Minutes Torryburn

Present: David Richards Cairneyhill
Muriel Colver Blairhall
John Bonnar Oakley/Comrie
John Crane Saline/Steelend
Willie Hepburn Kincardine
Marilyn Dennison Culross
Cllr Clelland Fife Council
Insp. Caldwell WF & C Villages Police

In Attendance: Hazel Jow Minute Secretary

Apologies: John Maxwell High Valleyfield
Ann Macdonald Cairneyhill
Jim Hensman Saline/Steelend
Sheila Carribine Low Valleyfield
Ray Wood Locality Manager
Matthew Ritchie Comm. Education Worker
Cllr. Walker Fife Council
Cllr. Ferguson Fife Council

Minutes of previous meeting – were amended to read:-
(Page 4) Cllr. Clelland advised that Cllr. Ferguson had also attended the site visit
The minutes were then proposed by Muriel Colver and seconded by John Crane.

Matters Arising – Referring to the planning issues, David Richards asked the Forum if they think that they should ever be pro or anti a given subject and should it be declared or whether it should be left to the individual community councils. David asked the members to discuss this with the various community councils and it would be put on the agenda for the next meeting.
Willie Hepburn commented that he didn’t think the Forum ever did give their support to the Comrie Colliery development. John Crane advised that, as Chairperson at that time, he wrote a letter to say that the Forum thought it was a good idea in principle as long as they stuck to legislation.
Marilyn asked Cllr. Clelland if he had heard any more from Stagecoach. Cllr. Clelland advised that he had heard nothing from them. John Bonnar commented that there were new, revised timetables out. Muriel told the Forum that a petition has been set up in Blairhall to reinstate the Falkirk bus; there are over 300 signatures on the petition. David asked Muriel if she wanted the Forum’s endorsement on this. The Forum agreed that they should support this and Muriel will state that on the letter to Transportation and Stagecoach. Insp. Caldwell suggested that Muriel also sends a copy to the Traffic Commissioner.

Correspondence – None

Police Report

Inspector Caldwell advised that Sgt. Stones has attended an interview for the Inspector process, if he is successful, Sgt. Bond will replace him.

There have been a lot of thefts of scrap from various villages. Some local people have been caught for theft from Saline Primary School.

Inspector Caldwell went on to give some details about the South West Fife Area Community Safety Co-ordinating Group which is chaired by the Chief Inspector. Among the main partners will be Transportation, Fife Fire and Rescue, Health, Environmental Services and Locality Managers. The purpose of the committee will be to identify community safety actions to be taken locally. The community constables have been asked to approach the community councils to identify 2 main issues which are affecting their community. This will not be a police driven committee and the councillors have made a conscientious decision not to be involved but they will received a report at the area committee meeting.
Marilyn asked if this committee will help with the various transportation issues affecting the communities at the moment as the individual community councils seem to get no-where with transportation services. Inspector Caldwell replied that the relevant departments will have to action requests accordingly and that it was pointless for the police to attend community council meetings if they cannot answer any of their requests. Marilyn asked Inspector Caldwell to confirm that it wasn’t just policing issues and he replied that this is correct, if more partners have to be brought in, this will happen.

Inspector Caldwell advised that most of the summer parades and galas went well although there were a couple of occasions when the application process had not been followed. He has spoken to the community councils about this. There is a page on the Fife Direct website which gives details of who to contact. Hazel will send this out with the minutes.

Community Council Feedback

Kincardine

There are problems with cars racing the lights in the middle of the village.
The Community Council had a walk across the new bridge; the evening was enjoyed by all who attended.
The Community Council has responded to the Local Plan.

Oakley

The community council has responded to the Local Plan.
John asked about community councils registering with the Public Information Commissioner. This costs £35 and community councillors are not comfortable with the fact that people can enter their houses to access their computers. Cairneyhill, Culross and Blairhall community councils have put this on hold. Kincardine and Saline had not heard of it. Fife Council is passing this back to the Scottish Executive.

Blairhall

Alan Seath from Lomond Homes attended the community council meeting. There are to be another 13 houses built at the Comrie Castle site, 6 of these are affordable housing. These houses are to be built in front of a terrace of houses. The people in this terrace are not happy as they were told that there would be no development in front of their houses. A discussion was held regarding whether they can do anything about this. Planning permission would need to be applied for in the first instance.
The new street at the bottom of the village is to be called Bowling Green Wynd.
The path from Blairhall to Newmills is almost complete.

