Present            Chairman:         Michael Elwis

                        Secretary:      Iain MacKinnon

                        Michael Ackerley                       Chamber of Commerce

                        Ronnie Campbell                       Mull Community Council

                        James Henderson                     Caledonian MacBrayne

                        Wilf Loynd                           Transport/Contractors

                        Councillor A MacDougall            Argyll & Bute Council

                        Bill Pollock                         Independent Users

                        Joe Reade                           Tobermory Harbour Association

                        Hazel Yule                              Transport/Contractors

The Chairman welcomed the members to the meeting.

1. Apologies Chris James and John Wilson

2. Minutes Minutes of AGM and subsequent meeting of 6^th May 2003 approved.

3. Matters Arising No matters arising.

4. Note of meeting held with Mr Douglas Blades, Public Transport Officer with Argyll & Bute Council, held on 17^th June 2003 approved.

5. Matters Arising Mr Elwis advised that he considered Mr Blades’ visit to the island and the result of the meeting had given him a far better understanding of the geography of Mull and some of the transport and ferry problems we face.

6. Summer Timetable 2004 The members noted Ian Fox’s response to their letter to Dr Hugh Dan MacLellan.  It was decided to establish the possibility of having the committee constitution revised to permit CalMac representatives to attend more than two meetings per annum. Ronnie Campbell reported to the members the following significant decisions made at a recent meeting of the Shipping Services Advisory Committee: The proposed 21.45 sailing from Oban to Craignure on a Friday to remain at 22.30.  Pensioners in future will be able to obtain return concessionary tickets at Craignure office as from October this year. CalMac fares are to increase by two and a half percent.  The commercial rates will remain unchanged. The Chairman thanked Mr Campbell for advising the members of these decisions. The Secretary to write to Douglas Blades requesting that the proposed 16.45 bus from Craignure to Tobermory depart at 16.55, thus allowing a connection for passengers off the 1655 ferry from Lochaline, wishing to travel to the north of the island.  Jimmy Henderson to make arrangements for the proposed ferry from Lochaline at 12.15 to be rescheduled to depart at 12.10, again to guarantee a bus connection, to Craignure on this occasion.

7. Summer 2003 Jimmy Henderson reported that the summer timetable relating to the various Mull services had worked well considering the considerable increase in volume of traffic, and that all connections were generally made. 

8. Winter Timetable 2003/2004 The members were disappointed that, excepting the request to have a vehicle carrying ferry on the Kilchoan/Tobermory services, all their observations had been ignored including their continued request to have additional sailings on the Mull/Oban service on Wednesdays and Fridays.

9. Winter Timetable 2004/2005 The Chairman asked the members to go away and consider what timetable they considered was required/necessary for serving the Mull people during the winter.  Members to report back to the next meeting with their suggestions.  A letter will then be sent to Caledonian MacBrayne with their observations, pre-empting the draft timetable prepared by CalMac in the New Year.

10. Oban Pier Development It was agreed that the committee write to the Scottish Executive expressing their support of CalMac’s application for the second link span to be installed at Oban Pier, providing an agreement can be made which will not be to the detriment of the local fishing industry.  It was also suggested that this was the opportunity to include their concern that it was necessary to have a formal transport interchange to be included in the exercise.

11. Livestock Rates Jimmy Henderson confirmed that CalMac recognized there is an unfairness in terms of the rates in operation at present and that they are currently reviewing the charges and he hoped to be in a position to advise the members at the next meeting of CalMac’s findings. 

12. AOCB The Secretary read a copy letter from William Stevenson, a resident on Ardnamurchan, to the Oban Times and the subsequent response from Peter Clark, Caledonian MacBrayne’s route manager responsible for the Kilchoan/Tobermory ferry.  The letter highlighted the lack of coordination between the ferry times and the connecting bus service to Craignure. The Secretary to establish if the committee can alter the constitution.  The members intimated their disappointment that no-one was invited to represent the Ferry Committee at the forthcoming Transport Seminar to be held in Craignure.  This event is arranged by AIE.  Michael Elwis, Ronnie Campbell and Jo Reade advised that they had been invited through their own organisations and that, given the opportunity, they would put forward the Ferry Committee’s views and report to the next meeting accordingly.  Councillor MacDougall suggested that CalMac should record the occasions when bookings are attempted on services that are already fully committed.  The secretary advised that he had received a reply from Citylink advising that they are looking at ways of allowing concession cardholders to book in advance for a small fee.

13. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 29^th October 2003 in Craignure Hall at 7.30 p.m.

14. Close of Meeting The meeting closed at 9.55 p.m. with a vote of thanks to the chair.