Cumbrae Community Council. Meeting Minutes Thursday 08 March 2018, Garrison House

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1 Cumbrae Community Council Meeting Minutes Thursday 08 March 2018, Garrison House Present: Phil Lonsdale, Graham Wallace, Sharon Hagan, Crawford Gillan, Stewart Cape, Angie McCallum, Cllr. Alan Hill, Cllr. Ian Murdoch In Attendance: A representative from Fairlie CC, PC Joy Hamilton, Michael Bertram Apologies: Alex Caldwell, Cllr. Tom Marshall CCC would like to extend their extreme condolences to Alex Caldwell on the loss of his Mother. Graham Wallace was wished a Happy Birthday. Minutes of the last meeting: The minutes of the last meeting held on 8 February 2018 were proposed by Angie McCallum and seconded by Graham Wallace as a true record of the meeting. Matters Arising: Sea Wall Painting: NAC have offered to undertake this themselves. The timescale being quoted is soon. Newsletter: The closing date is 16 March. Replies and feedback have been very positive in that the community have welcomed the opportunity to air their views and thoughts. Results will be published as soon as possible and there may be a public meeting to discuss a possible community action plan based on the replies. There have been several offers of help with this plan from the community. Pier repairs and updates: This is a report only no declaration of interest needed A dive survey is currently underway, the matter having been raised with NAC at the Pier meeting on It was noted that there was surprise that this survey had not already taken place given the serious effect of the closure of the Pier on the Town. The issue of the poor condition of the bottom landing stage had been raised with NAC. The reply was that this was awaiting the dive survey report. Blue Sea Consulting will be reporting back in a few weeks time on the subject of a Marina and the next meeting with regards to the Marina and Pier will be held with NAC on There is to be an Easter Parade in support of the Save Millport Pier Campaign. Youth Provision: It was reported that the Youth Club had not yet started due to the lack of support with regards to volunteers needed to help run the Club. A Movie Night had been arranged at the School and the possibility of a Friday night Movie was being investigated. A Short Tennis Club was expected to run as an after school Club and the Head Teacher has been asked about the possibility of using the gym for evenings and weekends. No reply to date. 1

2 Hunterston Proposals: Comments have been submitted on decommissioning following the last CCC meeting and these can be viewed on the planning portal. It was noted that Hunterston was established for construction, which is an entirely different matter to decommissioning which holds a far greater risk of causing negative impacts on the marine environment and the adjacent SSSI through pollution and that the proposal is contrary to NPF3 etc. Possible Community Action Plan: As mentioned under Newsletter, this may be developed as a result of the questionnaire replies. Crocodile Rock: The possibility of someone copyrighting the Crocodile Rock has been investigated. There are 32 Articles of International Copyright Law and it is clearly noted that It is not possible to copyright a 3D Item. Copyright is an automatic right and arises whenever an individual or company creates a work. To qualify, a work should be regarded as original, and exhibit a degree of labour, skill or judgement. Names, titles, short phrases and colours and not generally considered unique or substantial enough to be covered, but a creation, such as a logo, that combines these elements may be. CARS Tender Times: A query had been raised about the short tender time allowed for local businesses given the fact they would not have the staff capacity to turn round a quick estimation. The reply received was that the Historic Architect Service deemed a week to ten days sufficient when only one trade was involved with a longer period allowed if the job was more complex. The CARS Officer stated that tender times for future rounds would be considered. Mention was made of the fact that some contractors were quoting very high figures in the knowledge that this was grant money. It was noted that whilst Historic Scotland recommendations require expensive materials the estimates were too high with a resultant overcharge for the property owners percentage contribution. This was potentially leading to owners not taking up the grant offers due to the high contributory costs. ACTION: Angie McCallum to contact CARS Officer and ask how many applications have been received and how many were proceeding. Brief reports of outside meetings attended, and matters being pursued: Clyde Islands Initiative: This meeting involved representatives from Cumbrae, Arran and Bute. Statistics are being gathered with regards to Tourism, Visitors and overnight stops. It was pointed out to the meeting that there had been very little consultation with Cumbrae and there would also be many accommodation owners who were not registered with Visit Scotland which is where some of the statistics were being gathered. Millport Tourist Association agreed at this point to collate some meaningful figures. Digital Infrastructure discussions centred mostly on the problems Arran was experiencing whilst Bute reported a broadband upsurge. Bute are working on waste disposal and recycling issues and it was felt that this is an area on which Cumbrae could collaborate. Peel Ports Application Consultation: There has been a Marine Licence pre application consultation in Seamill with regards to the proposed Jetty Extension. It was felt this 2

