November 2011
DRAFT MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING ON TUESDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 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, Cameron Warren: Jim McGillivray (Highland Councillor), Phil Tomalin (Ward Manager), 7 residents
Apologies: Alister Sutherland
1. Welcome: the Chairman welcomed everybody to the last meeting of the present Council.
2. Visitors:
Phil Tomalin addressed the meeting on the need for the Council to operate its finances only under double signatures until such time as the high street banks provide a service of online banking under double signatures for organisations like community councils. In the meantime Highland Council is not prepared to approve a community council constitution that allows any operation under a signal signature despite the fact that Highland Council itself does not accept payment by cheque. Several attendees questioned the actual protection afforded by double signature.
3. Adoption of new constitution: The motion (proposed by Robin Ashby, seconded by Albert Fraser) to adopt a new constitution using the wording of the constitution adopted on 6 September 2011 but excluding paragraph 14.1.5 and with the consequent renumbering of the following paragraphs was carried unanimously. It was also agreed to send Highland Council a covering note expressing the Council’s disapprobation at the way the new community council scheme had been implemented with a view to it being considered seriously during the review promised by CEO Dodds for November 2012.
4. The minutes of the meeting on 4th October 2011 were approved (proposed by Sharyn Griffin, seconded by Graham Ross).
5. Matters arising from the minutes
a) Infrastructure:
i. Roads: a number of concerns were raised: insufficient maintenance of a passing-place on the Ardmore road which has caused a hole in Bryon Gibson’s drive; a displaced kerbstone on the Rheguile road; danger to motor-cyclists on the northern cattle-grid on the B9176 since the non-slip surface has been rubbed away (Work has subsequently started on removing the northern grid and repairing the southern); the potential damage to phone connections through flooding at the bottom of the Bogrow road; the absence of white lines through the Seafield curves despite the painting operators having been in the village; speeding along Station Rd – the Secretary to request speed checks from the police; the small refuse lorry on Tuesdays should be driven more slowly round Carrieblair to protect children in the street – the Secretary to report to Highland Council.
ii. Footpath network: Michael Brown had met with Matt Dent who plans to install culverts on the boggy section of Balblair. Michael Brown was encouraged to supply a quotation for the work.
b) Ball screen / Kick Pitch: the Secretary reported on the proposals from Caledonian Forestry and its architect for a kick pitch and distributed a building plan and a breakdown of costs. The estimated cost was £3,140 of which Caledonian Forestry would contribute £1000. The cost to the Council would therefore be £2,400 (including cost of planning application). The Council would also be obliged to pay a peppercorn rent and be responsible for future maintenance. Support for a kick pitch had been expressed by several residents not present and the feeling of the meeting was that the creation of the kick pitch would be a welcome addition to community assets. If ball play became concentrated to the kick pitch as intended the need for a ball screen along one side of the play area was significantly reduced. The estimated cost of the planned ball screen was in excess of £3,500.
Under these circumstances it was agreed not to proceed with the erection of the ball screen (proposed by Graham Ross, seconded by Ewen Simpson). The Secretary is to continue discussions with the developers. He is to ask for a change in the position of the fencing to avoid the risk of stock getting in narrow pockets and then panicking. The Council is prepared for the planning application to be made in their name which would save £80.
Albert Fraser was thanked for all his hard work getting quotations and gauging support for the ball screen when the idea for the kick pitch had not been raised.
c) Trees behind War Memorial: Nothing to report.
d) Railing in front of Heather Hut: Nothing to report. Jim McGillivray to pursue in liaison with Donald Clarke.
e) Broadband Speed survey: Nothing to report.
f) Community website – update: Bryon Gibson reported he had not been able to start on the new site until he received the proposed site map from the Council in May. For personal reasons he had not been able to spend as much time on the site as he had wished and was disappointed that the Council had expressed its displeasure with his progress. Robin Ashby explained that he had believed that other people could not work on the site until Bryon had fully completed the basic site map. This had proved not the case. Both he and Cameron Warren had recently made changes and added material once they had been given access. It was a pity that there had been this misunderstanding, but the website was now online and expanding. The Council thanked Bryon Gibson for his development work.
6. Financial report
Edderton Community Council – current account: The Treasurer supplied an expenditure and income report for the latest month showing there was a balance of £3,861.57. There had been no activity on the account.
7. Highland Council Member’s Report
6 October: Gaelic Committee
7th: Roll out of recycling with rebranding of GREAN.
7th: Roll out of New Futures in connection with Sutherland Partnership
13th : Beachview facility Brora discussions
19th : Seminar on house insulation and heating
19th : Beachview again
20th : Beachview
20th : North Highland Forestry Trust
25th : Planning Committee Tain
27th : Full Highland Council – entering second year of 2 year budget
31st : Ward Business
1st November: Seminar on development of estates – only 3 of Sutherland estates represented.
2nd : Sports Hall planning Dornoch
7th : Beachview discussions
7th : Parents’ councils in Edderton and Golspie
8th : Radon investigation scheme in Helmsdale
13th December: Ward Forum in Edderton cancelled to allow a joint forum with Easter Ross concerning the future of Nigg with the attendance of CEO of Global Energy.
