Cromarty Live - CCC Minutes 05/03/28

CROMARTY AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Meeting held on Monday 28th March 2005 at the Hugh Miller Institute

Present:
Community Councillors: Douglas Cooper, Alex Davidson, Susan Florence, Alan Hunter (Chair), Douglas McPhee, Anne Short
Highland Councillor: David Alston
CC Secretary: Caroline Vawdrey

Item

Details

Action

1

Chairman’s welcome: AH welcomed CC members to the meeting.

2

Apologies: Margaret Binnie, Ronald Young

3

Approval of previous minutes:
Approved with the following notes:
Item 9:3 Transfer of Guidebook funds to Leaflet account - this had been suggested rather than agreed.
Item 5:3 Cromarty Friday Club – is the correct title, rather than football club. 14 members (rather than 4) represented Cromarty at Ross County.

Proposed: Alex Davidson
Seconded: Anne Short

4
4:1

4:2

4:3

4:4

4:5

4:6

4:7

4:8

4:9

Matters arising:
4:1 Painting/Repairing the Victoria Hall Bus Shelter: Jim Yuill has assigned someone to assess the problems with the shelter, and will also look into the possibility of lighting.

The bus shelter has once again been covered in graffiti, over the w/e of March 26^th and 27^th. The offenders have been identified and witnesses are encouraged to report this to the Police.

4:2 Cromarty Outdoor Bowling Club Improvements: Two meetings have now been held. On Saturday April 2^nda work party of volunteers will begin a big tidy up - digging, weeding, cutting, strimming, painting and cleaning. The club members will hold an Open Day at the Green in late June or early July. This will allow those interested to have a go at bowling, under expert tuition, and is part of a drive to increase club membership. Potential funders have been identified to help with the green refurbishment and purchase of a new machinery shed and equipment. It is hoped to have a new Greenkeeper starting shortly.

4:3 Horticultural Society Trophies: Now returned to the C&DCC. AD will offer them and associated documents to Cromarty Courthouse for safekeeping and display.
4:7 The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT):
Issi McGrath (HSCHT) had a positive meeting with the owner of the land behind Townlands Barn to discuss possible land purchase.

Issi will now arrange for a site valuation, and see if there are grounds for further discussion.

4:13 The Queen Mary 2 visit to the Cromarty Firth on 19^th June - AS suggested that the CC establish a sub-committee to organise events for this day.

CCmembers agreed to this proposal. The sub-committee will be AS, MB and AD

10:3 Cromarty Auxiliary Fire Unit – A letter from the H&I Fire Board states that, following their recent board meeting, they will be looking into the costs of allowing auxiliary units to attend chimney fires, and also preparing the ground for a retained unit, in the event of structural fires. However the Chief Inspector for Health and Safety was very clear that auxiliary units could not undertake these operations without breathing apparatus. The cost of providing this along with the appropriate training may prove prohibitive.

The CC agreed to await the outcome of this new review before making a further response.

12:1 The HC Youth Summer Activities Programme – Robbie Russell (Youth Development Officer, HC) will now contact Wanda Mackay to set up a meeting in Cromarty.

13:2 Calor Gas Awards – The Sub-committee has not yet been able to meet.

13:4/5 Community Safety – no follow up report was available on the Public Meeting.
The CC has expressed its’ concern to the Northern Constabulary about the return of firearms.

ongoing

AD, DC, AH
ongoing
AD
ongoing

HSCHT
ongoing

AS, MB, AD
ongoing

CC
ongoing

AH
completed

AS, MB, RR, JC
ongoing

CC
ongoing

5
5:1

Youth issues:
Friday Club: Cromarty took part in 8 events in the Youth Highland Northern Sports Finals, and came runner-up in 5 events, and 3^rd in 2 events.

The Friday Club continues to take part in the Sports Academy football sessions.

The next event that the Friday Club will take part in is the Fairburn Challenge in April.

DMcP
ongoing

6
6:1

6:1contd.

6:2

Treasurer’s Report:
AD submitted his report (full details available from AD):-

Current Bank Balance: £5,735.00
Expenditure since the last report: £609.38
Income since the last report: £ Nil

Significant expenses were:
Sports equipment, Cromarty Primary School £142.05
Victoria Hall improvements £200.00
Installing new benches at Sutor Car Park £190.00
Leaflet Account – At the February CC meeting it was suggested that the income from the Cromarty Booklet (which currently stands at £4,140.50) should be used to balance the Leaflet Accounts 2001 printing. Councillors would consider this and decide at the March meeting.

After discussion CC members agreed to adopt this proposal.

