Fossoway

Proceedings of the Virtual Meeting of
Fossoway and District Community Council
1st December 2020

As it is still not possible to hold physical meetings of the CC we are continuing to publish this description of what was discussed in our Virtual meeting, including any updates that we are aware of. Members of the Public are encouraged to comment on and question the items below, by email to moc.liamg|cc.yawossof#moc.liamg|cc.yawossof or via the CC’s Facebook page, which we will answer in our next meeting, be it virtual or physical, on Tuesday 5th January 2021.

Contributing: Community Councillors Sarah Bruce-Jones, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar, Carole Haigh, Michael Haigh, Nicola Marchant (Associate) and Graham Pye; P&K Councillor Michael Barnacle
Apologies: CCllrs Angus Cheape and Rob Young; P&K Councillors Callum Purves, Willie Robertson and Richard Watters.
CCllr Young will be taking a sabbatical from CC duties for personal reasons.
Declarations of Interest: None.

Police report: There were three incidents to note in our area since the last CC Meeting from the Commander’s Reports received via Perth and Kinross Community Watch: Overnight on Sunday 1st November, a white Giant road bike and power tools were stolen from a shed in Main Street, Crook of Devon – this was noted in last month’s minutes. Between 4pm on the 8th of November and 7:30 the following morning a red Case Farmall 115C tractor and a green Yamaha 450 Quad Bike were stolen from a secure outbuilding at a farm in the Blairingone area. About 12:50pm on Monday 16th November, a red Suzuki 400 Motorcycle was stolen from Gelvan Farm, Fossoway.

Minutes of the previous meeting: In the November minutes we noted that Peter Leach had resumed his taxi service. We did not make it clear that this was explicitly referring to his participation in the DRT service. We would like to emphasise that the CC did not intend to, and would never knowingly, promote one business over any other.
The minutes of the March meeting (the last face to face meeting) will be signed off once normal meetings resume. Any significant decisions made during the virtual meetings held since then will be brought to the next physical meeting to be formally recorded and ratified.

Matters Arising
Bank of Scotland Kinross Branch Closure: CCllr Marchant reported that the Bank has now postponed the closure of the branch until 22nd March 2021. The bank is also considering holding digital skills workshops. Residents have complained to the CC that the RBS mobile bank service in Kinross has been suspended whilst P&K is in COVID Tier 3, making it even more important that the BoS closure is deferred. It’s likely that the next meeting with the BoS will be January rather than December. The Post Office regional team don’t foresee any capacity issues once the bank branch has closed, but they and the Co-Op will continue to monitor the situation.

A977 Mitigation: Cllr Robertson had asked the Highways Department when the resurfacing work outside the Powmill shop would be completed, and was told that it was scheduled for the 11th November – the work has now been successfully concluded.
CCllr Duffy had contacted Brian Cargill, PKC’s Traffic and Network Service Manager to get an update on the A977 Mitigation works. Cllr Barnacle noted that he had also written to Brian Cargill requesting updates.
Blair Watt, PKC’s Project Officer replied to the CC by email, explaining that development of a School Exclusion Zone at Crook of Devon has been suspended until the pedestrian crossing lights near the Village Hall have been installed, when traffic movements will be monitored to assess the requirement for an Exclusion Zone. Design work for the traffic lights is being done by an outside consultancy due to staff redeployment for COVID 19 work. The installation of the lights is likely to be during a school holiday, but there is no accurate timescale for this at the moment. Design of the A977/B9097 junction realignment is still to be finalised. Mr Watt also described proposals for temporary 20mph speed limits in Drum Village and Waulkmill in Crook of Devon. Details are due to be circulated to Local Councillors and the CC for comment, but had not been received at the time of the meeting.
All agreed that resurfacing in Powmill and Crook of Devon was done very well.

Fossoway Area Transport/DRT: Cllr Barnacle reported that the first (virtual) meeting of the Community Transport Group took place on 19th November. Margaret Roy from PKC attended as did CCllr M. Haigh. There was general discussion about how the bus service could be improved. John Fallon said in the meeting that he was trying to get public transport access to the P&R at Halbeath.
Cllr Barnacle has a contact who will help to establish charitable status for Group. There is a proposal to prepare a business plan to get a budget allocation from PKC to purchase an electric minibus. It was agreed that although the new bus service was welcome, it doesn’t connect very well with ongoing services to Perth, etc.
The next meeting is planned to be held in two months.

Rumbling Bridge Gorge Bridge: CCllr Duffy reported that the Hydro Fund Committee have compared the quotes for the Flood Risk Assessment and chosen Millard to do the survey. The Committee have requested funds to be released to finance this.

