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CC MINS SEP/OCT 09

Knockbain Community Council Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 15th September 2009 at North Kessock

Present: Owen Smith (OS), Kate MacKay (KMK), Jill Tilford (JT), Angela Biggar (AB), Willie Paterson (WP), Elaine Jones (EJ).

Apologies: Tony Morey (TM), Isobel McCallum (IMcC).

Visitors: None

1. OS welcomed everyone and opened the meeting.

2. Minutes of the Last Meeting: The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th June 2009 were approved – proposed by WP and seconded by KMK. The Minutes of the meeting held on 18th August 2009 were also approved – proposed by KMK and seconded by WP.
3. Matters Arising from Previous Minutes:

(a) North Kessock Park: OS confirmed that he had asked for an estimate to be provided for the fencing at Gordon’s Park and that he had also asked the contractor to undertake the repairs that are needed at the site of the (ex) play park at Bellfield Road.

(b) Croft Downie Holiday Chalet: OS confirmed that Planning would be sending him details of the Planning Conditions and they would also provide details of any legal agreement regarding occupation of the building.

(c) Munlochy Play Area: JT reported that she had looked at the play area by the new houses and the land around the play park remains very overgrown. If this could be cut, it would provide a good play area. IMcC took the action at the last meeting to find out who is responsible for maintaining this area. Action: EJ to ask Isobel for an update on progress.

(d) Outstanding actions: Due to holidays, no action has yet been taken regarding the Munlochy notice board or the road repairs that are now necessary following the removal of the speed bump at North Kessock Hall. Action: OS(e) B9161 Junction with A9: EJ to seek update on progress from IMcC.

4. Finance: OS reported that he had spoken to Linda Martin regarding the outstanding cheques. KMK confirmed that she had spoken to the Postlady at Munlochy regarding flower tubs and no funding was required for this year thanks to the generous donation they had received from an Oil company (the funding was donated via the Community Council).Action: OS to chase LM to update the signatories and to obtain cheques for the outstanding items. The chequebook should then be brought to each meeting to ensure that bills are paid promptly.

5. Correspondence: Correspondence and literature for the following was distributed:·

Fortrose Academy Newsletter·

Highland Council Licensing Board:

Notification of applications from the Spar Shops in North Kessock and Munlochy to change their off sales operating hours on Sundays to allow them to trade from 10.00am.

· Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust:

Invitation for formal membership and notification of AGM being held on Friday 25th September at Inverness Town House (12.30pm). Action: EJ to complete the Membership Application form.·

Action for Planning Transparency:

Information on the organisation that was formed in 2007.·

Scottish Ambulance Service:

Deadline for feedback has been extended to the end of September. The discussion document which outlines the future strategy for the service is available at www.scottishambulance.com/futurestrategy.

6. Black Isle Ward Forum: JT gave a brief summary of the Forum that had taken place on 10th September. The main items covered were:- Police Report.- Planning for the Future – how the Highland wide new Development Plan will be produced. Attendees at the Forum were then divided into groups (Transport; Housing; Use of open spaces; and Environment) and asked to provide input on what was wanted on the Black Isle.JT reported that they had been informed that the Kessock Bridge is due to be refurbished in 2011 and traffic will be reduced to one lane each way for five months. Highland Council are seeking ideas to try and minimise the traffic problems that this will create. OS suggested that the AGM in April 2010 could be used to take input from Knockbain CC area residents, ideas might include:- Change the traffic flow around the roundabout eg use Stadium Road as the main route into Inverness for Bridge traffic, speeding up traffic waiting to exit from the Bridge.- Frequent (possibly free) bus travel to Dingwall to encourage shoppers to use Dingwall rather than Inverness.- Park & Ride at Tore.- Bring back the ferry.- Encourage cycling (if cycling over the bridge is not impeded).The next Ward Forum will take place on 12th November 2009 at Culbokie Primary School.

7. Footpaths: OS handed out packs that he had produced which held detailed descriptions of the routes and hand-drawn maps for walking between:i. North Kessock to Kilmuir; ii. Kilmuir to Munlochy; andiii. Munlochy to AvochThe route descriptions have also been provided for each stage in reverse (for anyone walking in the opposite direction).OS will put copies of the documents at key locations along the route eg Craigton, both ends of Kilmuir, Munlochy village, by the bridge (West of Munlochy), by Charlie’s Garage, by the farm near Ormond Hill, and in Avoch village) – walkers will be asked to leave the guides on the footpath sign at the end of their walk so that it is then available for others to use.

