Community Council

Members of the Community Council

STRATHNAIRN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

DRAFT Strathnairn Community Council

Strathnairn Community Council Notes General Meeting No. 169
Monday 2 June 2008 Farr Village Hall, Inverarnie

Present:
T Smith (Chair)
S Amor
R Arthur
S Moore (arrived later)
J MacPherson
I MacQueen
W MacQueen
S Webster
G Steel
M Davidson (Member)

1.Welcome
Community Councillors, Highland Council members and the public were welcomed to the meeting. Also present, Alan McIntyre from Renewable Energy Systems (RES)

2.Apologies
Jim Crawford
Helen Carmicheal

3.RES wind farm proposal
The Agenda was revised to allow for a presentation from RES to update the SNCC on proposals for a wind farm at Dumnaglass.

The presentation addresses the following:
Background: The original proposal submitted for planning was for 36 turbines on the Dumnaglass Estate. These had been subject to consultation with statutory and non statutory organisations, the public and Community Councils. There had been wide ranging feedback and comments which had been incorporated into the revised scheme. The issues addressed included the following:
Visual impact of the turbines
Making the best use of on site tracks
Further work to address and minimise concerns re the impact on raptors, golden plovers, otters, vegetation, heather, peat, on site drainage, cabling options, grid connections, land access, tourism, road access and transportation of construction materials, (with particular reference to aggregates).
Improvements to the B851 as the main access route to the site.

The revised application for planning for 33 turbines of greater height had now been resubmitted to Highland Council. A view from Highland Council is expected for the end of 2008, with a further view from the Scottish Government into 2009, or a public enquiry if approval is not given. If given the go ahead, the installation will begin 2012/13. If the development goes ahead there will be community benefit funding for the Strath.

After the presentation there was little discussion from the SNCC or members of the public. Subsequent discussion followed regarding the following:
The offer from Highland Council Planning to meet with members of the SNCC to discuss planning gain for road improvements for the B851. The following CCs offered to be involved: RA, WMcQ, SA.
The offer to meet with Fiona Duffy, Ward Manager to discuss community benefit. It was agreed that SNCC would approach the Chair of the SNCBF for two representatives of the Directors to be involved in this meeting with the Chair and the Secretary of SNCC.

4.Minutes of previous meeting 7 April 2008
Following a discussion over the phrasing re item 5, the ‘community council were supportive of the view that the Care in Strathnairn Committee and the Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund meet to share experiences and to detail funding options for subsequent years, it was proposed and agreed that this should be changed to ‘community council recommended that the Care in Strathnairn Committee and the Strathnairn Community Benefit meet to share experiences and to detail funding options for subsequent years’

A further addition to the note was requested for item 9, ‘The Treasurers report was presented’.

With these issues addressed, the notes were accepted, proposed by JS and seconded by SW.

5.Matters arising
a.Daviot foot path
Feedback had been received form Highland Council who advised that a site visit had been made. This had reported that ‘one of the access slabs has a slight drop in it which will be attended to in due course.  It is not considered hazardous at the present time.’ 

b.Newsletter
Thanks were accorded to Kath Wright for another excellent edition. The Chair had been approached by Mr D Rennie who has offered to undertake future printing of the Newsletter through his printing business. This very generous offer was accepted with thanks.

c.Farr Post Office
No formal feedback to the CC had been made although the announcements for closing the service at Invernarnie Stores had now been made. This decision was met with dismay.

d.Inverarnie Housing development allocation
This is an outstanding matter to be followed up by the Secretary.

e.Care in Strathnairn
Concerns were raised by members of the public, some of whom were involved with Care In Strathnairn, that the proposed meeting between the benefit fund and Care In Strathnairn was not be until July/August, and that this was a long time given the concerns for the project had been raised at the April meeting. Community Councillors were concerned that issues discussed at the last meeting re communication and understanding between Care in Strathnairn and SNCBF had not been resolved. This was regrettable for all concerned.

MD informed members that she had been able to facilitate a meeting between Highland Council Social Work and Care in Strathnairn to seek support and funding in recognition of the service they are providing to older people in the Strath. The outcome of this meeting had yet to be confirmed. The support for what Care in Strathnairn is seeking to achieve was welcomed by the council.

Footnote:
Subsequent discussion over communication received by SNCC re Community Mediation Services who provide independent mediation services prompted a proposal that they be approached to see if they would facilitate a meeting between the SNCC, SNCBF and Care in Strathnairn to bring together the respective Chairs and one other representative to support a meeting to address communication and understanding between the three groups. This was endorsed by members.

