Draft Minutes Fossoway and District Community Council
3rd November, Powmill Moubray Hall
Attending: CCllrs: Sandy Morrison, Kevin Borthwick, Trudy Duffy, Alastair Lavery and Angus Cheape; Cllrs Mike Barnacle, Joe Giacopazzi and Willie Robertson; 14 members of the public.
Apologies: CCllr Graham Pye; Cllr Cuthbert
Declarations of Interest: None.
Police report: No officer was able to attend. A report was received but it was very generic. We know of at least six incidents that were not mentioned. We are worried about this under reporting of crime. From the Commander’s Bulletins we have learned of a theft of oil from a tank in Rumbling Bridge. Also in our area: a car was damaged in Dunning Glen, there was a house breaking in Powmill, a sit-on mower was stolen from the Milkbar and a pick-up was stolen in the area and used for the attempted robbery at Sainsbury’s.
Minutes of the previous meeting: Minutes were signed off without amendment.
Presentation by SEPA
Colin Anderson of SEPA addressed the meeting, and explained the current situation at Crook Moss. SEPA has been out to inspect several times and found no evidence of the tipping of grey water. The water supply to the site is fairly restricted, so there is not much opportunity to produce grey water, it is a minimal amount in the grand scale of things. There are Portaloos onsite. SEPA has been looking for options for foul water: the CAR licences had been refused as the ground was unsuitable. Now an interim solution -building one toilet block connected to the sewer- is being investigated; while there is also a feasibility study in the pipeline for a more permanent solution. Scottish Water is not clear whether and how much capacity there is in the current Drum sewage system.
The CC is unhappy with the time it takes to find a solution; is worried by the lack of clarification given; it seems that PKC gives the CC and the Travellers community different information and Scottish Water is also not very clear in its reply to our questions. The CC is unhappy that double standards are used; when any development takes place in the LL Catchment area the rules are very strict. Sometimes it is not clear whether an application falls in the Drum or the Crook of Devon sewage system.
Mike Barnacle mentions the collective agreement between PKC, SEPA and SNH; a protocol for planning in the LL Catchment area. Allowing retrospective planning applications causes all kinds of problems. Joe Giacopazzi adds that PKC has to deal with 100 retrospective applications.
Powmill in Bloom
Has now been in operation for 6 months; so far that have received £3000 in grants. PKC will plant daffodils; Powmill in Bloom has 4 large and 2 small planters. MB suggests entry in the Best Kept Village Competition in 2016.
Rumbling Bridge Hydro Scheme
James Buchan from Local Energy Scotland (advising Rumbling Bridge Hydro Scheme) explained that this scheme has the obligation to offer community benefit of £10,000 per megawatt per year, because of having granted a loan with the Scottish Government. This would mean a minimum of £5,000 for the Fossoway and District community. FDCC could act as the recipient of this money (provided there are separate accounts) and with the help of a sub group with representatives from the whole community this money can be used for community projects. We are happy to enter into a contract with the Rumbling Bridge Hydro Scheme.
The CCllrs stayed behind after the meeting to agree on a few amendments to the contract with Hugh Wallace, the developer of the scheme.
Matters Arising
Crook Moss Travellers’ Site:
In addition to the discussion earlier, Joe Giacopazzi reported that he and Dave Cuthbert will make a site visit to the Crook Moss camp to see how the generators are baffled. Willie Robertson mentions that he now has the specs for baffling the generators and he will pass them on to our contact in the camp. The resident travellers are keen to improve the situation; at the moment it seems to be the transient residents who are causing noise problems.
Lambhill Chipping plant:
The Local Review Body meets on the 10th of November- the appeal will be heard then. Chipping has stopped.
A977 Defects and Mitigation Measures: Cllr Barnacle referred to a letter he has published in the Kinross Newsletter. Willie Robertson reported that Transport Scotland will soon commence a review of the Trunk road system; this may be the best moment to bring up re-trunking of the A977. A MoP mentions the poor state of the road in Blairingone, near the Vicar’s Bridge Road. Willie Robertson will take this up.
CC Membership: At the next meeting of this CC, Cllr Giacopazzi will initially chair the meeting until the new CC chair is selected. Then the new chair will take over the meeting and the remaining officers will take up their roles. Since the CC is allowed to have a further two members, there is an opportunity for any other interested persons to be co-opted onto the CC in six months’ time.
Station Road Adoption: Cllr Barnacle reported that after meeting the residents there is a shortfall of around £650 plus VAT, he is looking at ways of securing that money so the adoption can go ahead.
