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FINDHORN & KINLOSS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Community Council held in Kinloss Primary School on Thursday 27th November 2008
Present: R Walker (Chairman), R. Shand,
S.Macgregor, M. Thompson, Cllr Hamilton, J. Willoner, H Morton,
T. Negus (Sec).
In Attendance: WPC Page (Grampian Police), Tanya McLaren (Forres Gazette), Eva Ward (Findhorn Foundation) plus 1 member of the public.
Apologies were received from G Verner, A Skene, L. Morgan & J Innes.
None
Council
Session
ITEM 3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
4.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 30th October were ratified. Proposed M. Thompson, seconded J.Willoner.
ITEM 4. MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Police Surgeries. WPC Page reported that the new Police ‘surgeries’ appear to have been well received in both villages. In Findhorn her visits had been planned to coincide with the weekly coffee mornings at the Village Centre and this had worked very well. The Kinloss visits had utilised the mobile Police office positioned in the Church car park. These had been less well attended and further consideration will be given to suitable locations and improved publicity. In both villages the RAF Police had collaborated in the visits and the meeting strongly supported this joint approach. The Chairman thanked WPC Page for her report and congratulated her on this promising initiative and on the way she had so successfully raised the profile of Grampian Police in the area.
4.2 Accident near Whiteinch. WPC Page said that she had requested details of the incident and would pass information on to the Secretary when it became available.
4.3 Osprey House Footpath. In view of ongoing public interest the Chairman suspended standing orders for this item to allow public participation in the discussion. Cllr Hamilton summarised the reply he had received from the legal department at Moray Council. The Council’s position is that they do not consider taking legal enforcement action against the householder is justified in this case both from an economic point of view and because there would be no certainty of a successful outcome. Mr A MacGregor said he was extremely disappointed by Moray Council’s attitude to what appeared to be a flagrant disregard of a planning condition for the property in question. The Chairman said that he was ambivalent about the importance of this particular path as there were a number of alternative routes nearby. S. Macgregor said that this was not the point since the path in question is appropriately noted on the national register as a claimed right of way and should not just be ignored. The Secretary noted that the advice given by the Scottish Rights of Way Society had included the suggestion that any physical obstructions or impediments might be removed by those with an interest in using the path and perhaps consideration should be given to such an approach.
4.4 Cyclepath & 20mph zone. The Secretary reported that together with R.Shand and H. Morton he had met on site with Mr James Smith from Moray Council Roads department. The meeting had been most constructive and a number of objectives had been agreed.:
a. Whilst it remains a long term aspiration to carry the cyclepath into the centre of Findhorn Villagean attainable short term improvement in the location of the end of the cyclepath is a matter of some urgency.
b. An interim termination site for the cyclepath has been agreed just to the south of the entrance drive to Heathsands and Inyanga. This location will allow cyclists to rejoin the road well within the 30mph limit ,with adequate street lighting and with clear sightlines in both directions.
c. A complex traffic order consultation procedure is mandatory and this will be initiated in time for the next relevant Council Committee meeting in February. If all goes well it is hoped to complete the work by early autumn.
d. The 20mph zone in the centre of the village was also examined. It is planned to incorporate this project within the same traffic order. The work will involve considerable disruption for a brief period and will be scheduled outside the main tourist season.
4.5 Kinloss Noticeboard. The Chairman
reported that the vandalised noticeboard had been removed. He had
endeavoured to persuade the owners of the Spar shop to include a
noticeboard within the recent refurbishment work at the shop.
However, the response had been rather lukewarm. The Chairman
suggested that a more robust commercial board be purchased and
placed on the wall of the Spar shop. The Chairman agreed to
identify and acquire a suitable product.
Action R Walker
4.6 One-Way traffic sign near Kimberly Inn. Cllr Hamilton said that he had spoken with the roads department who could provide a painted sign on the road surface relatively easily. No Entry signs were a more complex issue and were required by law to be lit. The meeting agreed to the provision of road surface signage in the first instance.
4.7 Salt/grit bins in Glebe Road Kinloss. M Thompson reported that the Roads Department had responded promptly to his request and that a grit bin was now in place.
4.8 Dunes Road. The Secretary reported that he had requested an estimate from Leiths in respect of further repairs to the road.
4.9 Dropped Kerbs on Burghead Road Kinloss. Cllr Hamilton reported that he also had been approached on this subject by local residents. He had spoken with the roads department and he expected them to take remedial action in the near future.
ITEM 5.CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
5.1 The Chairman reported that he had had spoken at some length with Mr Gordon Holland on the subject of the 30mph limit on Findhorn Road Kinloss. He felt that progress was being made and he was awaiting a formal written reply.
5.2 The Chairman reported on a presentation that he had attended in Elgin on the role and remit of the BBC.
5.3 The Chairman had responded to Mr & Mrs Munro of Broom Walk regarding the issues they had raised and had passed on the responses from Moray Council. It is understood that the Residents Association is also involved.
5.4 The Chairman passed on an invitation from Mr Angus Robertson MP to a lecture in Lossiemouth Town Hall on Mon 8 December at 7.30 on the subject of the Virgin Galactic project.
5.5 The Chairman noted the very poor state of the road to the boatyard in Findhorn. He recalled that Moray Council had agreed to improve the Southern part of this road as far as the access road to the West dunes car park although this had not happened. Councillor Hamilton said that he remembered this to be an offer of an assignment involving the Moray Council training squad rather than a fully funded project. Cllr Hamilton agreed to pursue this. Discussion followed on ways to facilitate improvements to the remaining section of the road and sources of funding. The Chairman agreed to speak to interested parties regarding contributions and report back to the next meeting. Action Cllr Hamilton, R Walker
ITEM 6. SECRETARY’S REPORT
6.1 Meetings. 10 Nov with James Smith of Roads Dept. (see 4.4 above).
6.2 Correspondence From David Stewart MSP with questionnaire about climate change bill. (passed to M Thompson). From Jill Stewart, Chief Housing Officer Moray Council, listing addresses of Council Houses in Kinloss & Findhorn. From Community First Moray with further supply of pamphlets about Moray Handyperson service. From Station Commander RAF Kinloss with details about increased air activity associated with Tactical Leadership course. From Ian Douglas inviting cc members to a meeting to discuss ‘Moray Way’ proposal.
6.3 Viewing Platform signs. The vandalised/stolen signs at the viewing platform have been replaced. The smaller signs have been configured in a vertical orientation to make them more difficult to steal. The defaced ‘no overnight parking’ sign has been returned to Signcrafts for refurbishment. Invoice for completed signs passed to treasurer.
ITEM 7. TREASURERS REPORT
7.1 The Treasurer circulated the audited Annual Accounts, explained the main points and answered questions. T Negus proposed that the accounts be accepted – seconded by M Thompson.
7.2 The Treasurer agreed to look into the possibility receiving any interest gross rather than net.
ITEM 8. MORAY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
All items covered elsewhere. Nothing further to report.
ITEM 9. RAFLO REPORT.
Nothing to report.
ITEM 10. FINDHORN FOUNDATION REPORT
10.1 Eva Ward extended an invitation to Community Council members to the Foundation Winter Gathering preceded by an informal supper.
10.2 Eva Ward advised the meeting that there would be some gorse clearing at the Eastern part of the North Runway area behind the Universal Hall. Whilst this was in advance of development work it would take advantage of the presence of relevant machinery elsewhere in the Park.
ITEM11. PLANNING
11.1 e -Correspondence. Secretary has been advised that Moray Council is expecting to move to a paperless e-planning consultation system during 2009 and he was asked for comments. He had expressed some concerns and had told Moray Council that FKCC took its planning obligations very seriously and that in contentious or larger planned developments, hard copies of plans were a useful aid to meaningful discussion. It was unlikely that the larger plans could be printed satisfactorily on a domestic machine. He had also expressed concern that advertised applications currently held in hard copy format at the local post office might be difficult for residents (often elderly) without I T skills to access easily.
11.2 Applications Notified since last meeting:
KINLOSS - None
FINDHORN FOUNDATION
03.Nov. 7 Dwelling Houses & 1 Yurt to East of Barrel houses at Pineridge. Consultation interest notified and Plans obtained. The Secretary ensured that the meeting was fully aware that the site in question was formerly R1 in the draft development plan but this designation had been removed following objection and a public enquiry. However, the Council proposed to move the settlement boundary to include the land in question although the previous housing allocation requirement had now been moved to another site. The application had been appropriately advertised as a departure from the 2000 Local Plan. He told the meeting that he understood that the proposed development was a co-operative venture by some local residents. J Willoner clarified some details about the electrical supply which would come off the existing mains supply to the caravan site. Drainage would be to the ‘Liviing Machine’ system which has been recently upgraded and could accommodate the new homes in addition to the 138 it already served. R Shand was concerned that the overarching policy of replacement of Caravans with permanent houses was not being followed. J Willoner said that 18 mobile homes had been removed and broken up in the past 2-3 years. Following discussion the Community Council decided not to object to this application.
FINDHORN VILLAGE
31 Oct. Outline planning application for 1 dwelling next to 110a Findhorn. Consultation interest has been notified to Moray Council and Plans received. Previous application for 2 houses on this site has been withdrawn. New proposal now lies within existing settlement boundary. R Shand expressed concerns about vehicle access along the track to the east of the village. Novar Estates had started to improve this access route some years ago and had adjusted the garden boundary of at least one resident. However, the project appears to have stalled completely. Since this was the third site in the immediate area for which the applicants had sought outline planning permission, the meeting felt that perhaps completion of the improvement to the access track should be a condition for the granting of approval. Secretary to write.
11 Nov. Replace garage and erect boat shed at 204 Findhorn. - No objection.
12 Nov Install Oil Tank and external boiler at 195 Findhorn. – No objection.
20 Nov. Listed and Full Building consent to convert building to 2 flats at Station House. – No objection.
12. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
12.1 R Shand said that he had received a
letter from a local resident about buses sometimes failing to
stop to allow passengers to alight near the war memorial.
Although most drivers acceded to requests by passengers to stop
in this location, drivers perhaps not familiar with the route
sometimes took passengers further on to the Kimberly stop.
Sometimes this involves elderly passengers who have difficulty in
walking the extra distance. An additional bus stop sign might
help although it was appreciated that this may not be compatible
with the proposed 20mph zone adjustments. Secretary to write to
Moray Council. Action T Negus
12.2 M Thompson noted that Moray Council had erected ‘passing place’ signs on the Kinloss to Waterford back road and he welcomed this development.
12.3 M Thompson wondered whether Findhorn
& Kinloss community Council should take a collective position
on the merits or otherwise of the proposed development on the
Forres by-pass. The meeting felt that members did not have
sufficient information on which to form an opinion at the moment.
However, the developers are holding open days in the near future
and doubtless more information would become available. It is
proposed to debate this further at the next meeting.
ITEM 13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 29th January 2009 at 7.30pm in the James Milne Institute Findhorn.
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