DRAFT
FINDHORN & KINLOSS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes
of the meeting of the Community Council held in Kinloss Primary
School on Thursday 24th
September 2009
Present:
R Walker (Chairman), S.Macgregor, J. Willoner, H Morton, L. Morgan, A. Skene, T. Negus (Sec).
In Attendance:
PC Skivington (Grampian Police), Tanya
McLaren (Forres Gazette), J. Innes (RAFLO), Eva Ward (Findhorn
Foundation), plus 3 members of the public.
ITEM 1 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllr Hamilton, M Thompson, R Shand, G.Verner.
Public Session
2.1 The Chairman welcomed PC Kevin Skivington (Community Beat Officer for Forres & surrounding
district). PC Skivington reported that apart from minor incidents, there had been very little in the way of criminal activity in Findhorn & Kinloss. In his role as Community Beat Officer PC Skivington offered to reinstate the ‘outreach’ programme which had been started by WPC Page and which had been much appreciated by local residents. The meeting felt that placing the mobile Police Office in the Kinloss Church car park at intervals would be the best option for that village whilst making use of the weekly residents’ coffee mornings in the Village Centre would be a better venue in Findhorn. The Secretary agreed to pass relevant contact details to PC Skivington. It was agreed that L. Morgan would arrange the necessary permissions for use of the Kinloss church car park.
L. Morgan reported that traffic speed monitoring equipment had recently been placed on the link road from the A96 to Kinloss. In his opinion this was not in the right location, because the bend in the road coupled with a gradient caused traffic to slow down thereby producing artificially low readings. He suggested that the monitoring point should be removed to a straight part of the road which would give a more accurate picture. PC Skivington agreed to bring this to the attention of the Traffic Section.
Action. T Negus, L Morgan, PC Skivington.
2.2 Any Other Competent Public Business. Mr D Willing asked that draft minutes be displayed on the public noticeboard in Findhorn as soon as they are available. The Chairman said that this had always been the aspiration of the Community Council but the publication of hard copies of unratified minutes had been prohibited by Moray Council. The Secretary reported that he had challenged Moray Council on this issue since draft minutes now appear on the Moray Council website, but Moray Council had maintained their veto. It was agreed that once the new Community Council was formed this issue would be raised again with the relevant authorities.
2.3 Mr Willing complemented the outgoing Community Council on their achievements and thanked them for all their hard work on behalf of the local Community.
Council
Session
ITEM 3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 27th
August2009 were ratified with one minor modification.
Proposed L Morgan, seconded H Morton.
ITEM 4. MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Road Issues In Kinloss. The Chairman reported that further resurfacing work had been carried out near Kinloss Church which should address the surface water problem. The interactive speed signs are still awaited.
4.2 Road markings in Findhorn. The
Secretary said that there were now double yellow lines across the
entrance to the piers access road. Their presence should end any
confusion as to which was the main traffic thoroughfare. It was
not known whether R.Shand had yet been contacted by a member of
the roads department to review the new junction near
Findhorn Church Action R Shand.
4.3 Support for Findhorn Village Centre. The Secretary reported that a letter of support had been sent to assist fund-raising efforts by the Findhorn Village Centre.
ITEM 5.CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
5.1 The Chairman said that he had no formal report this month. He thanked all Community Councillors for their support over the past 8 years of his Chairmanship and for all their hard work. He had decided not to stand for re-election and he drew attention to his representative post as trustee of Forres Golf Club which would need to be filled by a Community Councillor from Forres and the surrounding area.
ITEM 6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
6.1 Correspondence. Letter from Sation Commander RAF Kinloss about forthcoming Aircraft activity on the base. Courtesy copy of a letter from Mr Willing to Mr Keddie querying the adequacy of car parking provision for patients at the new Forres Health Centre. Letter from Mrs Davina Thompson about concerns that the newly planted trees along the eastern boundary of the Findhorn Playing Field are being damaged when Council workmen strim the grass. The Secretary agreed to take up the matter with the Chairman of the residents’ association who currently lease the playing field. Notification of consultation for a revised ‘ Scheme of assistance for Home Owners and Tenants in Moray’.
