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 fossoway.cc@gmail.com or via the CC’s Facebook page, which we will answer in our next meeting, be it virtual or physical, on Tuesday 6th October.

Contributing: Community Cllrs Sarah Bruce-Jones, Angus Cheape, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar, Carole Haigh, Michael Haigh, Nicola Marchant (Associate), Graham Pye and Rob Young; P&K Councillors Mike Barnacle, Callum Purves and Willie Robertson.
Apologies: PKC Cllr Richard Watters.
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: on 1st August a driver was stopped in Crook of Devon for travelling at 54mph in the 30mph zone; on 19th August another driver was stopped for travelling at 78mph in the 40mph section of the A977; Vandalism was committed to two HGVs at Bankhead Farm.
Cllr Barnacle noted that the new traffic lights at the Drum crossroads will help manage speeding on the A977 when they’re installed.
Drum Main Street, the loop road, Waulkmill and Church Road will shortly receive 20mph speed limits. Cllr Robertson suggested that we should contact the Police just before the limits are introduced to ask them to enforce them as soon as they are active to reinforce the change to drivers.
CCllr Marchant was contacted by a resident about speeding on Aldie Road, probably by people avoiding the A977 roadworks, although it is not an official diversion. CCllr Bruce-Jones added that a similar thing is happening in Drum, and it might have helped if the closures and recommended diversions were signposted further afield.

Minutes of the previous meeting: 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. The August proceedings erroneously reported CCllr Cheape as not being present.

Matters Arising
Bank of Scotland Kinross Branch Closure: CCllr Marchant has received a reply from Liz Smith MSP’s adviser that they have not yet managed to arrange another meeting with the Bank, and that it may be more appropriate to postpone the meeting in light of the Bank’s decision to put the closure on hold for the time being. CCllr Marchant has received more representation from residents, and will press Liz Smith to hold the meeting before it’s too late to make any significant changes. See Cllr Barnacle’s report below.

Community Development Trust: Cllr Barnacle has 15 people who are prepared to be members of the group, and the CDT will initially meet online.

Crook Moss Travellers Site: The connection of services was planned for 27th August but it didn’t happen as the drainage contractor didn’t have all the right paperwork, the new date is 14th September. The plot nearest the road which is being used as a dumping ground has now possibly been sold. Cllr Barnacle attended a meeting with PKC’s Chief Exec on 1st September to address issues at this site, she will pressure the Planning Department to enforce the conditions and encourage PKC’s Gypsy Liaison Officer to take some action. If the site cannot effectively operate as a Traveller’s Site, then the CEO is in favour of it being used for affordable housing instead, which has been proposed by a neighbouring landowner. CCllr Bruce-Jones reported that Drum residents are not happy that there is no progress on tidying up this site.

Corona Virus – Information and Links: If you require any information about PKC’s support for both businesses and individuals in our community affected by COVID-19 see this link from PKC: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus

Crook of Devon Resilience Group: CCllr Duffy has been informed by Victoria Sutherland, the head of the group, that the group had closed its operations, although it has some outstanding expense claims still to be paid. The CC thanked Victoria and her colleagues for all the hard work they have done. The group asked if they could transfer the unused funds to Broke not Broken, who have taken over the deliveries previously made by the Resilience Group, but unfortunately that is not allowed, and the remaining funds will be returned to the Hydro Fund.

Devonshaw Whinstone Quarry (FK14 7NH): CCllr Marchant has been in touch with the developers and plans will be made to meet them once lockdown restrictions permit.

Cycle Path from Aldie Road to Drum: Cllr Robertson had previously notified the CC that this path is very overgrown. Cllr Robertson had approached the Community Service department to ask if they can clear the area, however Arek Nowrotek responded that they had a large backlog of work but would add this job to their list.

Fossoway Area Transport/DRT: Stagecoach has made the decision to permanently suspend the No 23 service from Stirling to St Andrews. However First Bus is planning to institute a new X53 service from Stirling to Kinross on the 12th September, Transport Commissioner to approve. Since this is a commercial service there was no opportunity for PKC councillors to give any input to the route or timing of the service, neither can PKC operate a service on a similar route. The Community Transport Group will look into filling in gaps in the service, and the DRT may be focussed on areas not covered by new bus when the bus is running. Cllr Purves has approached Fife Cllrs to see if they can help but they don’t have any budget for this.