Action
SNCC Chair to approach Chairs of the SNCBF and Care in Strathnairn to seek their involvement in such a meeting
SNCC Secretary to approach Highland Community Mediation for support

f.Update on roads
i.Investment in South Loch Ness
MD advised that the opportunity remained for south Loch Ness community councils to lobby Highland Council for improvements to the road infra structure.

Action: Chair to approach the Chairs of Stratherrick and Foyers CCs to seek a common view.

ii.Out standing correspondence
The trees you complain of have been inspected and photographed for the record.  They are not yet at the stage when we would normally take action but we will keep our eye on them in the future. If you think we may have missed the trees you are referring to a photograph would help greatly in identifying the problem area. Thank you for bringing this to our attention .

g.SCC photo copier
Confirmation had been received from SNCBF that the costs for the photo copier will be covered by them for the duration of the lease.

6.Membership Association of Scottish Community Councils
This was now due for renewal. It was agreed SNCC would remain a member, the Treasurer to progress the finance.

7.on Community Councils
This was deferred to the next agenda as a substantive matter for discussion.

8.ASDA Planning Proposal: Slackbuie
SNCC had been approached by community councils in Inverness seeking support for this development. Following a discussion over limited access and competition from supermarket chains this was given.
Action: Secretary to feed this decision back.

9.Strathnairn Community Benefit Fund
Issues addressed elsewhere in the agenda

10.Footpath from Inverarnie shop to Farr Hall proposal
Cllr Davidson had commented on the poor quality of the road and footpath edges from the Invernarnie Store to the Hall and suggested that the SNCC approach Highland Council for funding for a pathway. This proposal and support was welcomed.

There followed a wider discussion with contributions from members of the public regarding the condition of the roads throughout the SNCC area. Given the regular and wide ranging discussion over road issues in the last three meetings of the SNCC Cllr Davidson suggested that the roads department in Highland Council be approached to take SNCC representative on a drive through the Strath to detail the specific issues. This was welcomed by CCs. The following were nominated to participate: RA, FP, TS. The secretary undertook to detail the road issues that had come up in recent meetings.
Action: Secretary to detail issues from recent meetings
Cllr Davidson to e mail secretary with details for the road issues ‘drive time’

11.Planning
RA has now taken the lead for planning. Planning applications for the Strath over the previous months were discussed. No significant issues were identified.

12.Communication
Correspondence had been received re the following:
Postwatch: Scotland Newsletter
SEPA View: Newsletter
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005: leaflets detailing significant changes to licensing laws that would give the public more involvement in local communities to comment on licensing applications and through local licensing forums
Inverness Community Care Forum lunchtime launch: 13 June
Moray Firth Partnership Member’s Update: Newsletter
Highland Community Liaison: Leaflet detailing how to access mediation support to resolve local conflict
Consultation on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004- Amendment Bill 2008.

13.Treasurers Report
The Treasurers Report was presented. There was a balance of £1802.75. The treasurer advised that he would submit the accounts for 2008/08 to the auditors.

14.AOCB
There was wide ranging discussion on a series of issues that are a cause of concern for people living in the Strath. These included:
Non shutting of gates where there is livestock and young: it was felt that horse riders and cyclists could be more responsible in this matter
Trail bikes, quad bikes, horses on forest tracks where they may not have access rights destroying the tracks
Dog fouling on the road and in particular the shinty pitch that is not cleared up by owners
Driving at inappropriate speed for the road conditions/environment through the Strath and not using passing places on single track sections

It was noted with regret that the shop is to shut at Tomatin

SM advised that the Strathnairn Heritage Association is to meet and related proposals for a new website.

Concern and sympathy was expressed given the recent damage/vandalism to Daviot Church

Actions:
It was proposed that the next Newsletter’s ‘note from the Chair’ might encourage all community members to be respectful of others wishes and needs and mindful of the requirements for living in a rural
Secretary to approach the dog wardens for guidance/responsibilities re dog owners and dog fouling
Any one interested in the Strathnairn Heritage Association meeting to approach SM.

15.Date of next meeting
Monday 4 August 2008. 7.30 pm Farr Hall.

Minutes of Previous Community Council Meetings

• Sept 06
• Nov 06
  
  
• Jan 07
• Mar 07
• May07
• July07
• Sept07
  
  
• Feb08
• April08
• June08