Fossoway

Draft Minutes Fossoway and District Community Council
2nd April 2019, Powmill Moubray Hall

Attending: Community Cllrs Sarah Bruce-Jones, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar, Graham Pye and Rob Young; P&K Cllrs Mike Barnacle, Callum Purves, Willie Robertson and Richard Watters; Seven Members of the Public (MoP).
Apologies: CCllr Angus Cheape; Associate Member Tam Carroll;
Declarations of Interest: None.

Police report: PC Dougie Stapleton attended the meeting. A new Community Model has been implemented which aims to increase community engagement; PC Stapleton now has a full time partner so he hopes that one of them will be able to attend this meeting more often. If anyone has any community policing concerns they should email PC Stapleton directly (ku.ecilop.nnp.dnaltocs|notelpats.salguod#ku.ecilop.nnp.dnaltocs|notelpats.salguod), without waiting for a future meeting.
PC Stapleton informed us that the only incident he was aware of in the last month was a speeding offence on Main Street, Crook of Devon where a driver was reported for travelling at 50mph in a 30mph zone. There has been a recent spate of daytime break-ins in Kinross, so the Police advice would be to report any suspicious persons or vehicles at once via 999.
There were no incidents to note in our area since the last CC Meeting from the Commander’s Reports received via Perth and Kinross Community Watch.
A MoP asked if the Community Speed Watch program was still going to happen. CCllr Duffy replied that the CC had asked to be included in the programme, but had received no reply as yet. PC Stapleton added that communities would need to fund the purchase of their own equipment. Cllr Barnacle suggested that the subject could be brought up at the Kinross-shire Forum with the idea that equipment could be purchased jointly by all the local CCs
Cllr Robertson asked about the role of the Police in fly-tipping incidents. PC Stapleton said that it can be reported via the non-urgent number 101 and although they would obviously like to catch people, it would normally require some evidence in the rubbish that’s left.

Minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting were signed off without amendment.

Matters Arising
Community Council By-Election: CCllr Duffy welcomed newly elected members Sarah Bruce-Jones who has agreed to be secretary and Rob Young who has agreed to look at planning.

Blairingone School Estate Transformation: The Lifelong Learning Committee approved the closure proposal at the meeting on 27th March 2019. Hence the school will close from 28th June 2019 and pupils will transfer to Fossoway Primary School. The decision has been passed to the Scottish Ministers, with their considerations being received by 21st May 2019. Cllr Barnacle and another Councillor and a parent addressed the meeting; Cllr Barnacle stressed that proposed housing developments in the area had not been properly considered.
Cllr Purves had resigned his position as vice-convenor of the Committee in order to bring a motion to not accept the closure. The motion was only defeated by one vote, and if the vote had only included elected Councillors it would have been passed. However the votes against the motion, and hence for closure, by two members nominated by their religious bodies with no vote from the public, resulted in the motion being defeated.
The Community Council shares the view of Local Councillors and Members of the Public present that it seems highly unreasonable that non-elected members should have a vote on a non-denominational matter like this. Additionally, unlike the elected members of the Committee, there was no way to contact these members beforehand to express the CC’s point of view, whereas all the elected members were contacted. Consequently the CC and Cllr Barnacle will write to John Swinney asking him to call in the decision.
Cllr Barnacle reported that the local developers had a pre-application discussion with PKC planners in September 2018 but it was the 22nd March before the planners responded saying a master plan for Blairingone should be prepared, however this was too late to be taken into account.
A MoP asked what will happen to the building if the decision to close goes ahead. The local Cllrs answered that the legislation allows the Community to take it over if they want to, but they would need to get a body organised to raise the funds and run it.

Powmill in Bloom: CCllr Farquhar attended a meeting of the group on 1st April; they have applied to the Kinross Newsletter Fund for funds to complete the upgrade of a trailer into a planter to be displayed appropriately. Arrangements are being made for summer watering. The group has received £300 from PKC for bulbs, seeds, etc. They will take part in the Well Kept Village competition, judging will be in September. Villages are allowed to nominate two areas that can be discounted from the judging, which are likely to be the old Hotel and Ivy Cottage.

Crook & Drum Growing Together: CCllr Duffy reported that the group are busy planting things which they already have finance for. They will probably take part in the Well Kept Village competition.

Hydro Scheme Fund / Crook of Devon Bridge: CCllr Pye reported that the previously planned site visit had to be cancelled due to inclement weather. At the TRACKS Committee Meeting on 27th March, the Project Officer provided the cost for an 18m bridge to the required standard as £13k. In addition, ground works, assembly and installation of the bridge would bring the total cost to approximately £45k. Provision for ongoing maintenance of the bridge will need to be made, although this is not expected to be very onerous.
The site visit has been rescheduled to 4th April to finalise the location of the new bridge.

Fossoway Gathering: CCllr Duffy reported that the organising committee now has £4k in the bank from two sources, enabling arrangements to be finalised. There are still opportunities for organisations and individuals to have stalls, and to place adverts in the programme. The Gathering will be on 25th May from 11:30 onwards.

Fossoway Area Transport/DRT: In order to assess the requirements for a service a survey is being conducted, for which the end date has been extended to the 15th April. Some copies are being distributed on paper, or it can be completed online at: https://kwiksurveys.com/s/0pw6ISbo . The eventual aim is to found a Community Group to organise the service.

Carnbo VAS: Cllr Robertson said that the VAS is not set correctly when approaching from the East, and he has contacted PKC to get it looked at.