Saline/Steelend

John Crane reported that Jim Hensman has taken ill on holiday and is in hospital in Carlisle. He will hopefully be home soon. The Forum asked John to send their best wishes to Jim.
There are 2 action groups in the village, one for the proposed wind farm and one for the open cast at Blair House. Community Councillors will attend these meetings as observers.
The annual flower show will take place in September. This will be the 103rd.
There is to be a vintage ploughing day on 20th September 2008.

Cairneyhill

The Community Council, under the Freedom of Information Act, sent a request to Fife Council regarding the land initially earmarked as a car park for the transport hub. Unfortunately there are no files available on this.
The community council has submitted 2 pages of observations on the Local Plan.

Council Officer’s Report

Cllr Clelland advised that one of the main issues in the villages at the moment is flooding. Drains cannot cope with the sudden deluge. It is important that these drains are kept de-silted to give them a chance to clear.
Re the mast in Saline, Cllr Clelland explained that there is a ruling that any building in the countryside must be positive or neutral. Because of this Cllr Clelland opposed the mast, Cllr McMullen seconded this but the votes were 5 to 4 for it. The mast will be erected for 5 years.

Planning Issues

Willie Hepburn advised that Kingdom Care, the company who applied to build a new nursing home in Kincardine, appealed the council’s decision at the beginning of June.
Culross community council has opposed the plans for houses at Erskine Brae.
John Crane commented that he thinks there should be some guidance available for community councils re planning aid. There are no clear rules about what happens to the money and how to apply for it. Cllr Clelland advised that not only do community councils not know, councillors don’t know and nor do council officials. He went on to give an example of this.

Any other Business

David attended the West Fife Villages Planning Group meeting. Their guest speaker was a man from Lanarkshire who runs a club for quad bikes etc. It is hoped that a similar initiative can be started in the villages. David commented that this was a really interesting presentation. Inspector Caldwell explained that this is a long term action plan and that he would like this to be community driven.

Date of Next Meeting – The next meeting will be held on Thursday 25th September 2008 at 6.00 p.m. within Blairhall New Community Centre.

West Fife Villages Community Forum

AGENDA

Thursday 25 September 2008

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting

3. Matters Arising

4. Correspondence

5. Police Report

6. Community Council Feedback

7. Council Officers Reports

8. Planning Issues

9. Message in a Bottle – Sheila Carribine

10. Any other Business

11. Date of Next Meeting

WEST FIFE & COASTAL VILLAGES COMMUNITY FORUM

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2008

Present: David Richards Cairneyhill
Muriel Colver Blairhall
John Bonnar Oakley/Comrie
John Crane Saline/Steelend
Jim Hensman Saline/Steelend
Sheila Carribine Low Valleyfield
John Duffy Torryburn/Newmills
Willie Hepburn Kincardine
Marilyn Dennison Culross
Cllr Clelland Fife Council
Cllr Ferguson Fife Council
Chief Insp. Woods WF & C Villages Police
Sgt. Bond WF & C Villages Police

In Attendance: Hazel Jow Minute Secretary
Anne Gilmour Libraries & Museums
Bob Izatt Libraries & Museums

Apologies: John Maxwell High Valleyfield
Ann Macdonald Cairneyhill
Jim Tolson MSP

Libraries & Museums – Service Review

Anne Gilmour and Bob Izatt from libraries and museums service attended the meeting to explain to the community councils about the service review which is taking place. They gave a brief presentation and explained that they were anxious to hear the views of the people who do not use the service. They would like as many people as possible to complete the online questionnaire. They went on to explain the various changes which would be taking place and that customers want a more interactive experience than before. They would also like to develop the service they give to housebound clients and clients with other special needs. The review will be completed by the end of the year.

Sheila Carribine took the opportunity to praise the excellent mobile library service.

Marilyn Dennison suggested they use the ‘People’s Panel’ who are a group of people who complete online questionnaires.

Anne asked if there was a community website and John Bonnar suggested that they use the Local Planning Group website.

David thanked Anne and Bob for attending the meeting and asked everyone to go online and to encourage others to do the same.

Police Report

Chief Inspector Woods introduced Roger Bond to the Forum; he has been seconded to Oakley from Dalgety Bay. He then went on to give his report for the villages. Crime figures are similar to this time last year but with a higher detection rate.

