TRANSERV REPRESENTATIVE:
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.00pm by welcoming Mr Cathel Macaskill. Mr Macaskill thanked the CC for the invitation to speak. He distributed some leaflets on the Winter Service Plan, more copies from CC secretary on request. The purpose was for TranServ to listen to the community. He started by saying that currently funding was difficult. TranServ have the management and maintenance of the “NW Unit” Trunk Roads. Our local depot is at Beauly, the head office is at Perth. The winter season started on 1st Oct and the gritters are out. He acknowledged there were issues with last winter, particularly with local road closures. The decision to close roads rests with the police, who take advice from TranServ. Other management issues touched upon included outlining how their database of info was kept and regularly updated; safety issues and how injury accident data was taken into account, as well as info from public.
Q: How much influence do TranServ have with police over safety matters? Cathel is the liaison with all constabularies in the area.
Q: Why is there so much patching? , also patches are dangerous in icy conditions - Inspection takes place every 7 days, assessment is made on safety basis. Two patching schemes are identified between Garve and Rogie in this financial year. Complete resurface not possible financially.
Q: Accident black spot at Blackwater – the light up sign has helped but accidents appear to be happening in a different place – Cathel made a note of this.
Q: Beech hedge at Killin and Station Road reduced visibility and made the level crossing (at Killin) dangerous – could it be trimmed? Cathel to get back in touch.
Q: Water on surface at Old Church – noted.
Q: Grit supplies at Longman available for use by Transerv – grit stocks are good, more to come.
Q: Branches on roadside at Rogie need removing – noted
Q: Sinking Utility at Hazelbrae House – noted.
Comment made that during last winter the best maintained area was this side of Inverness.
The Chairman thanked Mr Macaskill for coming and for taking the time to answer the communities concerns.
MINUTES OF AGM 7TH OCTOBER 2010 AT GARVE VILLAGE HALL
AGM Started 7.30 pm.
PRESENT:
Kenny MacLean, Steve Jones, Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Jennifer Haslam, Sue Tarr, Pam Morrison, Bob Moir, Alex MacKenzie, Jock Logie. Also present: Cllr. Dr. Audrey Sinclair, Robbie Bain (ward manager), Matilda Urie (E-ON), Val MacIver of Platform PR (community consultant for E-on) 16 Members of the Public.
APOLOGIES: Ruari Matheson, Jimmy Ruggles-Brise.
Kenny MacLean read the minutes from the previous AGM.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
of AGM held 6th October 2009. Proposed Alex MacKenzie and Seconded by Jean Bailey.
MATTERS ARISING:
There were no matters arising.
CHAIRMANS REPORT:
I believe a chairman’s report shouldn’t just be a review of the last 12 months, it should also look ahead to the coming year and it should thank certain individuals for the part they have played in the Community.
In my case I can’t look back to the last 12 months of the CCs work for obvious reasons but I can look back to the last few months since returning to the CC and to the Chairman’s chair, and think about where we have come as a CC and as a Community. When the last CC fell by the wayside a number of people in the Community asked me to consider returning to the CC. I had been on the CC for several years as many of you know both as an ordinary member and as chair. In the end, after much thought, I did allow my name to go forward in an attempt to help get things going again. There was a good turnout for the CC election (66%), we have had well attended meetings both by the members of the CC, representatives from different companies and by the public. I think our biggest change and biggest improvement we have made as a CC so far is the move to monthly meetings, something I’m sure will help to move the different topics on much quicker in the future. We have also made a move on the negotiation of community benefit from the Corriemoillie windfarm. I also think that the last 10 years or so, with all that has happened to the different CC’s and in the community itself we have all become a little bit wiser. We as a community will no longer put up with trouble makers or those who send anonymous threatening letters of telephone calls to CC members – the CC are elected to represent the community, not certain individuals who shout the loudest. That kind of behaviour will not be tolerated as long as I am in the chair.
In the coming months we will have the over 60’s party, there will be discussions on windfarms and the potential community benefit from them and the management of the money, the future of the N&V, the Garve play area as well as the usual problems that keep the CC so varied and interesting such problems with street lighting, rubbish, road drains, potholes, flooding etc. All looked into in a hope to help make things a little bit better for our community. I have always said that CC can’t resolve everything overnight, but it can help in it’ own small way.
I would like to thank the members of the CC for their help, advice and guidance over the last few months, and I hope I have been of some help in return. I hope those of you who didn’t vote for me as chair have seen why the other members did, and to those who did vote for me, I hope I haven’t let any of you down. There is something about this group I like- there is an extra edge, a real determination, a “British bulldog” approach to get things moving and done.
A thank you is due to Uisdean and his mother for their continued up keep of the war memorial and it’s surroundings. This is something not just commented on to me by people in the community but by other people outside of this area who come looking for the memorial while looking to their own family history.
A thank you to Marion for her help with the handover of the A/C’s. Also to Donald and Sheree for the handover of Secretarial paperwork.
A thank you must go to the volunteers who put together the N&V. The N&V is a great way to help everyone keep in touch with what is going on.