Blairingone War Memorial: Cllr Barnacle reported that the mason contacted by Associate Member Carroll has looked at the memorial and thinks it can be moved. Cllr Barnacle will check that the PKC planners are still happy with the proposed new location and then will arrange a site meeting with Profile Project, the mason and other interested parties.

A977 Mitigation: Cllr Duffy observed that nothing seems to be happening at the moment. Cllr Barnacle replied that the work is still due to take place, it’s just a bit delayed. Cllr Duffy is worried that the traffic counter box in the pathway on the long straight stretch between Powmill and Rumbling Bridge could be hazardous to walkers and cyclists - could it be moved or made more visible? A MoP wondered if its position is because it also counts people/cycles. Cllr Watters will bring it up with Highways Department.
LDP2: Cllr Barnacle noted that it will be June or July before PKC receive the Reporter’s response, so LDP2 would not be likely to go before the full Council until after the Summer Recess.

Matters Arising with no update since last meeting:
Ivy Cottage Powmill, Powmill Play Park and Crook Moss Travellers Site: No information at present.

New Business
CCllr Farquhar reported that the Powmill notice board is in need of urgent maintenance. Cllr Pye agreed to investigate.

Community Council Business - Meetings Attended
TRACKS Committee: CCllr Pye attended this – see Hydro Scheme/Bridge Item above.

P&K Councillors’ Reports
Willie Robertson: Cllr Robertson said that there is a problem with a gate on the Aldie Road to Drum path, which is difficult to keep open while passing through it on horseback or cycle, and has caused at least two accidents. It would be better if it could be removed completely, or failing that perhaps a post could be erected next to it to allow it to be temporarily fixed open. The TRACKS Project Officer is going to contact the landowner to discuss the options.
Cllr Robertson has discovered that there are over 500 items on the waiting list for Road Safety improvements. The local Cllrs are having a meeting on 3rd April to see where local issues are on the list and possibly influence priorities.
It would be a good idea if any necessary litter picks were done now before new plant growth takes place.
The Aldie Road to Drum Path has become very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders which is very encouraging; however there is an increasing problem with horse droppings on the path. Although this is not such an immediate health problem as dog waste, it is unpleasant for other users of the path, and if left, causes damage to the path surface. Cllr Robertson and this CC appeal to horse riders to clear up after their mounts.
Callum Purves: Cllrs Purves and Barnacle have been contacted about parking problems outside the Church at Crook of Devon, potentially causing obstructions to emergency vehicles. They are looking into possible solutions.
Cllr Purves has received a reply from Anne Condliffe about retention of Planning Information – see Correspondence section below. Cllr Purves believes that planning information should be a matter of public record for ever.
Richard Watters: Cllr Watters had visited the SEAMAB School to investigate the issue with getting their access road surfaced. In the absence of agreement of all the frontagers, this has not yet been fixed.
Mike Barnacle: Cllr Barnacle asked the CC whether the idea of creating an overflow car park south of the cemetery had been raised in the past. CCllr Duffy replied that she thought it was previously looked into by the CC but was never finalised, Sandy Morrison might know more.

Planning Matters
19/00026/FLL Change of use of equestrian land to form outdoor children’s nursery, siting of a yurt and associated works at land 70 metres North of An Darach, Fossoway.
No CC Comment

19/00337/FLL Alterations and extension to dwelling house at Morvern, Powmill, Dollar, FK14 7NS.
No CC comment.

19/00445/FLL Erection of two dwelling houses (change of house type - plot 2) at Land 30 metres South of Crook of Devon House, Main Street, Crook of Devon
No CC Comment.

Decided Applications
19/00020/FLL Change of use of agricultural land to garden ground and alterations and extensions to dwelling house at Merryhills, Rumbling Bridge, Kinross, KY13 0PX.
Approved

18/02250/FLL Change of use from open space to garden ground and erection of a fence (in retrospect) at 1 St Serf's Road, Crook of Devon, Kinross, KY13 0PQ.
Approved

Correspondence - All correspondence was available for viewing:
Last month this CC joined the objectors to removal of planning information from the website. Anne Condliffe replied to Cllr Purves on 7th March describing a change such that the information will now be kept for four years rather than one. However, Kinross-shire Civic Trust is not happy with the response and has asked for details of the exact clauses of the GDPR that are being invoked to justify the removal at all.

AOCB: A MoP observed that there are no cats-eyes on the A977 between Kinross and Drum. Cllr Robertson said that it’s no longer common practice to install these. Cllr Purves said that local Cllrs will ask the Highways Department if they think they would be appropriate there.
A MoP asked why there were no signs on the A977 telling you that you’re entering villages. CCllr Duffy replied that this may change when the Bloom groups create features at entrance to villages. The MoP added that the road signs on the A977 aren’t cleaned often enough. The Cllrs agreed to ask about this.
Another MoP requested that the A977 between Crook of Devon and Gartwhinzean Loan be litter picked, so Cllr Robertson agreed to arrange that.
Cllr Barnacle is still trying to find the owner of the disused quarry along the A977 and has written letters to possible companies.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting
Welcome and Apologies, Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting.
Matters arising: Blairingone School Estate Transformation, Powmill in Bloom, Crook & Drum Growing Together, Hydro Scheme Fund, Fossoway Gathering, Fossoway Area Transport, Carnbo VAS, Blairingone War Memorial, A977 Mitigation.
Community Councillors: Meetings Attended, PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting and AGM: Tuesday 7th May 2019 7:30 pm
Fossoway Primary School
All Welcome