CROMARTY AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Meeting held on Monday 26h September 2005 at the Hugh Miller Institute
Present:
Community Councillors:
Anne Short, (Chair), Margaret Binnie, Jane Clunas, Douglas Cooper, Alex Davidson, Douglas McPhee, Wilf Taylor, Ronald Young
Highland Councillor: David Alston
In attendance: PC Williams
CC Secretary: Caroline Vawdrey
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Item |
Details |
Action |
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Chairwoman's welcome: Anne welcomed CC members to the meeting. |
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1 |
Apologies: Susan Florence, Rachel Robertson |
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2
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Approval of previous minutes: The minutes were approved. Proposed: Anne Short Seconded: Douglas Cooper |
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3 3:1
3:2
3:3
3:4
3:5
3:6
3:7
3:8 |
Matters arising: 4.2 School bus shelter: John Nightingale emailed the CC expressing concerns that the base for the links bus shelter has been put in without reference to the management agreement with the estate. JN would like plans of the bus shelter – DA to arrange this with John Hearmon
4:3 CC domain name: Plexus Media has said that unfortunately there are too many additional costs associated with transferring the domain name – and so they will not be purchasing it.
4:8 Thanks to Alan: This has been done
4:1 Benches: Douglas Shepherd is installing benches
6:3 Youth Rep.s: DA still needs to speak to Anne Rose
7 Black Isle Gathering: AS will fill in the form.
9:2 Clean up of beach in front of Royal Hotel: This will be happening soon, and within the £300.00 budget.
Bank of Scotland: AD doesn’t know why the Bank of Scotland is deducting tax. MB will check with the bank |
DA to contact John Hearmon
RY ongoing
DA ongoing
AS ongoing
RY ongoing
MB ongoing |
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4 |
Report from PC Williams: PC Williams reported that calls to the police have reduced since he took up post in Cromarty, but emphasised that people reporting crime also need to be prepared to give a statement to the police if they are to be able to respond to the incident.
PC Williams offered to present figures on crime incidents to future meetings.
CC members agreed to put the police report early on the CC agenda |
AS/CV ongoing |
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5 5:1
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Youth issues: Friday Club: DMcP reported that, following problems with the initial suppliers of the football team strips, these would now be provided by Macdonalds
Extra disclosures: It is taking time to persuade people to put their names forward for these. But it is hoped that the process will be complete by the end of October. |
DMcP ongoing |
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6 6:1
6:2
6:3
6:4
6:5
6:6 |
Cromarty Environment Meeting: Bus Shelter: Covered under matters arising
Road flooding: RY will send photos of the flooding at Shore Street and Hospital Road to Ian Hay
Rose Lane surface: Scalpings can be used improve this
Allan Square: work here has been held back due to funding going elsewhere.
Shoremills disused mussel farm: Ian Hay will take a look at this in order to see if that can be cleaned up
High Street Flowerbeds: CC members forgot to raise this issue, and so these need to be discussed at the next meeting |
RY to contact Ian Hay |
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7 7:1
7:2
7:3
7:4 |
Housing Public Meeting: CC members discussed the meeting, which they felt had been successful. Concern was expressed by WT that he felt that the design ideas shown at the meeting showed too high a number of houses – and that 30-40 is too many for Cromarty. MB noted that the CC submitted a response to the local plan that commented that 10-15 houses was enough. AS noted that, following on from the meeting, the community now has time to respond, and that the CC should also wait for the Reporter’s conclusions.
Congratulations were given to RY on his successful appointment to the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (and his position as Lead Fire Officer for Cromarty.
MB asked whether the CC should consider registering community interest in the Townlands Barn site. It was noted that HSCHT had not been in favour of this. It was suggested that this might be because a negative response to this might lead to the land not being offered for sale. RY to ask at HSCHT board meeting
RY received information regarding house allocations from THC that was at odds with that provided by Tracey Urry. DA will confirm procedure |
CC ongoing
RY ongoing
RY to ask HSCHT
DA ongoing |
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8 |
Cromarty Arts Trust Grant: AS noted that it is time to apply for this grant (£2K) CC members agreed to apply for funding for the purchase and installation of 2 seats at the harbour (probable cost approx £1500) and ask for the remaining grant to go towards the footpath work at the South Sutor – car park viewpoint, and path to McFarquhar’s Cave viewpoint. (WT is also able to get approx £500 from the Highland Access Project and up to 40% contribution from RACE towards this work)
AD will write to John Nightingale to apply for this funding. |
AD ongoing |
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9 |
Cromarty Harbour Trust: DA reported that the Harbour Trust currently has a Harbour Revision Order being processed by the Scottish Executive Ports Division. This will lead the Trust having a new constitution which will mean that the CC will be able to nominate 2 appointments, and a further 3 will be appointed by a panel that will consist of a representative from each of Cromarty CC, The Highland Council, Cromarty Harbour Trust.