AD
ongoing

7
7:1

7:2

7:3

7:3

7:4

Highland Councillor’s Report:
Black Isle Forum - Transport Working Group: DA reported that the forum has been working very successfully with the HC, and also gave thanks to D McP for his work and information. The HC has amended bus timetables to have a service from Inverness to Cromarty every 40 minutes. There will also be late evening returns direct from Raigmore and the Inverness Retail Park – to allow for patient visits and cinema visits. A couple of services from Fortrose will also be extended to the Aquadome (Monday to Saturday).

New tilting buses will also be used on the Black Isle (though D McP noted that these need higher pavements to allow for a level transfer).

DA also noted that the Cromarty Surgery will no longer run the hospital patient car transport service – and expressed the hope that the Black Isle Forum may be able to develop a community transport service for the Black Isle.

Gaelic Chapel: No update

Alcohol Consumption Byelaws: Exemptions can be made on Hogmanay and for Special Licences. Fortrose has been able to exclude the shore and Chanonry Point from its area – but exclusion of small areas within Cromarty would be likely to prove difficult.

Housing Discretionary Budget – Thanks to CC for putting forward recommendations for work in Townlands Park, Marine Terrace etc. These will now be costed and judgement made by the HC about priorities for action.

Craigie Urquhart Trust – This is money put into Trust when a shop left to Cromarty was sold. Recently the Trust has given money to the Primary School, and tends otherwise to direct its support towards the disadvantaged. DA is a trustee.

8

Planning Matters
None

9
9:1

9:2

9:3

9:4

Correspondence
Public Toilets: John Hearmon, HC, has written to the CC to say that the portaloos will be on site on May 1^st. John Mackenzie, HC, will be in touch regarding the proposed upgrade of the Allan Square toilets.

Designation of the Moray Firth as a Special Area of Conservation: Notification of this has been received from Scottish Natural Heritage. Designation has been given for the Firth’s sandbanks and dolphin population.

Scottish Co-Op: Is looking for members of its grants committees.

HC Agendas – these will no longer be sent out in paper form to CC's, but an email alert can be obtained by request from the HC website.

10
10:1

10:2

10:3

10:4

10:5

10:6

10:7

10:8

10:9

10:10

10:11

10:12

10:13

Any Other Business:
Potholes: The large pothole at the Burnside Place/Church Street corner has, at long last, been repaired. Many other potholes in Church St and Allan Square have also been infilled.

Housing Allocations:
CC members expressed concern that Cromarty was receiving more that its share of difficult tenants.

DA reminded CC members that the HC has to operate by strict housing allocation criteria laid down in the Housing Scotland Act. However if the CC wants to represent community opinion to the HC the contact person would be Tracey Urry (Area Housing Manager).

CC members agreed that they wished to write to the HC expressing their concerns.

Cromarty Local Plan – CC members met with Alan Ogilvie and Jim Yuill to discuss the entrance options to the proposed Townlands Barn site. No serious concerns were expressed in relation to changing the entrance from the High Street to Denny Road. It was also suggested that it might be possible to allocate more land to the
Sandilands House renovation.

Cromarty Market Stalls: Dingwall Farmers’ Market has asked for a keener quote on hire charges, if they book the stalls for another year – i.e. for 9 months. AH suggested to the CC that an offer could be made that if the stalls were booked for 9 months the last hire would be free.

After discussion CC members agreed to this proposal.
Sutor View Point Panels: These are now back in place, with just some final work to be completed on them.

Black Isle Forum: The next "Highland Year of Culture 2007" working group meeting will be on April 26^th at 7.30pm in the Black Isle Leisure Centre Committee Room.

The next full meeting of the Forum will be on Community Safety on April 27^th at 7.30pm in the Fortrose Academy Theatre.

Hugh Miller Institute: There are too many tables in the building, councillors' will consider how best to re-deploy them, as they are regarded as part of Cromarty’s History.

Daffodils at Gaelic Chapel: Some of these had been severed, chopped and scattered – it was thought possibly by the grass-cutters.

Cromarty Leaflet, letters to Cromarty Businesses – this was approved by CC members and will be sent out by AD.

Leaflet Distribution –In view of the CC pilot scheme, which will deliver some 26,000 leaflets throughout northern Scotland, any further distribution of Leaflets and/or Guidebooks will be done on a strictly voluntary basis.

Photocopying – now available from the Cromarty Centre at 5p per sheet – the CC will use this service in future when appropriate.

Harbour Pontoon Management – AD noted for general information that this is being run by the Cromarty Harbour Trust.

Scottish Parliament Outreach Event – will be held in Inverness Town Hall on 15^th April. Interested CC members should contact AS.

