CROMARTY AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Meeting held on Tuesday July 26th 2005 at the Hugh Miller Institute
Present:
Community Councillors:
Anne Short & Margaret Binnie (joint-chairs of the meeting), Jane Clunas, Alex Davidson, Douglas McPhee, Douglas Cooper, Ronald Young, Cllr David Alston
CC Secretary:
Vivienne Griffiths
In Attendance: Wilf Taylor
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Item |
Details |
Action |
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1 |
Chairman’s welcome: MB welcomed CC members to the meeting, and stated that as the Chair had resigned since the last meeting, that she and Anne Short would be joint-chairing the meeting. Normal Practice would be for the Secretary to take the Chair and for nominations to be heard for a new Chair, but as events were so recent, it was agreed to defer this until the next meeting. |
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2 |
Apologies: None
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3
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Approval of previous minutes: Proposed: Douglas Cooper Seconded: Douglas MacPhee |
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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 |
Matters arising:
4:2 Allan Square Toilets: The re-arranged meeting took place on Monday 4th July, and it was decide that a meeting was required with HC and Vacman, the contract cleaners, both being present. There is a national scheme for a universal key that will unlock all public disabled toilets, and Anne Short has been given a key. It was noted that the toilets on the links seem to be open all night. The Allan Square toilets are cleaned either before being opened in the morning, or after closing at night. It was emphasised that extra care is needed with the cleaning over the Regatta weekend. It was also noted that the sub-committee may need a co-opted member, as the former Chair was part of this group.
4:5 Public seating at the harbour: RY has discussed the positioning of the new seats with the users, who wish the seats to be situated in the same place as existing ones. Douglas Shepherd has been asked to quote for the installation. AD is to order two benches with extended legs. The cost of approx £1200 is to be met from the General Account of the CC, and then replaced by Common Good Fund and Stalls Income monies.
4:6 Mechanical Road Sweeper: RY still pursuing.
4:7 Open Land in Cromarty: A draft letter from Fred Kelly may be suitable to send to people who are claiming title to pieces of ground with Right of Way access attached to it. A small group is needed to finalise the draft letter and decide to whom it should be sent. RY is to join the group, and they will meet at 11am on Wednesday 3rd August at HMI; Cllr Alston will also attend the meeting.
It has been confirmed by June Forsyth (HC) that the Common Good Fund monies will not meet any ensuing legal fees. It is hoped that surplus funds from the Stall account may be used to meet any costs incurred.
David Alston confirmed that the ground next to Brian Lowe’s house is not feud to the Cromarty Estate.
4:8 Links - school bus shelter: The bus shelter is to be sited backing onto the shed that is in the corner of the Salmon Bothy garden. The foundations have been moved from the first site and the CC sign has also been moved, by Tech Services. JC has a petition from school children re the bus shelter.
4.11 Dog Notices: AS to put up the notices for new volunteers to empty the dog bins.
11:1 Domain Name: It was agreed to ask Plexus Media what figure they have in mind for the purchase of the communitycouncil.org domain name.
11:5 3Year Schools Capital Plan: DA confirmed that any letters in support of Cromarty Primary School’s refurbishment should be sent before 11th August.
11.3: Condition of the beach: DA stated that £300 is available from the CC to pay for clearing the beach. RY to speak to his boss re a quote as he has the necessary heavy equipment to cope with removal of rubbish etc. The Royal Hotel may be invited to contribute to the cost if the bill is more than £300.
12:8 John Duncan Meeting: This has been rescheduled for Wed 31st August at 10am in the HMI
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MB/AS/ ongoing
RY ongoing
RY ongoing
MB,AS,AD,RY ongoing
JC ongoing
AS ongoing
Chairs Ongoing
RY/CC members ongoing |
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5 5.1
5.2
5.3
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Youth issues: Sports Multi-Court:. There is a regular meeting every Thursday in the HMI at 4pm, and a feasibility study is being prepared. DA stated that a new stream of Lottery Funding will become available in the autumn, and it would be good to have an application ready at that time. JC commented that there is still not sufficient funding for a swimming pool for this area.
DA stated that local people had applied for and received funding of £125k over the last 3 years, from three main funders, the Lankelly Foundation, the Robertson Trust, and Lloyds TSB, to be used for salaries and admin costs re Youth provision in Cromarty; over a six year period.
DMP displayed the Community Council funded Trophy (for Old Timers V under 21s football) DMP stated that the end of the Gala Week may have to be changed from the 6th to 13th August due to other conflicting events taking place locally. The West Church Hall will be open and the garden of the Royal Hotel will be made available for the childrens’ picnics (or in the Function Room if wet weather)
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JC ongoing
MB concluded
DMP ongoing |
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6
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Cromarty Open Land: DA stated that, regarding the Cromarty Mains and the Public Enquiry, the existing planning permission is for 8 houses at the mains, and the objection was from Duncan McPherson, who was objecting to that fact. Re the issue of the CC’s position in the Local Plan, DA has looked at all the documents and has summarised the representations and how they were dealt with, and a copy of this summary will be given to C.Councillors. There was no CC representation at the planning meeting since there were no objections by the CC to the Local Plan. Replying to MB’s question, DA confirmed that a form requesting permission to speak at a planning meeting would have been sent out by HC (to the Chair?), and if it is not returned to HC then CC cannot speak. DA also confirmed that the Draft Local Plan is held in the library.
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CC concluded (?)
