Draft Minutes of Garve & District Community Council meeting held
11th Jan 2011 in Achnasheen Village Hall
PRESENT: Kenny MacLean, Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Jennifer Haslam, Pam Morrison, Ruari Matheson, Jimmy Ruggles-Brise, Jock Logie, Alex Mackenzie, Sue Tarr, Bob Moir, Steve Jones; Cllr Jean Urquhart; Robbie Bain; Val MacIver; 16 members of public.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7.25pm following the public meeting regarding the future of the News & Views and wished everyone a Happy New Year. He had received a request to read out a letter received from Mr MacPhail which had not been read out at the previous meeting. He summarized the sequence of events that had led to this letter, and read out the letter. Steve Jones then read out the letter that he had sent to Mr MacPhail in reply. Jennifer Haslam stated that the CC should support Steve Jones.
The Chairman then raised an email which Steve Jones had received from Dave Mudie, Planning Officer, which the Chairman had received via Robbie Bain enquiring about G&DCC comments on Corriemoillie Windfarm Planning Application. Agreed that the CC reply was that they had no comments on the application a had been agreed at the Special meeting on 19th Oct 2010.
APOLOGIES: Cllr Audrey Sinclair.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: for 20th December2010 meeting (query from Pam Morrison about BMX magazine comment – all agreed it should remain unchanged) proposed by Ruari Matheson and seconded by Bob Moir.
The Chairman then read out an item found in CC files which listed questions about “GM”, his business, family and windfarm interests. Agreed that it shouldn’t remain in files.
MATTERS ARISING:
Grit Bins: Concerns that a particular grit bin in Achnasheen had a lot of salt removed by a single resident, possibly leaving others with not enough. The Chairman will deal with this issue.
Blue Bins: Jock Logie had received query about why the people living on the Achnasheen road did not have blue bins. Secretary to find out when we will get blue bins.
Scottish Water: Reply received about query about Garve mains supply. They confirmed possibility of a mains pipeline from Assynt to Garve – more information will be available by Feb. Willing to come to a CC meeting. Denied that Garve water was below standard.
Winter Roads Maintenance: Reply received from Ian Hay. The gritter drivers have discretion on how to use the snow blades and spreading of salt, according to road conditions. Comments were made that the salt/grit mix being used now was not so effective; shouldn’t the Highland Council be getting a better share of Scottish salt resources?
Level Crossing: Jock Logie raised issue of dangers of Garve Level Crossing – very difficult to see red lights when the sun is low at this time of year. Dave Thompson MSP is leading a campaign on level crossing safety. Secretary to write to the MSP for an update.
Police issues: a speed camera vehicle has been seen up and down the Garve/Achnasheen road this last week.
Slow signs: Cllr. Urquhart has sent an email to Ian Hay Tec services, on going.
CC Members’ liability: Ongoing.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Balances as follows - Main Account £1267.80; News and Views Account £1364.63; Senior Citizen’s Account £615.72; War Memorial Account £82.38.
NEWS AND VIEWS: Following the public meeting held earlier this evening by the new AGNV Management Committee to endorse their constitution, CC agreed to wish AGNV well. The Management Committee had requested a meeting with CC representatives. This would go ahead on Wed 12th Jan 2011 with Jean Hollingdale, Jean Bailey, Sue Tarr and Alex Mackenzie attending on behalf of CC. Jean Bailey proposed that CC hand over ownership of the printer and News and Views account as soon as possible; Jennifer Haslam seconded and all agreed.
Jackie West (editor) stated that Management Committee would continue to work hard and give the community the newsletter that they want. ALL FUTURE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE NEWS & VIEWS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE AGNV MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND NOT THE G&DCC.
CORRESPONDENCE: Christmas card from John Farquhar Munro MSP; SEPA magazine; Association Scottish Community Councils; Highland Small Communities Housing Trust re representative from G&DCC; Sea Energy Consultation on Moray Firth wind energy (not meant for us). E mails: Moira Harris re 12th Jan meeting with G&DCC; Scottish Water reply; Ian Hay Tec services reply; SCF re public meeting; Platform PR re public meeting; Jackie West to Jean Bailey Treasurer.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
TranServ – Bob Moir highlighted that a number of jobs that we requested had not yet been done (trimming of beech trees at Station Road and Killin, clearing of branches at Rogie and now also at Hazelbrae, water lying on the road at Hazelbrae and at the Check Rail brae, and the low verges between Killin and Rogie.) Secretary to write to TranServ for an update.
Donation of paper – The Chairman thanked Jennifer Haslam for her donation as the CC members receive a lot of paperwork from the Secretary.
Resignation – Jimmy Ruggles-Brise is moving out of G&DCC area by the end of January so will no longer be a CC member. He wished the CC luck, saying it had a lot of important things to decide. The Chairman thanked him and wished him well for the future.
Cllr Jean Urquhart left the meeting.
PLANNING MATTERS: No planning applications this month.
The Chairman had received a verbal request from Simon Bedwell for help with planning applications for two houses at Achnaclerach. Some details of the applications have been refused. Agreed that while the CC has sympathy for the situation it is not able to get involved.
LICENSING MATTERS: No Licensing applications this month.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUNDS:
A Public Meeting has been organised for 24th Jan 2011 7pm in Garve Village Hall. Bob Cameron (Highland Council) will chair the meeting and representatives from Eneco (Lochluichart Windfarm), E-on (Corriemoillie Windfarm), Infinergy (Lochluichart Extension), and Scottish Communities Foundation will attend. The public will get the opportunity to ask questions about fund management, with a view to the CC taking a formal decision at the next CC meeting. An agreement about community benefit fund management can then be signed. The Chairman suggested that CC distribute a flier to all households advertising the meeting and asked for volunteers from members to deliver to their areas. All agreed.
Jennifer Haslam suggested we have a break in the middle with tea/coffee allowing people to discuss things; agreed that was a good idea and Penny Moir volunteered to help.
The Chairman asked Robbie Bain some queries about “Pan Highland Fund” where Highland Council gets a large share of any Community Benefit Fund arrangements. The HC is due to decide on this in Feb. Robbie Bain stated this won’t apply to agreements currently in negotiation (Eneco and E-on). The Lochluichart Eneco agreement can’t be signed until a means of management is in place. Signatories would be HC, Lochluichart Estate and Eneco although if SCF are going to manage the fund then they may be more appropriate as a signatory instead of HC. The meeting of 24th Jan will give us the means to move on to next stage. The negotiations with E-on are ongoing; a decision about fund management will be helpful.
Val MacIver confirmed that E-on would be very keen to use SCF as managers – advantages are that they protect the money, they protect the community, and E-on will pay SCF the management fees.
Chairman closed the meeting at 8.55pm
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 1st Feb 2011 6.30pm Garve Village Hall.
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