Strathpeffer Community Council

Transcription

1 Strathpeffer Community Council Minutes of Meeting at Strathpeffer Community Centre: Monday 4 October 2010 Present: Kit Bowen (KB) - Chair, Rob Elliott (RE), Karen Evans (KE), John Fulton (JF), Alasdair Lawton (AL) - Treasurer, Steve MacDonald (SM) Vice-Chair, Alison Munro-White () Secretary, Audrey Sinclair Councillor, Ian Stewart (IS), Bruce Taylor (BT), Peter Walling (PW) Members of the Public (7) some representing the Victorian Day Committee and the Strathpeffer Spa Railway Association. Apologies: Janet Bowen (JB), Neil Forrest (NF), Gary MacDonald (GM), John MacGregor (JM), Jean Urquhart Councillor, No Item Action Minutes of meetings of 6 September The minutes of 6 September were approved. Proposed by PW. Seconded by BT. AS requested a correction to item 2 Funding received from Ward should read Funding received from The Highland Council (THC) The Chair noted that there were additional items for the agenda raised by the members of the public present. Due to time restraints for some members, he would also alter the order of the agenda to accommodate. Matters arising 1 Secretary s claim for underpayment: It was reported that payment had already been made to and agreed that payment should now be forwarded for the following 2 months. Treasurer to write to former Secretary. AL Ability to co-opt and co-option possibilities deferred to next meeting Accounts Year to Date 2 AL reported: Current balance is Copy accounts attached. However, some of these funds are already designated for the village signs. Balance after signage payments made is 1144 Strathpeffer Spa Railway Association (SSRA) 3 Representatives from the SSRA attended the meeting and reported on a proposed project. The project is being headed up by David Raeburn, Frank Martin, Douglas Murray and Steve Dovey. The group is keen to see the railway to Strathpeffer restored and in Phase 1, from the Old Station to Fodderty Junction. They have spoken to HC Planning and to local landowners, all of whom have indicated support for the project. The group would like to present a more comprehensive report at the next SCC meeting. They are currently producing a business plan from which the project looks feasible and would involve a Diesel/Steam DMU 120 seats. Parking is one main issue to be addressed. The project received a warm response from the SCC and they advised the group that they looked forward to a further report at the next meeting in November Formation of subgroups to deal with ongoing issues 4 Deferred to next meeting Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 04/10/10 Page 1

2 Progress reports 5 Village Signage: SM reported Bottom end village sign now up and work almost complete. Top end sign to be up during October. SM had received public input regarding the correct positioning of the top end sign. In light of this, it was agreed via a vote that the best location would be by Kinellan Drive. Re: Cashflow for payment of signs AL/SM to rationalise funding to ensure payment possible. SM kindly offered to lend funds to bridge if necessary. Community Centre Signs: reported that the CC signs are costing Previous minutes show that the amount pledged by the Community Council was to feed this back to Clara Hickey. AL to arrange for payment. Allotments: No further input from NF. Deferred to next meeting Dog fouling: reported that the contact at THC was now leaving and our letter had been passed to the Dog Warden. We are waiting to hear which meeting they are able to attend. Wind Farm Funding:. KB read a draft letter in this respect. Asked for comments and input on addressees. There was some debate about the history and current objectives. JF had downloaded information on cash awards to communities. It was agreed that an indication of these figures should be included in the final letter. Action: KB to revise letter and send to John Farquhar cc all other MSPs/relevant parties. Objective is to get access to future funds. No sub-group formed yet to progress this. Deferred to next meeting. Footpath Network: reported that a letter had been sent to Contin Community Council to inform them of the footpath project, but no response received to date. Report on Fountain and Cascade: KE reported on a positive meeting with the architect who designed the features and THC. HC may be able to reinstate the features, but there is no HC money available to provide ongoing maintenance. It was proposed that if the features could be made to function again, then it may be possible for the community to raise funds or call on the goodwill of local tradesmen to help with ongoing maintenance. Currently awaiting proposal from THC re reinstatement funds and timescale. KE said that worst scenario was that if the features were reinstated, then broke down again and no maintenance available, then we d have had the benefit while they were operational, but wouldn t be any worse off than we are at present. KE to chase THC for proposal AL/SM /AL NF KB KB Letter re private hedges KB had drafted a letter. However, following input from members of the public attending the meeting about ongoing private commitment to maintaining hedges, it was agreed that no further action should be taken. Stagecoach consultation on new bus times: RE reported he had written to Stagecoach and received a reply. Cost efficiency does not allow them to offer additional evening services in the forseeable future. The questions of whether the service is subsidized and whether there is a social need for the service are both relevant. RB to write to David Somers in this respect. RB Consultation 6 Small Communities Housing Trust LEADER Rural Broadband Rural Scotland All deferred to next meeting Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 04/10/10 Page 2

