Draft Minutes for approval

CREICH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 16th October 2018 at 7.30pm in Hall

Present: Ron Boothroyd, Vice Chair, (RB), Russell Taylor, Treasurer (RT), Russell Smith (RS) Alexandar Campion (AC) Apologies: Pete Campbell, Chair (PC), Norman MacDonald (NM), John White (JW), Brian Coghill (BC) Police : None present; report received by email Also attending: Councillor Kirsteen Currie (KC), Michael Baird, Ricky Vetters, Jennifer Munro

Item 1. Welcome/Apologies (as above)/Police report. Acting Chair Ron Boothroyd opened the meeting. The police report was received by email. This procedure for the future is accepted with the recommendation that, when officers are available, they do attend in person. The report covered sixteen items, several of which were routine with four reportable incidents. Five of pest control, four road traffic, one medical matter, one alarm activation, one concern for person, one disorder, one child protection, one mountain rescue and one road traffic fixed penalty (speeding). Police Action. Item 2. Minutes of the last meeting/matters arising. The Minutes of the September meeting were approved as a true and accurate record; proposed: Alexander Campion; seconded: Mary Goulder. Matters arising: (1) Creich cemetery paths. KC confirmed that this is on the list of works to be completed as soon as possible. (2) Recycling point. No update available regarding the returning of the bins to the South Bonar site. (3) Verge cutting being done and appreciated, especially on single track roads. (4) Road surfacing. Being carried out in the Rosehall area. This is very much welcomed by the community. (5) Loch Buidhe sub-station. Siemens/BAM winding up their part in this site construction. Final road inspections are being carried out in conjunction with THC. KC will monitor ongoing issues. KC Action. Item 3. Regular updates: (i) Planning & Licensing. (RS) Expansion at Ardgay Game. No objections. Good to see a local business expanding. (ii) TECS. See Matters arising (Item 2 above.) KC Action. (iii) Financial report. (RT) Treasurer’s account stands at £3,919.06 reflecting the receipt of THC annual grant, minus the insurance premium, and the transfer of £5,000 from the Beinn Tharsuinn fund as agreed last month. The CC’s overwhelming disappointment at the 50% cut to the annual grant was noted once again. The Rock-by-Sea Training & Development Fund balance is £7,188.20 which reflects the payments made following grant awards last month. KC was asked to research whether the grant payments made by THC are in line with those awarded by other local councils. KC Action. (iiii) Police Matters. Nothing to add. (v) Kyle of Development Trust. (RB) In transition awaiting the new manager taking up post on 29th October. Directors and David Watson will meet that evening. David Watson will be invited to attend the November CC meeting. RB Action. RB confirmed that work began on schedule on 15th October by Albyn Housing on the site at The Barn, Ardgay. (vi) Rosehall. Core paths, Rosehall Estate. KC had checked with Matt Dent. No changes will be made to the paths following the consultation at the start of the year. (vii) Invershin. (PC) Nothing to report. (viii) Highland Councillor’s report. (1) KC confirmed that all but two of the public toilets in Sutherland will remain open following a change of decision by THC. Achmelvich and Kinlochbervie will close but there are plans to replace both. Locals there appear pleased with the outcome. THC is funding the toilets plan via the Rural Infrastructure Fund. (2). With other concerned councillors KC hopes to ensure proper research and understanding of issues by THC prior to the finalisation of next year’s budget. Impact assessments and talks are ongoing. (3) Sutherland Schools Big Day Out is being rescheduled after recent postponement. (4) Early Years Childcare Provision. Areas for improvement have been identified with funding secured. Universal provision for 3 – 5-year-olds, with some available to qualifying 2-year-old children. (5) RT asked for confirmation from KC, as a matter of record, that her Councillor colleagues Linda Munro and Hugh Morrison had voted in the budget vote to close the toilets while she had objected. This was confirmed. (ix) Broadband. (RB) RB confirmed that the link between Bonar Bridge and Rosehall is being tested. Once successful a public meeting will be held in Rosehall to present the scheme to residents/business with the invitation extended to place orders. It is hoped the meeting will be scheduled by mid-November. RB commented that there was some disappointment with the lack of take-up of the provision by properties above Bonar Bridge. Several reasons may account for this. A house to house leaflet drop will be organised along with local poster displays to spread awareness. Full information is available on the websites of Highland Wireless and KOSDT. Item 4. Windfarm updates. Nil of note. Item 5. Website. The website is up to date. AC presented a view of the proposed Facebook page. He will circulate this to CCs asking for comments regarding the page, profile picture and suggestions for content. It was suggested that the existing CC logo be added. Information regarding the currently available Highland Wireless broadband provision and the forthcoming expansion of the areas covered will also be added. AC will monitor the page once it is public with people encouraged to submit posts. Management filters will operate with appropriate guidelines for acceptable posting behaviour clearly defined. A tourism page may be included. The Facebook presence should prove a useful tool to involve the public more with the CC, providing the opportunity for comments/opinions. Relevant links will be provided as well as Twitter and Instagram. Once CCs have agreed content and guidelines, AC will make the page publicly available. RB and AC will have discussions regarding the future of the website the upkeep of which AC may take over from RB in due course. AC was thanked for his work so far on this project. AC/RB Action. Item 6. Correspondence. (1) All correspondence received had been circulated by email. Item 7. Any other competent business. (1) Air ambulance landing sites/Resilience plans. Question raised regarding suitable landing sites for air ambulances throughout the CC area. Are there Resilience Plans in place? Scottish Ambulance Service will be asked if they hold a register of approved landing sites. SSE will be contacted regarding Resilience Plans. An invitation could be issued to the SSE Resilience Officer to discuss this further. MG Action. (2) Winter maintenance plan. KC will send a copy to MG for circulation. AC offered to research local volunteers, with appropriate vehicles, prepared to take on some road clearing when required. KC/AC Action. (3) Wreath laying. A volunteer is urgently sought to lay the CC’s wreath in Bonar Bridge on 11th November. The wreath has been ordered via RBLS. RS will do this if no-one else comes forward. All CCs to be emailed. KC will be attending the ceremony. MG/All Action. Item 11. Date, time and place of next meeting. The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 20th November in Invershin Hall. MG to book the room. MG Action. Item 12. Private session. Beinn Tharsuinn community benefit. At a private session following the main meeting application by the Friends of Bradbury Centre for £500, to help fund an ongoing music and alternative treatments programme, was discussed. This project was previously awarded £500 in May 2017; no conditions were placed on that award. Applicants will be asked for more information, e.g. why has no application been made to the Edderton Beinn Tharsuinn Fund, are users of this programme asked to contribute a nominal charge? Once this information is received all CCs will be emailed with a view to a decision prior to the next meeting. MG Action.

Meeting closed 8.45pm.

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