May 2011
MINUTES OF MEETING ON TUESDAY 3RD MAY 2011
EDDERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Edderton Village Hall
Present: Councillors Robin Ashby, Donald Clarke (Chair), Michael Brown, Albert Fraser, Sharyn Griffin, George Ross, Graham Ross, Ewen Simpson, Campbell Smith, Alister Sutherland, Cameron Warren: Jim McGillivray (Highland Councillor), 4 residents
Apologies: (none)
1. Welcome: the Chairman welcomed everybody.
2. Visitors: none.
3. The minutes of the meeting on 5th April 2011 were approved (proposed by Sharyn Griffin, seconded by Campbell Smith). The Chairman thanked Michael Brown for so ably chairing the meeting.
4. Matters arising from the minutes
a) Infrastructure:
i. Roads: The culvert on the B9176 has been repaired but the weight restrictions and traffic regulation are still in place. No-one knew the reason for this. (The concrete had not set hard enough to take full weights. Sec) The overhanging branches on the same stretch that had been the subject of earlier complaints have been removed. Grit bins on Manse Road and the Bogrow incline are to be requested. John Paul McKay had reported that his staff would be working with tarring etc. until October and would have little time for other work.
ii. Footpath network: Matt Dent is in Nepal until July. The work on the Admiral’s Farm to Rhanich road has been approved. The lack of signage at the Bailecharn car park was discussed and the Secretary exhorted to further its provision. It was agreed that the paths through Balblair needed cutting soon and again in high summer with preferably a third cut at the end of the growing season. The Secretary was instructed to apply for £700 from the Beinn Tharsuinn Community Benefit Fund to cover the first two cuts. The Council agreed unanimously to approve the application.
b) Ball screen: the Chairman, the Secretary and Albert Fraser met with John Paul McKay on 27 April. Highland Council offered to supply the labour for the erection of the fence and a suitable gate if the Council provided the materials; the work though would not be carried out until November at the earliest. It was agreed that Tornado fencing was the best option. The Chairman presented quotes obtained by Albert Fraser for both chain-link and Tornado fencing. Agreement how to proceed based on quotes obtained is to be reached at the June meeting. In the meantime the Secretary is to apply for the required planning permission.
c) Trees behind War Memorial: John Paul Mackay has agreed to hurry the work along.
d) Railing in front of Heather Hut: Jim McGillivray and Donald Clarke met on 12 April with the Highland Council officer responsible for Safer Routes to School. Highland Council agreed to attend to the matter. (HC has since decided to order the work from Pat Munro within a week. Sec)
e) Dounie Hill access: Nothing to report. The Secretary is to remind Forestry Commission Scotland of their promises and enquire when work on the car park will start.
f) Broadband Speed survey: Since only six responses were received a proper analysis could not be provided. The responses however indicated certain tendencies which could be used with a new questionnaire that requird less participation from respondents. Robin Ashby and Cameron Warren agreed to facilitate this.
g) Community website – update: Robin Ashby and Cameron Warren have produced a suitable site map which they intend to discuss with Bryon Gibson in the near future.
h) Notice-board: The Secretary reported that the work was almost complete.
i) Review of Scottish Policing Structure: the Council decided to respond to the consultation expressing their objection to a single force but reluctantly accepting a reduction in the number of forces.
j) Community Council Review: the Secretary reported that under the new scheme the Treasurer was required to make a report to each business meeting, hence item 5c below. The Council was required to adopt a new constitution and standing orders by 30 June. He proposed that he distributed copies of the model constitution and standing orders before the AGM together with a number of suggestions for additions and variations. Councillors are to examine the documents and propose their own changes by 4 June. The Council agreed to the proposal.
k) Pre-application consultation (PAC) – Coire Na Cloiche Windfarm: the Council expressed its support for the project in principle. However it will be looking very closely at what effects the project may have on the ecology of the site and the plans for reinstatement. Concerns were raised about the size of the proposed borrow site and whether the applicant had taken into account the short growing season on site.
Ardgay CC had invited Ardross and Edderton Community Councils to discuss possible community benefits. Donald Clarke and Ewen Simpson declared they were willing to meet representatives of the other CCs. It was agreed to seek information and advice from an HC official with a wide overview of the different Community Benefit agreements in place or under discussion; Jim McGillivray offered to identify a suitable official.
l) Community Benefit application by The Bridge Project: the Council approved the application for the sum of £255.