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7. 7.1
7.2
7.3 |
Treasurer’s Report: Bank balance: (excluding bank interest for July) - £16,776.49 Expenditure since my last report was £136.77
Income since my last report was - £213.47
MB queried whether Cc should be paying tax on interest earned. AD will check this with the bank.
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AD ongoing |
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8 8:1
8:2
8:3
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Highland Councillor’s Report: DA reported that the report on the Gaelic Chapel is to go to HC Area Committee on 1st August. DA circulated accounts for the last 4 years of Common Good Fund income & expenditure. He explained that the Common Good Fund assets are made up of the Victoria Hall, the East Church Hall, and a capital sum. The annual charges on the CGF are the loan repayments on a previous loan, the rent of the play area in Townlands Park, and the net income is £1,000 per annum. The HC Education Dept pays £3.5k annually into the CGF as nominal rent for the Victoria Hall. The first charge on the CGF has to be the maintenance of the CGF assets, i.e. the Victoria Hall, and this is an obligation of the CGF Trustees. The exterior of the Hall is in poor condition and some of the £3.5k must be spent on Hall maintenance – historically this has been on an ad hoc basis. There needs to be a planned rolling programme of external renovation and planned maintenance. The Victoria Hall Committee will liase with HC on this, and the CC will be informed.
All the Highland Councillors are the CGF Trustees, and they have the responsibility for insuring and maintaining the CGF assets. The policy has been that of discretionary spend, which is considered for dispersal, then the CC should be consulted about the spend, and all applications should come back to the CC for comment. |
AD ongoing
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9 9:1
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Planning Matters: MB reported one application for new windows in the kitchen & canteen of Cromarty PrimarySchool
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MB ongoing |
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10 10:1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6 |
Correspondence: A letter from Frieda MacKenzie of HC was read to the meeting: HC plan to survey all burial grounds, and any unsafe memorials, headstones etc. will be subject to a letter to the lair holder, asking for remedial works to be done or the stone may be laid flat for safety.
HC Quality Awards: Letter has been received asking for nominations for any HC employee who has shown outstanding commitment or achievement. It was agreed to nominate the Town Officer, Bobby Mackay.
Wilf Taylor addressed the meeting concerning the loss of the viewpoint at the top of the South Sutor, due to overgrowth of grass, bracken and trees, and asked who held the responsibility of maintaining the area around the viewpoint, Trees to the east of the viewpoint are completely blocking the landmarks. DA stated that it is John Nightingale’s responsibility. MB to draft a letter re the neglect of the viewpoint, also the state of the road from the Chicken Farm to the top car park, which is badly potholed. The rubbish bin is also not being emptied on a regular basis, Sam Lowe has been informed of this fact – JC stated that a basket is missing, which means that the bin cannot function properly.
Black Isle Forum: Next meeting of the "2007- Year of Culture" planning is on 11th August; Mary Bowers will attend and report back. B.I.F has sent copies of training Masterclass brochure that was circulated to members at the meeting.
Local Government Boundaries Commission for Scotland: aletter has been received notifying CC of the fact that the Black Isle will be a four member ward in the 2005 elections. DA explained that Muir of Ord will be linked with Conon Bridge, Dingwall and Beauly.
The NHS have circulated the 1st Information Briefing letter onNew Clinic Proposals for medium security provision for Mental Health Clients; there will be 3 in Scotland, with one, possibly in Aberdeen, serving the Highlands.
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MB Ongoing
MB ongoing |
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11 11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.6
11.7
11.8
11.9 11.10
11.11 |
Any Other Business:
Big Vennel Lamp standard: a large vehicle has damaged this, and Tech services have laid it flat; It needs to be replaced.
DMP reported that the storm drain outside the Surgery is badly damaged; to be reported to Tech services.
Sheltered Housing at Townlands Park: DMP asked whether it would be possible to mark yellow "No Parking" lines across the gate to the sheltered housing, as ambulances regularly have difficulty gaining access, due to poorly parked cars blocking the gate area. DA will look into this.
JC stated that there are rats in the rocks along Shore Street and that Pest Control has put down poison.
RY asked about the condition of the ferry slips – JN and the Cromarty Estate are responsible for maintenance.
AD reported that a letter has been received from John McBain, informing CC that a path 3 to 4 feet wide used to exist between the IceHouse and the car park, and whether it was possible to re-instate it. General opinion was that it had gone too long ago to be able to re-instate it.
AS spoke about the Naval Plinth on the Links. DA stated that a more detailed proposal and grant application should be worked up to Apply to Awards for All funding.
CC Meetings are to revert to Monday, starting with the next meeting.
Keys to Well road, and Links bollard: AD will hold these.
Continuance of Chair’s projects: MB asked who was prepared to take over the several projects that AH had been working on. This led to a discussion about CC’s options for a new Chair: the elections are next April, so there could be a rotating Chair till then, but DA advised against this, in the interests of continuity, since there would not be one contact point person. MB stated that CC needs to elect a Chair, and that nominations will be sought at the start of the next meeting.
RY proposed that a letter should be sent to Alan Hunter, thanking him for all his hard work and loyal commitment during his service as Chair of the CC. This was agreed unanimously.
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MB/AS ongoing
MB/AS ongoing
DA ongoing
AS/CC Ongoing
MB/AS Ongoing
MB/AS ongoing |
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Date of next meeting:
Monday 29th August 2005 at 7.30pm in the Hugh Miller Institute
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