They are still evaluating the community safety week. There was a poor show in some of the villages and they are not sure why this is. It could be poor advertising or because of the time it was held. There was a high turn out in High Valleyfield and Kincardine.

There has been approval to develop community safety co-ordinating group. The Forum needs to take a large part in this as they would like their input and views on policing.

Cllr. Ferguson thanked the police for their help with all the galas this year. Chief Inspector Woods commented that there are many benefits to this as it is almost like having a ‘bobby on the beat’.

Minutes of previous meeting – were amended to read:-
(Council Officer’s Report) Cllr. Clelland and John Bonnar attended the Scottish Parliament.
(Cairneyhill Report) The community council’s real concerns are the breaching of the village envelope.
The minutes were then proposed by Jim Hensman and seconded by Willie Hepburn.

Matters Arising – David Richards handed out copies of the amended constitution to all present. Marilyn asked if the copies would also be e-mailed to all members. Hazel agreed to do this.
Marilyn asked the councillors present if there has been any feedback from Stagecoach. Cllr. Ferguson advised that he had heard very little, there are still concerns with the times for the nurses. Cllr. Ferguson agreed to chase this up and will ask for another meeting with them.

Correspondence – None

Community Council Feedback

Oakley

The community council has been advised that they should be registered under the Data Protection Act and that this would cost £35. John asked for other community council’s opinions on this. Marilyn and David both advised that this should be referred back to Fife Council Law & Admin.

Culross

The community council are hoping to work with the Youth Forum along with Cllr. Ferguson to get youth facilities in the village.

Low Valleyfield

Still an ongoing problem with the birds and dogs in the village. Technical Services have handled this very poorly and complaints have gone in about this.
Cllr. Ferguson commented that the environment officer has been very negative and that he will be holding a meeting with Inspector Caldwell and the heads of service about it.

Torryburn/Newmills

John had very little to report apart from their ongoing concerns with paying hall rent which had been reported in the Dunfermline Press.

Saline/Steelend

Transportation attended a community council meeting to discuss speeding through the village. There was a large turnout from the community at this meeting. They were advised that nothing can be done about this unless there is an accident.
There will be 2 meetings about the open cast; UK Coal will be attending one of them.

Cairneyhill

Hanging baskets have been stolen from the village.
The youth club finances have been resolved and although there are not a lot of members attending, they are hoping this will increase.
A wreath will be placed on the memorial on the 1st July to commemorate Somme Day and Veteran’s Day.
David went on to say that the community council are very grateful to the council’s gardening department who are doing a brilliant job in the village.

Council Officer’s Report

Cllr. Clelland had a site visit with BEAR Scotland in Kincardine. They walked around the village to note problems with flooding etc.
He has also attended a meeting with Steelend Tenants Association and there will be signage going up at the east end of the village.
Cllr. Ferguson advised that the councillors had raised the problem about hall rent with the area committee and that he is expecting feedback at the next meeting.

Planning Issues

A petition is being circulated around the community councils concerning the development at the Comrie Colliery site. John Duffy advised that they had been told that the Forum was supporting this. The Local Planning Group has written to ask if this would go on the Structure Plan but as yet have had no reply. John Crane commented that the Forum has already written to support the principle behind using Brownfield site. David stated that the Forum has made observations that this petition has an un-named sponsor and at this time they reserve any comment or judgement. David went on to ask that this be remitted to the community councils for individual consideration. Cllr. Clelland advised that according to the 2002 structure plan, a new development is a ‘no go’.

Muriel advised that the proposal for houses at the south of the village has had a continuance. Cllr. Clelland said this has been taken off the table at the moment but that 13 more houses are to be built at the top of the village.

Any other Business

WFV Community Planning Group is holding their AGM on 2nd July. Bob Reid from North Lanarkshire Council will be attending to discuss his experience setting up clubs for motorbike and quad users.

Muriel asked if Fife Council is considering contracting out the Home Care service. The councillors have not heard anything but the meeting was disrupted by the Campaign against Charges group.

Marilyn asked why the blue bins were lifted at the same frequency as the grey bins. This led to a discussion re landfill etc.

Date of Next Meeting – The next meeting will be held on Thursday 28th August 2008 at 6.00 p.m. within Blairhall New Community Centre.