8. Munlochy Tennis Court: As anticipated at the last meeting, there was no progress to report. In response to a query from AB, it was confirmed that the desired improvements would be a multi-purpose surface to maximise the number of sports that could utilise the area and therefore maximise the number of people participating in activity. It was also suggested that the nearby field should be utilised for recreational purposes – it is currently left idle. OS reported that the site was earmarked for the future site of a new school. It was agreed that next month there should be a ‘site meeting’ before the usual Community Council meeting so that everyone could get a better understanding of the current tennis courts and surrounding area. Action: All to meet at Munlochy Hall car park at 6.30pm on Tuesday 20th October 2009. Whilst anyone who is interested would be welcome to join the ‘site meeting’, it was agreed that it was probably premature to invite other key people (eg Active Schools Coordinator) until November.

9. Planning:

(a) Planning Applications: OS reported that he had been notified of the following planning applications:

(i) Bellahouston, Munlochy: Application for demolition of existing house and erection of replacement. OS reported that Planning had informed him that the existing house had received severe water damage and a re-build had been recommended. The style and size of the new building would be in line with existing. Given this information, no one had concerns to raise.

(ii) Siting of Catering Trailer: Application for ‘fast food’ van in A9 Northbound lay-by. This would be in-situ from 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Whilst it was noted that they had one litter bin and waste was removed each day, concern was expressed that on busy days this would be insufficient. No one had any objections to the catering trailer being in the lay-by but concern was also expressed that there could be an increase in the number of trucks exiting the lay-by – the exit does not provide opportunity for vehicles to accelerate and can be a hazard to A9 traffic. Action: OS to write to Planning with the above concerns.

(b) Highland Wide Local Development Plan – EJ gave brief details of the Main Issues Report and Questionnaire that had been received. The Report is available at http://www.highland.gov.uk/developmentplans and is also on display at Service Points and Libraries. Deadline for responses is 9th November. Action: OS to request two copies of the document for display in each village hall (as we don’t have Service Points or Libraries locally). AB took the documents for perusal and will then pass to WP.

(c) Craigton: AB reiterated the concern regarding the site that has been cleared, apparently for development. OS confirmed that Planning were aware of the activity and had advised that normal regulations did not apply as the site was part of a croft. They would continue to monitor the situation.

10.

:(a) Oakleigh Road, North Kessock: Very big pot hole has appeared just East of Maida Vale.

(b) Main Street, North Kessock: Potholes need filling by the bus-stop (bus shelter at the car park).

11. Any Other Business:

(a) Bus Services: Nothing had been heard regarding any amendments to the existing bus service. All expressed concern regarding the 0825 service as there were regular reports that the bus was full, especially when it was a ‘coach’ and therefore did not allow any standing passengers. A dedicated service was regularly justified.

(b) Review of Community Councils. EJ reported that Highland Council were commencing a review of the eight Community Council schemes currently in operation in Highland with a view to replacing them with one Highland scheme. EJ handed out copies of the timetable for the review which includes a 12 week Public Consultation period from 18th September to 18th December 2009. Highland Council propose that the new scheme will be based on the Scottish Government’s new Model Scheme, Constitution and Code of Conduct, details are available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/CommunityCouncils. The new Scheme will include a review of:o Size and composition of Community Councils including boundaries;o Election procedures;o Financial support;o Code of conduct and associated dispute resolution.Action: All to consider options ready for discussion at the next meeting

12. Dates of Future Meetings: (3rd Tuesday each month at 1930hours)

Tuesday 20th October 2009 at Munlochy (6.30pm site visit beforehand)

Tuesday 17th November 2009 at North Kessock

Tuesday 19th January 2010 at Munlochy

Tuesday 16th February 2010 at North Kessock

Tuesday 16th March 2010 at Munlochy.

Knockbain Community Council

Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 20th October 2009 at Munlochy

Present: Owen Smith (OS), Kate MacKay (KMK), Elaine Jones (EJ), Isobel McCallum (IMcC).

Apologies: Willie Paterson (WP), Jill Tilford (JT), Tony Morey (TM), Angela Biggar (AB).

Visitors: Kathleen MacLeod (KMcL), plus Graeme MacLeod (GMcL) for item 2 only.

1. OS welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. The meeting was preceded by a site visit to the Munlochy tennis courts and playing field.

2. Munlochy Sports Courts :OS reported that he had paced out the amount of space there would appear to be around the current hard-surfaced area – this ranged from about 3 metres at the rear (up to the fence) to a maximum of 6 metres along the side near the burn. KMcL stated that the documents specify the exact space, which includes the area behind the courts where the club house had been located and the curling pond which is farther back still. IMcC gave KMcL some guidelines which set out how to set up a community group and an example Constitution, this includes the need for a public meeting and IMcC said she would get some adverts drafted and hand them to KMcL. Action: KMcL to set up a public meeting which may be linked to the next Community Council meeting (17th November), in which case the venue would need to be changed to Munlochy. The Active Schools Coordinator for the Black Isle should be invited to attend the meeting. It was agreed that Knockbain CC would fund the hire of the hall for the public meeting and would fund the costs of any published adverts (eg Ross-shire Journal).OS queried whether the community project could be linked to improving the football pitch which is in need of better drainage. GMcL felt that the pitch would need significant work and thought that there would be better benefit in getting a multi-use hard standing facility. It is not yet known whether the existing tennis court surface would need to be completely ripped up or whether it could be re-surfaced. The existing area would also need to be expanded. It is not known whether this could be expanded towards the football pitch – the land ownership would need to be clarified.