Fossoway Gathering: The planned Penney’s Wood Light Walk cannot go ahead under the current restrictions.
Vegetation on Aldie Road: Following a report from CCllr Marchant that the vegetation had been cut back, but the ditches still needed clearing, Cllr Robertson contacted Garry McConnell to ask for this to be added to the programme of work.

School Exclusion Zone: The zone in Crook of Devon has not been implemented, the CC stresses that it wishes to be fully consulted before this proposal is taken any further.

Old Railway Track Path Below Waulkmill Park: Cllr Robertson had raised the issue of horses using this path with PKC’s access officer Dave Stubbs, who agreed to investigate, but there has been no reply as yet. CCllr C Haigh said that there used to be a post narrowing the entry – perhaps this should be reinstated to only allow access to only pedestrians.

Rumbling Bridge Gorge Bridge: CCllr Duffy said that the scheme is now at pre-application stage, needing tree and otter surveys to be done. Land owners also need to be contacted and their agreement sought.

A977 Mitigation: CCllr Cheape has received reports that traffic heading east from Crook of Devon after passing the traffic lights is already travelling in excess of the speed limit by the time it reaches the garage.
CCllr Bruce-Jones commended the Councillors for their continued pressure which has resulted in the extensive resurfacing work currently being undertaken.

Matters Arising with no update since last meeting:
Crook & Drum Growing Together, Powmill in Bloom, Hydro Scheme Fund, Blairingone War Memorial, Ivy Cottage Powmill, Coulshill Forestry Development, Cemetery Car Park Extension: No information at present.

New Business
Scottish Planning Policy Consultation: The CC has received notification of this consultation. CCllr Marchant has reviewed the paper which modifies the policy on presumption of development following a court ruling. The CC will reply to the consultation broadly agreeing with the changes but emphasising that the policy must effectively cover the varied nature of the PKC area with both towns and extensive rural areas.

Pedestrian Crossing Lights: CCllr Pye asked if the change to the traffic lights in P&K so that the pedestrian phase is always activated was really necessary. Cllr Barnacle has received complaints from Drum residents about this too. CCllr Bruce-Jones observed that precautions against COVID-19 were always worthwhile, although there needed to be more publicity about this sort of change so that the public took advantage of it. Cllr Purves agreed with CCllr Pye, but added that PKC’s Mr McKeown had told him that the sensors are supposed to detect when there are no pedestrians. Cllr Robertson said that lights that don’t seem to be working properly should be reported and their times changed. Cllrs and CCllrs are divided on this issue.

Community Council Business:
The next meeting of the Stronger Communities group is planned for 15th Sept 2020, CCllr Marchant will attend. The group is making Community Action Planning (STAR) training available. In light of the imminent creation of the Community Development Trust, the CC considered it appropriate that we should apply to take part in this training. CCllr Marchant agreed to action this.
CCllr Cheape reported that there were no new applications to the Kinross-shire fund.

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 fossoway.cc@gmail.com for details.

