STRATHKINNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting held at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 5th January 2010 in the Village School.

Present:- Mrs.Mudie[Chair], Mrs.Scott, Slack  & Miss. Mitchell. Messrs.Baxter, Duncan & Inverarity & Younger..

Apologies:- Mr. D’Angelis,  Mrs.Walker, Councillors Melville & Morrison.

Minutes of the last meeting:- Read and approved.

Matters arising:-

Floral Display Group:-  A meeting had been arranged for 27th January at 7pm in the Church Hall to discuss plans for summer 2010. Anyone interested in assisting the group are most welcome to attend.

Magus Muir:- It was reported that the site , which is currently under the jurisdiction of Development Services, is likely to be transferred to the Fife Countryside Trust in the near future. More information should be available over the next few weeks.

Strathkinness Traffic:-  The Secretary reported on the recent site visit by Mr. Gordon Hughes of Fife Council, to assess the Village Road Safety programme.  Mr. Hughes recommended that some of the electronic warning signs on the approaches to the village would be more effective if they were positioned within the village boundaries, e.g. Main Street. He also felt that the distance between two of the sets of speed bumps on the High Road was too far apart. The Council would also make more speed analysis checks. The perception of many villagers is that much of the traffic through the village is still exceeding the speed limit. One suggestion was made that the crossing lights in Main Street should be set to red and only change to green when traffic approaches. It was unlikely that major alterations to the traffic calming measures would be considered, due to financial constraints.

Community Policing:- Mrs. Mudie reported that the Community Police Officer was to be visiting the School to give the children an insight to Policing and aspects of Road Safety. A member of the Community Council had been invited to participate and the Secretary had intimated that he would be pleased to attend.

High Road Path:-  No further information available to date.

Lighting at Recycling site-Bonfield Park:- The matter was to be dealt with at a Locality Meeting

Flooding:-  No further information to date.

Local Plan:-  The Secretary thanked Community Councillors for completing the  Questionnaire he had issued, as part of Consultation process in respect of the Local Plan. Their comments  had formed the basis of the Community Council response to Fife Council. A copy of the response would be  posted on the Community Council web-site.

Phone Box:-  Further information was awaited regarding the opportunity to purchase the phone box in Sunnyside. The box can be purchased for £1. It then becomes the responsibility of the purchaser after BT has removed the phone equipment. Insurance, Electric power and subsequent planning approval for change of use etc. are all matters to be considered. Anyone interested should contact the Secretary.

Bonfield Park Play Field entrance:-  Fife Council has reported that the matter had been dealt with.

Dog-fouling:- Mrs.Mudie reported that the Dog Warden has advised that any complaints regarding incidents  of dog-fouling requires two eye witness reports to ensure that a prosecution goes ahead.

Correspondence:-

Mr.&Mrs Lawson:- Thank you letter in respect of Gift Voucher to mark their retiral as editors of Kirk& Community.

Correspondence –continued:-

Fife Environment Trust:- Newsletter.

Tayplan:-  Letter outlining the work of the Strategic Development Plan for the TAYplan Area, which takes in Dundee, Perth, Angus and North Fife. A   6 week consultation period is scheduled to take place this summer.

Fife Greenspace Strategic Development Conference:- Notification of meeting on 27th January 2010 in Dunfermline.

St.Andrews Environment Network.  Introductory letter.

Fife Constabulary:-  December newsletter.

Fife Council- Performance & Organisational Support:- Updated financial guidelines for Community Councils.

Fife Council –Community Services:- Annual Grant of £442.10 confirmed and received.

A.O.C.B.

Snow Clearance:- Considerable discussion took place regarding the difficult road and pavement conditions experienced during the recent spell of wintry weather. Strathkinness residents seemed to be no different from other communities in Fife, with uncleared, ungritted pavements and sideroads making for hazardous driving and walking conditions. Whist it is acknowledged that Main roads and Bus routes were a priority for the grit lorries , why were snowploughs not sent onto the minor roads and pavements to reduce the effects of hard packed ice and snow. Travellers trying to make essential journeys via bus-stops and main roads faced a near impossible task to reach them. It is to be hoped that there is a positive outcome to the inquiry into the current strategy employed by Fife Council.

Next meeting:-   2nd February  2010 at 7.30pm in the Village School.

Chair……………………………………………………