tracy
New Member
Posts: 2 
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Post by tracy on Aug 11, 2013 18:36:19 GMT 10
I personally believe that SIRA should be a volunteer organisation without attachment to water supply.Also why should everyone in the household have to sign?  Is it a numbers thing for council?
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Post by billgye on Aug 11, 2013 18:54:56 GMT 10
The only reason that membership is tied to getting water is that that the legal advice (which Shar, Deryn and Gyren got) when SIRA took on the emergency water 10 years ago. This legal advice was that users of the water should be members of SIRA, because if ever anyone drank the water and got sick, it is much harder for them to sue an organisation that you are a member of. Also those around at the time will recall that SIRA only took the water on because it was about to be cut off.
If we could get alterative legal advice it would fine to create something like a Service Only Agreement, so that people that only wanted that did not have to join SIRA. But then of course they cannot vote at meetings etc. This is not and never was a way of boosting members and is in fact a pain in the A and just more work. Being a water monitor is also no fun and we have never been able to get volunteers for this - you are on call 24/7.
This issue must also be looked at within the larger question of where we might go with sewerage and mains water.
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tracy
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by tracy on Aug 11, 2013 19:03:12 GMT 10
ah ha cheers Bill, this is not explained else where, and should be more widely expressed. another mis-conception. but still a difficult one to fulfil when everyone in the home is not there to sign off etc
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hubert
New Member
Posts: 16 
Do you live on Scotland Island?: Yes
Do you own property on the Island?: Yes
Your age group: 40 - 59
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Post by hubert on Aug 11, 2013 20:23:11 GMT 10
I am not sure of the legal ramifications, however, could there something like this:
- SIRA membership, which entitles the member to voting rights in the association and all other benefits membership brings.
- A 'water agreement' between SIRA and anyone who would like to have access to emergency water (water user). In this agreement, the water user is entitled to get access to the water line, managed by SIRA. But also, the agreement contains all disclaimers necessary regarding the usage of water, consequences of use, including sickness etc.
I would like to see if this possible solution can be investigated. Maybe, Bill, it was looked at 10 years ago and discounted, in which case can you let us know what the legal advice was?
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hubert
New Member
Posts: 16
Do you live on Scotland Island?: Yes
Do you own property on the Island?: Yes
Your age group: 40 - 59
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Post by hubert on Sept 4, 2013 11:30:09 GMT 10
Here is one of the questions I submitted to the SIRA committee recently. The question remains unanswered:For a number of years I have been told that in order to get access to emergency water to fill up my tanks at home, I am required to be a member of SIRA. I include two pieces of evidence with this assertion: - An email exchange with Cass Gye which clearly states I am required to fill out the membership form and pay the association’s dues before I can receive emergency water.
- The SIRA charter on Emergency Water Service which states: To ensure that all residents who buy water have signed a Water Agreement and are current members or SIRA
I have signed an agreement for Sale of Water which seems to supply sufficient legal basis for the sale of water by SIRA to a buyer. The agreement does not make any reference to the requirement of the buyer being a member of the association. The constitution of SIRA also makes no reference whatsoever to the sale of water and the requirement of customers to be also members. - Is this so-called enforced requirement of membership therefore unconstitutional?
- Is the enforcement of membership of an association under the relevant legislation permitted
- Is the withholding of trade (buying essential services) by means of enforcement of unrelated membership of an association permitted under Fair Trade legislation?
- Is SIRA inflating membership numbers artificially by forcing residents to be members of the association by the threat of withholding an essential service?
- On what grounds does SIRA seek to represent members on any matter whatsoever beyond the provision of water and given this link between selling water and membership has been made, does the committee agree that it would be deceptive conduct to imply that SIRAC represents its membership of 700 individuals
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Is it a numbers thing for council?