Strathpeffer Community Council
DRAFT – SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT NEXT MEETING
Minutes of Meeting at Strathpeffer Community Centre: Monday 2 March 2015
Present: - Kit Bowen (KB) Chair, Peter Walling (PW) Vice Chair, Alison Munro-White (Hon
Sec), Kevin Crockett (KC) Treasurer, Karen Evans (KE), John Wombell (JW), John
MacGregor (JMcG), Douglas Murray (DM), Val Moffat (VM)
Members of the Public
No Item
Action
1. Apologies
Posy Piper, Ian Cockburn
2. Minutes of meeting of 2 February 2015
Proposed by VM and seconded by DM
3. Accounts and insurance
Treasurer’s report – Current account balance £2226.92 to end Feb.
Expenditure pending: £250 Brown signs; £25 gift in payment for Christmas
lights; Total £275. Balance £1951.92.
AM requested balance of garden group funds to be sent by email. There was
a lack of clarity as to whether the Gardening Group had drawn down their
2014/15 allocation. KE notified that the main bed in the Square was to be
‘refreshed’ which would require some funding for plants if nothing else.
KC
Further allocations of funds to be made for:
1. Sponsorship of StrathTimes: £100
2. Payment for printing additional StrathTimes Flyer in Feb: £105
3. Hire of rooms at the Community Centre for Community Seed event (see
below) £200
After the meeting PP applied for payment of £250 as payment for her
secretarial duties.
All this reduces cash available to some £1300.
KB noted the renewal of the SCC insurance cover, but queried the
requirement for ‘property/buildings’ cover in the insurance renewal. Following
the meeting KB advised this refers to the street furniture in the Square.
4. Matters Arising
All matters covered in the agenda
5. Police Report
None received
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6. Planning Issues
Meeting with Planning
KB reported members of the Planning department would meet with SCC on a
Wednesday or Thursday. It was agreed that they should be invited to the next
SCC meeting, the date of which would be changed to a Wednesday 1 April.
KB/IC
PW/DM
Actions: KB will contact IC to arrange visit; PW/DM to create agenda;
Members suggested the following agenda items:
TPOs; Timing of response to applications; Delegated powers; Availability of
officers to hold direct dialogue with SCC.
New Applications:
DM reported no issues with new applications
New applications included: BT Cabinet at phone exchange and 1 x discharge
application.
The application at Ardival East is still pending consideration
DM had emailed Planning re 2013 application for bus shelter at Balnaird which
is still pending. No answer received.
No further information re Water Tank site at Ord Wood
Nutwood Development
KB reported back on a site meeting on 19/2/15
Attendees: D Jones (Area Planning Manager), E McArthur (Principal Planner),
a Senior Roads Engineer; Nick Richards (THC Forestry Officer), Audrey
Sinclair (THC Cllr); Nutwood Residents and Objectors; KB (for SCC)
THC demonstrated that a sight line within 3 inches of standing tree was
obtainable. This also involved the rebuilding of the retaining wall. Leaving
aside that the tree will grow any work at pavement level would seem to place
the root structure of the tree at risk, but the letter of the law seems to hold over
any practicality of the situation.
THC did not need to pay any attention to the Reporter of the original Ross and
Cromarty plan, but KB pointed out that if the trees at the bell mouth were
felled, the beech hedge effectively removed, and those trees identified by
John Coupland were also lost then the avenue (and thus the setting) leading
to the Conservation Area would be effectively destroyed. No one seems to
have paid any attention to this.
THC advised that all conditions imposed stand and that it was now up to the
developer to make an economic case for the development. Should there be
any variation in the number of houses the whole application would be reopened.
TPOs for all trees not immediately affected by the development were
requested and refused on the grounds that the remaining trees were not under
threat (which of course was the state that the trees now at risk of being felled
enjoyed until the application for housing at Nutwood was made).
The application is now pending the final negotiation of the S75 agreement
(which was apparently nearly agreed). All the detailed requirements (contrary
Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 2 March 2015
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to what had been reported at earlier SCC meetings) would need to be met at
the detailed planning stage. The full application had to be submitted within 3
years.
KB noted that while SCC failed to meet the deadline to be a consultee, in his
view the Planning Department should have made an effort to consult on this
major development.
7. Baby Hydro
KB had circulated a report from his meeting with Kirknewton prior to the
meeting.
Following discussion of the report it was agreed there are two options for SCC:
1. To invest via borrowing from a third party
2. To choose to rent their share to a developer (but with all the feasibility study
and consents and ready to build)
The initial stage is to apply for CARES funding to pay for the feasibility study
and take the project to a ‘go/no go’ point and it was agreed that this should be
done. It was made clear that the CARES grant and loan are both non
recourse; if the scheme(s) did not go ahead then there was no requirement to
repay CARES. Action: KB to complete the application with Kirknewton
It was noted that one scheme (Riabriach) used land in both the SCC and the
Garve (GADCC) areas. It was agreed GADCC should be approached to
discuss the way forward. Action: KB and KC to attend a meeting with GADCC
reps on a date to be arranged.
KB
KB/KC
Issues raised by members included the volume of work required to set up and
manage the scheme on behalf of the community; who could be appointed to
champion the scheme; who had the necessary knowledge and expertise to
represent the community, and after the go/no go point who had the liability to
repay debt? Much work had still to be done and it was agreed that KB should
be the SCC representative (even though he is resigning from the SCC with
effect the AGM).
