STRATHKINNESS COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 1st December 2009 in the Village School.
Present:- Mr. Younger[Chair], Mrs.Scott, Slack & Walker,Ms. Henshaw, Miss. Mitchell.
Messrs.Baxter, Duncan & Inverarity . Fife Councillor Frances Melville.
Apologies:- Mrs. Mudie, Mr. D’Angelis, Councillor Morrison & Sgt Poole.
Minutes of the last meeting:- Read and approved.
Floral Display Group:- Winter planting was almost completed. An application had been
made for a grant of financial assistance for next year, as part of the Fife Council
Floral Enhancement Grants Scheme Support. A meeting of the group was to be arranged
for mid January to discuss the plans for 2010.
Magus Muir:- Information should be available for the next meeting.
Strathkinness Traffic:- Site visit arranged for 2pm Wed. 16th December 2009. Gordon
Hughes to attend.
Community Policing:- No report from Sgt. Poole. The Secretary reported that he was
aware that several motorists had recently been prosecuted for exceeding the 20 mph
speed limit in the village.
High Road Path:- No further information available to date.
Lighting at Recycling site-Bonfield Park:- No further information.
Flooding:- It was reported that excessive rain water, running off the building site
in the centre of the village, had again caused problems in Sunnyside and Pettycruick.
Councillor Melville was to seek further information on the matter.
Local Plan:- Details of the two major development plans linked to the St.Andrews
& East Fife Local Plan were discussed at some length. The St. Andrews West Plan sponsored
by Headon Developments and St.Andrews University involves building some 1000 houses
and industrial units on land to the north of Strathkinness Low Road down the valley
of the Swilken Burn to the North Haugh. The Kinness Valley Plan is sponsored by Mount
Melville and McDonald Estates and would see in excess of 700 houses built on land
extending parallel to the Craigtoun Road out to the strip of land known as Lover’s
Loan. To give Community Councillors an opportunity to express their views on any
proposed developments in and around St.Andrews, the Secretary would circulate a questionnaire
for them to complete as soon as possible. The results of the questionnaire would
be the basis of the Community Council response to the Local Plan consultation. That
response had to be made before 24th December 2009.
Business Improvement Districts Scotland [BIDS]:- Introductory letter explaining the
role of the organisation.
Scottish Health Council:- Autumn newsletter.
NHS Fife:- Winter newsletter.
Planning Aid for Scotland:- Newsletter.
Fife Council- Community Services-Beautiful Fife- Judging Report Sheet.
Fife Council- Chairman- Housing and Communities Committee-Cllr. Brian Goodall:-Letter
congratulating the Floral Display Group on their success in the Neighbourhood Awards
Scheme.
Headon Developments:- Letter acknowledging attendance of Messrs Baxter & Duncan at
the recent presentation and exhibition relating to the St.Andrews West Plan.
Waterwatch Scotland:- Newsletter.
Correspondence continued-
British Telecom Payphones:- Letter outlining proposals for communities to take over
their local red telephone kiosk.
The Ecology Centre:- Letter advising of the work done at the centre based at Kinghorn.
Phone Kiosk proposal:- The Secretary, referring to earlier correspondence, reported
that BT was offering the local phone box to the Community Council for a charge of
£1. Because of low usage [ 53 call in 12 months] it would appear that the box is
no longer viable and BT have opened a consultation period to see if communities might
be interested in adopting the iconic red box , after the telephone equipment has
been removed. Historic Scotland has given their support to the scheme and is encouraging
communities to come up with imaginative ideas for future utilisation. The consultation
period ends on 23rd January 2010. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
Dog fouling:- Complaints continue to be heard about the problem of dog fouling the
village pavements and play areas. The Secretary reported that he had spoken to the
Dog Warden about the problem. She is aware of the situation and whilst she has been
able to raise successful prosecutions in some areas, she requires villagers in Strathkinness
to be extra vigilant and to contact her with information as soon as possible to allow
her take prosecutive action against the dog owners who are refusing to clean up after
their animals.
Kirk & Community:- Mr. Sandy Lawson, who has edited and produced the newsletter for
17 years, is retiring. In appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the village, the
Community Council agreed unanimously to mark his retiral with the presentation
of a gift voucher. Councillors were pleased to note that Mrs. Nancy Duvall has taken
on the job of editing the newsletter and wished her well in her new role.
Bonfield Park Playing Field entrance:- It was noted that the entrance area was in
a very poor condition with large pot holes and drains showing signs of deterioration.
Councillor Melville would take the matter up with Fife Council.
Next meeting:- 5th January 2010 in the Village School.
Chair……………………………………………………