Strathdearn Community Council

STRATHDEARN COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES

Minutes of Meeting of the Strathdearn Community Council held in The Strathdearn Hall, Tomatin, On Tuesday 18th January 2011.

PRESENT: Mrs. V Roden, (In the Chair), Mrs. A Glynne-Percy, Mr. J Duncan, Mrs. M Saunders, Mr. E Usborne, Mr. J Cameron-Mackintosh, Mr. T Gerlings, Mr. D Bryden, Mr. G Edward, Mr. L MacLeod

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs. D Ross (Minutes Secretary), Mr. D Hendry, Cllr. Crawford, Simon Green & 4 Colleagues 18 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

1. Apologies Cllr. Holden.

2. Minutes The Minutes of the Meeting of 9th December 2010 were approved by Mr Usborne and seconded by Mrs Saunders. The Minutes of the Meeting of 14th December 2010 were approved by Mr Gerlings and seconded by Mrs Glynne-Percy.

3. Matters Arising
Mrs Roden welcomed Mr MacLeod onto the Community Council. Question Time Forum - Mrs Roden advised that she had nothing new to report. Snow Clearing - Mr MacLeod and Mr Cameron-Mackintosh had been asked to join this group, and had agreed. Mr Bryden reported that Mr Mike Mackay had agreed to co-ordinate snow clearing over and above what the Highland Council do. Mr Sandy Ferguson would clear the area on the south side of the river, and Mr Colin Tucker would clear the Lynebeg and Moy areas, all using existing machinery. It was made clear that the public did not have a right to demand clearance, and that vulnerable people would be cleared first, with individual requests considered last of all. Mr Cameron-Mackintosh put forward the suggestion that Mr Mike Mackay be appointed as co-coordinator. This was then proposed by Mr Duncan and seconded by Mr Edward. Mr Bryden reported that he has been in touch with the Highland Council regarding putting salt by the recycling bins. Mrs Saunders asked for salt bins at Moy if possible. A member of the public asked if the salt bin location by the recycling bins could be kept under review. Mrs Roden then thanked Mr Bryden and the rest of the sub group for their hard work. Mrs Roden advised that she had written a letter to Mr Wallace, and had received a very gracious reply. Mr Usborne reported that he hasn't managed to contact Mr Robert Warren yet.

4. Law and Order
Mrs Roden asked if there was anything to report. Mrs Saunders reported that Mr Tucker's workshop at Moy had again been broken into at Christmas time. Mr Usborne had reported the broken down car at the gateway.

5. Presentation of the Daviot Windfarm from West Coast Energy Ltd
Mrs Roden welcomed Simon Green and his colleagues from West Coast Energy who gave a power point presentation on the Daviot Windfarm. Mrs Roden asked for views and comments from members of the public. A discussion took place, with some of the questions asked being about how much electricity is produced, load factors and visibility. Mr Green advised that they are hoping to get it to planning this year. Mr Usborne asked when they were hoping to start building the windfarm. Mr Green advised that it would be 2013 at the earliest. Mrs Roden thanked them for coming. Mr Green and his colleagues then left the meeting.

6. CADISPA
Mrs Roden advised that the Community Council had received the draft report for reviewing by the Steering Group, and that CADISPA would be coming to do a presentation in the hall on Thursday 3rd March. Following discussion, it was agreed to ask CADISPA to come back two weeks later, to give members of the community enough time to digest the report, before breaking into small groups to consider the report in more detail. Mr Cameron-Mackintosh said he thought the report could be condensed, which other Councillors agreed with. Mrs Roden asked whether an evening or a Saturday would be best, and most agreed that evenings were best. Rev Reg Campbell asked for a copy so that he could put it onto the website for people to download if they wished. Community Benefit Mrs Roden and Mr Usborne had consulted a solicitor regarding the Highland Council's proposals to implement a 3 Tier Community Benefit Fund. The solicitor thought that legislation would be needed to implement this; there was no suggestion that the scheme was going to be mandatory; and we should lobby Councillors and MSP's in the meantime. Mrs Roden and Mr Usborne had also met with Councillor Isobel McCallum, Chair of the Highland Council Community Benefit Working Group, and Mr William Gilfillan, Corporate Manger. The scheme is not compulsory. It will be up to Community Councils to decide whether or not to join. There are no plans to make this retrospective - although that could change at the Council meeting. Seeking advice from Mr Charles Stephen and Mr William Gilfillan - or even having Charles help to negotiate - did not constitute opting into this scheme.

7. Community Council Review
Mrs Roden advised that nothing much had changed since the last phase of the review. Mr Bryden asked if we could write to Mr Hargreaves to confirm that we did not wish to comment further.

8. Financial Report
Mrs Saunders reported a balance in the current account as at 31 December 2010 of £3,269.06, minus three outstanding cheques amounting to £264.00.