Hydro Scheme Fund: A grant of £300 has been given to help fund the defibrillator which is now placed on the side of the village shop in Powmill. CCllr Farquhar explained that the AED itself was donated by Kinross First Responders, sourced from the Forth Road Bridge. Local resident Isla Kerr raised funds to purchase the heated enclosure. Local Nurse Nicky Cledland initially funded the installation, but was repaid by the fund and there was sufficient to also enable purchase of a reserve battery and pads. Nicky, is happy to provide training in use of the device, for no charge other than a small fee of £5 to cover disposables and PPE. She can be contacted through her website https://reactfastfirstaid.co.uk/ or via the CC. CCllr Farquhar added that the residents of Powmill expressed their gratitude for the grant from the fund.

Powmill in Bloom: CCllr Farquhar reported that members have identified an area opposite the Milk Bar that will be developed.

Community Development Trust: Cllr Barnacle has almost completed the collection of contact information in order to send out invitations and background information for the first meeting of the Trust, hopefully early in the New Year.

Crook Moss Travellers Site: CCllr Farquhar said that there are two new developments at the site that have been done well, but unfortunately there are other areas that still need substantial work to bring them up to a presentable condition. Cllr Barnacle still has concerns about the lack of landscaping on the north¬ east side of the site; the presence of a permanent building in the cordoned off area that doesn’t have planning permission; and that numerous residents are complaining about the appearance of the scrap yard. CCllr Bruce-Jones reported that the local residents don’t object to the travellers in principle, but think that PKC is not taking the issues at the site seriously. Cllr Barnacle will write to the new head of the Planning Department listing the issues. The CC will write to PKC’s CEO about lack of action by the Planners.

Crook & Drum Growing Together: CCllr Duffy said that there will be a fund raiser on Monday 7th - The group are making Christmas Wreaths to order.
CCllr Duffy is investigating the possibility of getting power sockets installed on village lamp posts, which would be used for Xmas decorations next year.

Aldie Road Vegetation: CCllr Marchant informed the meeting that the culverts have been dredged, which should hopefully resolve concerns regarding potential flooding of the road.

Blairingone War Memorial: The search for a stone mason continues.

Fossoway Gathering: The Gathering Committee’s AGM will be on 2nd December.

Crook of Devon Skate Park: Cllr Barnacle had written to Andy Clegg asking for a site meeting to identify a location in Crook of Devon.

Matters Arising with no update since last meeting:
Devonshaw Whinstone Quarry (FK14 7NH), Ivy Cottage Powmill and Cemetery Car Park Extension: No information at present.

New Business
Fly Tipping: A MoP had reported an incident of fly-tipping of building waste on the Arndean Road, and provided a photo of a label that may help to identify the culprit. Cllr Robertson had offered to pass the information to the Police.

Community Council Business:
If the next meeting of this CC is virtual, as currently expected, we will be offering online attendance by members of the public. Anyone interested in “attending” should email the CC at moc.liamg|cc.yawossof#moc.liamg|cc.yawossof for details

P&K Councillors’ Reports:
Michael Barnacle: The Kinross Forum meeting is on 2nd December – Cllr Barnacle intends to discuss the issues he raised with the CEO. Forum meetings are planned to be held every two months. CCllrs Bruce-Jones and Cheape will attend from this CC.
There has been flooding in Back Crook near Schiehallion – Cllr Barnacle is going to contact the officer who is dealing with the Poplars flooding issue to see if this incident can be addressed at the same time.
In light of the rejection after appeal of the land north-west of Schiehallion (see below) Cllr Barnacle has written to Stuart Shand, the developer of the site (see below) proposing a dialogue before any further applications, but has not received a response as yet. The CC will write to Mr Shand on the same lines.

Planning:
New Applications:
20/00976/FLL Erection of a dwelling house at land 90 metres south east of Maiden Wells House, Rumbling Bridge. No CC Comment.

Decided Applications:
20/01268/FLL Extension to dwelling house Machrie Cottage, Carnbo, Kinross. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.
20/01051/FLL Installation of 2 biomass boilers, 2 flues and associated works (in retrospect) Wharlawhill Farm, Carnbo. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

Appeals:
19/01673/AML Land 100 metres north west of Schiehallion, Crook of Devon. The appeal was rejected by the reporter, the CC had objected.

Correspondence: If the correspondence list is not attached to this document, it can be found on the CC’s FB Page.
Should anyone wish to see any items please contact the CC by email and a copy can be provided.
Xmas Waste/Recycling Collections: There will be no collections on 25th and 26th December or 1st and 2nd January and recycling centres will also be closed on those dates. Collections due on 25th or 26th will be made on 27th, collections due on 1st or 2nd will be made on 3rd. No garden or food waste collections after 20th December, resuming on 4th January.

AOCB: None this month.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting:
Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting. Matters arising: Bank of Scotland Branch Closure, A977 Mitigation, Fossoway Area Transport, Community Development Trust, Crook Moss Site, Powmill in Bloom, Crook & Drum Growing Together. PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th January 2021
Crook of Devon Village Hall - if Government guidelines allow, otherwise virtual.
Members of public wishing to join please email the CC at moc.liamg|cc.yawossof#moc.liamg|cc.yawossof
 
Correspondence November 2020