DA asked the CC if they would be willing to advertise for the 2 new trustees that would be nominated by them. CC members agreed to do this. |
(AD has generously done a poster, and will receive applications) |
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10 |
Calor Gas Awards: The Calor Gas Award judges will be visiting Cromarty on October 4th at 13.00. The sub-committee plans to have a variety of activities on display at the Victoria Hall – including – over 60s working on banners with John McNaught an a Homefront scrap book with May Hunter, and videos and photos of Homefront recall celebrations, the footpath work and Coalisheugh Well. They also hope to direct the judges along Bank St to visit some of the businesses and the harbour. |
AS, MB,JC, RR ongoing |
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11 |
Treasurer’s Report: Bank balance: (excluding bank interest for July) - £16,028.84 Expenditure since my last report included:
Income since my last report was:
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AD ongoing |
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12 |
Highland Councillor’s Report: All covered under agenda items |
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13 |
Planning Matters: There were no planning applications that required a community council decision MB noted that the THC planning department had expressed disappointment at the designs for the Denny
Cllr Alston did not take part in any of the discussion on planning matters. |
MB ongoing |
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14 14:1
14:2
14:3
14:4
14:5
14:5
14:6
14:7
14:8 |
Correspondence: PTA bonfire – 5th November: The PTA asked the CC to approve an application to the Common Good Fund for funding towards the bonfire and firework display. CC members agreed to £200.00 being given to support the event.
Hugh Miller Museum and Cromarty Courthouse – joint plans for 2007: The CC was asked to support the proposal to seek funding for a number of events exhibitions and activities for 2006 and 2007. The bid will be made to Highland 2007, for funding associated with the year of Highland culture. CC members agreed to this.
THC Renewing Democracy and Community Planning Committee – CCs’ meeting, 2nd November at 14.00: AS and MB will attend, RY will attend if either of them are unavailable
Best Value Revue Questionnaire: Part of the form was missing, but the CC executive group will look at it.
Queen’s Award form: CC members agreed to nominate the Fourways Club.
Black Isle Swimming Pool Foundation: A letter has been received from the foundation requesting CC support for asking that money from the sale of Raddery be put towards funding a swimming pool. CC members agreed to this
Training for CCs: THC Area Manager, Bob Cameron, has written suggesting that the CC annual meeting be replaced by training courses for CCs. CC members agreed that training in planning matters would be valuable.
THC Civic and Community Awards: CC members were asked for suggestions – to go to the CC executive group. One suggestion was nominating HiMBA for their work encouraging mountain bikers and biking – including building the new courses at Learnie and sponsorship of riders.
SNH Grant Programme: The CC had received details of these. |
AD to pass forms to the PTA
CVto write in support of the bid
AS, MB, RY ongoing
AS,MB, RY, AD ongoing
MB to complete form
CV to write to BI Swimming Pool Foundation
CV to write to Bob Cameron
All CC members ongoing
AS to pass info to RR |
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15 15:1
15:2 15:3
15:4
15:5
15:6
15:7
15:8
15.9 15.10
15.11
15.12 15.13
15.14 |
Any Other Business: Bottle Banks: MB noted that the bottle banks do not seem to be being emptied regularly enough.
Kirkibrae: Contracts are ready to sign with FC
Industrial Unit: This has advertised publicly - although the CC had asked to be considered prior to this taking place.
Cromarty Mains Septic tank drains: These are being emptied each week, but still seem to be overflowing.
MCFarquhar’s Cave path: JC noted that kissing gates are causing access problems for the less able, or those with buggies or wheelchairs.
Path to Scottish Water treatment site: Comments as to kissing gates as above. CC members agreed to ask Scottish Water if it would be possible to leave the gate open.
Fencing around Sewerage Hatches at west end of links: It was though that this might be protecting re-seeding.
New Fire Vehicle: This may be kept temporarily in Billy Fraser’s workshop – but a long term solution is required. DA noted that the Cromarty Unit is at the fore front of taking on new working practices – and that the unit’s positive approach was yielding good results.
Clumsy: Will have a headstone at the Royal Hotel. Constitution and Standing Orders: The Standing Orders need updating in order to bring them in to line with the constitution. This particularly refers to the CC quorum – which should read – a quorum of 4 CC members of which 1 is a member of the executive.
Disabled Access around Cromarty: CC members agreed that there are problems with this.
Graveyard: Some ivy needs cutting back
Lighting: It was noted that the lights at the bottom of Little Vennel and by Russel House are lighting the wrong areas.
CC information files: RY to circulate |
MB to contact service point RR ongoing
DA to investigate
AS to contact SEPA
AS to contact Scottish Water
RY ongoing
WT ongoing
Executive group Ongoing
DMcP to undertake surveys
AS to raise with Ian Hay
RY ongoing |
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Date of next meeting: Monday 31st October 2005 at 20.00in the Hugh Miller Institute
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