A thank you must also go to Cllr. Urquhart and Mr. Bain for input and advice to the CC. I for one am always grateful to you both for taking the time to visit us and for all the hard work you both do. I hope you’ll both be able to continue to come as often as you have done so far weather permitting of course.
A special thank you should go to Jean Hollingdale who, as secretary, has worked wonders minuting our meetings, sometimes our long meetings, setting the agenda’s, drawing up public notices of meeting, writing letters on behalf of CC, taking in the post for the CC and all the emails and helping to keep the members up to date between meetings. I believe the more informed we are, the more informed our discussions can be. I’M sure all the CC members will agree with this special thank you.
Finally a thank you must go to the public, both those who attend our meetings with their input, thoughts etc; and to those who can’t always make a meeting but always ask to be kept informed of our discussions. I often receive apologies from members of the public who can’t come to our meeting which I think is rather nice considering they don’t have to give any apologies at all. This kind of continued support and the general support of the CC’s work from those you represent helps make this VOLUNTARY job so much easier and worth while. I am very grateful to you all.
VICE CHAIRMANS REPORT:
During the last few months we have started seriously addressing Community Benefit, which has two parts,(1) maximising income from windfarm development and (2) ensuring that as many of the community as possible benefit as greatly as possible.
Currently negotiations on the amount of benefit are ongoing. We have also agreed functions and organisation we need to run Community Benefit for the community. We are now in the process of gathering information to make decisions about what practical form this will take. There are three options (1) Using the Scottish Community Foundation and Development Trust Assessor Scotland, (2) setting up our own Community company and running it completely ourselves,(3) a combination of these two options. We will put together how each of these options will work and bring them back to a future meeting for discussion.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
Well what can I say for such a short space of time. There has been a lot more paperwork that I thought there would be in fact these last months have been quite hectic but I do feel that it is important that all members are kept up to scratch with what is going on ie; Scoping reports especially as decisions need to be made.
I have heard that I must have a forest of paper! Well almost and I am sure there is more to come.
The files and archives are now with the CC. We have managed to arrange visits to our meetings from various bodies for presentations over the coming months.
Lastly I would sincerely like to thank Kenny for his support and knowledge but mostly Sue for her time and patience with all the technicalities of setting up and using the computer. I really do appreciate all the efforts. Also to other members for your input. I believe it is called team work.
TREASURE'S REPORT:
Audited Accounts as prepared by the previous treasure, Marion Taylor, who I would like to thank for the way the accounts and information was handed over to me. For account purposes all four of the CC bank accounts are added together, included in the accounts are a breakdown of the War Memorial and Senior Citizens Accounts, but not the News & Views as this account was only opened in September 2009. The News & Views new printer is included in this account and paid for by donations received.
I would like the CC to consider moving the AGM to earlier in the year, so that the audited accounts would be relevant. Copies of the 2009/10 are available.
SECRETARY’S ALLOWANCE:
A discussion was held and it was agreed that the previous secretary Sheree should receive part of the allowance for all her very much appreciated hard work put in with the previous CC, also the same to Pam as correspondence secretary and the remainder to current secretary as this allowance is paid in arrears. The breakdown was agreed as follows: Sheree, £200; Pam, £100; Jean, £100. It was also discussed to increase the allowance. It was decided to leave it as it is at the moment and discuss it again at the next AGM.
A.O.B.:
Robbie Bain was asked about the HC proposals for CC’s. Robbie suggested that it would be advantageous if the CC moved their AGM to June not only for accounting but would bring the CC into line with HC proposed changes to CC’s and their elections in the future. The Chairman read out 6.1 of the Constitution to see if the month that the AGM takes place could be changed:
6.1 – An annual General Meeting, which shall be open to all persons resident within the area of the Garve and District Community Council and will be held each and every year for the purpose of:-
a) Receiving the annual report of the work of the Community Council and its Officers, receive an audited statement of accounts; and
b) Discussing any other matters of interest to the Community.
A vote was taken with full agreement from the members that the AGM could be moved to the month of June as no particular month is indicated in the constitution as to when the AGM should take place.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 2011 AGM will take place on 7th June at Garve Village Hall.
FOLLOWING THE AGM ORDINARY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Chairman opened this meeting at 8.00pm by paying tribute to Vera MacKenzie who recently passed away.
Kenny read out a letter from Mr MacPhail.
Kenny went on to say that he was invited and attended the Parent Council meeting on 20th September. It was a very interesting meeting as they have various fund raising events in the coming months.
APROVAL OF MINUTES:
of meeting 7th September 2010. Proposed by Jennifer Haslam, Seconded by Alex MacKenzie. Copies duly signed by Chairman and Secretary and passed to Robbie Bain.
MATTERS ARAISING:
BINS FOR LAYBYS: ongoing.
TENANTS AT ACHNASHEEN SCHOOL : ongoing.
GARVE PLAY AREA: a parent put forward the view that it would benefit children if there were more facilities in the play area. Jean Urquhart is dealing with it.
