consultation processes that took place prior to the closure decision, including dates, formats (e.g., surveys, public meetings), and outcomes.
  8. Any information on what legal basis Live Argyll decided not to do an Island Impact assessment study, prior to announcing the closure of Tiree Library.
  9. A copy of the Island impact study assessment that Live Argyll subsequently produced.
  10. What loss to the community costs were used in this assessment.
  11. Live Argyll’s analysis of the Island Impact Study and how it met the requirements of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.
  12. Details of contractual obligations between Live Argyll and Argyll and Bute Council for the provision of library services in Argyll and Bute.

Costs

  1. A breakdown of the costs associated with operating the library in the last three financial years.
  2. Projection of costs for any replacement library service over the next three years.
  3. Where was the money saved by the closure of Tiree Library in November 2024 reallocated?

Required information on Additional Funding

  1. Has Live Argyll sought funding for Gaelic activities in their Libraries and for Tiree Library in particular?
  2. Has Live Argyll sought funding for STEM activities in their Libraries and for Tiree Library in particular?
  3. Has Live Argyll sought funding for those on the Autistic spectrum in their Libraries and for Tiree Library in particular?
  4. Has Live Argyll sought funding for using Libraries as warm spaces and for Tiree Library in particular?
  5. Is there any other third-party funding that Live Argyll has sought to fund the activities in their Libraries and for Tiree Library in particular?
  6. Which of these has been successful?

Questions arising from Live Argyll Email dated 22nd of April.

1. What were the actual opening hours of Tiree Library for the last five years?
2. What was the provision to cover any employee absence due to illness, etc?
3. How are Live Argyll going to calculate footfall to account for reduced opening hours?
4. What was the average books issued/per opening hour?
5. Live Argyll have said the library is being currently used by the “Council”. What is the nature of this use?
6. Were Live Argyll consulted on this change of use?
7. Copies of all reports, meeting minutes, correspondence (including emails), and internal documents that discussed this change of use.
8. Copies of all reports, meeting minutes, correspondence (including emails), and internal documents that discussed the purposing of the library space for accommodation.
9. What are the costs of moving the library to the new location?
10. Full details on what alternative library services (if any) will be provided to local residents following the closure/repurposing/change of format of Tiree Library. Including details of opening hours and FTE employment.
11. Will the new library be open when the school is closed?
12. Will the new library be allowed flexible opening hours for special events?
13. Have Live Argyll seen timescales for the proposed conversion of the building the library is currently housed in.
14. Will the library be able to still be used as a warm space.

Please provide the information in electronic format where possible. If this request exceeds the cost limit, I would appreciate any advice and assistance you can provide to narrow it down.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days as outlined in the Act.

Yours sincerely,
Gerard McGoogan

Convenor Tiree Community Council

Gerard@tireecommunitycouncil.com

 

Tiree Community Council Meeting 7PM 14th May Online

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  1. Welcome
  2. Apologies
  3. Minutes of last meeting
  4. Matters arising (not covered later)
  5. Correspondence
    1. Review of the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Argyll & Bute – Consultation
  6. Meeting reports
    1. SSEN Tiree-Coll event
    2. Community Link Worker
  7. Transport update
  8. Tiree Library
  9. A&BC budget
  10. Visitor Levy
  11. TCC Finance update
  12. R100 update
  13. Planning
  14. AOCB
  15. Date of next meeting       11th June 2025     This will be in person and will include our AGM.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7935569301?pwd=qeHEdMGGKZBvGdyw7cUVUi0LV9f57z.1&omn=88478985818

