MUIRTOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Chairman: J Kidd Secretary: Ruth MacLeod 6 Firthview Drive 13 King Brude Terrace Inverness Inverness IV3 8NS IV3 8PT 01463 240493 Tel: 01463 235137 [email protected] [email protected]

Minute of Meeting - Muirtown Community Council Monday 20 April 2015 @ 7.00pm in Muirtown Primary School

Present: Mr J Kidd (Chairman) Mr K Cormack Apologies: Cllr A Graham Cllr G Ross Ms R MacLeod (Secretary) Mr R Reed Ms S Gillies (Treasurer) Mr R Bowie Mrs C Forbes Mr B Anderson Mr M MacLennan Attending: PC S McLean Mr J Cumming Mrs Margos (Resident)

1.0 Apologies Apologies received on behalf of Ms S Gillies (Treasurer), Cllr A Graham, Cllr G Ross.

Action 2.0 Previous Minute – Minutes from previous meeting 23 March 2015 were accepted as an accurate record with an amendment to in Item 3.0 - Persons Charged – 8 and not 0, as recorded. Proposed by R Reed and 2nd by J Kidd.

3.0 Police Report

Total Incidents for the period : 51 calls to wider beat area : 5 reported crimes (figure amended) in Muirtown Beat Area with 1 person reported/charged.

PC McLean reported Road Safety Checks via Operation Route (deterring / improving / educating divers) were ongoing within the area & Fixed Penalty Notices issued where appropriate.

Confirmation one ongoing anti-social case which has now been placed on Stage 1 Operation Notebook - (multi-agency liaison with 3 stages – Stage 1 (3 calls reported - receive a letter of caution) to Stage 3 (Loss of tenancy / ASBO / Prosecution)

Reports of damage to car wing mirror (Glengarry Rd) & to window (Swanston Ave)

Locally patrols are being carried out regarding youths causing disturbance Craigard Terr.

Parking at Muirtown Primary continues to be an issue but Highland Council Road Safety team now involved & plans for road markings are in place meantime cones will be used to deter parking.

Call 101 to report any suspicious activities. Call 999 for any emergency situation Crimestoppers 0800 555 111. .

4.0 Matters Arising

4.1 Carsegate Road – Recycling Plant E-mail received extending invitation to attend meeting with Merkinch CC / Secty / businesses/residents/ in immediate BA / JC area. Secty had responded with an e- mail of support on behalf of Muirtown CC. Further communication advising 4.2 Carsegate Action Group had been formed and would seek to petition Highland Council, as Landlords, to refuse Lease Application. B Anderson & J Cumming agreed to attend further meetings.

Muirtown Basin – Watersports Facility Building Proposals & Clachnaharry Village Workshop – 1st April Scottish Canals extended an invite to meeting (Chairman attended) with aim of developing fundraising strategy & feasibility Plan for Sea Scouts relocation and on the main issues requiring to be addressed at Clachnaharry Village (traffic, village character & quarry site ) following on from the Charette. /Cont… Action

4.2 As recorded previously, whilst local residents are supportive of the ALL development the main issue was Clachnaharry Quarry Site and the size of proposed flatted development at. 2.5 storeys with access/parking. The land at present is boggy/marshy and there was local doubt as to suitability of the land regarding building foundations.

Mrs Margos spoke on behalf of residents who simply fee the scope/height of the development is too large and not in keeping with village and it’s status. Representation must be made prior to request this be looked at prior to detailed planning stage.

5.0 Treasurer’s Report Treasurer reported balance of : Previous Balance £2,570.62 Ddt: No February deductions 0.00 Available Balance £2,570.62

Requests received – Charleston Community Complex – Gala Fun Day Agreement to provide £250 donation proposed by R Bowie and 2nd J Cumming

6.0 Member’s Issues

6.1 Assynt Road / Canal Path Highland R Bowie asked if a wheelie bin could be place at this location. Council

6.2 Clachnaharry House Mrs Margos highlighted the issue of an unsafe wall where 2 coping stones had already fallen.

6.3 Seagulls Letter to Highland Council, Environmental Health, TECs and to Inverness BID to address the problem of Seagulls swooping on people/children and bins in City Centre. Problem appears to ALL have increased and a cull at nesting stage was suggested.

6.4 Layby’s at Blackpark Parking in lay-by’s at Blackpark has been a problem with parents who are bringing their children Cllrs ?? to the play park. Residents drives and pavements are regularly blocked and Mr Cumming asking if an area could be created to alleviate the problem.

7.0 Highland Councillors Report

No Councillors Present

8.0 Correspondence

IACCF : Option 6 – West Link / Inverness Area CC Forum A request was submitted by IACCF to Fergus Ewing MSP regarding ‘Value for Money’ on the escalation of costs pointing out that despite constant requests for further investigation of alternative/cheaper schemes and asking Scottish Government to investigate to ensure money is not wasted.

A response was received from HC with a synopsis of all the stages for the ‘preferred route’ detailing costs in 2012 (£27.22m); 2013 (34.4m) and 2015 at £36.6m. Further detailing £3.75m expected from developer contributions.

Timescales for work on Stage 1 (River Crossing) scheduled 2016 with Stage 2 (Canal Crossing) scheduled to commence 2019.

Reiterating that the council followed the statutory processes and as the 4 remaining objectors had withdrawn from the CPO process – the scheduled Public Local Inquiry (May 2015) was no longer required.

The meeting felt that despite a ‘response’ having been received – it was merely information already known without fully addressing the strength of public objection.

9.0 Planning

9.1 Request to investigate planning information at 1 Highfield Avenue – Secretary to action Secty

Action 10.0 AOCB

10.1 Fire at Academy Street – alternative arrangements for buses put in place were deemed to be inadequate & not well enough publicised. Fears were also expressed that the historic building ALL (Original Academy) may be demolished and replaced with something not in keeping with the original style. It was hoped that as in the case of the old Queensgate Hotel that the building could be dismantled with care in the hope of re-instating as original, at the appropriate time but this would remain unknown until structural investigations took place.

10.2 Christine Forbes This was the last meeting attended by Mrs Forbes, who was standing down due to relocating to Lewis. It was felt that her time should be recognised and tribute should be recorded to Mrs Forbes as the longest standing Community Councillor for Muirtown, serving almost 30 years.

It was agreed that “Thank You” seemed quite inadequate but in typical fashion, Mrs Forbes did not want a ‘fuss’ - so some time was set aside at the end of the meeting for our Chairman to say a few words acknowledging her long service to the community & expressing thanks. A card, along with a small token of our appreciation (Silver Brooch & Presentation Box) was presented to her, with our warmest wishes for her relocation.

We are sure Community Councillors (past & present), and the residents of the area, particularly Canal Terrace, will all miss Mrs Forbes greatly for her commitment, input, knowledge and kindness. 11.0 Date of Next Meeting: AGM incorporating Ordinary Meeting to be held on Monday 25 May 2015 at 7.00pm – Muirtown Primary School

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 8.35pm