OFFLETS AT GRUDIE: No action so far. Secretary to write to Ian Hay, and to invite Geoff Walker TEC services to visit site with Jennifer Haslam.
STIRLING DRIVE: Ongoing. Hydro will give a week’s notice because they have to switch the power off.
NOTICE BOARD: Uisdean Menzies stated by email that the notice board was on Village Hall ground.
GORSTAN SIGN: Robbie Bain to remind council again.
BENCHES: Secretary to write a letter for an update re the memorial benches.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Main Account - £2077.60; War Memorial Account - £156.80; Senior Citizen’s Account - £941.47; News and Views Account- £1607.03.
Strathgarve Primary - has requested a donation for books. Agreed to give £150. A member of the public also stated she would like to donate books.
WAR MEMORIAL:
Marion Taylor informed the meeting that Uisdean Menzies had organised the wreaths for the Remembrance Service. Secretary to thank Uisdean.
ACHANALT STATION LIGHTS:
Pam Morrison reported that the lights had started coming on during the day again. Secretary to write to Network Rail.
NEWS AND VIEWS:
Moira Harris represented the News and Views sub committee and informed the meeting that they wished to go independent and had drawn up a constitution. The CC was supplied with an extract from the draft constitution. Members felt they would like to see the full constitution before making a decision about transferring the assets (printer and money). A draft copy of the constitution was handed to the CC for distribution amongst members and it was agreed that a decision would be made at the next CC meeting. It was noted that the following office bearers would be appointed: Chair, Harry Grainge; Vice-Chair, Gill Ross; Secretary, Moira Harris; Treasurer, Debbie Peters.
DATA PROTECTION ACT :
Secretary to do some background research.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Email from Uisdean Menzies re blue notice board; Wester Ross Alliance update; Email from Robbie Bain re blue notice board; Shieldaig CC mins; Lochbroom CC mins; Community awards application (returned by Sue Tarr); Highland Council Development Plan consultation; Highland Archaeology festival; Peter Peacock MSP re broadband update; SSE Proposal of Application; SNH report on SSSI Achanalt Marshes; SSE report on consultation; email from Donald Northwood re minutes; Letter from Lady Eliza Leslie Melville re speed of traffic at Lochluichart – (enquired about using mirrors for residents driveways. Cllr Sinclair stated that mirrors are not supplied on safety grounds. All members agreed that that stretch of road was dangerous and the concerns of residents were noted); email from Paths for All re funding; O40 notice of event in Dingwall on 26th Oct; Report from Bolts re Strathbran Forest Plan scoping report; Letter from Mr MacPhail re CC.
OVER 60’s PARTY:
Sub group to set a date for meeting to organise the party. (Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Jennifer Haslam, Sue Tarr and anyone else is welcome – the more the merrier).
AOB:
Pam Morrison – information required about deer stalking for people wishing to walk on local estates. George Seligman was present and informed meeting he was chair of Wester Ross Deer Management Group and they would take it on board for next year.
Bob Moir – Problem on Matheson Road with vehicles with no tax discs; also trailers on verges – Housing Dept are aware of parking problems, leave with Robbie Bain.
Kenny MacLean – Drains in Achnasheen need clearing out – gully sucker required – Robbie Bain to deal with.
Cllr Sinclair agreed she would remain for planning issues but would take no part in any discussion.
PLANNING AND LICENSING: NONE.
E-ON CORRIEMOILLE WINDFARM APPLICATION:
Matilda Urie brought the CC a copy of the new application. She explained that she had withdrawn the first planning application and had submitted the new application which has a new access route, and construction compound had been moved accordingly which minimises the environmental impact. The Planning Dept deadline for comments would be 28 days from date of validation (which would be about five days time from present date). Val MacIver made it clear that all comments submitted to the Planning dept re the first application would also be withdrawn unless the people who lodged the comments write to the Planning dept asking their comments be rolled over to the new application. Cllr Sinclair advised that Secretary write to Planning dept to let them know CC needs extra time to respond. (Note it has subsequently been agreed that the closing date for comments will be 22 Nov 2010).
Steve Jones led a discussion on a community survey on windfarms. A lively discussion followed with many points of view from members of CC and members of the public.
Steve made a proposal that CC hold a survey: For 4; Against 5; 1 abstention.
A member of the public requested that the CC hold a survey, and Steve Jones requested a show of hands from the audience. 8 were for, 4 were against and 2 abstained. The Chairman concluded that the CC should follow the wishes of the public and hold a survey.
AOB (2) George Seligman offered the two village halls Christmas Trees as he had done last year. He was advised to contact Uisdean Menzies.
AGENDA ITEM 9 COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND was held over till next meeting.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
2 Nov 2010 at 7.30pm, Achnasheen Village hall
7 Dec 2010 at 7.00pm, Garve Village Hall
11 Jan 2011 at 7.00pm, Achnasheen Village Hall – venue TBC
1 Feb 2011 at 7.00pm, Garve Village Hall – venue TBC
1 Mar 2011 at 7.00pm, Achnasheen Village Hall – venue TBC
MEETING CLOSED at 11.00pm.
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