Minutes

Here are the Minutes of the Meeting at Fossoway Primary School

Tuesday 6th March 2012

1. Attending: S Morrison, K Bothwick, S Anderson, R Paterson, T Duffy-Wigman, A Lavery, Cllr K. Baird, Cllr W. Robertson, 33 Members of the Public (MoP).
Apologies: A Cheape, Cllr. M Barnacle

2. Declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interest.

3. Community Policing: Officer initially not present, but report sent.
Recent crimes – High pressure (and dubious) roofing salesman about.
In non-urgent cases, the community policing officer for our area, PC Victoria Riches, can be contacted on: 0300 111 2222
• MoP says that “Smart Water” has been trialled in Angus, how does it work, can we get a trial here? Officer will enquire.
• MoP suggests that Bus stop in Drum could be used as location for speed camera location on Sundays, as there’s no service on Sunday.
• Questions for Joanna McCready (Seamab): Previously there have been some instances where children caused damage. Joanna pointed out that they are all under 12 and very carefully selected and managed. Obviously there are sometimes difficult children and if there were serious problems with anyone they would have to be removed. If anyone has any concerns please call Joanna (or her deputy) at once with details and they will work out who’s involved and deal with it. Q: How many children? A: 15 live in and two come daily in accordance with their planning consent.

4. Minutes of the last meeting: Were approved.

5. Progress & Matters Arising
a. War Memorial, Blairingone: S Anderson reports that the planning permission and grant application have been submitted.
b. Community Speed Watch Programme: Trudy reports that 13 volunteers will be trained, currently waiting for jackets and equipment. Due to start end March.
c. Church Car Park: Sandy reports that the Church is still progressing this through their legal people, however we can now submit the planning application since the fee will be halved if the CC submits it.
d. Olympic Flame
Trudy reports that Cleish and Blairingone are going to join in the event. More details will be provided when the event has been arranged.
e. Devon Lade: Landowner has repaired wall, decided against volunteers as might have been too dangerous. Could be further problem in the summer due to the amount of silt washed down during winter which might block the entrance. Hope to be able to dig a channel to prevent any problems. The landowner and Scouts are co-operating on this matter. The CC recorded its thanks to the landowner for the prompt repair.

6. Tayside and Local Development Plans
Cllr Barnacle has held meetings to review this, and his future meetings are recommended. PKC had also held meetings and the next one is on Wednesday 14th March at 2-8 pm in the Community Campus. If you actually agree with the plan, then please write and say so! Obviously also write in if you object.

MoP wonders why Blairingone has been ignored for development – everyone knows that there are problems due to the ground being old mining areas, but this can be fixed. The school must be at risk. What is the CC’s view? They voted in favour of the development, but the planners favoured a bigger development at Powmill. However there are some areas in Blairingone that can be developed. Willie says that the school will be kept open, and PKC do recognise that Blairingone needs to be developed – but the plan is not yet finalised and there’s still time to comment on it. The current plan doesn’t provide enough developable land to make it worthwhile. The CC will support what the people want.

Reminder that end date for comments is 10th April.

7. Hydro Scheme in the Devon – Presentation by Hugh Wallace
In June, applied for grant, which was received in August and has allowed some feasibility studies to be done. SEPA have been consulted and are not against the scheme in principal. Various routes across Briglands estate are being examined and priced. Hopefully a decision will be made by April or May if the scheme is cost-effective. Cost about £2.5M – Government still supporting this sort of scheme. Environmental studies also taking place. Planning submission will be made over summer having tied down agreements with landowners. Assuming planning is granted then a separate company will be created to operate the scheme and community involvement will be welcomed then. Q: Has Woodlands Trust been kept up to date? This development could impact farm subsidies. A: Yes they have and every effort would be made to ensure nobody was disadvantaged. Q: Will extraction of water cause problems for fishing etc.? A: During low water periods the scheme won’t operate for some of the time – SEPA will define the rules for this. Q: How much power will it generate? A: 700kW.