5. Financial reports
a) The Beinn Tharsuinn Community Benefit Fund: the Secretary distributed the Beinn Tharsuinn Windfarm Community Ltd figures for the latest financial year. He itemised the projects that Edderton had contributed to and noted that the Edderton share now stood at £53,146.74. When repayment of the £9,500 bridging loan for the Dounie footpath is taken into consideration the amount is £62,646.74
b) Edderton Community Council – summary of financial year 2010/11: the Secretary, who is responsible for the accounts of that year, reported that the RBS accounts held £4,315.91 and £1,205.55 respectively making a total of £5,521.46. The Council’s claim for approved LEADER funding of £6,300 should have been paid during the year but was delayed until Forestry Commission Scotland supplied the necessary documentation. The bridging loan from Community Benefit had therefore not been repaid. Taking this situation into account as well as £409.90 of future liabilities, the annual ‘result’ was £1,911.56.
c) Edderton Community Council – current situation: the Treasurer was not able to give a comprehensive report since the Secretary still had the pertinent paperwork. She could though report the balance of the current account which had seen few transactions since 1 April.
6. Highland Council Member’s Report
April 6th : Primary schools cross-country competition.
6th : Burghfield Hotel, uncertain funding for North Highland College
7th : Gaelic Committee
8th : Oversteps, memory evening
11th : Ward business meeting
11th : Golspie community council
12th : site meeting Edderton (item 4d)
13th : GREAN, long-term funding
15th : planning of 2 acre community orchard in Embo
20th : Dornoch community council
21st : confidential discussions about the HC capital budget
22nd : Ardgay art show.
26th : Planning Committee in Tain
26th : Dornoch beach clean-up
28th : Capital Budget discussions on aspirations for next five year, good intentions
May 3rd : Sutherland Partnership, discussion Sutherland plan
3rd : LEADER Sutherland meeting
Prompted by questions from Albert Fraser he commented on recycling and the uncertain retention of classroom assistants, despite them proving popular and valuable; and remarked that Edderton did not have a common good fund.
7. New items
a) Planning Application 11/01244/FUL – continued use Edderton Motors: noted
b) Highland Council – consultation with Northern Constabulary on antisocial behaviour: noted
c) Highland Council – Development Plan scheme: main update was noted. Michael Brown agreed to examine the supplementary guidance Onshore Wind Energy and report in June. Consultation on this document ends 24 June.
8. Correspondence
Health and Safety
1. Fire Brigades Union – response to consultation on Future of Fire & Rescue Service in Scotland
Planning
Environment
2. Scottish Natural Heritage – newsletter
3. Scottish Natural Heritage – invite to reception 18 May
4. Gearrchoille Community Wood, Ardgay – invitations 28 May and 2 June
5. D.W.Mackay – Caithness flagstone signs
Other
ELECTRONIC: Copies of the latest electronic correspondence can be ordered from the Secretary.
Sharyn Griffin agreed to attend the SNH reception on 18 May
9. Any Other Business
(a) Waste-water treatment plant: Michael Brown raised concerns that trees and not shrubs had been planted contrary to the agreement with the Council. Graham Ross said that he had noted odours. The Council is to seek an onsite meeting with Johanna Peebles of Scottish Water. An open day will also be discussed then.
(b) Robbie Rowantree (MSP candidate): Albert Fraser read a newspaper letter concerning the candidate.
(c) Application 11/00064 Could Croft Camping: the Council declined to use the opportunity to comment again on the project following the publication of revised plans. The applicant stated that he believed the application would be considered on 7 June and that he had nothing more he wished to say to the Council at this time.
(d) Aggregate transport past school: Michael Brown reminded the Council that the last time Kilbraur windfarm contractors used the U2002 the developer recompensed the village with £5000. Jim McGillivray is to enquire whether a similar recompense will be paid now that the developer is expanding the windfarm.
(e) Roadside trees: Alister Sutherland initiated a discussion about the duties of landowners and Highland Council respectively regarding road safety being compromised by adjacent trees. No action decided.
10. Next Scheduled Meeting
Business meeting and AGM in Village Hall on 7 June 2011 at 7.30 pm.
5 May 2011
Robin Ashby