Community Council Minutes 15 September 2008
Minutes of the Meeting of Plockton & District Community Council
Plockton Village Hall
Monday 15 September 2008, 7:30pm
- Present
-
- C M MacRae (Chairman)
- K Leiper
- M MacKenzie
- J Storie
- G R Webster
- C Will (Crofters' Representative)
- G James (Secretary/Treasurer)
- Cllr I Campbell
- 1 resident, 1 visitor
- Apologies
-
- J MacKenna
- G Glasgow
- J MacDonald
- I Matheson
- I Turnbull (NTS)
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
- The Minutes of the last meeting were proposed and seconded by K Leiper and G R Webster, respectively.
- Matters Arising
-
- Housing Projects
-
- The Chairman, following a query made by the CC on lack of Information on Planning Applications, is now receiving these by email, but still does not receive the outcome of such Applications. Cllr Campbell to action.
- With regard to the proposed housing sites below the War Memorial the NTS had made an initial approach to the Housing Association, and was awaiting feedback.
- Copies of the final Plans for Burnside had been received and the comments made by the CC on previous applications still applied. The Chairman had contacted the architect who confirmed that there had been slight changes in the layout to the southern region of the site where the level has had to be altered. Quotes have now been received within the allotted budget, and it is hoped work will commence in January 2009. Neighbour Notification has been received.
-
- Roads Department
-
- Extreme disappointment was expressed at the HC decision that the CC would not be receiving any Village Officer funding. The CC has spent a total of £520 on having general strimming work, etc carried out privately. and been allocated £500 for beach cleaning by the HC on 27 August which it was felt was rather late in the season. The HC had agreed to a certain degree of grass verge cutting, but it was felt that the designated amount was no way adequate for the village needs. The CC had been informed that 40% of the HC budget for grass cutting had been allocated to Plockton. Real concern was expressed at the fact that the decision not to allocate Village Officer funding had been received far too late in the year causing delays in organising the maintenance of the village.
- The Roads Department had promised the weekly provision of the mechanical road sweeper, but this had only been carried out three times so far.
- The Chairman had spoken to a representative of Scotrail on the matter of the extremely poor state of Station Road but was informed that the access to the station was not owned by Scotrail, and therefore the entire road is unadopted. The estimated cost of having the road re-surfaced, etc would be £50,000. Mark Crowe had agreed to the Roads Department filling in the potholes as a temporary measure.
-
- Rural Public Transport
- Bob Andrews, Highland Council Public Transport Department, had informed the Chairman of the proposed operation of a ‘dial-a-bus’ service between Stromeferry and Kyle, via Plockton etc, initially on a once-a-week basis, passengers being requested to make the booking the day prior to the service. It was agreed this was a step in the right direction in providing a public transport facility. Details would be posted an Notice Boards.
- No decision had vet been reached on bringing the Plockton/Kyle bus down into the village.
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- Plockton Harbour Association
- The lease had now been drawn up between the CC and the Harbour Association.
-
- Additional Village Notice Board
- This was still to be erected. Alex Townend agreed to carry out this work.
-
- Buckie's Pier and Causeway
- Still waiting for quotes. Until these are received the CC is unable to apply for grants.
-
- Craft House
- No further progress had been made by the National Trust for Scotland as the previous tenant had not yet emptied the premises.
-
- Plockton Car Par Area
- The repair work to the garages had not yet been carried out, the NTS having agreed to lease them to the Harbour Association when this work is completed.
- Concern was expressed at the number of camper vans staying overnight contrary to the notice prohibiting this usage.
- With regard to the proposed major shorehead project to extend and alter this area, it was agreed a meeting should be arranged involving the CC, the NTS, Harbour Association and Plockton Tourist Association. The newly to-be-appointed Project Officer for the Wester Ross Alliance should be approached in connection with Leader funding. A meeting would be arranged for the representative bodies concerned, under the auspices of the CC, for Monday 27 October, at 7.30pm in Plockton Village Hall.
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- Ard a'Mhorair Water Tap
- This project was being furthered.
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- Police Matters
- The Harbour Association was keen to install a CCTV camera to monitor the car park area as it was felt this would be beneficial as a security measure to safeguard this area.
- Police attendance at CC meetings was much appreciated, and it was hoped this could be arranged on a regular basis where commitments permit.
- Correspondence
- Wester Ross Alliance re Leader funding. Clarification needed on the Project Officer appointment. Chairman to action.
- Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations meeting on 24 September in Kyleakin Village Hall. Presentation by Robert Muir of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, including an item on Leader funding.
- Notification of the road closure, Stromeferry/Strathcarron 4–6 October, details of which would be placed on the village notice board.
- DigitalUK re Digital Switchover Event for CCs at various venues including Inverness at the Royal Highland Hotel on 5 October.
- Alaisdair MacKenzie, Depute Clerk to the Licensing Board, re Conversion Application for Premises Licence (Plockton Inn and Seafood Restaurant).
- AOB
- The Chairman had expressed his concern to Bob Cameron, Corporate Manager, that the organisation for the recent CC election had rested with the CC itself, together with any costs incurred, and that the Skye elections had been carried out by the Ward Manager. A reply had been received stating this had been quite in order, but the Chairman declared his intention to query this again.
- The next Ward Meeting would be held at Achnasheen at 7.00pm on 30 September.
- It was agreed that a work party would cut back the trees in Plockton churchyard on Saturday 4 October at 11.00am. Volunteers would be welcome. Chairman to action.
- A suggestion had been made that the CC buy out the top of the brae above 23 Harbour Street. The relevant residents had expressed their agreement to this. Concern was expressed that this could encourage campers.
- Complaints had been received about the poor state of manhole covers in Harbour Street and also concern was expressed at the uneven state of the pumping station area opposite 37 Harbour Street. Scottish Water would be contacted re these problems.
- The Chairman had been invited, and had attended, the SNP Parliament meeting at Sabhal mor Ostaig.
- With regard to the problem of traffic management in Plockton, the Roads Department felt this was similar to Portree problems to which there was no satisfactory solution. There would be no question of double yellow lines.
- There was still no sign in place for Port an Eorna. Chairman to action.
- Road to Barleyport in need of attention. Chairman to action.
- The excessive speed of some cars approaching Duirinish bridge from the Plockton side was discussed. Cllr Campbell to action.
- The War Memorial sign is still missing. Chairman to action.
- Date of the Next Meeting
- The next meeting of the Community Council will be held on Tuesday 28 October 2008, in Plockton Village Hall at 7.30pm.
- The Community Council (formed on 12 May 2008)
-
- C M MacRae (Chairman)
- 01599 544 359
- I J MacKenna (Vice-Chair)
- 280
- G H Glasgow
- 719
- K J Leiper
- 324
- J D F MacDonald
- 282
- M MacKenzie
- 204
- I Matheson
- 737
- A J Storie
- 387
- G R Webster
- 283
- G James (Secretary/Treasurer)
- 384