P&K Councillors’ Reports:
Mike Barnacle: The owner of the Poplars, Drum has been in touch with Cllr Barnacle about the repeated problems with flooding at her property. A site meeting is to be arranged later this month with PKC’s flooding team as the current culverts, ditches etc. are no longer coping with the pressure caused by continued development in Drum, which already has a high water table. Warnings from both Cllr Barnacle and the CC that development in Drum would cause such a problem have not been heeded by the planners.
Cllr Barnacle had a one-to-one meeting with Karen Reid PKC’s CEO at which the following topics were discussed
A Pilot of an Area Committee for Kinross-shire, which was first suggested by Cllrs Barnacle and Purves in June last year, and subsequently supported by this CC. Ms Reid is in favour of it, Cllr Barnacle should prepare a draft proposal to go to full council.
The lack of a PKC policy on maintaining the sustainability of rural communities, Ms Reid agrees – Growbiz may be the vehicle to address this.
Cllr Barnacle doesn’t think that Bank of Scotland will reverse their closure plans, so will PKC allow their facilities to be used for banking meetings? Cllr Barnacle is to put a proposal to support “Community Bankers” to the full Council.
In October 2017 it was agreed at a full Council meeting that the rail link from Kinross to Cowdenbeath, and hence joining the “Fife Circle” should be re-established, but this has not been pursued through the Tayplan Transport Strategy by PKC Officers since then.
In the 2004 Local Plan the Cleish Hills and Devon Gorge were established as Areas of Great Landscape Value. However they were not included in Supplementary Guidance to LDP1 after a consultant’s report. Ms Reid will pursue them being reviewed again.
The large scale housing developments in Kinross and Milnathort is putting increasing pressure on the Loch Leven catchment area, both environmentally and community services. Why isn’t the agreed 10% reduction in housing numbers being respected by planners?
A PKC-wide campaign is needed against fly-tipping.
The Drum area has a high water table and there have been frequent flooding issues to local residents. A flood management plan and ditch management programme is needed for Drum.
No affordable is housing being built, and none is scheduled in planning for the Kinross-shire area.
Although the Kinross-shire area was defined as a sub-area in a PKC branding exercise there is still not enough signage. Could local fund-raising be used to address this in light of PKC’s budgetary constraints?
Planning and Development Committee meetings are excessively long and the standard of the Report of Handling could be improved. Cllr Barnacle will provide more detail.

Callum Purves: The CC has received an invitation to attend a meeting for the Kinross-shire Ward with PKC’s CEO and/or Executive Directors, local Councillors and Community Representatives to discuss Recovery and Renewal post-pandemic, and how PKC’s relationship with Communities could change.

Willie Robertson: The Dunning Glen road is in a very bad state due to log lorry use. Major works are to be done later this year, which will result in the road being closed for some time.

Planning Matters:

New Applications
20/00972/FLL Erection of two dwelling houses and garages at Land 100 metres south west of Easter Muirhead, Blairingone. Object on grounds of previous application’s conditions not completed; traffic; water pressure.

20/01003/FLL Alterations and extension to dwelling house at Ferguslea, Church Road, Crook of Devon. No CC comment.

20/01051/FLL Installation of two biomass boilers, two flues and associated works (in retrospect) at Wharlawhill Farm, Carnbo. No CC Comment.

Decided Applications
20/00577/FLL Installation of a ground-mounted solar PV array and associated works at Solsgirth Home Farm, Solsgirth, Dollar. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

20/00885/FLL Erection of a dwelling house and garage at Land 30 metres north west of Firs of Viewfield, Drum. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

Appeals
19/01881/IPL Residential development (in principle), land 80 metres north east of Powmill Milk Bar, Powmill.
The applicant submitted an appeal to the LRB on 17th March. A virtual meeting of the LRB is scheduled for 15th September, but the meeting agenda is not due to be published until five days before the meeting.

Pending Applications
19/01539/FLL Erection of four dwelling houses at Land 30 metres south of Easter Muirhead Bothy, Blairingone. No decision had been made as of 31st August and the agenda for the Virtual Planning Meeting on 23rd September is not yet available.

Correspondence: If the correspondence list is not attached to this document, it can be found on the CC FB Page.

Should anyone wish to see any items please contact the CC by email and a copy can be provided.

AOCB: CCllr Marchant asked about the process for flu vaccination this winter – more people will need to be vaccinated and new ideas are needed for how to do it within the current restrictions. Cllr Purves replied that there’s about to be a meeting of the appropriate Committee where this will be discussed.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting:

Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting. Matters arising: Powmill in Bloom, Crook & Drum Growing Together, Bank of Scotland Branch Closure, Community Development Trust, Crook Moss Site, Fossoway Area Transport, Waulkmill Path. PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting and AGM: Tuesday 6th October 2020
Crook of Devon Village Hall - if Government guidelines allow, otherwise virtual.
Members of public wishing to join please email the CC at fossoway.cc@gmail.com 

Correspondence August 2020