9. 2 + 1 Lane at Moy
Cameron-Mackintosh read the latest reply from Transport Scotland. Regarding the 60mph sign, this is covered already by the national limit, and regarding pedestrian safety, they advised that they are aware of this. Mr Cameron-Mackintosh asked if it was the wish of the public that he continued to write, and it was agreed that he should write again, and include the suggestion of reversing the direction of the overtaking lane in his letter, copying any correspondence to PC John Smith. A member of the public asked if it should go to the press. Mrs Roden asked what opinions were on this, and the general opinion was that a Press Release should be prepared. It was also agreed to invite TranServ and Transport Scotland to the next meeting. Mr Usborne asked if the next meeting could start at 7pm as it would be a busy one, and this was agreed by everyone.

10. Snow Gates at Slochd
Mr Cameron-Mackintosh had written, indicating that the CC was strongly of the view that snow gates were unnecessary, and every effort should be made to keep the road open as many instances had been given of snow gates elsewhere being closed without good reason. On the very rare occasions when the road required to be closed, this could be done by the police. Tomatin Junction Mr Cameron-Mackintosh had also written requesting that a 50mph speed limit covered by cameras be applied at the Tomatin Junction as traffic coming off the dual carriageway was frequently traveling at high speed, threatening slow moving vehicles joining the A9, particularly when such vehicles were heading north. Also in wintry weather conditions when the right turning lane is slippery and traffic coming from Inverness and turning into Tomatin has to negotiate the Junction slowly, a reduction in speed of north heading traffic would enhance safety. Cllr Crawford suggested that perhaps Mr Cameron-Mackintosh could meet with Transerv one afternoon to show them the areas involved. Mrs Roden thanked Mr Cameron-Mackintosh.

11. Water Quality in Strathdearn
Mr Duncan said the water quality was shocking, and several people agreed. It was decided to contact John Lee of Environmental Health to ask if an independent test could be carried out on the water. It was accepted that there would probably be a charge for this. Mr Cameron-Mackintosh said funds could be applied for from the Charitable Trust as it was a health issue. Everyone agreed.

12. Windfarms
A consultation had been received in respect of an offshore windfarm. Mr Bryden confirmed the objection from the community regarding Tom Nan Clach, and that this had been turned down by the Highland Council. There was an application to appeal and it was agreed that Mr Bryden would carry forward the objection.

13. Planning Matters
Mrs Roden asked if there were any planning matters, and Mr Bryden confirmed there were none.

14. Community Development Worker's Report
Mr Hendry gave his report, and Mrs Roden thanked him.

15. Applications to the Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust
The first application was from the Strathdearn Hall to cover the cost of an asbestos survey to the roof of the Old Hall which had already had to be carried out at a total cost of £245.57. The Hall Committee had asked for 100% of the costs. Due to Health & Safety legislation, this survey should be done annually. Mrs Roden asked for views and comments from the public. Following discussion Mr Cameron-Mackintosh proposed that the Hall Committee should be exempt from paying the first 10% from now onwards on the grounds that the Hall complex was a public facility of great importance to the community, and having to find 10% of the costs of any work required was imposing an unfair burden on the Hall Committee. This was seconded by Mr Bryden. The second application from the Youth Group requested a total amount of £4,000. (£2,000 for a youth worker, and £2,000 for a Youth Enterprise Project). Mrs Roden asked for views and opinions from the public. Mrs Saunders and Mrs Glynne-Percy asked about the yurt project. Mr Usborne said he thought the application was a bit short of detail. Mr Alan Hardwick, Youth Worker, answered that the project would give youngsters benefits and skills. Mr Bryden proposed that this be approved and Mrs Saunders seconded this. Mr Duncan asked if they would be asking for more funding again in 6 months for the youth worker, and Rev Reg Campbell confirmed that the amount asked for will be sufficient until the end of August. Mrs Ross to forward both these applications on to the Charitable Trust.

16. Road Safety
The smiley face is still not working, and although Mr Cameron-Mackintosh had already investigated the progress on this, he has agreed to again chase this up.

17. Correspondence
Mrs Roden read out a letter received from SAC regarding a forest plan. Remitted to Mr Bryden to deal with.
An e-mail had been received regarding the tendering for public transport, but it was agreed to leave this until the next meeting.

18. Any Other Competent Business Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT)
After declaring an interest as the Vice Chair of HSCHT, Mrs Roden advised that she had had a phone call from Ronnie MacRae of the HSCHT, indicating that a meeting was expected to take place with Mr George Tinsley soon, adding that the time may be coming to apply to the Strathdearn Community Charitable Trust for grants towards the servicing sites of the Raigbeg site, and for a feasibility study to find ways of providing rented housing, which had formerly been agreed in principle. The CC noted this.
Tomatin Inn Signs Mrs Glynne-Percy asked if a letter could go to Mr George MacLeod regarding the signs for the Tomatin Inn that are still up on the A9. All agreed. Mrs Ross to do this.
Mr Bryden suggested a date by which the signs should be removed should go on the letter. This was decided to be "at his earliest convenience, and not later than the end of January".
A member of the public asked that the signs for the 2+1 lane at Moy could remain covered, as the sheeting is blowing off now. This request to go in Mr Cameron-Mackintosh's letter.
Mrs Roden asked if there was any other business, and with nothing further the meeting was closed.
Meeting closed 9.50pm Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 15th February 2011 at 7pm