CROMARTY AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Meeting held on Monday 25th April 2005 at the Hugh Miller Institute
Present:
Community Councillors: Margaret Binnie, Jane Clunas, Douglas Cooper, Alex Davidson, Alan Hunter (Chair), Douglas McPhee, Rachel Robertson, Anne Short and Ronald Young.
Highland Councillor: David Alston
CC Secretary: Caroline Vawdrey
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Action |
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1 |
Chairman’s welcome: AH welcomed CC members to the meeting. |
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2 |
Apologies: Susan Florence |
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3 |
Approval of previous minutes: Approved with the following notes: 10:3 Cromarty Local Plan – to read – ‘No serious concerns were expressed by Alan Ogilvie and Jim Yuill in relation to changing the entrance from the High Street to Denny Road.’ 6:2 Leaflet Account - to note that Anne Short had suggested that any profits from the stalls during 2005 could potentially be used to replace the shortfall in the leaflet account. Proposed: Anne Short Seconded: Alec Davidson |
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4 4:1 4:2 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:6 4:7 4:8 4:9 4:10 4:11 4:12 |
Matters arising: 4:1 Painting/Repairing the Victoria Hall Bus Shelter: Highland Councils TEC Services had put in a new floor – but a boulder and stones had been dumped on it before the cement had dried. TEC Services have agreed to redo the floor - using quick drying cement. 4:2 Cromarty Outdoor Bowling Club Improvements: There have been two work days so far with volunteers tidying up the Bowling Club grounds. Funding will be sought for - a major overhaul of the playing surface, essential machinery, storage facilities and equipment for junior bowlers. A new greenkeeper has begun work- and is doing an excellent job. A Bowling Club "Open Day" to attract new members will be held on Saturday 11th June. 4:3 Horticultural Trophies: Cromarty Courthouse Museum is willing to accept these for safe keeping 7:2 Gaelic Chapel: The Highland Council solicitor suggests that there may be a way forward, and he will discuss this with John Hearmon. DA will keep Gaelic Chapel group members and C.C. up-to-date with progress. 7:4 Craigie Urquhart Trust: MB requested to see the Trust deeds and DA agreed to this. MB also asked about making the accounts public, and was informed that part of these referred to individual cases and it would be inappropriate to make this part of the accounts public. 9:1 Allan Square Toilets: John Mackenzie has sent the C.C. details of public toilet specifications – but this is not very helpful for moving the project forward. The sub group agreed to meet again. 10.1 Potholes: There is still a pothole to be infilled at Burnside Place. This will be referred to TEC Services. 10:2 Housing Allocations: Community Councillors agreed that they would invite Tracey Urry to explain THC housing allocations policy – as laid out in the THC housing strategy. 10:7 Library Tables: Community Councillors were unable to think of anywhere in Cromarty that could use the spare library tables. RR to ask Jean Henderson for a valuation. 10:9 Cromarty Leaflet, letter to local businesses: AD will do this. 10:10 Cromarty Leaflet Distribution: The leaflet sub-group will meet to discuss this further. 10:3 Scottish Parliament, Outreach Event: AS had attended this – and noted that it was well attended (89 people) and useful – though Anne had been disappointed not to have the chance to put a question to the MSPs. |
TEC Services ongoing AH/AD/DC ongoing DA ongoing DA /MB concluded AS/AH/ MB ongoing DMcP concluded AH ongoing RR ongoing AD concluded MB/RR/JC/AD and Wilf Taylor ongoing AS concluded |
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5 5:1 5:2 5:3 5:4 5:5 5:6 |
Youth issues: Putting Youth Issues earlier on the agenda: CC members agreed to this. Scotbus: It was noted that the new service contractor’s buses have been struggling with the hills, and have again broken down. However there aren’t any fumes coming into the bus (cf Rapsons). Sports Multi-court: JC has looked at useful websites with advice and costs for developing a multi-court. It looks as though the costs are likely to be in the region of 45K. The preferred site for the court would be behind Victoria Hall with the children’s play area coming forward to the front of the playing field. Friday Club: Teams from all over Highland took part in the Fairburn Challenge – Cromarty entered three teams, and came 3rd overall. Older ex-members are keen to rejoin the Friday Club – so junior and senior sections are now planned. Provision for late teens upwards (17-24): CC members debated whether there was adequate provision already. DA suggested that perhaps more access to advice – particularly job related would be valuable. Anti-Social behaviour: Police statistics from February to April showed a marked decline in anti-social behaviour reports from 41 (Dec-Feb Report) to 21. Sgt. Nicholson noted that there seemed to be much less reluctance to reporting incidents, and that the reports are now much more accurate. |
