Community Council - Minute from October meeting
Date: 6th October 2011
Time: 10:04
Posted By: scotsapper
Discuss in Forum
Minute of Meeting of the Elie and Royal Burgh of Earlsferry Community Council
held in Elie Sailing Club at 7.00 pm on Monday, 3rd October, 2011
Present: Mrs Rowan; Messrs Blaney, Meldrum, Ritchie and Sneddon with J Robertson in the chair; Councillor E Riches.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated from Mrs Stevenson, Mr Bell and Councillors MacGregor and Scott-Hayward.
Minutes: Minute of Meeting of 5th September was held as read, approved and signed on the motion of Mrs Rowan, seconded by Mr Blaney.
Matters arising from the Minutes:
(a) Garden Hedges: Several garden hedges were identified as encroaching on the pavement, making progress difficult for wheelchairs. It was agreed to suggest to the owners that the hedges be trimmed back to obviate the problem.
(b) High Street Parking: There was submitted report by Fife Council Transportation Services indicating that the proposed parking restrictions on High Street, Elie would cover 11 bays immediately ex adverso the shops on the south side, limiting parking to one hour (with no return within an hour), Monday to Saturday, from April to September. It was noted that parking outwith these bays would remain unrestricted. The report was approved for the council’s interest.
(c) Elie Sports Club: It was noted that a revised constitution had been approved by the Annual General Meeting of Elie Sports Club held on 24th September, which inter alia removed the payment of capitation fees by constituent clubs on behalf of their members and the concomitant voting rights, and also provided for a representative on the Committee of Management to be appointed jointly by the community council and Elie Improvements Association. It was agreed to consult with the Association in the latter regard.
Questions from the Public
(a) Toll Green: The Chairman reported on a complaint that the dog loo bin on Toll Green had been removed. It was noted that no new dog bins would be provided but that ordinary litter bins may be used for this purpose. Councillor Riches agreed to arrange for a notice to this effect to be placed on the existing litter bin.
(b) Lamp Standards: The Chairman expressed concern that, because of deterioration several of the lamp standards on Elie High Street posed a public safety risk. Councillor Riches undertook to have these made safe.
(c) Baird Place: There was submitted letter from a resident in Baird Place complaining (i) that numbers 14/22 Baird Place had no vehicular access, the connecting pavements had been badly flooded causing access problems and that there was no drainage to deal with this problem; (ii) a salt/grit bin was needed in Baird Place to facilitate vehicular access and egress in the winter and (iii) two cars owned by residents had been damaged by vehicles engaged in road works using Baird Place for turning. Councillor Riches undertook to have the problem at (i) investigated and to have a grit bin provided. With regard to (iii), it was noted that this situation was unlikely to recur.
(d) Repairs: Concern was expressed that final repairs had not been carried out to the flat above the Coffee Shop in Elie High Street and that thus the footpath was still blocked. Councillor Riches undertook to investigate.
Chairman’s Report: The Chairman reported on his and the Vice-Chairman’s attendance at the Beautiful Fife Awards at which the village had received a Silver Award, the Annual General Meeting of Elie Sports Club, and the recent East Neuk and Landward Joint Community Councils Forum. It was noted that a representative of VONEF had spoken at the forum on the need for greater involvement in the voluntary sector, while a representative of East Neuk First Responders had demonstrated a defibrillator and recommended these be provided in every community. Having heard that there was the possibility of partial grant aid from the Area Budget for this purpose, it was agreed to pursue the matter further.
Having heard the Chairman, it was agreed that he and Mr Blaney should attend a meeting called by Elie Primary School to discuss a possible school coastal path project.
Councillor’s Report: Councillor Riches advised that litter bins could be emptied oftener than once a day in peak periods if required. She than advised on the need to save £30m from Fife Council’s budget in the current and next financial years and in broad outline the measures being taken to achieve this.
Projects: Mr Blaney expressed concern that the community had been judged in the wrong category in the Beautiful Fife Awards. It was agreed to ensure that this would not recur. He then reported on the provision of new planters and the winter planting programme.
Secretary’s Report and other correspondence:
(a) East Neuk Rural Community Plan: There was submitted a Scoping Paper prepared by the East Neuk Estate Group on providing a strategic framework for action in producing a Rural Community Action Plan for the East Neuk. It was agreed to support this excellent initiative and to be represented by the Chairman in further discussions. With regard to Elie and Earlsferry, it was agreed that a major priority should be the provision of affordable housing to enable local young people to remain in the community.
(b) Fife’s Shoreline Management Plan: It was remitted to Mr Meldrum to submit comments on behalf of the council.
