CCC Minutes 19/12/05

CROMARTY AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Notes from the special meeting held on December 19^th 2005 in the Hugh Miller Institute

Present:

Community Councillors:Anne Short, (Chair), Margaret Binnie, Jane Clunas, Douglas Cooper, Susan Florence, Douglas McPhee, Wilf Taylor, Ronald Young, Rachel Robertson

Highland Councillor: David Alston

CC Secretary: Caroline Vawdrey

Apologies:Alex Davidson

1. The Role of Community Councils – Scottish Executive Discussion Paper

   Not all Community Council Members had received this via the circulation of papers. Therefore it was agreed to defer this item until the January Community Council meeting.

   David Alston was invited by the Chair to offer some guidance on the CC response and provided the following comments:

   The discussion paper provides CCs with the opportunity

   • to promote their achievements - including for example
     • Courthouse Museum
     • Footpath Network
     • Community Council elections – postal voting, pioneering STV
     • the involvement of young people.
   • to state what will assist CCs in their work e.g.
     • Corporate status (to remove individual liability)
     • VAT exemption
     • an increase in the CC’s core grant
   1. The Highland Council Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation

      Community Council Members made the following points:

      • That the full consultation was too technical to be meaningful to a lay person
      • That consultation on the renewable energy strategy had missed the opportunity to also promote energy saving approaches to communities
      • That the CC was in principle in support of the zoning of the Black Isle as suitable for small-scale community wind farms
      • That the CC would like to have a pack that would provide advice on setting up a community company, and the renewable energy options that would be appropriate for Cromarty and District.

      In summary, the CC agreed that they are in favour of small-scale community led renewable energy development, and that this should be for local use – providing both energy and financial community benefit.

      1. AOB

      Calor Gas Awards: Cromarty was awarded first place in the business section

      Bus Shelter:John Nightingale favours a wooden bus shelter – similar to that in Resolis

      Bench at Bothy:The CC agreed to Ronald’s suggestion that the CC ask Douglas Shepherd to price replacing the broken fittings with wooden posts.

      Bollard on Bank St: DMcP reported that he had received a number of negative comments about this, and the parking of vehicles on this end of Bank St. The CC noted that the bollard had been the CCs preferred course of action.

      Date of next meeting: January 30^th 2006

      At 19.30 in the Hugh Miller Institute