FINDHORN & KINLOSS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Community Council held in Kinloss Primary School on Thursday 26th June 2008
Present:
R Walker (Chairman), R. Shand, S.Macgregor, L. Morgan, A. Skene, Cllr Hamilton J. Willoner, G Verner, M. Thompson, T. Negus (Sec).
In Attendance:
J. Innes (RAFLO), Tanya McLaren (Forres Gazette), plus 1 member of the public.
Item 1 Appologies for Absence
Apologies were received from H. Morton, Eva Ward.
Item2. AOCB
None
Council Session
Item 3 Minutes of the Last Meeting
3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 29th May were ratified. Proposed J Willoner, seconded R Shand
Item 4 Matters Arising
4.1 Closure of Redundant Website. The Chairman has written formally to Mr Dodwell requesting that the redundant website be closed down. Letter sent by recorded delivery. No reply received to date.
4.2 Local Area Committees. The Chairman initiated a discussion on the proposed formation of Local Area Committees. He said that his initial impression was that these constituted yet another costly layer of bureaucracy in local government. M Thompson said that the background literature relating to the scheme lacked detail about structure or terms of reference. Set up costs seem significant at £200K particularly in relation of the relatively modest devolved budgets to the proposed Committees which would be less than £20K. Cllr Hamilton said that he understood that Local Area Committees would comprise elected ward Councillors. Depending on the outcome of this consultation, representatives of other organisations such as Community Councils or Area Forums might also be included. L Morgan gave background information about the move towards these committees being an attempt by the Scottish Government to devolve a degree of decision-making and some budgetary powers to a more local level. However, he was concerned about possible duplication and overlap between the various organisations involved. He considered that a degree of decentralisation might be appropriate and he felt it important that support for these new structures should be achieved by deploying central Council resources rather than by recruiting additional staff. Cllr Hamilton pointed out that Community Planning is very strongly supported by the new Scottish Government and is an even greater obligation than under the previous government. The Chairman said that following this discussion he could see some merit in devolving some central funding which could be bid for locally. G Verner wondered whether this might be a cause of acrimony among competing organisations. The meeting queried the value of retaining Area Forums since many of the proposed functions of the new Local Area Committees such as input into the commissioning of public services, seemed to be the same as those advocated when Local Neighbourhood Forums were initially set up. The meeting agreed that any support staff for the new local Area Committees should come as far as possible from the redeployment of existing staff. The meeting then went through the Consultation questionnaire in order to agree a corporate response. The Secretary was instructed to make it very clear that the response represented the considered opinion of the whole Community Council. Action T Negus
4.3 Consultation on Management of Trees in Planning Applications. G Verner said that he had studied the documentation which he said very much represented the status quo. He felt that no formal response was required.
4.4 Open Space Questionnaire. This has been completed by H Morton and despatched by the Secretary.
4.5 Playing Field Usage. Reply has been sent by Secretary.
4.6 Education Act Consultation. Not completed by A Skene due to conflict of interest. No other Community Councillors considered to have sufficient expertise for competent reply. No further action.
4.7 Disposal of Southside Married Quarters. The Chairman said that he had recently attended a meeting where short listed bids for the Southside site had been presented to interested parties which included Moray Council, RAF Kinloss and the Community Council. The Chairman said that the meeting had been very constructive and encouraging but in view of the commercially sensitive nature of the matter he was unable to give any further detail at this stage.
4.8 Consultation on Community Council Scheme. Ongoing. Action L Morgan, T Negus.
4.9 Airfield drainage. J Innes said that he had spoken with the SEPA representative on the airfield who had confirmed that the valves from the airfield drainage system into the Findhorn Bay culverts had been shut for some time. It was likely that the contaminated appearance of the water in the culverts was the result of abnormal tidal conditions washing peat into the gullies. The SEPA representative was due to carry out a site inspection in the near future. RAFLO agreed to report the outcome to the next meeting. Action J Innes
4.10 Osprey House Public Footpath. S MacGregor said that she had visited the site. She felt that the complaint she had received was valid and that the footpath was in fact blocked. She produced photographs that appeared to confirm this. The householder is away on holiday at present but the Chairman said he would speak with him on his return. Action R Walker
4.11 Links View Road Surface. The Secretary said that he had spoken with the relevant member of the housing department at Moray Council who own most of the road. Money has been allocated this financial year to resurface that part of the road which is owned by the Council. However, the section of road from opposite No 5 Linksview down to the main street is owned by Novar Estates. Moray Council housing department have been in touch with Novar Estates and have suggested that they fund resurfacing of their part of the road under the same contract and are awaiting a response. In view of previous experience it is considered unlikely that Novar will agree. R Shand suggested that the water main replacement contractors should be approached. They have dug a trench along the whole length of Linksview which in other circumstances they would need to make good. The area of road not owned by the Council is probably roughly equivalent to the area of trenching further along the road. He suggested that contractors should leave the part of the trench which would be incorporated in the Council’s resurfacing arrangements and that they should resurface the western end of Linksview in lieu. R Shand will speak with the contractors to see whether this is possible.Action R Shand.