3 Planning 7 RB reported only 1 application in area. The specific application discussed at the last meeting had not yet been considered. KB reported on conversation with Dfyed Jones, Area Planning Manager, as follows: Relationship of the CC to Planning KB had enquired whether Planning had to consult (as suggested in the CC constitution). DF said that they would only do so where there was a community interest or if the planning related to the CC itself. This seemed to leave the initiative principally with the CC. For example, if the CC were concerned about a planning issue inside the conservation area they should contact the conservation officer (Kerry Bennet); she would not automatically contact the CC. Certainly, if the CC did form a subcommittee to deal with planning matters DF would be keen for a meeting with himself and the relevant planning officers (Julie Ferguson and Susan Hadfield) and the conservation officer to clear the ground. CC views on planning matters DF pointed out that forming a view can be divisive and it may be better for the CC to raise issues of concern, pros and cons and facts to consider. If however there was sufficient strength of feeling the CC could appeal. Education for the CC KB suggested a guided walk to show areas of good and bad planning in the village. DF was not particularly keen and suggested contacting Kerry Bennet. Access to planning meetings out of the area Anyone wanting to participate should attend the video link available at the Council Offices in Dingwall. Availability of information Information on all planning applications was available on line, but once again the initiative had to be by the CC. Thus, any questions on the Sign Shop, should be reviewed there in the first place. Further general information was available through Planning Advice Note 2 and the Scottish Government website etc. Planning for Garden Furniture DF thought that planning would not be interested, but should be informed of communications with Ian Hay at TEC services. KB reported that Fearnie Watts would be happy to talk with the Garden Group about contributing towards one of the new benches for the Square KE to contact FW. KE It was agreed (a) that any planning subgroup should still refer back to the full CC for input on any projects, and that (b) that there is a wider remit for the CC than that taken historically and that the CC could be proactive where there was whole of community interest in a planning application. Permitted development rights for Microgeneration Equipment for non Domestic Properties. Consultation document. RB reported that he had looked at this document and the main section which concerned the committee was that referring to free standing wind turbines for commercial premises. He advised that this is not particularly contentious in general, but may allow eg farms to put up freestanding wind turbines without planning. Rules not being fundamentally changed. It was agreed this would have a low implication for SCC and no further immediate action was required. Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 04/10/10 Page 3

4 Santa in the Square and Christmas Lights 8 KB asked whether SCC needed to input on this. It was advised that there is a committee who managed the event. NFA Lower Pump Room Status 9 For information, SM advised that THC had put the lease of the LPR out for tender, that the owner of The Coffee Shop has been granted the lease and intends to open it as an outlet for takeaway food. Strathpeffer and District Charity Trust status 10 KB asked whether anyone had heard of this organization. AL advised it may be the same as a Community Trust he is aware of which has funds for distribution locally. There was no further information offered. NFA Financial support by Community Council 11 KB asked how financial support worked in previous years and whether there were specific organizations the CC funded as a matter of course. It is understood that although there are organizations who have received funds annually, the CC will use its discretion depending on applications received. Last year 200 was given to Santa. It was noted that the Gardening Group has funds allocated from last year which have not been used. It was agreed that a new application should be submitted by the group for the outstanding balance. New application from Victorian Strathpeffer Committee (VSC). A letter had been received from Committee members applying for support from the SCC. Members were invited to enlarge upon their application. The committee had understood that the Strathpeffer Initiative (SI) was under the umbrella of the Community Council and were concerned about the SI proposed Festival project being in competition with VSC activity. KB explained that the SI project was independent of the SCC. However, as several members of the SCC were also involved with the SI, he suggested there should be a discussion immediately following the SCC meeting between representatives from both projects. Nominations for Highland Council Quality Awards 12 Deferred to next meeting. Funding for SCC 13 Deferred to next meeting AOCB 14 Escalation of antisocial behaviour in the Square One member of the public reported the above specifically, children and teenagers riding bikes without lights, on pavements and without heed of traffic; litter; causing minor damage; noise and generally harmless, but potentially intimidating and dangerous behaviour. Generally occurring during specific weekday and all weekend evenings. Police called out on several occasions. Action: It was agreed that the Police should be invited to the next meeting to discuss how best to improve the situation and avoid potential accidents. Val Moffat also agreed to attend the meeting to report on the activity. SM was aware of the issue and felt that it would be possible to speak directly with those involved and come to an understanding of what was/wasn t acceptable behaviour. RE VM Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 04/10/10 Page 4

5 Date of next meeting Monday 1 November 2010 Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 04/10/10 Page 5