AS to draft letter

CC
ongoing

AH
ongoing

AS, AH to attend

AH will discuss with TEC Services

AD
ongoing

CC
ongoing

11

Date of next meeting: Monday 25^th April 2005 in Hugh Miller Institute.

NB: The CC AGM will be held at 7pm followed by the regular monthly meeting.

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Item	Details	Action
1	Chairman’s welcome: AH welcomed CC members to the meeting.
2	Apologies: Margaret Binnie, Ronald Young
3	Approval of previous minutes: Approved with the following notes: Item 9:3 Transfer of Guidebook funds to Leaflet account - this had been suggested rather than agreed. Item 5:3 Cromarty Friday Club – is the correct title, rather than football club. 14 members (rather than 4) represented Cromarty at Ross County. Proposed: Alex Davidson Seconded: Anne Short
4 4:1 4:2 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:6 4:7 4:8 4:9	Matters arising: 4:1 Painting/Repairing the Victoria Hall Bus Shelter: Jim Yuill has assigned someone to assess the problems with the shelter, and will also look into the possibility of lighting. The bus shelter has once again been covered in graffiti, over the w/e of March 26^th and 27^th. The offenders have been identified and witnesses are encouraged to report this to the Police. 4:2 Cromarty Outdoor Bowling Club Improvements: Two meetings have now been held. On Saturday April 2^nda work party of volunteers will begin a big tidy up - digging, weeding, cutting, strimming, painting and cleaning. The club members will hold an Open Day at the Green in late June or early July. This will allow those interested to have a go at bowling, under expert tuition, and is part of a drive to increase club membership. Potential funders have been identified to help with the green refurbishment and purchase of a new machinery shed and equipment. It is hoped to have a new Greenkeeper starting shortly. 4:3 Horticultural Society Trophies: Now returned to the C&DCC. AD will offer them and associated documents to Cromarty Courthouse for safekeeping and display. 4:7 The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT): Issi McGrath (HSCHT) had a positive meeting with the owner of the land behind Townlands Barn to discuss possible land purchase. Issi will now arrange for a site valuation, and see if there are grounds for further discussion. 4:13 The Queen Mary 2 visit to the Cromarty Firth on 19^th June - AS suggested that the CC establish a sub-committee to organise events for this day. CCmembers agreed to this proposal. The sub-committee will be AS, MB and AD 10:3 Cromarty Auxiliary Fire Unit – A letter from the H&I Fire Board states that, following their recent board meeting, they will be looking into the costs of allowing auxiliary units to attend chimney fires, and also preparing the ground for a retained unit, in the event of structural fires. However the Chief Inspector for Health and Safety was very clear that auxiliary units could not undertake these operations without breathing apparatus. The cost of providing this along with the appropriate training may prove prohibitive. The CC agreed to await the outcome of this new review before making a further response. 12:1 The HC Youth Summer Activities Programme – Robbie Russell (Youth Development Officer, HC) will now contact Wanda Mackay to set up a meeting in Cromarty. 13:2 Calor Gas Awards – The Sub-committee has not yet been able to meet. 13:4/5 Community Safety – no follow up report was available on the Public Meeting. The CC has expressed its’ concern to the Northern Constabulary about the return of firearms.	ongoing AD, DC, AH ongoing AD ongoing HSCHT ongoing AS, MB, AD ongoing CC ongoing AH completed AS, MB, RR, JC ongoing CC ongoing
5 5:1	Youth issues: Friday Club: Cromarty took part in 8 events in the Youth Highland Northern Sports Finals, and came runner-up in 5 events, and 3^rd in 2 events. The Friday Club continues to take part in the Sports Academy football sessions. The next event that the Friday Club will take part in is the Fairburn Challenge in April.	DMcP ongoing
6 6:1 6:1contd. 6:2	Treasurer’s Report: AD submitted his report (full details available from AD):- Current Bank Balance: £5,735.00 Expenditure since the last report: £609.38 Income since the last report: £ Nil Significant expenses were: Sports equipment, Cromarty Primary School £142.05 Victoria Hall improvements £200.00 Installing new benches at Sutor Car Park £190.00 Leaflet Account – At the February CC meeting it was suggested that the income from the Cromarty Booklet (which currently stands at £4,140.50) should be used to balance the Leaflet Accounts 2001 printing. Councillors would consider this and decide at the March meeting. After discussion CC members agreed to adopt this proposal.	AD ongoing