(c) Insurance: It was noted that community councils who organise clean ups will be covered by Fife Council’s insurance policy for community councils, provided that they consult Environmental Services with regard to health and safety matters.
(d) ASCC: It was noted that the Association of Scottish Community Councils is to be disbanded.
(e) TGIF: The Council congratulated the organisers of the Toll Green Improvement Fund on the considerable feat of achieving their financial target of £20,000.
(f) Cultural Partnerships Team: It was remitted to the Secretary to provide information on buildings and open spaces used by the community to the Cultural Partnerships Team of Fife Council who were in course of preparing an audit of such facilities.
(g) Kirk Park Road: Councillor Riches agreed to investigate the possibility of extending the yellow lines in Kirk Park Road to include the narrow part opening on to the car park behind the Church.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer reported on current balances in the general and environmental funds and on monies held on behalf of TGIF. The council thanked the Treasurer for the extra work occasioned by involvement with TGIF.
Planning Matters:
(a) Applications: Applications notified since the last meeting were noted.
(b) Consultation: There was noted correspondence between Councillor Scott-Hayward and Fife Council’s legal advisers on the rights of community councils to be treated as statutory consultees on planning applications, the relevant statutory provisions being as follow:
The Community Council, if any, within whose area the development is to take place where:-
(1)the Community Council, within 7 days (excluding weekends, 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January) of the date on which the planning authority sent to that Community Council in accordance with Regulation 23(1) the list which includes information about the application for such development, informs the planning authority that it wishes to be consulted; or
(2) the development is likely to affect the amenity in the area of the Community Council
in short, the Community Council is not a statutory consultee unless it requests to be treated as such within 7 days of receiving the weekly applications list, or a planning officer deems that the development is likely to affect the amenity of the area.
After discussion, it was agreed that the council, on receipt of every weekly list, should inform the planning authority that it wishes to be consulted.
AOCB: Mr Meldrum reported on a meeting with Scottish Water, SEPA, Fife Council and the Harbour Company concerning the sewage treatment system at the Harbour Beach, at which Scottish Water had advised that the water quality was as good as could be expected given the existing system and that to effect further improvement would be extremely costly. It was noted that SEPA would analyse water samples taken on occasions when there appeared to be a deterioration in water quality.
There being no further business, the meeting close at 8.55 pm with a vote of thanks to the chair.
Time: 10:04
Posted By: scotsapper
Discuss in Forum
Community Council - Minute from October meeting
Minute of Meeting of the Elie and Royal Burgh of Earlsferry Community Council
held in Elie Sailing Club at 7.00 pm on Monday, 3rd October, 2011
Present: Mrs Rowan; Messrs Blaney, Meldrum, Ritchie and Sneddon with J Robertson in the chair; Councillor E Riches.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated from Mrs Stevenson, Mr Bell and Councillors MacGregor and Scott-Hayward.
Minutes: Minute of Meeting of 5th September was held as read, approved and signed on the motion of Mrs Rowan, seconded by Mr Blaney.
Matters arising from the Minutes:
(a) Garden Hedges: Several garden hedges were identified as encroaching on the pavement, making progress difficult for wheelchairs. It was agreed to suggest to the owners that the hedges be trimmed back to obviate the problem.
(b) High Street Parking: There was submitted report by Fife Council Transportation Services indicating that the proposed parking restrictions on High Street, Elie would cover 11 bays immediately ex adverso the shops on the south side, limiting parking to one hour (with no return within an hour), Monday to Saturday, from April to September. It was noted that parking outwith these bays would remain unrestricted. The report was approved for the council’s interest.
(c) Elie Sports Club: It was noted that a revised constitution had been approved by the Annual General Meeting of Elie Sports Club held on 24th September, which inter alia removed the payment of capitation fees by constituent clubs on behalf of their members and the concomitant voting rights, and also provided for a representative on the Committee of Management to be appointed jointly by the community council and Elie Improvements Association. It was agreed to consult with the Association in the latter regard.
Questions from the Public
(a) Toll Green: The Chairman reported on a complaint that the dog loo bin on Toll Green had been removed. It was noted that no new dog bins would be provided but that ordinary litter bins may be used for this purpose. Councillor Riches agreed to arrange for a notice to this effect to be placed on the existing litter bin.
(b) Lamp Standards: The Chairman expressed concern that, because of deterioration several of the lamp standards on Elie High Street posed a public safety risk. Councillor Riches undertook to have these made safe.
