Community Council Minutes - May 2007
COLDINGHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL (CCC)
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 15th May 2007 (Download Printable Copy)
ATTENDANCE: Ged Hearn, Chris Anderson, Allan Simmons, Alan Bogle, Morag Duff, Gwyn Thomas, Michael Cook
1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – as above
AS apologised for the lateness in issuing the final agenda. These were accepted and there were no objections to continuing the formal meeting.
2 COUNCILLOR CHANGES
Michael Cook (MC) was welcomed to the meeting as one of the three newly appointed East Berwickshire Councilors. The other two were: Jim Fullerton and David Raw. MC said they had yet to decide how they best divide up CC attendance.
3 COLDINGHAM CC – NEW MEMBER
CA proposed that the CC co-opt Rhona Mackay as a non-voting member for specialist assistance with the Youth Club project. MD seconded
The nomination was supported.
It was expected to have a formal nomination on the next agenda for RM to become a full CC member.
4 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING (April 17th 2007)
These were approved
5 TREASURY REPORT:
CA reported: £312.33 in bank account. SBC Grant of £615 expected in next few days. The review meeting re Youth Club will determine future funding and access to existing funds from previous youth club.
AGM sign off of accounts for 2005/06 – It was noted that the wording of the formal annual report by CA arose from legal advice he had received. GH reminded the meeting that all previous accounts had been audited and signed off and filed with SBC and were deemed complete and accurate. GH apologised for the explicit reference to a previous treasurer in the AGM treasury report.
(The above is also detailed in the AGM minutes for 2005/06.)
This formally concludes the 2005/06 AGM
6 POLICE REPORT
An officer attended. There had been various covert patrols in action and a result
there had been some seizures of substances and notification to parents.
Some caravan park incidences had been attended to, plus there had been a recent break-in to a house on Eyemouth Road
7 MATTERS ARISING
Post Office closure
There was a vote of thanks for Morag Duff for re-establishing the village post-office/gift shop and running it for the last three years. It was noted that there had been several parties interested in continuing the post office so it was not expected to be a long-term closure.
Car park lighting update
AS had spoken to Lisa Chiles at SBC who was to arrange a site visit to discuss improved lighting once she had returned from holiday.
Youth Club
A review meeting was scheduled for Weds 16th May 7.30 at RM’s (Burnside cottage).
It was noted that disclosure checks were essential for any adults volunteering to help with the youth club in any way.
Beach updates
GT reported there were still concerns about the insufficient provisions for rubbish, dog signs, and seating. There was also a rising concern re the car park extension. Given the issue with the lease (understood not to be involving Dawn Aitcheson whose land it was) it seemed unlikely the car park would be in place for this year’s peak season. GT to pursue further with John Dent at SBC. Michael Cook would also help address this.
Young Gardeners Competition 60 pounds
AS reported that an entry form has been finalised, following feedback from Coldingham School P6/P7. The competition had now been split into two age groups and extended to allow vegetable plots. To provide reasonable prizes for each age-group an increase in the CC contribution from £30 to £50 was requested and supported by the meeting. AS had also secured prizes to be donated by Edrom Nursery. AS would be the recipient of entry forms.
Traffic issues
There was discussion on the pros and cons of yellow-lines on the high street which concluded that it would be better off without having double-yellows along one side. It was felt they would cause more problems than they would solve and, anyway, there were issues about which parts of the high street dual-purpose areas were private and which were public. CA to relay this to Neil Milne
It was learned that traffic monitoring was to put on roads coming in and out of Coldingham as an assessment of traffic flows.
8 PLANNING
05/0425/FUL – Coldingham Moor Wind farm
It was anticipated that the application would be on the SBC agenda for June.
GH summarised the Coldingham CC response back to SBC, itself based on the community consensus from the March public debate: Although the CC was broadly supportive if renewable energy there were good reasons to object to this application. The main points of objection related to several planning policy documents and included objections based on location, access disruption, and side effects.
AS will post the full response on notice boards, and issue to the new MSP and East Berwickshire councilors.
Residents who had additional specific individual objections should also send these to SBC Planning.
George Matthews made the meeting aware of the STAG protest group organising residents protest against the wind farm by George Matthews. Visits to other sites such as Blackhill could be arranged.
GH encouraged there to be an organised CC subcommittee group to follow through the wind farm issue, especially as a strategy would need to be established should, as expected, the application be referred to the Scottish Exec.
George Matthews agreed to be co-opted as a non-voting member to head up the Wind farm Strategy group. He would report direct to meetings or via CA.
Friends of Earth – Free Training re planning responses offered
Free courses on dealing with planning applications – noted should anyone on CC be interested.
SBC Consultation Draft – Designing Out Crime in Scottish Borders
Noted
9 SBC COUNCILLOR'S REPORT
Michael Cook (MC) spoke of the new SBC council line up: 11 Tory, 10 Lib Dem, 6 SNP, 5 Independent and 2 Borders. Others had specific portfolios , eg Jim Fullerton (Technical services) and David Raw (Social work).
MC expected that there would be some discussion between him and the other two East Berwickshire councilors. as to who would best work closely with Coldingham CC, so it may not be himself who attends future CC meetings.
Meanwhile MC would address some of the beach issues.
10 CORRESPONDENCE
Forestry Commission – Scotland – meeting 30th May
Environmental Panel Meeting in Peebles – noted
Association for Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) subscription
Agreed to renew
Southern Upland Partnership - renewal
Agreed to renew
11 AOB
Pathway Strimming – it was noted that some pathways were now in need of cutting given the recent growth. SBC had asked if the CC still wished to manage the cutting under a grant. This was agreed. CA felt that a more economical solution could be achieved through employing an alternative person to Stan Reid. It was agreed that because of the urgency unless an alternative could be actioned immediately it was best to continue with Stan Reid. AB said he would also provide a quote for strimming.
Action on CA to arrange strimming.
Memorial – the Garden Party advised that they had approached the BBC Beachgrove garden TV programme with a view to seeing if they could visit the Coldingham memorial garden and offer further advice.
High Street – various concerns about traffic and resolutions. It was agreed to include this on the next agenda
12 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday June 19th 7.30 p.m. – Coldingham School
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