Boundary Commission: The CC’s objection to the proposed changes has been acknowledged. Cllr Cuthbert was commended for his work. There have been many representations from the length and the breath of Kinross-shire. However, the Boundary Commission intends to stick to the original timetable so we can only hope that they will take all the comments into account.
Lambhill Forestry Site: Kevin reports that there will be a Ranger-led walkabout on the 21st November from 11am to 1pm, meet at the corner of the A977 and the Cycle path. This walkabout is to see how the site can be used and accessed.
Signage at Vicar’s Bridge Road: Cllr Barnacle reported that this has been requested.
Potholes in Craigend Road: This work is now taking place.
Safer Route to School – Drum: A request to bring down the speed limit on the B9077 between the junction with the A977 and Drum has been received. Cllr Barnacle reported that Darren McKeown suggested a meeting in the framework of the School Travel Planning programme.
State of Road Through Drum and Missing Grit Bin: Cllr Robertson’s had previously contacted Stuart D’All about the condition of the road, and that the grit bin there was missing. However, there is no budget for road repairs this financial year, there are no resources to refill the bins in bad weather. The CC found this strange. Also, big lorries cannot use this road but still try. Mike Barnacle will take this up.
Noise Problem from Solsgirth House Hotel: Cllr Giacopazzi reported that there is pressure on the Solsgirth House Hotel to apply for a permanent licence. The CC has withdrawn the objection to the planning application if a condition to abate the noise issue is included in the report of handling. Alastair reported that the application has been approved with conditions.
Matters Arising With No Update Since Last Meeting
Landscape Areas – Kinross-shire: Opportunity to ask for change in the upcoming MIR.
Bollards Opposite Crook Village Hall: Awaiting a report from PKC Roads Department on how the safety of this section of road could be improved.
Crook Moss Community Involvement: Ongoing.
Blairingone War Memorial: no news
New Business
None this month.
Community Council Business
Meetings Attended: Angus attended the Kinross-shire Fund meeting.
Councillors’ Reports
Mike Barnacle: received word from Stuart Dean, Friends of the Ochils, who are doing a review about landscape designations. This may be an opportunity to keep the issue about the landscape status of the Devon Gorge alive. MB has also written to residents on the Main Street, Crook of Devon, about parking on the Main Street and the access to the shop/ post office. MB will also write to BT who, yet again, dug up the road in Crook of Devon without any prior notification or consultation.
Willie Robertson: Has written to City Link and all the MSPs. The buses between Edinburgh and the North stopping at Kinross are being cut back substantially, with no direct buses to Edinburgh between 4 and 7pm.
Planning Matters
15/01822/FLL. Modification of permission 13/01926/FLL (erection of a meteorological mast) to extend the time period. Site at Littlerig Forest, Dunning. No Community Council comment.
15/01773/IPL. Renewal of permission 12/01411/IPL (erection of a dwelling house, in principle). Land 30 Metres South of Crosslands, Crook of Devon. No Community Council comment.
15/01783/FLL. Erection of powerhouse and formation of access (associated with 13/01233/FLL.) Rumbling Bridge Hydro Scheme, Rumbling Bridge. No Community Council comment.
15/01706/FLL. Erection of dwelling house, workshop and garage at Land 70 Metres North East of Tullibole Kirkyard, Fossoway. Community Council will object. This application is in not in a village envelope but no justification is given for building a house in the countryside.
15/01769/FLL. Erection of seven dwelling houses, formation of access road and associated infrastructure at Land 100 Metres South of Merryorchard, Rumbling Bridge. Community Council will object. We do agree that this land should be seen as within the settlement area, however at this moment it is not designated as such and we will object at this time until it is in the settlement area.
Correspondence: All the correspondence was available for viewing.
AOCB:
Sandy thanked his fellow CC members for their support over the last years.
Trudy thanked Sandy and Alastair, both now retiring, for their service and work. Both will be a difficult act to follow.
Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting
Election of new Chair, followed by other office bearers, then CC meeting as normal.
Welcome and Apologies, Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting.
Matters arising: Crook Moss Travellers’ Site, Lambhill Chipping Plant, A977 Mitigation, CC Membership, Station Road Adoption, Boundary Commission, Lambhill Forestry Site, Safer Route to School - Drum.
Community Councillors: Meetings Attended, PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB
Next Meeting: Tuesday 1st December 2015 7:30 pm
Fossoway Primary School
All Welcome
This meeting will be preceded by a brief EGM to inaugurate the new CC