8. Rumbling Bridge Housing Development – Presentation by Thomson Homes
Thompson Homes own the site, previously the Chalet Park. Currently has permission for 15 chalets over the whole site. Thomson Homes initially proposed 26 environmentally friendly homes (including six for the elderly) and a pre-school nursery. Community had concerns about traffic impact, so plan revised to exclude rear section, which is outside the village envelope, reducing the total number of homes to thirteen. Thomson Homes seek the support of the CC for this proposal which will be submitted shortly. If initial stage is successful, then it may be that a further development may be proposed in the future, although this would currently be outwith the local plan. Q: has a feasibility study been done for the nursery? A: Yes, there are other areas that will use this too. Q: Is this too remote for elderly people? A: They don’t think so – there is an old people ‘s home opposite, but this is aimed at people who are downsizing, who would like houses all on one level, etc. Q: There’s no bus service there at the moment? A: No, but we’re about to install a bus halt, which could be made readily accessible from the site. Q: Why aren’t you developing the whole site now? A: Unanticipated concerns from local community, and better to submit an application that has a reasonable chance of success. Q: Are you going to ask for an extension to the village envelope during the current local plan review? A: Thank you for the suggestion! Q: Will you make money from this reduced development? A: In the current climate any development is better than none. Q: What will happen to the existing consent for chalets – will it fall with this application? A: Understanding is that it will continue – not yet discussed with the planners.

9. Community Council Business

Change of date for June meeting to 12th June to avoid Jubilee Public Holiday.

Meetings Attended: Kinross Community Council Network – Alastair reports on the creation of this group to share ideas across Kinross-shire. It will meet every six months, but needs to get a proper structure in place before it can become effective.

10. PKC Business
Councillor Baird’s Report: The local plan is the most important thing at the moment – people must come to meetings and ask questions, and make comments as it will be in place for five years.

Councillor Robertson’s Report: Lochleven path to be completed this year. U222 Drum to A91 used by dogs, horses and bikes but also used by fast traffic – Clacks have concept of “green Roads” which exclude heavy traffic in preference to slower users. Willie has written to PKC to propose this idea. This road could also end up being used by Quarry lorries. MoP reports that the implementation in Clacks is not very effective, but Willie intends to push ahead with the plan and see if it works better in P&K.

11. Planning Applications

12/00252/IPL. Residential development (in principle),. Land 70 Metres South East Of Merryhills Rumbling Bridge
12/00253/IPL. Erection of a dwellinghouse (in principle). Land 50 Metres South West Of Merryhills Rumbling Bridge.
Recommendation. No Community Council comment.

12/00233/FLL. Erection of two wind turbines. Barnhill Farm Powmill.
Recommendation. Refusal, as contrary Policy 2a and 17b of the Kinross Area Local Plan, exceeding the capacity of the surrounding landscape to absorb or screen the development and the absence of a PKC strategy on small scale turbine development in the countryside.

12/00181/FLL. Erection of an agricultural building. Dailvaine Drum Kinross KY13 0PR
Recommendation. No Community Council comment.

Decisions by PKC.

11/02053/FLL . Two turbines, Bankhead Farm. CC recommended refusal. Approved.
11/01502/FLL. House at The Poplars, Drum. CC recommended rejection. Refused.
11/01096/FLL. Sheds at Cairnfold Bungalow, Blairingone. CC recommended refusal..
Refused.

12. General Correspondence: All outgoing and incoming correspondence was available for viewing.

13. Traveller’s Site at Crook Moss: The land is owned by one of the new residents, which makes this situation unusual, he will be making a retrospective application by March 12th for five caravans with facilities. Normal practice with retrospective applications is to determine them rather than take enforcement action. Environmental Health and Planners inspected site on Monday 4th. In the event of refusal then further review will take place. Willie explains that this process is more efficient than taking legal action. Q: Are these the same people who were at Greenacres? A: Willie says we don’t know. MoP notes that these people have come from somewhere in Fife, so not Greenacres. MoP notes that the land is currently contaminated – Alastair answers that this will be considered as part of the application. Note that there are no provisions in the new plan for traveller sites. MoP observes that the site is a “gateway” site into the village and hence is a very bad choice. CC answer that this will be considered during the application and we will all be able to comment then. MoP asks how often retrospective applications made? Willie says quite often, but as long as they are within policy then they get passed, this site has lots of issues to be considered. MoP observes that the sewage system in this area is at capacity. Policy 35 of the current plan explicitly forbids static caravans – objectors should mention this. CC and Willie both stress that anyone seeing anything illegal should report it to their councillor and PKC at once, and any unacceptable behaviour should be reported to the Community Police Officer. An extraordinary meeting of this CC may be called to discuss the application once it is submitted. The CC thanked Councillor Robertson for his prompt action in mobilising the Council and also recorded their appreciation for the Council’s prompt response.

14. A.O.C.B: Fire in Gartwhinzean hotel was not able to be fought effectively due to lack of water pressure. Kathleen will look into why there wasn’t enough pressure.

Draft agenda next meeting:
• Welcome and apologies
• Declarations of interest
• Minutes of last meeting
• Matters arising
• Community Council Business
• Councillors’ reports
• Planning applications
• Correspondence
• A.O.C.B

Next meeting: Tuesday 3rd April 2012, 7.30pm
Carnbo Hall
All Welcome