There was also a discussion as to whether the scheme could transfer to the
Strathpeffer Community Association (SCA) should the SCC be unable to
continue. PW (of the SCA) was receptive, although any formal decision would
be that of the SCA Board.
7. SSE Beauly – Loch Bhuide powerline
KB referred to the recent flyer raising awareness of the issues and
encouraged all present to attend the public meeting on 5 March.
KB reported discussion with Lisa Marchi (LM) of SSE. LM had advised SSE
would be favouring Route C (the current route) for upgrade. However, were
there to be serious objections to this then the amount of objection to other
routes would be critical. There was no information available on other
objections received to date.
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8. Progress Reports
Strathpeffer to Dingwall Cycle Route
KB reported on a meeting with Myles McMaster (MM) and David Lockett (both
as a landowner and representing Dingwall CC) to discuss the original
proposed route. It seemed that there might be ways to address MM’s
concerns. KB had produced confidential minutes. However, further
correspondence from MM was then read out to the meeting which made it
clear that MM was not prepared to permit a footpath and cycle track to cross
his land.
Following discussion regarding the options available, it was agreed to walk the
alternative routes to see if any were possible. It was agreed that there was no
need for further feasibility studies at this stage.
The option to register an interest in the land required by the route (under the
present Land Reform Act) was discussed and it was agreed this could be
done if the research on alternative routes confirms the existing route.
JW raised the issue of THC rural policy and advised this should also be taken
into consideration
KC/DM
Action: KC/DM to walk alternative routes (date to be circulated so other
members can join) and report back.
Pavilion Garden paths/gate
Work is currently in progress. KE noted that a separate path was being
created to accommodate access via the railings on Garden House Brae
Main water fountain pumps
AM reported no further progress on either rehousing the pump for the cascade AM
or getting the main fountain up and running. Limited response from THC.
Garden Group
AM reported that the long beds in the Square were to be completely dug out
and replanted this Spring.
A Community Seed Event is scheduled for April and funds were requested to
support the Community Centre in holding this. Approximate room hire costs of
£200 agreed by members.
Community Parks Project
Val Moffat (VM) advised that following public consultation, Design Option 2
seemed most favoured with slight modifications. Next meeting w/c 9 March.
SSRA
DM reported delays due to Bowlts. Further meetings to be arranged to try and
make progress
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Community Centre
PW reported on planned activity at the Community Centre including a Science
Fair and the Spring Market.
Fairtrade
AM reported that the group had been supported by the school raising over £60
to be assigned to a Fairtrade project of their choice. A Fairtrade brochure is
being produced to promote Strathpeffer as a Fairtrade Village and will be
available towards the beginning of April.
Jamestown Path/Paths maintenance Group
JW reported that a brief meeting with Tim Cockerill had proven productive and
that there was likely to be some sort of annual permit drawn up which would
allow a footpaths group to carry out maintenance work.
Disabled Access McColl’s
KE
Still in progress. KE to contact McColls
Roads and Drains
JW advised re difficulty of reporting potholes on THC website but encouraged
all members to continue to log problems until resolved.
Men’s sheds
Val Moffat advised the next meeting would be at the Richmond Hotel and that
a group would be visiting the Inverness Men’s Shed group.
Bus Shelter at Achterneed
No report from IC. Action: JW to follow up with IC
JW
Christmas Lights
KC advised no contact made to date regarding support for Duncan in putting
up the Christmas lights ongoing. KB reiterated the importance of progressing
this asap.
Action: KC to action
KC
Wishing Well/Map Notice board in the Square
JW advised this is in need to serious maintenance.
Action: JW to discuss with Phil Waite
JW
9. Correspondence
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GADCC Minutes. It was agreed SCC minutes should also be send to
GADCC as in previous years
Mid Ross District Partnership Minutes
IACCF Forum information, including feedback on THC attitude to CC’s
Digital Participation Graduate funding information
Baltic Business Connections. DM advised meeting delayed
Nigg CC: Letter asking SCC to object to wind turbines on Nigg Hill.
Members agreed to have info distributed for individual objection or
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comment. KB to circulate
Rural Direct Newsletter
Copy Letter from Alison Craig to THC regarding culvert at Castle Leod
Information re PV arrays and potential for development. Action: KB to
forward to Kirknewton to see if they had any input
THC request for information on suitable land for development of
affordable homes. Action: PW/KE to investigate source
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KB
KB
PW
KE
10. AOCB
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StrathTimes – next deadline is 11 March
AM requested a brief discussion on the future of the SCC given that
several members had indicated that they would be stepping down in
November and KB would be resigning in May. A show of hands
indicated that at least 4 members would be leaving the SCC in
November in addition to KB in May. Further discussion resulted in an
action on KB to request input from Robbie Bain, Ward Manager
regarding how to proceed after May if no one was prepared to chair
meetings.
KB
12. Date of next meeting
Date of the next SCC meeting – In order to accommodate THC Planning
Department this was changed to Wednesday 1 April 2015. AM to advise
Community Centre and check room availability
Strathpeffer Community Council Meeting 2 March 2015
AM
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