Proceedings of the Virtual Meeting of
Fossoway and District Community Council
3rd November 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 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 3rd November.

Contributing: Community Councillors Sarah Bruce-Jones, Angus Cheape, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar, Carole Haigh, Michael Haigh, Nicola Marchant (Associate), Graham Pye and Rob Young; P&K Councillors Michael Barnacle, Callum Purves, Willie Robertson and Richard Watters.
Apologies: None.
Declarations of Interest: None.

Police report: There was one incident to note in our area since the last CC Meeting from the Commander’s Reports received via Perth and Kinross Community Watch: Between 2:30pm, Saturday 17th and 4pm, Sunday 18th October, the front and rear windscreen wipers were stolen from a red Toyota Yaris in Main Street, Crook of Devon.
In response to reading our AGM minutes, the Community Sergeant M Burns said that police officers would attend the meeting when their shift allowed it but they could not use Zoom as a platform to attend, which is a little disappointing. Cllr Purves explained that this may be due to security restrictions, but perhaps they could phone in. CCllr Dufy undertook to follow up on this.
Sergeant Burns is planning to discuss Community Speed Watch and its funding with Inspector Stephen, the new Community Inspector for the area. The CC strongly supports this initiative. Cllr Robertson is discussing finance sources (about £1200) with Sgt Burns. CCllr Duffy suggested that the Hydro Fund could help, but because if the terms of the fund this would mean that use of the equipment would need to be restricted to this area.
The following officers are new to the local Community Team: PCs Martin Gemmell and Ashleigh Mitchinson.
CCllr M Haigh reported that a neighbour in Main Street, Crook of Devon had experienced a break-in to their shed, probably overnight on 1st November, during which a bicycle, drill and power hose were stolen. The Police have been notified.

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.

Matters Arising
Bank of Scotland Kinross Branch Closure: CCllr Marchant said that the next meeting will be in December. PKC’s CEO is in favour of using Community premises for banking although notes that they may not necessarily be in an appropriate place.

A977 Mitigation: Cllr Purves reported that there’s no news about the progress on the measures. Spaces for People measures can still be implemented, e.g. possible 20mph limits in some of the villages along A977 – Cllr Barnacle said that Waulkmill and Drum 20mph limits in the side streets are agreed, but he didn’t know when they might be implemented. Cllr Barnacle has also spoken to PKC’s Andy Brown who informed him that the A977 measures may not be completed this financial year due to pressure on resources as a result of COVID.
Cllr Barnacle informed the meeting that Brian Cargill is the senior person responsible for the A977 work, and both the CC and the other local Councillors will press him for an update.
CCllr Farquhar enquired about improving the Powmill shop layby – Cllr Barnacle has asked Stuart D’All for this, but the request wasn’t made before resurfacing. Meanwhile, the resurfacing work outside the shop has not been completed - Cllr Robertson will follow up on this.

Fossoway Area Transport/DRT: The new bus route continues to operate, but is not yet busy as a result of the pandemic. Peter Leach has resumed his Taxi service. Cllr Barnacle has arranged a date for a meeting of the Community Transport Group.

Rumbling Bridge Gorge Bridge: CCllr Duffy reported that as part of the planning application process, PKC require a Flood Risk Assessment to be made to ensure that the bridge is above the “1 in 200 year” flood level. TRACKS have asked two companies to quote for this work, Millard and Gavia, and recommend that the former be chosen as their fee is £672 less while both companies are equally qualified. Millard’s fee will be £5,568 including a sub-contract fee to Douglas Land Surveys who will be asked to extend their existing 3D topographical survey further along the river. The Hydro Fund Committee will compare the quotes and make a decision.

Powmill in Bloom: CCllr Farquhar reported that individual members of the group, practicing social distancing, have been planting winter bedding plants and keeping the village tidy.

Community Development Trust: Cllr Barnacle is about to send out invitations for the first meeting of the Trust.

Crook Moss Travellers Site: CCllr Farquhar has been told that the services connection work has been done. CCllr Young reported that there is a new sign at the site advertising a scrapyard. Cllr Barnacle said that the landscaping is inadequate, a business is being operated without planning permission and no enforcement action is being taken – all these issues were raised during Cllr Barnacle’s meeting with PKC’s CEO. CCllr Cheape confirmed the very poor state of the site. Cllr Barnacle suggested that the CC write to Karen Reid to press for Planning Enforcement action.

Crook & Drum Growing Together: Darryl McKeown has agreed to improve the corner by the Tennis Court; however there is no timescale yet.

Blairingone War Memorial: Profile Projects have confirmed that the finance to move the memorial is still available, with only one minor item required to complete the Planning Application. It is now necessary to find a stone mason to do the work.

Fossoway Gathering: It’s unlikely there will be a Gathering in May next year, but it could possibly be held in September. The Gathering Committee’s AGM is planned for 2nd December, all are welcome, a link to the online meeting will be made available.

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

New Business
Cllr Barnacle had received an approach from MoPs asking if there was any chance of creating a skate park in Crook of Devon. He has written to Andy Clegg (PKC Community Greenspace) to see if there might be. Cllrs Robertson and Watters have been involved in the possibility of expanding the existing one in Kinross and Cllr Watters suggested that Cllr Barnacle’s proposers contact the Kinross group for advice. Cllr Robertson noted that PKC has expertise in creating skate parks and a small one could possibly be created in Crook of Devon, perhaps with the assistance of TRACKS who have experience in raising funds. It would be important to establish that any proposed location would be acceptable to nearby residents. The CC supported Cllr Barnacle’s attempts to get this idea going.

Community Council Business:
PKC’s Democratic Services department had contacted this CC querying the appointment of Cllr Marchant as Vice-chair during the AGM. The CC discussed this, taking advice from the Local Councillors and will respond shortly.

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:
Callum Purves and Willie Robertson: Nothing that had not been discussed under other headings.
Richard Watters: PKC’s Capital budget meeting proposed two new schools and a recreation centre, all to be built to very high environmental standard, which will also make them a healthier place to occupy and in the long term financially advantageous.
Michael Barnacle: PKC’s Andy Brown had informed Cllr Barnacle that the Drummond Park adoption is not now going to be done until late spring or early summer next year. Cllr Barnacle will write to residents bringing them up to date.
The next CC Forum meeting is planned to be on 2nd December.
Cllr Barnacle (along with other members) has made submissions to the Reporter about the appeal for the proposed development 100m north-west of the house called Schiehallion in Crook of Devon. Cllr Barnacle believes that the only sensible way forward is to discuss the proposal with developers to reach an acceptable conclusion.
Due to COVID restrictions, there can be no public remembrance ceremony this year, only a low key wreath laying.

Cllr Barnacle had received answers to some of the questions he raised during his meeting with PKC’s CEO, which he circulated to the CC Members before the meeting. Other than those already mentioned above, in summary:
The CEO is in favour of exploring a pilot of an Area Committee for Kinross-shire.
The Kinross to Fife Circle rail link has been raised at the Tay Cities Transport Working Group, however it’s unlikely to be financially justifiable.
Landscape designations for Cleish Hills and Devon Gorge will not be restored.
Ochils and Lomond Hills will not become Regional Parks.
The CEO’s Housing colleagues have advised her that there is insufficient demand for Social Housing in Kinross shire, although provision of affordable housing is a requirement of Planning Consents.

Planning:
New Applications:
20/01226/IPL Erection of a dwelling house (in principle) at Land 40 metres south east of Main Street, Blairingone. No CC Comment

Decided Applications:
20/01205/FLL Change of use from agricultural land to form extension to garden ground, erection of garage/store, greenhouse and chicken coop, formation of hardstanding and associated works (in part retrospect) Dunnmore, Solsgirth, Dollar. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

20/01166/FLL Extension to dwelling house and formation of decking at Craighead Cottage, Drum, Kinross KY13 0PP. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

20/01319/FLL Erection of a dwelling house and office (class 4) Land 150 metres south west of Powmill Cottage, Rumbling Bridge. The application was approved – The CC had objected.
CCllrs Young and Marchant both reported that none of the objections were visible on the PKC Planning website, although CCllr Marchant noted that the Report of Handling does mention the objections. All conditions from the previous application have been included in the approval.

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.

AOCB:
A MoP (Graeme Hutchinson) suggested that the parking problems by Rumbling Bridge could be alleviated if there were signs to the car park by the Nursing Home. Also that the car park (created as requirement of the planning permission for the home) has never been adopted by PKC. Cllr Barnacle will speak to PKC’s Community Greenspace team to try and regularise the use of this car park.

A member of the public has reported serious potholes on the Gartwhinzean Road in Powmill. Cllr Barnacle will report this.
Janet Harper is instigating a light festival in Fossoway during December – inviting homes and businesses to decorate a street facing window. See https://www.windowwanderland.com/ for design ideas. The CC encourages people to take part.

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, PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting: Tuesday 1st December 2020
Powmill Moubray Hall - if Government guidelines allow, otherwise virtual.
Members of public wishing to join please email the CC at fossoway.cc@gmail.com
 
Correspondence October 2020