Minute of Meeting of 18 April 2017

Kalewater Community Council

Minute of Meeting on Tuesday 18 April 2017

In the Village Institute, Morebattle

Present: Community Councillors; Eric McNulty (Chair), Barbara Bell, Caroline Lang, Catherine Mabon, Michael Scott (Secretary), Matilda Hall (Treasurer), Richard Pedersen, Andrew McEwan, Neil Thomson.

SBC Councillors: Simon Mountford, Alec Nicol.

Public: 1

ACTION

1

Apologies

Community councillors; Tom Edgar, Dot Halliday.

2

Minutes of Previous Meeting of 21 March 2017

The minutes of the previous meeting of 21 March having been circulated were passed as a true record of events.

Proposed: Cllr Lang; Seconded: Cllr. Mabon

3

a

Matters Arising from Actions 21 March 2017

Jinty Scott Trust

Chair reported that he had made contact with one of the trustees. The trust was set up for the benefit of the Kirk in Morebattle and Hownam and in recent times had supported outings for elderly residents, renovation works on the village institute and the village hall. With a backlog of renovation work in the local churches there would be no external disbursements of funds in the near future.

b

Broken public bench at bottom of Pikings

Cllr Pedersen reported that he had replaced the broken board. The other works would be carried out in the summer.

c

Morebattle Street Trees

Cllr Hall reported that she had worked with SBC Cllr Mountford to organise pruning.

d

Gifted Bench

Completed.

e

Minor Public Road near Old Caverton - Caverton Mains

SBC Cllr Mountford reported that SBC officer Ronnie Pattenden would progress this issue.

f

Morebattle Cemetery Lairs

SBC Cllr Mountford reported that he was awaiting an update.

SBC Cllr Mountford

g

Community Empowerment Act

Secretary reported that SBC Officer Clare Malster was unavailable to attend the community council to make a presentation. Request more details. SBC Cllr Nicol noted that councillors could disburse £20k ‘Quality of Life’ funds available to Cheviot Area, split between the Jedburgh and Kelso wards. Social projects may be good beneficiaries.

Secretary

h

Salt Bin

Cllr Pedersen suggested that the bin location should be moved to avoid future damage by vehicles.

4

Kalewater Community Council elections 2017

Cllr Pedersen announced that he would resign at the AGM in May, bringing the number of vacancies to five. Cllr Mabon would place an announcement in the Southern Reporter. The nomination form would be added to the Morebattle FB page.

5

Correspondence

·   Proposed Project at Cessford Farm Cottages.

Secretary read out an email received from Roxburghe Estates regarding proposed renovations of 6 vacant cottages in Cessford, some of which have been empty for over 20 years. The Estate hopes to make the cottages available to rent, subject to Scottish Government funding being available for the works, which could begin this summer and last for 12-18 months.

The meeting was supportive of the proposal.

6

Items for Circulation Folder

·   Scottish Borders Housing Association - Community Update, April 2017

·   Kelso Ward Police Reports, March 2017
SBC Cllr Nicol noted the difficulties of contacting the police in person. Member of public present noted that knocking on the police station door in Kelso had recently resulted in a response.

·   Paths for All Community Grants

7

a

AOB

Cllr Bell requested better signage at Tofts bridge over the Kale Water, where the road narrows, with poor visibility in both directions. SBC Cllr Nicol suggested contacting SBC Officer A. Finnie. Evidence of accidents or near-misses would add weight to the argument

Secretary

b

Street Lighting

Cllr Thomson asked about the situation of the industrial estate on the outskirts of Morebattle and its lack of street lights. SBC Cllrs noted that for SBC to consider street lights, the roads would have to be brought to local authority standards before they could be adopted.

c

Pavement

Cllr Mabon noted the pavement from the institute to the pub was in a poor state. SBC Cllr Mountford reported that he had spoken to SBC Officer Finnie who hadn’t been too optimistic about funds being available to carry out maintenance in 2017/18.

8

Retirement of SBC Cllr Alec Nicol

Kalewater Community Council presented Alec Nicol with engraved goblets and thanked him for his 18 years of service as an elected local authority councillor and his 4 years on the community council. Alec thanked everyone for their kind gift and for community council Chair Eric McNulty’s many years of service on the community council.

9

Items for Next Meeting Agenda

Kelso Laddie and Jethart Callant visit, June 2017.

10

Next Meeting

7pm AGM, 7.30pm Monthly Meeting,Tuesday 16 May 2017, Village Institute, Morebattle.

Signed:

Date: