FINDHORN & KINLOSS
COMMUNITY COUNCIL .
Minutes
of the meeting of the Community Council held in The James Milne
Institute Findhorn on Thursday 29th
May 2008
Present:
R Walker (Chairman), R. Shand, H. Morton, L. Morgan, A. Skene, Cllr Hamilton, J. Willoner, G Verner, T. Negus (Sec).
In Attendance:
J. Innes (RAFLO), Tanya McLaren (Forres Gazette), Eva Ward (Findhorn Foundation) Sgt Scott(Grampian Police), plus nine members of the public.
Apologies were received from S MacGregor, M. Thompson, Sgt MacDonald.
Item 2.
Presentation on Planning Process.
2.1 The Chairman welcomed Mr Alan Short, Development Control Manager at Moray Council. Mr Short gave a comprehensive presentation on the structure and arrangements of the planning process and answered a number of questions from councillors and the general public. It was agreed that some form of training workshop on the management of planning applications might be of benefit, particularly for newly elected Community Councillors. The Chairman thanked Mr Short for his contribution to the meeting.
Item
3. Pre-planning Cconsultation on Proposed Pevelopment at Piers
Porkshop.
3.1 Mr Malcom Leiper (town planner) and Mr Cyril Smith (architect) of ‘Future Plans’ addressed the meeting about a proposed development of the piers workshop on behalf of their client Mr Bruce Hay. They started by showing details of a former application for the site which had been refused and turned down at a subsequent appeal. New plans have been prepared which appear to have addressed adverse comments against the earlier application. Future Plans have been in dialogue with Historic Scotland although no formal application has yet been submitted. Mr Smith and Mr Leiper answered a number of questions from the public. The meeting expressed concerns about the change of use for the site from traditional artisan’s workshop to residential/holiday home. It was felt that residential use was inappropriate for this the traditional commercial heart of the village. Mrs Hunt raised the possibility of Community Buy-Out under the terms of the Land Reform Act. Mr Smith and Mr Leiper agreed to pass on the sentiments of the meeting to their client.
Item
4. Any Other Competent Public Pusiness.
4.1 The Chairman welcomed Sgt Jim Scott from Grampian Police. Sgt Scott said that the database showed no recorded crime for either Kinloss or Findhorn during April which was very satisfactory. The May figures indicated 4 crimes in Kinloss and one in Findhorn. The Kinloss incidents included a break-in at the Abbey Inn for which the Police were following a positive line of enquiry. Mrs Barber asked about the legality of drinking in public in Findhorn. Sgt Scott said that although banned in Forres this was not the case in Findhorn. Mr Blackwood asked about after hours drinking outside pubs. Sgt Scott said that the licensing laws applied to the external premises such as beer gardens etc. Sgt Scott warned the meeting about the increasing prevalence of internet fraud and advised extreme vigilance. The Chairman thanked Sgt Scott for his excellent and comprehensive report.
COUNCIL
SESSION
Item 5. Minutes of Last Meeting
5.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 24th April were ratified subject to minor amendments at item 14.2. Proposed L Morgan, seconded H Morton.
Item 6. Matters Arising
6.1 Speeding Traffic in Kinloss. Held over to next meeting in absence of M Thompson.
6.2 Closure of Redundant Website. Cllr Hamilton reported that he had been unable to contact the webmaster to close the redundant Community Council Web page. It was agreed that the Chairman would write formally to Mr Dodwell.
6.3 Viewing Platform. The Secretary said that he had procured the materials for constructing a low fence opposite the crash gate to prevent unauthorised vehicle access. The first two sections of the fence were in place. This would be extended over the course of the summer. The secretary also reported that a recent letter in the Northern Scot appeared to demean the Kinloss aircraft viewing platform. A robust reply has been sent which should appear in the next edition.
6.4 Data Protection Act. The Secretary said that he had completed a notification form for registration with the Information Commissioner’s Office and the treasurer has completed a direct debit form. The £35 fee would be reclaimed from Moray Council. Community Councillors and other representatives were asked to confirm and acknowledge their personal contact details held by the secretary in order to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
Item 7. Chairman’s Report
7.1 Correspondence. Letter urging full consultation following announcement of proposed post office closures. The Secretary informed the meeting that neither Kinloss nor Findhorn post offices were on the list for closure.
7.2 e-Correspondence. Consultation papers
from Moray Council on proposed formation of ‘Local
Committees’. The Chairman expressed his concerns that this
represented yet another expensive layer of Community Planning
bureaucracy. L Morgan said that he had attended a recent meeting
of the Forres Area Forum where the topic had been discussed. He
considered that these Committees represented part of the Scottish
Government’s drive to devolve decision making together with
some funding to a more local level. The Secretary said that many
of the statements associated with Local Committees had already
appeared when Local Neighbourhood Forums were set up. It would
seem superfluous and expensive to run Area Forums and Local
Committees in parallel. The Chairman urged all Councillors to
read the background papers carefully and to be prepared to
discuss the topic which would be an agenda item at the next
meeting.
Action all Councillors
Item 8. Secretary’s Report
8.1 Correspondence.
Further invitation to enter Calor Gas
community of the year award.
