Issue - meetings

The Forum were invited to consider an update from Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, in response to the Chair’s letter of 14 February 2019 inviting him to attend the March 2019 meeting of the Forum; and a response from the Transport Scotland’s Aviation, Maritime, Freight & Canals Team dated 20 September 2019 regarding RET which set out that officials were looking into costs, risks and opportunities of fare reductions on the service.

While apologising for non-attendance due to diary commitments, the Minister took the opportunity to recap on the present situation with the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service advising that with the completion of the service transfer discussions were taking place regarding future vessel and shore side options.  While the Clyde Ferry Stakeholder Group is the official forum for consultation of matters pertaining to the Gourock-Dunoon service the Minister confirmed the Forum would be kept informed of progress.

Outcome

The Forum:

1.    Noted the update provided by the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands and expressed disappointment at the time taken to respond;

2.    Agreed that the Chair would write to the Minister expressing the Forum’s dissatisfaction with the lack of progress towards procuring new ferries and introducing RET fares;

3.    Requested that fare prices for website and bucket tickets be sent to Melissa Stewart, Area Governance Officer, for distribution to the Forum;

4.    Noted that a report on Infrastructure would be presented to the Bute & Cowal Area Committee in either December 2019 or March 2020; and

5.    Noted that the Council may not yet have set out its formal position on the service and agreed to invite officers from the Economic Development Team to attend and hold discussions with the Forum in view of concerns that the higher fare structure may be a deterrent for visitors to the area.

(Ref:  Letter from Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands dated 12^th September 2019, submitted and letter dated 20^th September from the Ferries Policy Officer, tabled)