Howwood Community Council

HOWWOOD COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2016

PRESENT

Linda Smith (Chair), Millar Leon (Vice Chair), Bill David (Secretary), Douglas Paxton (Treasurer), Norma David, Bill Binks, Jackie Mackenzie, Dawn Michael, Fergus Phillips, Calum Storrie, Laura Storrie, Joe Graham, Brenda Whitelaw

IN ATTENDANCE

Cllr Iain McMillan, Cllr John Caldwell, Cllr Stephen McGee, Cllr Andy Doig, Rosie Convoy

APOLOGIES

Cllr John Hood, Chloe Phillips

1.  PREVIOUS MINUTES (11/10/16)

Adopted – Proposed Joe Graham, Seconded Bill Binks

2.  POLICE REPORT

·  Sgt Williams in attendance. 3 reported crimes, 1 theft / housebreaking – building site Spateston, 1 RTA no insurance and lighting offence, 1 taxi fraud.

·  Bill David reported speeding van – Advance Construction

3.  MATTERS ARISING

Requested last month’s crime figures.

4.  ENVIRONMENT & ROADS

·  Discussed Gazette article suggesting A737 was as dangerous as the A9.

·  Street lights at Bowfield / Midton Road, considered dangerous for access. Requested help from our elected councillors to get the lights fixed.

·  Also requested assistance with water running down Bowfield Road and leaves blocking drains.

·  Joe Graham advised parts of the pavement at top of Bowfield Road now inaccessible due to overgrown hedges.

5.  COMMUNITY EVENTS

·  Hoping to arrange Heartstart Course in Railway Inn.

·  Unable to have bugle player at remembrance service. Calum Storrie will copy last post onto CD for playing through PA system.

·  Agreed we should purchase our own Santa suit for village Christmas light switch on.

·  Bill David read letter regarding village Christmas Tree and charges of £4000 that Renfrewshire Council want us to pay to have socket installed and tree. Linda Smith advised that John P Wallace had agreed to install the electrics free of charge. General discussion around perceived lack of support for village and smaller communities in Renfrewshire. Cllr McMillan advised that Paisley gets more funding due to its ability to pull in the numbers of people to events and having the infrastructure to support large volumes of people attending events. He felt it may be a little unfair to compare Howwood to larger towns in Renfrewshire.

·  Bill David agreed to check with McTaggart Mickel to see whether they might help support with funding for a Christmas tree as Cllr McGee felt that costs would be more likely in region of £600.

·  Civic Amenity site at Johnstone would be restored to full facility from 28/11/16.

·  Kind offer from Howwood Inn to accommodate our Community Council meetings. It was agreed that we should remain on neutral premises at village hall and thank them for the kind offer.

·  Football pitch / park – persons wishing to take on facility would require a constitution, bank ac, and detailed plan regarding how it would become financially independent. They would need to be a sustainable organisation and committed to running the facility. It was agreed a public meeting would be required with interested parties.

6.  HEART

No update

7.  PLANNING / LICENSING

No updates.

8.  COUNCILLORS’ ISSUES

Cllr McMillan advised:

·  Planning committee had met today and rejected application for a detention centre at Glasgow Airport.

·  Around 90 folks attended meeting on regeneration of Johnstone Town Centre.

·  Further meeting to be held to discuss how communities outwith Paisley might benefit from the 2021 bid.

·  Fire at Persimmon Homes site was set deliberately and a lot of damage was caused.

·  Adult Protection conference was held at Johnstone Town Hall.

·  Scottish Government have agreed to increase Council Tax from next year on higher band homes.

·  Renfrewshire Council Leader, Mark McMillan will not stand again next year.

Cllr McGee discussed:

·  4 houses burnt down at Persimmon Homes site but they still hoped to have 40 units occupied before Christmas.

·  Lids had been put on the top up grit bins and he had requested street lights be repaired.

Cllr Doig discussed:

·  Discussed street lights pros / cons

·  Detention centre debate – no guarantee that the jobs would be transferred.

·  He advised that there are grants attached to the 2021 bid, for example Lochwinnoch had applied for funding to help an oral history project. He would send the form to Bill David.

·  Speed bumps have been erected in Council car park and posters placed in car park at cost of £4000. Douglas Paxton queried why Council had erected speed bumps when they have previously advised us that they no longer installed speed bumps in communities.

9.  CORRESPONDENCE – Full details available from Bill David

·  Detention Centre

·  CC Forum – reinstatement of civic amenity sites.

·  Offer from Anne McNaughton to establish a CC website.

·  List of funding available in Renfrewshire.

·  Application to demolish Patons Mill and plans to build 2 shops, restaurant and riverside park.

·  Planning consultation meeting

10. AOCB

·  Appointment of Office Bearers.

·  Bill David advised he will be standing down as Secretary and was looking for person to work with him this year & take over the role next year.

·  Chairperson – Linda Smith. Proposed Douglas Paxton, seconded Bill David

·  Vice Chairperson – Millar Leon. Proposed Linda Smith, seconded Douglas Paxton

·  Secretary – Bill David. Proposed Dawn Michael, seconded Brenda Whitelaw.

·  Treasurer – Douglas Paxton. Proposed Norma David, seconded Bill Binks

Douglas Paxton also advised that he would be standing down as treasurer next year.

·  Defibrillator is installed. It is heavily alarmed but simple to use as it tells user what to do.

·  Douglas Paxton discussed accumulation of funds and suggested we should look to support other village groups such as HWW.

·  Agreed CC should pay for the Christmas lights sweets.

·  Linda Smith discussed newsletter distribution lists.

NEXT MEETING

·  Tuesday 13 December 2016 @ 7.30pm in Howwood Village Hall.

·  Thereafter: Regular monthly meetings 2nd Tuesday every month.

Contact Details
Aircraft Noise Telephone line / 0141 848 4644
(answer machine)
Warden Services
(Dog Fouling, Graffiti etc) / 0300 300 0380
Fly Tipping / 0141 842 4448
Minicoach Tours /
Police / 01505 404000
Renfrewshire Council / 0300 300 0300
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
R.C. Roads email address /
Roads & Lighting Faults / 0300 300 0300
Scottish Water Contact / 0645 601 8855
0845 600 8855 (EMERGENCY)
Secretary, Bill David (Howwood Community Council) /
Village Web Site / www.howwood.com
Youth Nuisance Help Line / 01505 325030

Howwood Community Council Minutes 8/11/16 Page 2 of 3