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting: The Minutes of the meeting held on 15th September 2009 were approved – proposed by KMK and seconded by OS.

4. Finance: OS reported that he was still trying to meet with Linda Martin regarding the outstanding cheques. Action: OS to chase LM to update the signatories and to obtain cheques for the outstanding items. The chequebook should then be brought to each meeting to ensure that bills are paid promptly.

5. Correspondence: Correspondence and literature for the following was distributed:· Highland Council Licensing Board: Notification of applications from Munlochy Hotel to change their on sales operating hours on Saturday nights to allow them to trade until 1.00am into Sundays. Also to vary opening time on a Sunday from 12.30pm to 12.00 noon. · Newsletter of the Highland Environmental Network (An Arainneachd).· Association of Community Councillors: Newsletter and details of ASCC conference taking place on 14th November at the Scottish Parliament.· Booklet from DSM outlining their vision for Nigg Yard.· Highland Council: Copy of the Guide to the Planning System in Scotland.· Highlands & Islands Green Party: Letter detailing their views on the Inverness and A96 corridor elements of Highland Council’s recently issued ‘Main Issues’ report.· Scottish Government: Letter confirming that the previously notified changes to the planning system were brought into force on 3 August 2009. Full details are available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/publications/circulars These include:o Pre-application Consultationo Design and Access Statements required for national and major developmentso New Weekly listso Time period for responses to neighbour notification increased from 14 to 21 dayso Pre-determination Hearings (for all national and some major developments)o Decision Notices o Enforcement improvementso Appeals process speeded upo Local Review Body to determine some appeals.· Letter from a resident of Craigton which included a copy of her letter to Highland Council. The letter requests the cutting of roadside verges throughout the area to be greatly decreased for the following reasons:§ The flowers look attractive;§ To increase and conserve biodiversity;§ Financial cutbacks; and§ Decrease fossil fuel usage.All supported the request and it was agreed that OS should raise the suggestion at the next Black Isle Ward Forum. Action: OS

6. Black Isle Ward Forum: The next Ward Forum will take place on 12th November 2009 at Culbokie Primary School. The main topic will be the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge which will require lane closures for a six month period. This work is currently scheduled to commence in March 2011. Members of the public are urged to provide their input.

7. Matters Arising from Minutes of Previous Meeting:

(a) Highland Wide Development Plan: EJ reminded everyone that the deadline for responses is 9th November. All agreed that a response should be sent with the following points:- There should not be a presumption of further development on the Black Isle;- No further agricultural land on the Black Isle should be lost to housing:- Munlochy village currently ‘nestles’ nicely into the landscape and should not be expanded beyond existing boundaries;- Open spaces are crucial to the Highland lifestyle and we don’t want to lose any more;- Further development would add unacceptable pressure on existing facilities, especially transport links;- The Black Isle should be the “lungs” and not the “dormitory” of Inverness.Action: OS to e-mail a response.

(b) B9161 Junction with A9: there has been no progress but the Police do recognise that any crossover on a dual-carriageway is potentially dangerous. In addition to this Munlochy junction, the Allangrange junction is also getting busier as a result of commuters trying to avoid the delays in turning right – this has increased the amount of traffic on the narrow road. It was agreed to keep an eye on the situation and to consider asking for traffic counting if necessary.

(c) Bus Services: OS reported that there are still no bus timetables on display.

8. Planning: There were no applications to be discussed.

9. Reports: Munlochy/A832 junction: KMcL reported that the junction of the road from Station Brae and the A832 is overgrown and has poor visibility for those turning left towards Tore. There have been a number of crashes at this location recently. It was agreed that the landowner (Broadlands) should be contacted and requested to trim the bushes. If no action is forthcoming then Highland Council should be asked to pursue the issue. Action: EJThere were no new reports for Highland Council but all were concerned that there had been no action regarding the issues raised at the last meeting. Action: EJ to pursue with Roads Department.

10. Any Other Business: Munlochy Notice Board: OS to speak to Gordon Brown to arrange for the notice board in Munlochy to be better located. Action: OS

11. Dates of Future Meetings: (3rd Tuesday each month at 1930hours)

Tuesday 17th November 2009 at Munlochy

Tuesday 19th January 2010 at Munlochy (venue to be confirmed)

Tuesday 16th February 2010 at North Kessock

Tuesday 16th March 2010 at Munlochy.

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