Venue: Cockburnspath Village School
Presentation
Before the meeting began a small presentation was made by the Council
Chairman, John Hay to our Local Village Shop/P.O. owner Claire Wright for
having done so well in the Countryside Alliance Best Rural Retailer Awards.
Although Claire was not the winner the community felt that a small
record of her near success in the form of an engraved Glass Plaque was
well deserved. Council member Jean Virtue also presented flowers.
The Council meeting then began
1. Present: John Hay (Chairman), Clifford Bertram (Vice Chairman), Tom
Dean (Secretary), Jean Virtue, Marnie McGregor, David Arnott, Peter
Hood, Matt Deeming, KateTulloch, Councillor David Raw, PC Jim Wilson
(Duns) and 4 members of the community.
1.1. Apologies: Angela Brading (Treasurer)
2. Adoption of minutes from 8th January 2008:
2.1. Minutes discussed and accepted.
3. Police
PC Wilson said that 3 incidents were reported involving youths, but
again these are not being backed up with a name or description, which does
cause difficulty for the Police when trying to resolve these problems.
One problem was drink related involving, a male supplying underage
youths, he remained unidentified and an appeal was made to those present
that if anyone knew who this individual was then let the police know so
that they could deal with it. Also PC Wilson was asked if he was able to
test any of the drinks being used for alcohol content, as the questioner
was aware of such a test kit being used successfully by the Fife police.
Councillor Raw said he would investigate the possibility of a bye -
law for the locality, prohibiting drinking on the streets. Also he responded
to a question asked about getting the parents and children involved in
some dialogue on the problems in the village, although this had been tried
without success last year he thought more efforts should still be made.
PC Wilson recommended that PC Jamie Stewart (Youth Integration Officer)
should be contacted if help was required when going down this route.
A general discussion took place, including the topic of a police presence
in the area and it was stated that cars from Dunbar and BE Nuclear police
do regularly pass through the village although the Nuclear police have
no authority over local incidents and would just pass them on.
Following this, questions were asked about appropriate responses to
the confrontations that are increasingly arising when the older groups
of children/persons are involved and once again it was repeated that names,
descriptions and witness corroboration are required for the police to be
most effective.
4. Matters Arising:
SBC Safer Communities Seminar ............................................................................
7th Jan. 2008 12th Feb. 2008.
This meeting
(12th) was cancelled due weather and lack of interest.
RAF Low Flying Presentation ....................................................................................Council
Meeting 9th April 2008
This presentation
is now arranged and will be held in the Village Hall. Advertising material
has also been
supplied.
5. Correspondence:
SBC Budget briefing ................................................................................................................................
4th Feb 2008.
No members attended this meeting
A tight budget but real solutions for Scottish Borders.
This was an email from Councillor Cook summarizing the content of the above
meeting
SBC Intergenerational Road show ..........................................................................................................
25th Feb 2008
No members to attend this road show.
SBC Data protection laws and Community Councils
Email from ASCC warning Community Councils of a likely charge to all Community
Councils of £35 to register
with the Office of the Information Commissioner (IOC) in order to comply
with the Data Protection Act. SBC have
requested that until a decision is made on this all Councils should hold
any proposed action in abeyance.
SBC Consultation on the School Year and School Week .......................................................................
14th April 2008
Chairman suggested asking Hugh MacAleese (Headmaster) to attend next meeting
to advise. Secretary to
Arrange.
SBC Dog Fouling
Additional Publicity for this campaign, now on Notice Boards.
SBC Community Safety Partnership new road safety campaign
This is a 3-month campaign to raise awareness.
SBC Scrutiny Panel Work for 2008.- Report on Grounds Maintenance
This was information sent by Brian Emmerson, SBC following our submission
to the Scrutiny Panel and comes
from the 20th December 2007 meeting of the Panel. It was in reply to our
complaint about inadequate grass cutting
in the cemetery areas. The result should be an improvement in quality.
SBCCN Meeting ........................................................................................................................13th
February 2008
This notification came in late came, but is also being held tonight so
no member is attending.