4.12 Church Slipway. The strip of slipway that had been dug up for water pipe replacement has now been properly resurfaced.
4.13 Speeding Traffic in Kinloss. M Thompson reported that he had received a rather negative and dismissive reply from Moray Council Roads department to his detailed earlier correspondence. There were a few minor concessions such as dropped kerbs which would be provided when funds permit and a further basic traffic survey would be carried out in the summer. Such a negative response was disappointing and unhelpful and it was agreed that the Chairman would write to the Chief Executive of Moray Council to complain about the way the Roads Department have failed to address our concerns. (M Thompson to draft letter for Chairman). In the meantime M Thompson to extend public consultation in relevant area of the village.Action M Thompson, R Walker.
Item 5 ASCC Constution Consultation
5.1 L.Morgan reported that he had studied the new ASCC Constitution carefully and that he considered it entirely acceptable.
Itenm 6 Chairman's Report
Nothing to Report
Item 7 Secretary's Report
7.1 Correspondence: Letter from ‘Clean Coast Scotland’ regarding new list of designated Bathing Waters. Findhorn has been added to the official list for the first time and will continue to have regular water quality monitoring by SEPA. Arrangements for ancillary services such as litter management will be the responsibility of the Local Authority. Request for annual subscription to Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society. (Standing order Form Completed by Treasurer). Letter from Moray Area Forum Chairman expressing concerns that Local Area Committees would detract from and steal resources from Local Area Forums. Correspondence from ICO confirming our registration under the Data Protection Act. Pack from ENTRUST detailing changes to the administration of the Landfill Tax Communities Fund. Letters from HQ 51 Brigade about military exercises in the area.
7.2 E-Correspondence: From Mike More of moray Council Housing Dept about Links Road resurfacing.
7.3 Newsletters & Flyers; SEPA View, Paths to Health, Scottish Rights of Way & Access Society Summer Newsletter.
Item 8 Treasurer's Report
Nothing to Report.
Item 9 Moray Councillor's Report
Nothing to Report
Item 19 RAFLO's Report
Current Weapon Instructor Course due to finish July3rd. Exercise involving two C130 Hercules aircraft scheduled for 7-11 July. Families day on 6th September.
Item 11 Findhorn Foundation Report
No report in absence of Eva Ward
Item 12 Planning
12.1 Correspondence.
Letters out.
31 May – no objection to extension
& alterations at 149 Findhorn.
02 June – Letter of objection sent to new application for
Bunty. Similar grounds as previous objection.
Letters In
06 June -Acknowledgement of our objection
to Bunty application.
09 June – Letter from Mr Short informing us that our
previously submitted consultation objection to a proposed
development by Mr Verner junior at Upper Hempriggs Farm Kinloss
is invalid since the proposed development site lies outside the
current Community Council boundary. Moray Council have offered to
leave our letter on file as an objection rather than a
consultation. Following discussion it was decided to withdraw our
objection. Secretary to write to Moray Council.
18 June – Letter informing us that the application for a
house between the park and the B1099 (to which we had objected)
has been withdrawn.
Applications Notified since last meeting
KINLOSS
30 May- Alterations and extension at Mains of Struthers Farmhouse. No objections.
FINDHORN FOUNDATION - None
FINDHORN VILLAGE
26 May – Copy of plans for
alterations at Solstrand.
June – Application for extensions and storage shed at
Findhorn Village Centre. No objections.
June – Application for change of use from seasonal touring
site to static caravans (12 month use) at mFindhorn Sands Caravan
Park. Moray Council have been notified of our consultation
interest and plans have been requested. Findhorn Councillors will
discuss this when plans are available.
13 AOCB
13.1 G Verner highlighted the anomaly that although his postal address included the word Kinloss , the Findhorn & Kinloss Community Council boundary did not include his house. The Chairman said that he had received a letter on the subject from Moray Council which he would pass to the Secretary to action Action T Negus.
13.2. L Morgan sought the views of the meeting on some of the questions posed in the Consultation on the Community Council Scheme.
13.3. M Thompson noted that the surface of the Kinloss to Findhorn cyclepath was becoming narrower due to the encroachment of weeds in certain areas. He had e-mailed Moray Council suggesting preventive maintenance was indicated.
13.4 R Shand reported that 2 of the amenity seating benches in Findhorn Village were in need of repair. The one outside 64 Findhorn required repair to the timber seating struts which he would undertake. One of the seats on the front placed by Moray Council had damage to the concrete support structure. The secretary would examine this and report it to Moray Council if necessary. Action R Shand, T Negus.
13.5 R Shand reported that the confusion about traffic priorities at the Abbey Inn traffic lights which had been mentioned at a previous meeting was an ongoing problem. Secretary to write to Moray Council to seek a solution. Action T Negus
13.5 R Shand reminded the meeting that the Findhorn Fair would take place on 20th July.
13.6 M Thompson reminded the meeting that Kinloss and Findhorn Church would be holding a ‘Songs of Praise’ service on the South pier during that evening.
Item 14 Date of the Next Meeting Thursday 28th August 2008 at 7.30pm in the James Milne Institute Findhorn.