(c) Baird Place: There was submitted letter from a resident in Baird Place complaining (i) that numbers 14/22 Baird Place had no vehicular access, the connecting pavements had been badly flooded causing access problems and that there was no drainage to deal with this problem; (ii) a salt/grit bin was needed in Baird Place to facilitate vehicular access and egress in the winter and (iii) two cars owned by residents had been damaged by vehicles engaged in road works using Baird Place for turning. Councillor Riches undertook to have the problem at (i) investigated and to have a grit bin provided. With regard to (iii), it was noted that this situation was unlikely to recur.
(d) Repairs: Concern was expressed that final repairs had not been carried out to the flat above the Coffee Shop in Elie High Street and that thus the footpath was still blocked. Councillor Riches undertook to investigate.
Chairman’s Report: The Chairman reported on his and the Vice-Chairman’s attendance at the Beautiful Fife Awards at which the village had received a Silver Award, the Annual General Meeting of Elie Sports Club, and the recent East Neuk and Landward Joint Community Councils Forum. It was noted that a representative of VONEF had spoken at the forum on the need for greater involvement in the voluntary sector, while a representative of East Neuk First Responders had demonstrated a defibrillator and recommended these be provided in every community. Having heard that there was the possibility of partial grant aid from the Area Budget for this purpose, it was agreed to pursue the matter further.
Having heard the Chairman, it was agreed that he and Mr Blaney should attend a meeting called by Elie Primary School to discuss a possible school coastal path project.
Councillor’s Report: Councillor Riches advised that litter bins could be emptied oftener than once a day in peak periods if required. She than advised on the need to save £30m from Fife Council’s budget in the current and next financial years and in broad outline the measures being taken to achieve this.
Projects: Mr Blaney expressed concern that the community had been judged in the wrong category in the Beautiful Fife Awards. It was agreed to ensure that this would not recur. He then reported on the provision of new planters and the winter planting programme.
Secretary’s Report and other correspondence:
(a) East Neuk Rural Community Plan: There was submitted a Scoping Paper prepared by the East Neuk Estate Group on providing a strategic framework for action in producing a Rural Community Action Plan for the East Neuk. It was agreed to support this excellent initiative and to be represented by the Chairman in further discussions. With regard to Elie and Earlsferry, it was agreed that a major priority should be the provision of affordable housing to enable local young people to remain in the community.
(b) Fife’s Shoreline Management Plan: It was remitted to Mr Meldrum to submit comments on behalf of the council.
(c) Insurance: It was noted that community councils who organise clean ups will be covered by Fife Council’s insurance policy for community councils, provided that they consult Environmental Services with regard to health and safety matters.
(d) ASCC: It was noted that the Association of Scottish Community Councils is to be disbanded.
(e) TGIF: The Council congratulated the organisers of the Toll Green Improvement Fund on the considerable feat of achieving their financial target of £20,000.
(f) Cultural Partnerships Team: It was remitted to the Secretary to provide information on buildings and open spaces used by the community to the Cultural Partnerships Team of Fife Council who were in course of preparing an audit of such facilities.
(g) Kirk Park Road: Councillor Riches agreed to investigate the possibility of extending the yellow lines in Kirk Park Road to include the narrow part opening on to the car park behind the Church.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer reported on current balances in the general and environmental funds and on monies held on behalf of TGIF. The council thanked the Treasurer for the extra work occasioned by involvement with TGIF.
Planning Matters:
(a) Applications: Applications notified since the last meeting were noted.
(b) Consultation: There was noted correspondence between Councillor Scott-Hayward and Fife Council’s legal advisers on the rights of community councils to be treated as statutory consultees on planning applications, the relevant statutory provisions being as follow:
The Community Council, if any, within whose area the development is to take place where:-
(1)the Community Council, within 7 days (excluding weekends, 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January) of the date on which the planning authority sent to that Community Council in accordance with Regulation 23(1) the list which includes information about the application for such development, informs the planning authority that it wishes to be consulted; or
(2) the development is likely to affect the amenity in the area of the Community Council
in short, the Community Council is not a statutory consultee unless it requests to be treated as such within 7 days of receiving the weekly applications list, or a planning officer deems that the development is likely to affect the amenity of the area.
After discussion, it was agreed that the council, on receipt of every weekly list, should inform the planning authority that it wishes to be consulted.
AOCB: Mr Meldrum reported on a meeting with Scottish Water, SEPA, Fife Council and the Harbour Company concerning the sewage treatment system at the Harbour Beach, at which Scottish Water had advised that the water quality was as good as could be expected given the existing system and that to effect further improvement would be extremely costly. It was noted that SEPA would analyse water samples taken on occasions when there appeared to be a deterioration in water quality.
There being no further business, the meeting close at 8.55 pm with a vote of thanks to the chair.
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