6.2 e – correspondence. Relating to: Red Telephone boxes, ASCC Annual conference, Extending the scheme of Money Advice clinics run by Grampian housing association, Proposed Action Planning session of Better Community Engagement Programme. 29 Sept.
ITEM 7. TREASURERS REPORT
7.1 Cheque for £72.83 issued for advert in October edition of ‘Spotlight on Forres’ to promote Community Council elections.
7.2 The Secretary suggested that any residual funds in the No 1 account (set up to cover administrative expenses) should be transferred to the No 2 (capital projects) account since a new grant for admin expenses would be forthcoming when the new Council is formed. It was agreed that this should take place once the new grant is received Action Treasurer
ITEM 8. ASCC REPORT
8.1 L.Morgan reminded members that the annual conference of ASCC would take place at the Scottish Parliament on 14th November. All Community Councillors were welcome to put their names forward.
ITEM 9. MORAY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
No report in absence Cllr Hamilton
ITEM 10. RAFLO REPORT.
10.1 J Innes reported that exercise ‘Joint Warrior’ would take place between 5th and 16th October. Visiting aircraft would include P3 Orions, Atlantiques, Falcons and Hawks. Additional night flying was not anticipated other than some arrivals and departures at the beginning and end of the exercise.
10.2 The Chairman complained that
visiting Tucano aircraft had been overflying Kinloss village in
recent weeks. He was sure that this was outwith the normal
circuit pattern for the airfield and he requested that his
concerns be passed on to Air Traffic control.Action J Innes
10.3 A.Skene
reported that she had noted an increase in night flying recently.
She said that she was under
the impression that this was not
permitted. The RAFLO said that there was a voluntary agreement in
place whereby engines were not test - run on the ground by
engineers after 11pm unless operationally required. However,
night flying was at times essential either in support of the
Station’s round - the- clock search and rescue commitment or
to maintain Pilots’ night flying currency. Apart from this,
night flying was kept to an absolute minimum.
ITEM 11. FINDHORN FOUNDATION REPORT
11.1 Eva Ward was pleased to report that the Findhorn Foundation had had a good season with all courses well patronised despite the current adverse financial climate.
ITEM 12. PLANNING
12.1 There were no applications for Findhorn & Kinloss registered since the last meeting.
12.2 A neighbour notification advertised in the Forres Gazette regarding a fixed caravan at the Park had been investigated by J Willoner. This was in fact a proposed relocation of an existing Caravan.
ITEM.13.PILOT FUNDING SCHEME FOR MORAY
COMMUNITY COUNCILS.
13.1 The Secretary gave a summary of
the actions taken by the Community Council to promote the latest
round of Community Council elections. These included a letter
drop to all households on the electoral register, advertisements
in the Forres Gazette, The Northern Scot, and ‘Spotlight on
Forres’ together with the placement of posters throughout
both villages. These activities had been carried out within
budget thanks to the voluntary efforts of Councillors delivering
letters personally to save postage. It was therefore all the more
disappointing that despite all these efforts, there were
insufficient candidates to trigger an election. However, with 5
candidates from Findhorn and 3 from Kinloss, the minimum
threshold had been exceeded and the new Findhorn & Kinloss
Community Council would be elected unopposed.
13.2 The date for the inaugural meeting of the new Council has been provisionally set for Thursday 29th October.
ITEM 14. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
14.1 The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to a forthcoming open day for the sale of the former Southside quarters. Quite a number of the properties have already been reserved.
14.2 S. MacGregor said that she had reluctantly decided not to stand for re-election. She thanked fellow Councillors for their support during the past four years.
14.3 The Secretary reminded members of the Remembrance Day ceremonies scheduled for 8th November.
14.4 On behalf of all the Council members, the Secretary thanked R.Walker for his firm and skilful Chairmanship over the past 8 years. This sentiment was supported by all present.
ITEM 15. PROVISIONAL DATE OF NEXT
MEETING
Thursday 29th
October at 7.30pm in the James Milne Institute Findhorn.
DRAFT