Leaflets about new alcohol licensing procedures.
Cheque from Moray Council for £622 in respect of Council running
expenses. (Receipt acknowledged by Secretary).
Consultation on planning guidance for management of tree issues
in planning applications. Action G Verner.
Letter about consultation on proposed removal of selected
payphones. (No phoneboxes affected in our area). Open Spaces in
Planning consultation questionnaire. Action H Morton.
Request for volunteer to join Local Outdoor Access Forum. Letter
from Moray Council requesting information about playing field
usage. Action Secretary.
Letter about possible funding sources for restoration of war
memorials.
Letters & e-mails about Community Council boundaries.
(Anomalies have been discovered between geographical Community
Council boundaries which were set up in 1973 and the
classification of Electoral register addresses which has evolved
over the years. Moray Council are reviewing the situation).
8.2 E-Correspondence.
ENTRUST about details of new Community
Councillors.
Scottish Government about lasting legacies from Commonwealth
games to be held in Glasgowin 2014.
Update on PPP for Elgin Schools.
Consultation about changes to National Community Council Scheme.Action
L Morgan & T Negus.
Mr D Mowat about sale of Southside AMQs. (R Walker to attend
meeting 18 June)
Flyers & Newsletters: Right Track.
Item 9. Treasurers Report
9.1 Movement on account since last meeting. £622 grant received from Moray Council. First Direct Debit payment of £35 authorised for Data protection act registration fee. £72-69 paid to secretary for materials for viewing platform fencing.
Item 10. Moray Councillor’s
Report
10.1 Cllr Hamilton said that he had recently been invited to talk to P5 year at Kinloss School. He had been very impressed by the perceptive questions asked by the pupils.
10.2 Cllr Hamilton drew attention to the monthly surgeries held by the Forres Ward councillors.
10.3 Cllr Hamilton reported that the new Committee structures were now in place at Moray Council.
Item 11. RAFLO Report
11.1 Following an observation at the last meeting, J Innes said that RAF Kinloss had acknowledged thatthe Station web site was rather out of date. It would be updated when time and resources permitted.
11.2 The RAFLO said that he had made
enquiries about the old surface water run off channels leading to
the bay which were the subject of a query at the last meeting.
The outlet valves had been closed over a year ago when the new
airfield drainage system came on line. It was understood
that SEPA continued to monitor the former drainage channels but
RAFLO would check details. If the situation was still unclear
then the Chairman would contact SEPA direct.
Action J Innes, R Walker.
11.3 The RAFLO informed the meeting that the RAF Presentation team would be visiting Forres Town Hall on 23rd June.
11.4 There will be a Weapons Instructor course from 23 June to 2 July which will involve a number of visiting fast jet aircraft. A similar course scheduled for November had been cancelled.
11.5 Kinloss Families day will take place on 6 September.
Item 12. Findhorn Foundation Report.
Nothing to Report.
Item 13. Planning
13.1 Applications registered since last meeting.
Kinloss
13 May. 2 separate applications for new houses at 12 Whiteinch. No objections
Findhorn Foundation - None
Findhorn Village
24 April. Alter & extend 149 Findhorn & add new garage. Discussed at length - no objections.
21 May. Part demolish shop and erect 11/2 storey house at Bunty. The Community Council has objected to a previous application for this site and feels that our original objections apply to this new application. Secretary to write.
21 May. Application for certificate of lawfulness in respect of subdivision of Station House into 6 separate dwellings. No Objections
21 May. Application for variation of approval (removal of condition 3) in respect of Mr Gardener’s east & west chalets at Northshore Findhorn. No objections.
14. Any Other Competent Business
14.1 L Morgan reported that he had been informed by the selling agents that a short list of 4 preferred bidders had been selected for the Southside AMQ sale. A meeting had been arranged at Moray Council Headquarters on 18th June when the bidders would present their respective development plans for the site. Largely as a result of L Morgan’s commendable persistence we have been invited to send a representative to the meeting. It was agreed that The Chairman would represent the Community Council. The commercially confidential nature of the proposed meeting was duly noted. Action R Walker
14.2 R Shand reported that S MacGregor had
been approached by a local resident complaining that one of the
gates at the end of a public right of way beside Osprey House was
blocked. S MacGregor to speak with householder. Action S
MacGregor.
14.3 R Shand reported that much of Links
View road surface had been dug up during the recent water mains
replacement programme. It was understood that Moray Council
Housing department were considering resurfacing the road which
had originally been installed to service council houses. He
suggested that there might be some merit in the housing
department and the Scottish Water contractors arriving at an
arrangement whereby the road was resurfaced as a joint project.
Cllr Hamilton agreed to speak with the head of Housing at Moray
Council. Action Cllr Hamilton
14.4 R Shand said that a strip across the
top of the tarmac surface of the Church slip had been dug up as
part of the water main replacement programme. Subsequent infill
had been with ballast rather than tarmac. R Shand agreed to speak
with the contractors to remedy this. Action R Shand.
Item 15. Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 26th June 2008 at
7.30pm in Kinloss Primary School (Chairman to prepare and
circulate agenda.)