20th December: John Thurso to talk on A Timetable to Prosperity
Albert Fraser asked Jim’s opinion on the decision to reduce the number of planning committees and to change the way they were conducted. Jim said he had opposed the changes. Albert then addressed the issue of the Chief Legal Officer’s sick leave and the confidentiality clauses built into her contract. Jim agreed to raise the issue with Highland Council.
8. New items
(a) Friends of Migdale Hospital – CB application: A decision was deferred until the Secretary had ascertained whether any patients from Edderton actually used Migdale Hospital. In the meantime the applicants should consider other Community Benefit schemes operating on windfarms west and north of Bonar.
(b) Senior citizens’ Christmas meal: The Council agreed to pay up to £15 a head for the event which is expected to take place on 8 December.
(c) Data Protection Workshop – 22 November: It was agreed that the Secretary should attend.
(d) Diamond Jubilee Beacons: the Secretary informed about the planned 2,012 beacons to be lit on 4 June 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Application to be included must be made by 30 April 2012.
(e) School Estates Review: the Chairman and the Secretary had attended a meeting for community council representatives at Tain Royal Academy on 2 November at which the background of the pre-consultation activity was presented. No concrete proposals for any changes to rural schools until the views of a Scottish Government commission that is examining the subject are made known in August 2012.
However the review team wished to know the Council’s reaction to an idea to create a “centre of excellence for the delivery of rural education” in Ardgay incorporating the pupils from Edderton and Gledfield catchment area with the possible inclusion of Bonar Bridge pupils. The idea was roundly rejected and the Secretary was instructed to convey the reasons for the Council’s thinking to the review team.
(f) Tain Air Weapons Range Liaison Committee: the Council is to send its apologies for the meeting on 23 November.
(g) Remembrance Sunday: George Ross is lay the wreath on behalf of the Council.
9. Correspondence
Health and Safety
1. NHS Highland – recruiting for the Board
Planning
Environment
Other
2. Edderton Hall Committee – Thanks for CB grant with relevant paperwork.
Copies of the latest month’s electronic correspondence files can be ordered from the Secretary.
10. Any Other Business
a) Community Garden: All residents are asked to volunteer their services on Sunday 27 November at 11 am to prepare the site for the winter.
b) Community Councils Election: It was generally agreed that Highland Council had produced the reverse of what it had intended and reduced the amount of democracy.
c) Tain Pipe Band CB Application: The band had submitted an application for funding of new uniforms including £2,000 from the Edderton share of the Beinn Tharsuinn Fund. They would send a representative to the next meeting. In the meantime a request for the band or part of it parade at the Edderton lights ceremony on 9 December was being considered. Councillors were invited to a concert in TRACC on the 29th Nov 7pm – 9pm: nibbles and craic included afterwards.
d) Policing: Bryon Gibson related that he had discovered the theft of diesel taking place. He had immediately informed the police and been able to supply descriptions of the thieves and their vehicle, but the police had not yet followed up his report. Robert McHardy was also waiting for the response from the police to a report of the theft of his property. The Secretary promised to raise this issue immediately with a senior police officer.
Graham Ross said that 1,500 litres of diesel had recently been stolen from Highland Council’s depot in Tain. A particular vehicle observed at the depot and by Bryon Gibson may be linked to the crimes. It had been observed in other places locally. Ewen Simpson said he had discussed a rural watch scheme with PC Angie Grant of Dornoch. The meeting would welcome such a scheme and some attendees were willing to take part actively if it was set up.
e) Thanks: Bryon Gibson expressed his thanks to Jim McGillivray for swiftly arranging for the remedial help to support his wife in her ill-health, help that he had for a long time failed to get previously.
f) HC Employees Award: Graham Ross announced that he had been commended for an award which he would receive on 10 November.
g) Balblair Distillery: all the present Community Councillors were invited to a gathering in the visitor centre at 2 pm on 15 November.
11. Next Scheduled Meeting
Covening of the new Council and business meeting in Village Hall on 6 December 2011 at 7.30 pm
12. Dissolution of present Council
a) The minutes of the AGM 2011 were approved (proposed by Michael Brown, seconded by Campbell Smith).
b) Delegation of duties: the Council delegated the current office-bearers to carry out the duties of the Council until such time as Highland Council convened a new Edderton Community Council.
c) Transfer of assets: the Council agreed to the transfer of its assets, liabilities and undertaking to the new Edderton Community Council when it was convened (proposed by Michael Brown, seconded by Sharyn Griffin).
d) Thanks: the Chairman thanked George Ross, Campbell Smith, Alister Sutherland and Cameron Warren who had not been nominated to the new Council for their efforts over the years. In particular he thanked George for the sterling service he had provided over the 35 years or more he had served as a Community Councillor. The other seven Councillors had been nominated to serve on the new Council. He thereby declared the last meeting of the present Edderton Community Council closed.
14 November 2011
Robin Ashby