PORT WILLIAM and DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held Wednesday 26 February 2014
7.30 p.m. Maxwell Hall, Port William.
1. PRESENT:-
Community Councillors : Mr J McMaster (Chairman), Mrs A Highman (Vice Chairman) Mr J Gray (Treasurer), Mrs B Allan, Mr R Mahoney, Mr P Carrigan, Mrs J Freeman, Mrs K Harden, Mrs P Watkins, Mr P Williams, Mrs S Windle
Public: Mrs J Gray (Secretary), Cllr Grahame Forster, 10 members of the public, 2 Police Officers and 1 member of the press.
The Chairman welcomed those present and recorded the sad death of Mr. Neil McNaught a former Vice- Chairman of Port William & District Community Council and who was Chairman of the Machars Coronary Club, giving his time for the benefit of others. Sympathies were extended to his widow and to his family.
2. Apologies – Mr B Highman
3. Declarations of Interest – No Declarations of Interest were declared.
4. Police Report - Two Officers attended and advised that three persons in the area had been arrested on drug and disorder offences. They extended thanks to First Response, to PIRSAC and to all who had helped with flood defences and traffic control during the recent flooding incidents, and were advised of the problems encountered when certain car drivers had ignored the warning not to continue through the Main Street of Port William resulting in surface water being displaced and causing further problems for the residents.
5. The meeting was attended by safety officers, Diane McColm and Kenny McClurg from the Community Safety team, a new Council service to help make people feel safer and more secure. They advised on how they can help with antisocial behaviour; fly tipping; litter, including the dropping of cigarette ends, advising that 28 tickets had already been issued at a fixed penalty of £ 80.00 and making available ‘stubbies’ which can contain the cigarette end prior to disposal; abandoned vehicles; discarded needles; domestic noise nuisance; car parking problems; dog fouling, again advising that 31 tickets had already been issued within the area with a fixed penalty fine of £ 40.00 advising that they do have bags available and reminding members that all dogs must be kept on leads whilst being exercised in cemeteries. The team can also provide a mediation service and can be contacted on 030 33 33 3000 requesting that any information be made available to them.
6. Chairman’s Statement on recent issues:- Mr McMaster advised of a meeting held Wednesday 5th February, when four officials from D & G Council came to address the meeting.
6.1 Mr Stephen Jack, Service Manager, Area Framework, spoke at length about Community Councils and their role and the responsibilities of Community Councillors, identifying the needs and aspirations, and representing the views of the community to D & G Council and to other external bodies.
6.2 Mr Robert Duncan, Area Planning manager and Mr Billy Murray, Senior Planner, then gave an insight into planning matters and how Community Councils are involved advising that internal arrangements for considering planning applications are a matter for each individual council..
6.3 Mr McNabb Laurie, Development Contributions Officer, then outlined some issues of onshore wind energy. He discussed community benefit based on Mega Watts of installed capacity and the split between surrounding communities and advised how he could assist in developing and representing a consolidated view.
7. Minutes of meeting 29 January 2014 – These minutes were read and having been taken as approved were proposed as a true and accurate record by Mrs A Highman, Seconded by Mrs J Freeman and signed by the Chairman.
8. Matters Arising
8.1 Consideration of occasional afternoon meetings – this was discussed but concern expressed that it may discourage young people in regular employment from becoming Community Councillors – decision deferred until the next meeting.
8.2 Proposed visit by Chic Brodie MSP – Secretary to contact.
8.3 Federation of Machars Community Councils – After discussion members agreed that they did not wish to become actively involved within the federation but requested the Secretary to write to the Convenor advising of an interest and requesting to be kept informed of all issues. .
