Present            Chairman                 :            Michael Elwis

                        Temp Secretary            :            Hazel Yule (Transport/Contractors)

                        Michael Ackerly                        Chamber of Commerce

                        Ronnie Campbell                      Mull Community Council

                        John Caskie                          Agriculture

                        Gillian King                             Holiday Mull

                        James Knight                          Transport/Contractors

                        Bill Pollock                         Independent Users

                        Joe Reade                          Harbour Association

                        John Wilson                          Independent Users

The Chairman welcomed the members to the meeting.

1.            Apologies

James Henderson

Chris James

Wilf Loynd

Iain MacKinnon

Councillor Alastair MacDougall

2.            Minutes

Minutes of meeting of 4th November 2003 approved.

3.            Minutes

Minutes of joint meeting with Cal-Mac, held on 1st December 2003, approved.

4.            Matters Arising

JW asked if there had been any feedback regarding Coll and Tiree - there has been no feedback to the committee,

however, RC advised that the situation had been sorted out and the outcome had been beneficial to Mull with the

removal of the peak fares.

5.         Draft Transport Strategy Paper, prepared by Michael Elwis

ME advised that his aim was to put forward items previously discussed at various Ferry Committee meetings and to serve as a footprint for the future.  It was clarified that this was a draft document which would be finalised after discussion with the committee and subsequently circulated to other interested parties within the island, i.e., Mull and Iona Community Council, Mull and Iona Community Trust, Harbour Association etc. for their comments.  The finalised plan would be forwarded to Argyll and Bute Council.

WP commented that although he supported the draft in principle, it was not always for the reasons given, but that a strong case would be required for making changes.

            1.            Working on mainland each day

                        WP suggested that an early ferry leaving Craignure at 0700 hours each day would require very early buses to leave each end of the island which might prove to be a disadvantage to the island.

                        JK indicated that this would be a vital link to the mainland and that the majority of users would be using private transport in general.

                        ME pointed out that a 0700 hours ferry would be useful to tourists with long distances to travel and to those who wished to travel on occasion further to conduct business.

                        It was felt that this would require to be an all year round service, arriving in Oban at 0800 hours and leaving Oban at 1800 hours otherwise long term work commitments would not be able to be undertaken.

                        MA was concerned that the draft was focusing primarily on the ability to work on the mainland as being the driving force behind the need to a 0700 hours ferry.  He felt that the committee should not single out a particular reason but should forward a wide variety of reasons to justify the service, such as catching trains, all year availability, etc.

                        MA felt that the committee's main task was with the ferries rather than as a generality and that we should be seen to assist those with responsibilities in other areas rather than to dictate.

                        ME clarified that the document was just a draft - which was not definitive and that other bodies would be given the opportunity to change or to disregard.  MA suggested that the style of writing be changed.  GK suggested that the document be structured towards those who receive the policies and that aspects such as Equal Opportunities are highlighted.

            2.            School Children

                        HY expressed concern over the importance of this item, being that the number of school children attending from Ardnamurchan and Lochaline will be declining due to the opening of the high school in Strontian; and the extension of the school day for the pupils from the Ross of Mull to attend Oban High School on a daily basis.

                        WP advised that the bus connections made travelling from the Ross of Mull to Tobermory to attend school daily were unrealistic.  It was agreed by the committee that parents/pupils should be given a choice but that emphasis of the item was be reduced to Item 5.

            3.            Late Ferry

                        WP suggested that the timings were too late - should be 2130/2145.  GK pointed out that this would affect the social aspect - pictures not finishing until much later.  The current summer timetable sailing is 2230 hours, the general view of the committee that it should be 2300 hours.

            4.            Elderly - suitable buses

                        ME felt that the upgrade of the Salen to Tobermory road should continue independent of the proposed short sea ferry crossings.  It was pointed out that the traffic both coming from and going to the ferry meets on the single track road causing a variety of problems.  Although ME noted WP's concerns regarding the 'city bus' which currently operates between Tobermory and Craignure which is very basic - it is the new generation of  'kneeling' buses which ME had in mind.  GK suggested that the new disability legislation being put in place may assist in pushing forward the use of low floor buses.

            5.            Central Co-ordination

                        ME clarified that the central-co-ordination meant that those at a high enough level within the rail and bus companies would attend meetings with representatives from other islands in North Argyll to co-ordinate public transport.

                        Representatives Scotrail

                        City Link

                        2 representatives from each island

                        Cal Mac

                        Other public bodies

                        JK suggested that this may be clarified to indicate whether the co-ordination should relate only to Mull or to Argyll as a whole.

                        It was agreed that the Draft Strategic Plan was good in principle and that ME would amend and would circulate the amended plan at the next meeting for final approval/comments.

4.            Matters Arising (contd.)

            E-mail from Ian Fox dated 10th February 2004.

            Comments

            JW            Archaic, should press for more sailings, making no progress

                        Luggage containers and trolleys, also required at Craignure - ignored

            JK            Do the Masters wish to stay in Oban in order to get home?

                        Engineer - extended sailings provide sufficient time to obtain spares

                        Tender process - consult committees as to whether to tender or to keep

                        Cal Mac, subject to a 3 year review

                        Mull service pays - services should reflect revenues, inferior service

                        Suggested problems should be taken up with Nicol Stephen

            GK            Tendering process - are Cal Mac/Scottish Exec hiding behind process

                        in order to keep services poor?

            MA            In limbo with the tendering process - going ahead or not?

                        Timetables will be frozen until tender starts and then for next 5 years

                        Improvements in services already achieved will be lost/relinquished

                        Very disappointed in Mr Fox's E-mail.

            HY            Suggested that if the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidelines (STAG)

                        are the problem - find out who writes the guidelines and lobby them.

            RC            Agreed with writing to producers of STAG

                        Very disappointed about losing extra ferries - contradicts meeting with

                        Ian Fox.

            JC            Disappointed with loss of additional ferries - must write to STAG

            JR            Situation regarding tendering - crazy that timetable are being fixed

                        Must know what situation is.

                        Argue with STAG that proposals are minor and should not cost more

            WP            Pursue STAG

                        Crews may not want to stay on Mull

            ME            Will write to politicians enclosing Ian Fox's letter, minutes, etc

                        Letter from Ian Fox a disgrace

                        West Coast MSPs in favour of continuing with Cal Mac.

                        European pressure to tender 'gone to the wall' - Scottish Exec policy

5.            A.O.C.B.

            WP

            Regarding 1800 hours bus travelling down the Back Brae and along the Main Street to facilitate passengers for the Kilchoan Ferry.  Committee agreed.

            New bus tender for the next 3 years out - agreed to support Option 1, the continuation of the existing pattern.

6.         Date of Next Meeting

            To be arranged.

7.         Close of Meeting

            The meeting closed at 2100 hours with a vote of thanks to the chair.