Minute of Meeting on Tuesday 16 August 2011

Kalewater Community Council

Minute of Meeting on Tuesday 16 August 2011

In the Village Institute, Morebattle

Present:  Community Councillors; Eric McNulty (chair), Michael Scott (Secretary), Margaret Lister (Treasurer), Andrew McEwan, Helen Cessford, Paul Grime, Sarah Dixon.

Public: 2.

Guest: LBP Officer Alex Warmington

ACTION

1

Apologies

Community Councillors, Matilda Hall, George Aitchison.

Not Present

SBC Cllr Alec Nicol

2

Minutes of Previous Meeting

Cllr Dixon asked that the comment ‘Concern about the visual impact on the village’ be added to the planning application response (item 4) as it had been discussed at the previous meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting of 19 July having been circulated were passed as a true record of events.

Proposed: Cllr Lister; Seconded: Cllr Dixon.

Secretary

3

Matters Arising from 19 July Actions

3a

Completed.

3b

Completed.

3c

Completed.

3d

No reply yet re. strimmer funding. Treasurer noted that SBC grant had been paid into bank account.

4

Vattenfall Whitton Wind Farm update

Chair noted that Andrew Bennett (Vattenfall) was keen to agree the details of the Community Benefit Fund with the community council.

Some discussion over how to approach the meeting with the most up to date information on achieving the best outcome. Cllr Grime had been in touch with Sandy Watson (Scottish Enterprise Borders) and had read the SBC Windfarm Funding Toolkit. Mr Watson believed that the typical offering from windfarm developers was much less than it could be. A Southern Upland Partnership report from 2004 suggested that £4k - £5k/MW/yr was a realistic arrangement.

Agreed that the community council needed a clear position to negotiate from.

Cllr Grime to continue researching.

Association of Scottish Community Councils to be contacted for guidance.

Results of the researches would be circulated throughout the community council.

                         Cllr Grime

 Secretary

 Secretary

5

Correspondence

Secretary read through recent correspondence, some of which were placed in the circulation folder.

·   Letter from SBC: Withdrawal of planning application 10/01206/FUL Linton Mill Farmhouse, Morebattle. Chair had received the planning application.

·   RHS Britain in Bloom scheme (Cllr Cessford to retain the letter once it has circulated)

·   Reform Scotland Community Council Survey, deadline 3 October 2011

·   Letter from Edinburgh Association of Community Councils re. networking

·   SBC Website update

·   SBC ePlanning Public Access Upgrade

 Cllr Cessford

6

Items for Circulation Folder

The Secretary summarised items going into the new circulation folder as listed on the agenda.

·   Internet Safety for Parents – ‘Lunch and Learn’ SB Safer Communities Partnership Lectures

·   RBS CommunityForce funding scheme

·   SESPlan Strategic Development Plan Authority Development Plan Scheme 3

·   Scottish Borders Elder Voice, August 2011

·   ASCC online tutorials for community councillors www.ascc.org.uk/

·   Letter to Scottish Community Councils from ScottishGovt Finance Secy. John Swinney MSP re. ASCC

·   Cheviot & Berwickshire (South) Wardens’ Monthly Update, July 2011

·   Voluntary Arts Scotland News Release July 2011

·   Lothian and Borders Police Board Newsletter July 2011

·   DTA Scotland Bulletin no.30

·   SCVO Publications

·   Scottish Borders Community Council Network minutes May and agenda August 2011

·   Rural Poverty discussion in the Borders: Galashiels 28 September 2011

7

AOB

• Secretary noted that the Awards for All application response for the Community Action Plan was imminent.

• Cllr Grime noted that Amnesty had issued a report on RBS as they were investing in a company which produced cluster bombs. Agreed that he should write to RBS expressing appropriate concern.

• Cllr Dixon asked for an update on repairs to Heavyside Bridge where a telecoms pole appeared to have caused a crack in the roadway.

• Chair welcomed Lothian & Borders Police Officer Alex Warmington for a short presentation.

Officer Warmington was keen for any feedback on the LBP Community Contact Van and the newsletter. Would evening visits in the van be better than afternoons? The next one could coincide with the primary school coming out.

The newsletter is now published every 2 months with more copies printed.

There had been recent problems with ‘scrap dealers’ in flat-bed vehicles travelling over from England without a Peddlars licence. They were often undertaking reconnoitring visits for illegal activities whilst undertaking legitimate activities. Any suspicious activity should be relayed to Kelso Police Station or Lothian & Borders Police.

 Cllr Grime

 Secretary

8

Items for Next Meeting 20 September 2011 in Morebattle Village Institute

Vattenfall Whitton Wind Farm update.

Association of Scottish Community Councils (Cllr Hall).

Awards for All funding application.

In the absence of Cllr Scott, secretary for the next meeting would be Cllr Cessford.

Meeting concluded at 8.05pm.

Signed:

Date: