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Community
Council Meeting held at the
Village Hall on 9th October 2008 at 7.30pm
Present:
Chris Heywood, Marion Donovan, John Prentice, Kym Bannerman, Fran
Keymer and local councilor David Raw.
Apologies:
Walter Wyse (Chairman), George Murray and Ian Fleming.
Lothian
& Borders Police: The local Police were unable to attend
this months meeting.
Neighbourhood
Watch: There were no incidents brought to the attention of the
Community Council at this months meeting.
Councillor
David Raw: Advised that he will make as much effort as he can
to regularly attend the Community Council Meetings. David
also advised that he would be more than pleased to be contacted
about matters that arise regarding the Community. David also
stated out of 12 councils, they are divided equally between
Michael Cook, Jim Fullerton and David Raw. David brought to
our attention that every two or three months the three councillors
will attend a community council meeting outwith their area but
still within the local constituency.
Previous
Minutes: Proposed by Kym Bannerman and seconded by John
Prentice.
Matters
Arising
-
Digital TV Switchover - The dates for the switchover
from Analogue (Terrestrial) TV to Digital TV will take place
in the Borders Districts over two dates. The first date
is 6th November 2008 also 20th November 2008. There may
be some delay for some residents as it is not understood which
broadcast tower provides the TV signal. David Raw
advised the committee that John Askew is the local liaison
officer for information regarding Digital TV queries, and will
be able to answer the worries that residents have and provide
answers to help a smooth transition. If anyone is unsure
about the effects the switchover will have on them, then
please contact your local liaison officer who will be more
than happy to assist you.
-
Seminar
- Chris Heywood attended the Association of Scottish
Community Councils (ASCC) Community Council Empowerment
Seminar at the Scottish Borders Council HQ in St Boswells on
27th September 2008. Chris stated the presentation was
concentrating on matters concerning the larger Community
Councils which wanted more powers, which involve more
legislation and regulation. Chris said that from the
information he picked up from the seminar he thought it would
not be in the best interests of the smaller Community Councils
to be controlled by so much new legislation. It was also
brought up that the small local councils are organized by
Volunteers who do not accept any monetary value for their time
and dedication to the running of the C.C. David Raw
stated he will contact Claire Malster to get the best advice
he can on the issues arising from the presentation and contact
the Community Council with the information and advice for the
community.
-
Minutes
Availability - It was noticed in the new local government
legislation that the Council would like a draft copy of the
community council’s minutes. The Minutes Secretary did
advise that they have never been aware that the minutes be
sent to the S.B.C. “Local Government ETC. (Scotland)
Act 1994 Scottish Borders Council” legislation does state in
section 15.2
“Each Community Council shall submit to the Scottish Borders
Council’s Head of Corporate Administration draft copies of
the minutes of its meetings no later than within 21 days after
each meeting and copies of the agenda for the subsequent
meeting of the Community Council when being issued”.
It
was concluded that Walter Wyse (Chairman) be informed of the
issues arising before the next meeting and advise where to go
from there.The Minutes Secretary said we don’t have
time to read over all the amended legislation regarding
guidelines that Community Councils must adhere to.
Planning
Matters:
-
Butterdean:
There have been consultation documents sent to the C.C about the
applications to erect 4 houses on the owners land. The plans
were inspected and we had no objections and foresaw no harm to the
surrounding countryside and neighbours.
-
Harelawside:
It was agreed to oppose 3 applications for houses at Harelawside
as the land is subject to severe flooding. There were also
worries about the increased traffic in the very restricted and
heavily parked road at Harelawside and the greater number of
accidents that would result.
-
Outward
Bound Centre: There was no information provided to the
Committee about the O.B.C at this months meeting.
Correspondence:
- ASCC
Conference: The Association of Scottish Community Councils
Conference will take place on 22nd November 2008 from 10am held at
the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. There will be
more information regarding this conference provided at the next
C.C meeting.
- Festive
Lighting: An application form has been sent to the C.C.
regarding the possibility of Festive Lighting to be erected in the
Community. We will respond as soon possible after Walter
Wyse has returned.
- Jim
Clark Rally: There will be a meeting relating to the Jim
Clark Rally in Duns on the 27th October 2008.
Any
Other Business:
- Message
Board: Jane Barribal (who maintains the Grantshouse website)
asked members of the Community Council to join the website's
Message Board
This month’s newsletter is available to all on the Grantshouse website and contains information on planned events in the
local and surrounding areas. Printed copies are delivered locally
and available from the Grantshouse Inn and the Cedar Cafe.
- Houndwood
Church: The C.C was informed that the gates to the grounds
of the Houndwood Church are in serious and immediate state of
disrepair. David Raw has asked for the information on this
issue to be forwarded to himself and he will contact the correct
council department and have the gates repaired or replaced as soon
as he can. When the C.C. have more information relating to
the completion of this repair they will let the community know.
- Local
Pathway: It has also been brought to the attention of the
C.C. committee that the pathway from Grantshouse to Harelawside
(which runs alongside the A1) is seriously overgrown and the
pathway has been reduced to a narrow walkway. David Raw once
again has asked for the information regarding this issue be passed
onto himself and he will contact the correct local department in
relation to having this rectified. When the C.C.have
information relating to the completion of this issue they will let
the community know.
- Wind
farm: Regarding the possibility of a wind farm at Coldingham
Moor, it seems that the planning application may be too weak to
carry forward, but it may be passed to the Scottish Government if
a strong case can be made. As soon as there is more
information made available to the C.C. they will let the community
know.
- Grants: David Raw has informed the C.C. that there is a grants program set
up for communities to apply for help with funding on a project
that they would be setting up. If approved it would be a one
grant payment for one project to the maximum value of £1000.
Any local projects that would benefit from this help are
encouraged to be put to the C.C. who can put an application into
the administrator at the BAVS in Duns.
- Statue
Unveiling: On Sunday 19th October at 3.00pm in Cove there will
be a statue unveiling taking place. All are welcome to come
along and share in this special event. There will be some
refreshments available after the unveiling.
Date
of Next Meeting - Thursday 13th November at 7.30pm.
All are welcome to attend.
(NB. No Questions will be taken from the Public unless authorized
by the Chairman.)
If there is a question that you
would like to be brought up at the Community Council Meeting but are unable to
attend, then please e-mail your question to the Correspondence
Secretary Kym Bannerman - kym.bannerman@lycos.com
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