7 7:1 7:2 7:3 7:3 7:4	Highland Councillor’s Report: Black Isle Forum - Transport Working Group: DA reported that the forum has been working very successfully with the HC, and also gave thanks to D McP for his work and information. The HC has amended bus timetables to have a service from Inverness to Cromarty every 40 minutes. There will also be late evening returns direct from Raigmore and the Inverness Retail Park – to allow for patient visits and cinema visits. A couple of services from Fortrose will also be extended to the Aquadome (Monday to Saturday). New tilting buses will also be used on the Black Isle (though D McP noted that these need higher pavements to allow for a level transfer). DA also noted that the Cromarty Surgery will no longer run the hospital patient car transport service – and expressed the hope that the Black Isle Forum may be able to develop a community transport service for the Black Isle. Gaelic Chapel: No update Alcohol Consumption Byelaws: Exemptions can be made on Hogmanay and for Special Licences. Fortrose has been able to exclude the shore and Chanonry Point from its area – but exclusion of small areas within Cromarty would be likely to prove difficult. Housing Discretionary Budget – Thanks to CC for putting forward recommendations for work in Townlands Park, Marine Terrace etc. These will now be costed and judgement made by the HC about priorities for action. Craigie Urquhart Trust – This is money put into Trust when a shop left to Cromarty was sold. Recently the Trust has given money to the Primary School, and tends otherwise to direct its support towards the disadvantaged. DA is a trustee.
8	Planning Matters None
9 9:1 9:2 9:3 9:4	Correspondence Public Toilets: John Hearmon, HC, has written to the CC to say that the portaloos will be on site on May 1^st. John Mackenzie, HC, will be in touch regarding the proposed upgrade of the Allan Square toilets. Designation of the Moray Firth as a Special Area of Conservation: Notification of this has been received from Scottish Natural Heritage. Designation has been given for the Firth’s sandbanks and dolphin population. Scottish Co-Op: Is looking for members of its grants committees. HC Agendas – these will no longer be sent out in paper form to CC's, but an email alert can be obtained by request from the HC website.
10 10:1 10:2 10:3 10:4 10:5 10:6 10:7 10:8 10:9 10:10 10:11 10:12 10:13	Any Other Business: Potholes: The large pothole at the Burnside Place/Church Street corner has, at long last, been repaired. Many other potholes in Church St and Allan Square have also been infilled. Housing Allocations: CC members expressed concern that Cromarty was receiving more that its share of difficult tenants. DA reminded CC members that the HC has to operate by strict housing allocation criteria laid down in the Housing Scotland Act. However if the CC wants to represent community opinion to the HC the contact person would be Tracey Urry (Area Housing Manager). CC members agreed that they wished to write to the HC expressing their concerns. Cromarty Local Plan – CC members met with Alan Ogilvie and Jim Yuill to discuss the entrance options to the proposed Townlands Barn site. No serious concerns were expressed in relation to changing the entrance from the High Street to Denny Road. It was also suggested that it might be possible to allocate more land to the Sandilands House renovation. Cromarty Market Stalls: Dingwall Farmers’ Market has asked for a keener quote on hire charges, if they book the stalls for another year – i.e. for 9 months. AH suggested to the CC that an offer could be made that if the stalls were booked for 9 months the last hire would be free. After discussion CC members agreed to this proposal. Sutor View Point Panels: These are now back in place, with just some final work to be completed on them. Black Isle Forum: The next "Highland Year of Culture 2007" working group meeting will be on April 26^th at 7.30pm in the Black Isle Leisure Centre Committee Room. The next full meeting of the Forum will be on Community Safety on April 27^th at 7.30pm in the Fortrose Academy Theatre. Hugh Miller Institute: There are too many tables in the building, councillors' will consider how best to re-deploy them, as they are regarded as part of Cromarty’s History. Daffodils at Gaelic Chapel: Some of these had been severed, chopped and scattered – it was thought possibly by the grass-cutters. Cromarty Leaflet, letters to Cromarty Businesses – this was approved by CC members and will be sent out by AD. Leaflet Distribution –In view of the CC pilot scheme, which will deliver some 26,000 leaflets throughout northern Scotland, any further distribution of Leaflets and/or Guidebooks will be done on a strictly voluntary basis. Photocopying – now available from the Cromarty Centre at 5p per sheet – the CC will use this service in future when appropriate. Harbour Pontoon Management – AD noted for general information that this is being run by the Cromarty Harbour Trust. Scottish Parliament Outreach Event – will be held in Inverness Town Hall on 15^th April. Interested CC members should contact AS.	AS to draft letter CC ongoing AH ongoing AS, AH to attend AH will discuss with TEC Services AD ongoing CC ongoing
11	Date of next meeting: Monday 25^th April 2005 in Hugh Miller Institute. NB: The CC AGM will be held at 7pm followed by the regular monthly meeting.