8.4 Parking Maxwell Hall – White ‘H’ bar in front of the dropped kerb – Cllr Forster to pursue.
8.5 Additional Driver Feedback Sign – Agreed not to pursue as already have one at either end of the village.
8.6 Harbour Dredging – Reply received from Jane Bridge, Development Team Leader, DGFirst-Local Roads in response to concern that the process was having a significant impact on the movement of gravel along the shore line causing additional problems to residents in the recent high tides. M/s Bridge explained that the movement of stone and gravel along the shore line at Port William during the winter months gets trapped between the breakwater and the harbour quay. Removing the material and placing further along the shore, mimicking the natural regime prior to the breakwater and adding that the replacement material is continually moving along when the currents are strong and that the placement of material from the harbour will have no significant effect especially considering the volumes moved by storm conditions. Residents however did not agree with M/s Bridge and Cllr Forster agreed to speak with her with a view to her visiting the area in order for residents to put their concerns to her personally. .
9. Notice of Motion - Mrs Hilary Pavitt, Hawthorn House, Second Sands, Main Street, Port William DG8 9QP – Electoral Registration Number 02N1/643 – Proposed by Mrs A Highman, Seconded by Mrs J Freeman. There being no objections to this proposal Mrs Pavitt was welcomed as a member of the Port William & District Community Council.
10. Finance Report – Treasurers Account, £ 1802-85, although the treasurer advised that
£ 981.15 of this sum was restricted funds in respect of Christmas decorations and webpage fees. Village Improvements Account £ 491-00.
11. Storm Damage – The devastation caused to the rear of properties in South Street was discussed but members advised that unless money for repairs comes from a Scottish Government scheme that provides emergency financial assistance to local authorities in response to emergencies caused by the weather, householders will need to cover the bills themselves, as D & G Council will only make repairs to defend its assets and not private properties. An e-mail had been received from D & G Council in respect of a new one-off hardship emergency fund for premises flooded in the winter flooding of early 2014 but it was believed that this was only available in England & Wales. SSAFA, Discretionary Council budgets and a solidarity fund as other funding possibilities were also mentioned and the suggestion of a contingency fund made which will be discussed at the next meeting. Cllr Forster again agreed to speak with Jane Bridge, Charles Clemie and Colin Forbes to arrange a visit to the area to discuss the problem in more detail.
12. Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham CC – letter re moratorium on all Windfarm planning consents – agreed not to consider further.
13. Correspondence
· Letter from Local Energy Scotland - Free and impartial service through which to access the Scottish Governments Community and Renewable Energy Scheme.
· Letter advising of changes to services proposed by the council’s Customer and Community Services Department including cutting the hours the library will open but adding registration and customer services. Members were requested to attend an open event at the library on Monday 3rd March.
· E-mail – suggestion that Community Payback be contacted to clear lay bys of rubbish and pebbles to allow grass cutting and to carry out beach cleans – Mr McMaster to pursue.
· Letter Police Scotland – Public Counter Provision – Newton Stewart, 08.30 – 14.30 Monday to Wednesday; Stranraer 24 hours, 7 days.
· Notification Military Exercise – 25th March to 15th April
· E-mail – advising of council’s liability for any damage caused by council owned boxes – to be held on file pending any claims against the council. Cllr Forster to advise Alistair Speedie.
· Details of Dumfries and Galloway Environment fair.
· E-mail – Fran Raw – on behalf of savethemachars.com clarifying that they are an independent anti industrial wind turbine group.
· Poster – Commonwealth Connections – Stranraer Museum.
· Poster – The Art of Drawing – Stranraer Museum 3rd May – 7th June
14. Bookings for Harbour Green – none received
15. Website Update – Mrs H Pavitt advised that this should be up online in about 10 days from the date of this meeting.. She requested information from clubs and societies and suggested that Community Council minutes could be posted onto the website if required although Cllr Forster pointed out that these would need to be the approved minutes.
16. Planning Applications Sub-Committee – nothing to report.
17. A.O.B.
A number of pot holes were reported in Elrig and along the Mochrum Road. Cllr Forster advised that members should telephone the pothole number to action these. Mrs Pavitt also spoke of Culvert issues in the Second Sands area and Cllr Forster suggested that all these issues should be addressed to Mr Clemie when the site visit has been arranged.
Meeting Closed at 8.45 p.m. Next Meeting : 26 March 2014 at 7.30pm