October 2007 minutes

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2007 IN CULBOKIE PRIMARY SCHOOL.

PRESENT: Colin Craig (Chair), Roger Percy, Sally Falconer, Joan More, Moira Grieve, Hamish MacCulloch, Dave Scott, Joy Winnock, Margaret Currie, Cllr. Isobel MacCallum. Members of the public, Donna Dingwall, Alastair Rose, Les Robinson, Kurtis Toy.

APOLOGIES: Sheila Maher, Ann Acock

The Chairman delayed items 1 and 2 of the agenda in the hope that the proposed speakers would arrive.

MINUTES: The minutes from 17th September meeting were read and approved by Joan More and seconded by Joy Winnock.

MATTERS ARISING: Dial-a-bus; Joan More was able to report that after several phone calls new and more suitable arrangements were in place. Joan More was also able to report that Brian Duff of Forest Enterprise had agreed some improvements to the access to the Monadh Mhor from the Brae of Balnabeen and will progress the request for a memorial.

LEADER QUESTIONNAIRE: This related to the availability of funds for Community based projects and was being led by the Ward Managers. Sheila Maher and Joy Winnock had circulated members seeking their responses to this questionnaire which was trying to identify the Community’s priorities for projects. Joy will continue to take this forward.

LOCATION OF A PUBLIC NOTICEBOARD: Roger Piercy reported that he had sent to the Planning Department photographs of the 2 possible positions on the walls of the Culbokie Shop along with the details of the construction materials.

CULBOKIE VILLAGE SIGNS : This item is ongoing and will continue to be placed on the Agenda.

MAINTENANCE OF CULBOKIE PUMP AREA: The Community Council record their gratitude to the volunteer now attending to the tubs and ground around the village pump.

CULBOKIE PRIMARY SCHOOL: No progress on this matter; it could eventually become the subject of a LEADER project.

MOUNT EAGLE DEVELOPMENT. Still being closely monitored.

GREEN GYM: Roger Piercy had invited Ebony Reid to address this meeting but she has not been able to attend.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT: Roger reported that he had had to cancel the October meeting due to a lack of accommodation. It might be necessary to change both the day of the week and the location of future meetings. The “Mushrooms and Maggots” walk was extremely successful with 40 turning up in excellent weather to be guided through the Culbokie Woods. Our guides had to adjust their technique as it was going to be very unenvironmental to have so many people trampling through the undergrowth. The website has the photos to prove what a good afternoon it was.

AOCB:
Orienteering. Roger will liase with the Inverness Orienteering Club who are acting on behalf of the Highland Schools orienteering Club who have expressed an interest in the Course being reorganised. Margaret Currie help with the discussions.
Freeview reception. Dave Scott reported on conversations that he had been having with regard to the very poor and infrequent reception available to the public in this area. He will write to Ofcom and express our concerns.
Broadband. Still no signs of an introduction of this service to the area around the Easter Kinkell area. The matter has been taken up by HIE and the Highland Council.
Plot of ground to the west of the Culbokie School entrance. No response from Alpha Schools as to their intentions. The Secretary will write again.
Carn Mhor public footpath. The verge alongside the public footpath leading into the Carn Mhor housing is now overgrown and requires attention. The Secretary will write to UIST Builders to establish their intentions and will offer our assistance as to how the verge can be treated; it was thought that the original intention had been for trees to have been planted.
Road verges. Concern was once again expressed at the random and un-thoughtful methods applied to trimming the roadside verges.

PLANNING POLICY: Colin took us through his proposed Planning Policy document. It was agreed to include the term “Social Housing” and to change the bullet points into numbers. Colin will sign this document and issue it to all Councillors as our confirmed Policy.

PLANNING MATTERS: There were no planning applications to discuss. However, a general discussion took place as to whether the Highland Council had a “Garage Policy”. This was a term used whilst we were objecting to an application for a triple garage with a flat above it which was deemed not to constitute an application for a house and was therefore acceptable. Councillors expressed concern having had considerable experience of applications for non-houses that ultimately get accepted as a house. It was felt that it would be very beneficial to this Community Council that we had only one Planning Official to deal given the considerable changes that had taken place in the Department.

CORRESPONDENCE: None