3 consultation was very limited with discussion only allowed about the Jetty, not why it was needed nor the bigger picture that was involved. Discussion was also not allowed regarding the Caisson Dock Gates. The planning application for both the Jetty Extension and Caisson Dock Gates is now live. It is proposed that CCC will make an objection along similar lines to the one that was submitted with regards to the proposed decommissioning application from Peel Ports. A comment was made that the individual applications currently being submitted by Peel Ports all relate to the proposed change of use of the site to allow for decommissioning of large marine structures and that because the applications relate only to specific proposals affecting the jetty, the removal of the bund, the installation of the caisson dock gates etc. there is no recognition in the overall planning process of the serious cumulative effect that all of these individual applications will have on the local communities and the environment/marine environment etc. Suggestion was made that all communities affected link together to maximise the impact of the local communities input and representation, particularly in planning matters, and that there be a meeting between them, all Community Councils and Councillors to progress this initiative. (e.g. Cumbrae, West Kilbride, Fairlie, Bute and Largs) There was agreement that employment opportunities are welcomed but not when they come at any cost. A suggestion was made that the area would serve well as a Port for Cruise Ships. This would fit very well with Marine Tourism aspirations and LDP2. ACTION: Phil Lonsdale to contact other Community Council Chairs to arrange a venue/day for the proposed meeting. NAC Possible Community Action Plan/Town Hall: A meeting was attended at Cunninghame House with the then Chair of CCDC. Discussions centred around the community engagement with the Newsletter and the possibility of a Community Action Plan. The Town Hall was discussed regarding its value to the community and whether it may be saved as a historic building. This was a positive meeting and NAC welcomed this engagement with the community. Shoreline Consultation: This event which was held in Millport was very poorly advertised. There were only 7 attendees on the list of whom 3 were Community Councillors. It was noted that the report referred to the proposed Flood Protection Scheme as one of the actions proposed to mitigate against potential flood risk on Cumbrae. It was noted that several reports had recently been produced on the subject of sea level rise and coastal flooding in the Clyde and that the figures used did not always seem to match up. Hunterston Stakeholder Group: This had been cancelled due to adverse weather with no further meeting to be held. The topic of the colour of the cladding had been discussed at an earlier Hunterston meeting and it had been agreed that a colour other than that originally proposed would be used on Hunterston A to ensure the buildings blended better into the landscape (as per Hunterston B). The decision on the final choice of colour will be made by the Planning Committee. 3

4 ACTION: Cllrs. Hill and Murdoch to pursue this and find out the colour proposed with the planning officials.. Western Link Stakeholder Group: This meeting was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Agenda Items: Defibrillator at Quayhead: This is now in place. The next one at the Fire Station is waiting for a contractor to be available. The boxes are being donated by NAC and local electrician Gordon Lundie is fitting them at no cost. Closure of DA Hall: This is planned for two weeks from 18 April to 2 May. Representations have been made to NAC that this is not sufficient notice and that several large scale events have been booked during this period. The response is that as asbestos has been found it is a matter of Health and Safety and needs to be undertaken as soon as possible. A suggestion was made that the School may possibly be made available. Ferry Cancellations: During the adverse weather it was noted that the Calmac Office was closed and that there was therefore no available information. Their web site stated slips unsafe and it was felt that they should at least have grit bins available on site. ACTION: Angie McCallum to ask Calmac for their comments Presentations: Police Report: It was reported that compared to the same period last year, this year showed fewer crime figures. There had been an arrest made in connection with the theft of the charity box from the pharmacy. AOCB: CCC note the change of Chair for CCDC and congratulate Ms Deborah Ferris on her appointment. CCC hope that Ms Ferris will continue the policies of cooperation for the benefit of all adopted by her predecessor during the few months he was in office. CCC need to address some malicious gossip that has been circulated. They wish to make it very clear that they had never been invited by NAC to be involved in the provision of toilets nor had they ever had any involvement in the proposal for a Toilet Company which was made independently by one of their members and a resident. 1. They also wish to make it clear that this proposal never used the label Charity Shop. As per the business plan which was circulated to those in discussion, it was to be a shop with charitable aims ie. not taking in second hand donated goods for sale but using takings from the sale of vintage related high end crafts, vintage framed photos and the sale of vintage clothing and clothing accessories (mainly hats). This was to utilize premises which are still unsold and was also to incorporate a Community Centre. Activities arranged here would have centred on helping to prevent isolation and inter generational sessions. There would 4

5 have been opportunities to learn new skills, maybe for problem sharing. There was to have been the Introduction of a barter system of activities along the Time Bank UK model and also it was to have been a Centre to act as a central point for those wishing to fundraise or develop community ideas. Funding would have been readily available because of these community benefits and sustainable income streams to maintain the toilets had been devised. 2. With regards to the interest of CCC in the Town Hall they wish to make it clear that as a Community Council they are not allowed to undertake an Asset Transfer nor to get involved in the running of such an asset. They can however be used as an umbrella organisation to pursue investigations and feasibility studies. Their interest in the building is based on the wish to both preserve a historic building and also for it not to be lost to the community. Michael Bertram asked at this point for the possibility of a meeting between CCDC and CCC. Date of next meeting: 5 pm Thursday 12 April Garrison House, Millport 5