Lothian&Borders Police Custody Visiting Scheme ............................................................................
1st March 2008
Volunteers requested to attend meeting in Edinburgh, none forthcoming.
NHS Borders Response to Public Engagement Paper.
Our comments on this paper are acknowledged in this letter.
Scotland Rural Development 2007-2013 Programme - Public
Meetings ................................................. 30th Jan 2008
Nobody attended this meeting, so there is no report on this.
SEPA Dunbar Incinerator ...............................................................................................................
4th March 2008
There is information in circulation and on the Internet on this, no comments
so far.
BAC An Opportunity for Community Councils.
This was an email regarding the pre meetings that take place before BAC
meetings
Digital Forum - Meeting ......................................................................................................................
8th Feb. 2008
No member attended this meeting..
DIGITAL-UK Borders Digital Changeover .............................................................................................
November 2008
The Chairman will be attending a meeting in the Church Hall on 20th February.
RAF Low Flying Notification .......................................................................................................
11th 21st March 2008
Information posted on the Village Notice Boards.
BE Meeting at Torness ............................................................................................................................
11th Feb. 2008
Torness to LLC.
This was a notification
of a meeting to held at Torness re: plans by UK Government on the future
of New Nuclear
Generation, no members
to attend.
Energy Saving Trust Training Courses
Invite to attend
the set of courses to be held.
Border Organic Recycling.
No interest
shown in the adoption of this commercial operation.
A query was
raised with respect to the recycling of batteries and the lack of facilities/info
for this, Councillor Raw will
look into this.
Jim Clark Rally Meeting ....................................................................................................................
28th Jan 2008
Councillor Raw attended
this meeting...
Academic Research Wind Farms
Request received
from a Glasgow University student researching the agreements that Scottish
Community Councils
have with their
local Windfarm Operators. This information was supplied.
6. Planning Matters:
Tower Farm Office Accommodation - The Chairman contacted Robin
Drysdale regarding the likely problem with the
access via the slip road. He recommends a site meeting with Drysdales,
SBC Planners, Roads (Bear) and Community Council to resolve any problems.
The secretary to look into this. There were no other comments on the application.
Drone Hill Wind Farm - A notification received that the
application, which was rejected, is going to an Appeal.
The Old Smiddy - No comments on this amended application.
7. Any other business:
Kate Tulloch Incinerator - IRATE latest (SEPA). The Opposition
Group are raising the anti on this application with
more leaflets to circulate and a new website now up and running, www.keepdunnysunny.com.
Hoprig Road Condition Condition of the road has deteriorated, Councillor
Raw will investigate this
problem.
David Arnott What is the latest on the Appeal re: Cove Development
Still not known, David Raw will find out.
Deterioration of surface of Cove Road David Raw will look into this also.
Up-date on Planning issues at Houses at a) Station and b) Coastguard lookout
Re: the Station houses.
David Raw will look into this and also stated that a Planning Enforcement
Officer had now been appointed
who will look into the Coastguard house problem
Chairman Problem with household waste bags He had received letters
explaining the reasons why these had
happened and hopefully this would not occur again in the future.
Tollview Development Update Letter from Ian Gaul received stating that
minor problems remain to be
completed, but they should not delay the start of the work by too much,
which is later this year.
Bankhead Cemetery Marnie asked about the problem with drainage/flooding,
Councillor Raw will be notified
when work is to begin. Also the Reverend Anne Lithgow asked her if a sign
could be put in place
to indicate the name and where the cemetery was.
Cockburnspath Roundabout Could the vegetation be cut back to improve
visibility when approaching from all
directions, also state of road after recent work. Secretary to contact
Bear about the situation.
Toll View Notice Board - Repair is required, Chairman will arrange
this.
Affordable housing Councillor Raw mentioned that information will be
soon be available on Community Land
Trusts which enable areas such as Cockburnspath to build their own supply
of such housing. He thought
it was something the Community Council might consider.
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY 12th March 2008, in the school at 7pm