Draft minutes April 2025 public meeting

MINUTES

TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (TCC) APRIL PUBLIC MEETING

7pm 9 April 2025

Online using Zoom streamed on Facebook

  1. Attendance: Gerard McGoogan (chair), Dr John Holliday and John MacCaskill
  2. Apologies: Francis Khetrat and Tim Arkless
  3. Minutes of March public meeting: Julie McKenzie’s name had been misspelled. The minutes were proposed by GMG and seconded by JMC.
  4. Matters Arising:
  • No new members had come forward for co-option. There remained two places, and anyone eligible was encouraged to approach a member of TCC
  • We monitor posts on the TCC Facebook page rarely. Anyone wanting a quick answer to a problem is encouraged to approach the secretary directly
  • Public consultation by SSEN expected before the May TCC meeting
  • Issues of waste management in Scarinish and access to the all-weather pitch are ongoing
  • The faulty equipment at the Crossapol play park has been mended
  1. Correspondence not dealt with in the agenda:
  • Letter from Melissa Stewart from Argyll & Bute Council (ABC) to community councils generally about a failure to send agendas and minutes to councillors. We have sent our apologies. The secretary has been off due to sickness for two months, but the situation should be back to normal now
  • An environmental performance scheme consultation has been received from SEPA
  • Concern has been noted about potential littering in Balevullin after the planned building of a take-away
  • SEPA consultation on a proposed Environmental Performance Assessment Scheme. JH will post this on our website
  1. Transport: there had been a recent meeting of the Tiree Transport Forum, generating eleven action points. The Forum felt that Tiree needed to make a more assertive case for itself and that winter connectivity needed to be improved:
  • Winter timetable: a request was submitted for an additional Friday sailing to help island hauliers, although we do understand that many winter sailings are not full. We are waiting to hear a response from Coll
  • Ongoing disruption: there has been significant concern over recent ferry disruptions and their major impact on tourism, businesses, and private travel. The linkage of the Colonsay route with the Tiree-Coll route is having a big impact, and this needs to be resolved. JH will write letter to the Minister and Transport Scotland
  • Deck Space Pilot: there was frustration over a lack of meetings. We have completed the survey about this. JH will collate this and send to the relevant agencies. There was concern over the suspension of the pilot during future landmark events such as TMF when it is most needed
  • Under-22s travel: there was disappointment over the exclusion of Tiree and Coll from this ferry concession scheme. Donnie MacInnes will raise the matter at the next CalMac Community Board meeting
  • HIAL stakeholders board meeting scheduled for 22nd April on Tiree. JMC is attending. JH will apply
  1. Tiree Library closure: TCC had written to the chair of LiveArgyll, our ABC councillors Peter Bain and our MSP. There is some confusion over the current status of the library situation. LiveArgyll has written that the library is ‘temporarily closed due to resourcing issues’. It appears that they are doing a belated Island Community Impact Assessment. We continue to liaise with other affected communities such as Cardross and Tarbert. Councillor Jim Lynch has confirmed he is actively lobbying on our behalf.
  2. ABC budget: there was no update on this.
  3. Visitor Levy: there was no update on this.
  4. TCC finances:
  • TCC received a £454 council grant last year
  • We agreed to pay Phyl Meyer, past TCC secretary and convenor for historic charges for our website that he had paid himself
  • We agreed to pay an outstanding invoice of £1,360 for planning fees for the community garden. This project will now lie under Tiree Community Business. GMG will write to TCB formalising this
  • We need to close legacy projects such as the cycle stations by the Coop and Bùth a’ Bhaile, and decommissioning the phone boxes
  1. R100 broadband project: deployment is on going. Residents with street connections are encouraged to register their interest with providers. The first connections are expected to be in May. Work in the east end is now starting.

 

  1. Environment: we have heard that funding from Dynamic Coast for a LiDAR study and the creation of a Shoreline Management Plan for Hynish, Gott and Balephetrish Bays is likely to come through. The SEPA flood maps for 2080 have been updated. The links will be posted online.
  2. Planning Two derelict buildings in Heanish are to be converted into holiday homes. A polytunnel is to be erected in Hough. TCC had no comment on either application.
  3. AOCB:
  • The Clansman is currently expected back on the Tiree-Coll route on 22 April
  • JMC has written to Steve Nagy is appreciation of his retirement as Port Manager. recognition of Steve Nagy’s retirement. We welcomed the new manager, Lindsay McColl
  • General support was expressed for the ferry staff as they operate in very challenging conditions
  1. Next Meeting: 16 May online. The AGM will be in June and in person.

The meeting finished at 8pm.

Dr John Holliday, 12 April 2025

Interim update from Stephen Chambers of Openreach.

Work is progressing well.  The order books are open so folk should now be placing orders and it will be fulfilled by our teams in early May.

We have more resource on the island from the 22nd of April who will be focusing on survey work for the approx. 200 premises we have live so a plan can be in place for the folk who are served under ground.

Once people place an order with the internet provider of their choice you will have an appointment booked in for Openreach to attend the property and bring the cable from the closest part of the network to your premise wall.   Its important for people to understand the following…

If people want a quick installation, then they should place their order asap.  We want to fulfil as many orders as we can while we have additional resource on the island as mentioned above.
If you are in a contract and intend to stay with your current provider for ultrafast then you should be able to upgrade without a cancellation fee.
You can check to see if full fibre is available to you by going to www.openreach.com  and using our postcode checker.

Any individual issues please ask folk to reach out to me directly and I will get them resolved asap.

I’ll have a wider build update by this Friday which I will share with yourself and get a post up on social media.

Stephen Chambers

Analysis of July-Sept weekend Calmac bookings

Booked Utilisation Oban-Coll-Tiree Analysis

PDF shows how full the ferry is on weekends sailings for July-September 2025. This data was provided by Calmac on the 3rd March after a FOI request.

Note the numbers do not include the Desk Pilot. Also note this scheme is not operational for some ferries around TMF.

The plan is to updates these numbers regularly and a FOI request has been submitted for the next batch.