STRATHKINNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting held at 7.30pm on 3rd March 2009 in the Village School.

Present:- Mrs.Mudie.[Chair], Scott, Slack & Walker. Messrs. Baxter, Duncan, D’Angelis, Inverarity, Mitchell & Younger. Fife Councillors. Mrs. Melville & Morrison. Sgt.Poole. Locality Manager Mrs. Hughes

Apologies:- Ms. Henshaw.

Community Policing:- Sgt. Poole reported that there had been 7 random speed checks in the village during the past 4 weeks. One motorist had been reported for breaking the speed limit and several had received warnings. Traffic Wardens had also patrolled the village to check on vehicle excise licences and this programme of checking would continue in the weeks ahead. There had been a theft of cabling from a building site at Kincaple. Sgt. Poole had arranged for a meeting with the Dog Warden to highlight the problems in the village. His School Poster Competition is going ahead and he will be visiting the School on 12th March to discuss the next stage of the project. He also reminded villagers that should they have any information or issues they wish to discuss with the Police, they should not hesitate to contact the Police Call Centre. Mrs. Mudie thanked Sgt. Poole for his report and his continuing interest in the welfare of the village.

Minutes of the previous meeting. Read and approved subject to alteration to the minute in respect of the Village Welcome Pack. This should now read “ Mrs. Slack reported that a Welcome Pack had been delivered to Mr. & Rev. Wilkins, Alva Cottage, Church Road.”

Matters Arising:-

Flooding:- Councillor Melville reported that the drain gully had been cleared outside the school and that the flooding on Mr. Taylor’s property in Lower Main Street was still being investigated..

Pavement surface:- Fife Council had been advised of the recent problems with icy conditions on the new section of pavement on Church Road. The possibility of a grit bin being sited at the location is being investigated. The damaged grit bin at the upper cross-roads will be renewed in April.

Church entrance:- The subsidence at the entrance gate to the Church has been repaired temporarily. Further talks between the site developers and Fife Council to resolve the situation on a permanent basis will take place very soon.

Water Leak –Sunnyside:- Fife Council inspectors had checked the site around the bus shelter in Sunnyside and had been unable to trace any water leak.

Floral Display Group:- The secretary reported on the recent successful meeting held with Messrs. Jackson and Barbour of Fife Council. They had given advice and guidance  and offered considerable support for the project. Locality Manager  Kate Hughes advised Council Members that a further £2000 of funding could be made available for the project. This was gratefully accepted on behalf of the Group. Surplus Equipment and plants would also be available from St.Andrews in Bloom Group. Mr. Alan Graham of Fife Council’s Craigtoun Park, had also offered to give any assistance if required. Mrs.Mudie had generously donated wild flower seeds, which would be sown in front of the building site boundary fence in Church Road, and Mr.Headon would be placing hanging baskets on the fence to assist in the project. A “Village Walkabout”, starting outside the Village School, had been arranged for 10.30am on Saturday 14th March,to allow group members and villagers the opportunity to identify and discuss potential display sites in the village.

Correspondence:-

Fife Council-Environmental Sustainability Manager:- Letter explaining the consultation process in respect of the Household Waste Collection Service operated by Fife Council. Councillor Morrison also advised members that trials are to be run in St.Andrews with new waste bins, which are capable of recycling waste food.

Lisa Serrano-Dodd:- Letter highlighting the poor condition of the children’s play equipment in the small play park located in Bonfield Park. Locality Manager Kate Hughes said that she would investigate the matter.

Fife Council-Licensing Board:- Notification of applications for licensed premises.

Fife Constabulary :-Summary of Draft Policing Plan for 2009/10.

Fife Council;-Development Services;-St.Andrews and East Fife Local Plan.- Letter and CD outlining the latest proposed modifications and consultations relevant to the plan.

Scottish Gas- Scottish Government Central Heating Programme:-Newsletter.

Fife Council- Councillor Andrew Arbuckle_- Letter from Chairman of the North East Fife Area Committee, outlining timetable for consultation on St.Andrews and East Fife Local Plan.

A.O.C.B.

Lamp Standards:- Councillor Melville had been made aware of the poor condition of a large number of lamp standards in the village, and reported that the matter was under constant review and was part of a rolling programme of replacement in the Region.

Over grown Hedges:-  Complaints made about hedges which over grow onto pavements, causing obstructions to pedestrians have been passed to Locality Manager, Kate Hughes, for further action.

Village Welcome Pack:- Mrs.Slack reported that a Welcome Pack had been presented to Mrs.Weiss who had recently arrived in the village.

Bus Shelter- Main Street:- Mr. Inverarity voiced his disappointment that the area of landscaped ground behind the new bus shelter had been trampled by children, and to make matters worse a litter bin had been placed on top of the plants. Councillor Melville said that she would investigate the matter.

High Road Footpath:-Mrs. Slack asked if there had been any progress on the project to investigate establishing a foot/cycle path to St.Andrews. Mr. Baxter said there had been no progress, and in view of the current financial situation there was little chance any progress for a long time.

Bus Service-Councillor Melville said that alterations to service 64 should be announced shortly.

Next meeting;- 5th May 2009

Chair…………………………………………………