DMcP ongoing JC ongoing DMcP ongoing |
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6 6:1 6:2 |
Treasurer’s Report: AD submitted his report (full details available from AD):- Current Bank Balance: £5,870.00 Expenditure since the last report: Nil Income since the last report: £ 515.00 Income from: Cromarty Good Fund reimbursement £ 425.00 Stall rental £ 75.00 Guide book sales £ 15.00 Outstanding Invoices: AD will send reminder letters. |
AD ongoing |
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7 7:1 7:2 7:3 7:3 7:4 |
Highland Councillor’s Report: Highlands & Islands Fire Brigade: DA reported that the motion to allow auxiliary fire services to attend chimney and building fires after June 1st 2005 had been defeated. The main option now would seem to be to argue that the Cromarty unit should become a retained unit. This is the approach being taken by Balintore. The Fire Brigade decision on this will be made on the basis of a calculation of lives saved – for Balintore this is one in every 20 years, for Cromarty one in every 33 years. DA recommended that the Cromarty Unit concentrate on recruitment and training, whilst continuing to argue to be a retained unit. Site request for Interpretative Panel: Dolphin Defenders – a Moray Firth Partnership project had asked about space in Cromarty for a dolphin watching board. CC members agreed that the Scottish Water pumping station/seating area on Shore street would be an appropriate place to suggest. Buckie Telescope: Buckie is looking for a new home for its outdoor telescope. CC members agreed to see if this would be available to Cromarty. (note: the telescope has since gone to another community) School Grass: The primary school has asked for advice on how to improve its grass quality. Dog Fouling: Complaints continue to be received on this subject. AH will pass these on to Audrey Duffus the dog warden – and Cromarty citizens should similarly do so. |
DA/RY ongoing DA /AH ongoing DA concluded AH ongoing |
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8 |
Planning Matters None that required CC discussion |
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9 9:1 9:2 9:3 9:4 9:5 9:6 |
Correspondence Primary School Transport funding: AD will ask the school to apply directly to the Common Good Fund. The Community Council agreed to support an application for up to £400.00 Highlands & Islands Fire Board: Their letter notes that the Integrated Risk Management Plan received 94% support from consultees. Fuel Poverty Awareness Event 6th May: No CC member was available to attend this event Beatrice Windfarm Demonstration Day, 6th May: RY is interested in this subject, and will attend if possible. Local Plan Draft Deposit: This is on display in Cromarty Library. Moray Firth Partnership Conference, 23rd May: AD will attend on behalf of the CC |
AD concluded RY ongoing AD ongoing |
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10 10:1 10:2 10:3 10:4 10:5 10:6 10:7 10:8 10:9 10:10 10:11 |
Any Other Business: Cromarty Medical volunteer car scheme: There have been concerns expressed about this scheme ending. AS will contact medical practice to enquire further about the reasons for this decision. Kirkie Brae: RR reported that Dietrich Panowitz has completed the main funding application for this project – and now a further Kirkie Brae management meeting needs to be arranged. Allan Square: The grassed area in the square is being used as a turning circle. AH to ask TEC services when the bollards will go in. Police Safety Officer: JC reported that PC Andy Dobson would attend a meeting in Cromarty, on 27th April, before going on to the Black Isle Forum meeting in Fortrose. Parking problems: The postmen have complained about the lack of parking spaces, and enquired if anything can be done to tackle this. The CC did not see any solution to this problem. Public Seating:
Mechanical Street Sweeper: CC members agreed that this would be useful, but that costs might be prohibitive. It was agreed to find out more about how Invergordon obtained their street sweeper. CromartyLive website: It was noted that there has been some misuse of the website ‘noticeboard’ AH commented that the website group needs to meet again. Queen Mary 2 visit: There will be a meeting on 31st May to discuss facilities and entertainment for the day – and to arrange posters and publicity. Open land in Cromarty: JC to list open areas of potential community interest in Cromarty. C.C. to arrange a meeting with John Nightingale, when he is next in Cromarty, in order to discuss this further. Hugh Miller Museum: The CC passed on their congratulations on the museum’s 5-star award from VisitScotland. AH will write on the CC’s behalf. |
AS ongoing RR ongoing AH ongoing CC ongoing RY ongoing AH /AD ongoing AS ongoing AH ongoing AH ongoing |
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11 |
Date of next meeting: Monday 30th May 2005 at 19.30 in Hugh Miller Institute. |
