Approved 9th March 2015
ARDGAY & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held on Monday, 9th February 2015 in Ardgay Public Hall at 7.00pm
Present: Elected & co-opted members: David Hannah, Chair (DH), Marion Turner, Vice Chair (MT)Secretary (TL), Phil Olson (PO), Betty Wright (BW), Bob Sendall (BS), Silvia Muras (SM)
Apologies: Teresa Langley, Secretary (TL), Alan Lawrence, Treasurer (AL)
Police Scotland: No representative
Also present: Highland Councillor George Farlow (GF) Minutes Secretary: Mary Goulder (MG)
Items 1/2. Welcome/Apologies (as above). Chair DH welcomed everyone to the first meeting in the New Year. Ardgay & District Community Council expressed sincere condolences to Colin Gilmour on the tragic loss of his mother, Lady Jean.
Item 3. Police report. No Police representative present. Thanks were recorded to PC Katy Hunter for her liaison work with the local CCs during her time in the area. The new Police Community Contact is Sergeant Peter Allan.
Item 4/5. Minutes of December meeting/matters arising. The Minutes of the December meeting were approved, with one amendment, as a true and accurate record, proposed by Bob Sendall; seconded by Marion Turner. (1) Invershin cycle ramp. Although installation was promised by Christmas the ramp is still not in place. The fabricator has been instructed to make the agreed adjustments for which THC will meet the costs. All agreements are in place. New date for completion awaited. Keep on agenda. GF/TL Action. (2) Flower tubs. BW has organised new tubs which will need to be cut and treated prior to use. A small gift will be arranged in return for supply of the barrels. BW/DH Action. (3) Struie road closure. It is appreciated that the road has now been re-opened but the lack of communication regarding its closure/opening was noted. (4) Culrain junction flooding. GF stated that at each site visit by THC so far, no flooding has been present. He expressed the opinion that putting in culverts would prove too expensive.
Items 6. Newsletter. (SM) A distribution survey was proposed; many issues arising due to duplication of deliveries, empty/holiday houses, lack of letter boxes, where newsletter wanted/not wanted, etc. A simple questionnaire will be devised and also an item will be in the next issue. A new policy will be agreed thereafter. The best quote of £450 by new printers has been accepted for the next issue. A large number of entries have been received in the Children’s Art Competition. SM intends to hold a prize-giving at the school with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes along with a small Easter egg for each competitor. An exhibition of the entries is also planned for around Easter time. An application can be made to the Project Account to cover expenses. Cllr Farlow and his colleagues were asked to consider submitting a regular report slot in addition to advertising contact/surgery information. There will be an interview with Hayley Bangs, Kyle of Sutherland Youth Development Group in the next issue.
Item 7. Secretary’s report. (TL) Submitted prior to meeting report indicated: Community at Heart (SSE) notified that at present the CC does require their assistance with the village flower tubs and they will be contacted by DH; letter sent to Lisa Marchi (SSE) re overhead power lines; letter sent to Steve Barron, THC, re 20mph school lights and 30mph limit at Mid Gledfield; response received and contact from Hugh Logan, Senior Engineer, is awaited; Safer Routes to School information from Gledfield School posted to Cllr Linda Munro; email re Core Path at Oakwood Place passed to Matt Dent with his response forwarded to CC members; letter to David Cowie re CASPLAN and his response forwarded; Culrain Hall booking confirmed for meeting on 11th May.
Item 8. Correspondence. GF has written to Chair Gledfield School Parent Council to review the Safer Routes to School Plan. The Parent Council must approve extra expenditure with regard to proposed re-siting of 20mph lights. It was noted that on one approach to the school three signs are deemed necessary; this principal should be applied at the opposite approach.
Item 9. Treasurer’s report. (AL) Report submitted prior to the meeting shows the Treasurer’s account with a cleared balance of £1,579.97, the Projects account at £7534.65 and the Toilets account at £11.65. There are no outstanding liabilities on any of the accounts. It was noted that the funds in the Project account now come from the Rock-by-Sea community benefit payments; there has been no project funding by THC for many years. The Rock-by-Sea benefit provides the funding for the small grants awards. The management of this income should be discussed at the next meeting. MT will liaise with AL prior to that. MT/AL/Agenda item/TL Action.
Item 10. Highland Councillor’s report. (GF) Andy Mackay is returning full time to his post as Ward Manager on 1st March. CASPLAN consultation period has now closed. GF has passed onto Matt Dent all issues previously raised. THC Customer Services Review should be made aware of CCs views on de-centralisation of services and the need to maintain and make best use of Service Points. Footfall in local Service Points has increased in recent months, most especially useful as a point of contact during the recent storms and power cuts. A breakdown of actual costs versus savings should be provided as in many areas it is thought the savings could be minimal. An effective asset management policy is required; the issue of empty THC properties should be addressed to bring in income by sale or rent. Pre-gritting policy is little understood by many. The pre-gritting lays down a preventative barrier between the road surface and the next snowfall. THC decision has been deferred till their March meeting. The current gritting plan is on THC website.
Item 11. Windfarms. Achany. Kyle of Sutherland Youth Group award was approved at the recent business meeting. Kyle of Sutherland Apprenticeship Scheme will be funded for the next three years from the variable payment by SSE. A sub-group has been established to apply to the SSE Highland Regional Fund for match funding. Beinn Tharsuinn. A new funding application form will be made available on the CC website; applications should now be sent direct to the CC Secretary who will circulate them to members. The transfer of business from THC to the KoSDT is expected to be complete by April. Braemore. Planning refused by THC; now up to the developers to appeal to Scottish Government. Caplich. Peter Marshall of Muirhall Energy will attend the next CC meeting on 9th March. BS stated there is vociferous objection to this development from his neighbouring Strathoykel residents. BW reminded the meeting that unlike other windfarm applications, this one was from a small Scottish based company, Muirhall Energy, which were actively seeking 10% community buy in to their project which could result in substantial financial gains & as such should, in her opinion be considered differently from other applications. CC policy is neither to support or object to windfarm proposals, but leave it to individuals to express their own opinions, and will make comment only to the Planning Committee expressing the views of the public as understood by the CC.
Item 12. Any other competent business. (1) Ardgay Public Hall. GF confirmed that the committee has received a payment of £2,500 from the Ward Discretionary Budget towards the upgrading required. (2) PO advised that he had attended the Community Councils through Scotland Conference in Edinburgh in January. A&DCC came out well in his comparison with reports from other CCs. Fuel club in one Borders CC is doing extremely well with over one hundred members, now extending into coal and electricity supplies as well as oil. (3) There is no public information with regard to the current ownership of Carbisdale Castle. (4) Planning. Caplich application – BW will respond for CC.BW Action. One housing application on Kincardine Hill raised no objections. (5) The Lady Ross. It is understood that Mr and Mrs Mitchell are no longer resident in the premises which may alter public opinion as a possible community buy out project but no details of proposed sale are available. (6) Under the Safer Routes to School policy Cllr Linda Munro has been made aware of the condition of the grass verges between Kincardine and the village which cause children to walk in the roadway.
Item 13. Date of next meeting. The next meeting will be held on Monday 9th March at 7pm in Ardgay Public Hall.
There was one application to the Beinn Tharsuinn Fund discussed at private session after the main meeting with the resulting award of £2,000 being made to the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust to assist with taking the development plans for the Falls of Shin forward to a Phase 2 Lottery stage. Company Secretary and applicants will be made aware of the award decision. MG Action.
Meeting closed at 8.55pm.
Tags: Minutes, Minutes 9th February 2015