St Andrews Community Council - Minutes May 1996

ROYAL BURGH OF ST ANDREWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 6 May, 1996 MINUTES

Present

Mrs. Freeborn (Chairman), Mrs. Carleton, Dr. Goudie, Mr. McDonald, Miss McKendrick, Mrs. Mackenzie, Mr. Marks, Mr. Muir, Mrs. Murray, Dr. Riddell, Mr. Sanderson, Mrs. Stewart-Meiklejohn, Mr. Strachan, Mrs. Tero, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Sangster, Mr. Crichton, Mr. Paterson, Ms. Gibson, Mr. Fraser, Councillors Cassells, Melville, Liston and Hill.

1. Apologies

Mr. Lamont-Brown.

2. Minutes of the 1995 A.G.M

The minute of the 1995 A.G.M. were taken as read. Mrs. Stewart-Meiklejohn suggested that in future, the pages of papers sent out with the agenda for the A.G.M. be numbered. This was agreed to.

3. Chairman's Report

This had been circulated in writing. Mr. Strachan pointed out that in para. 6, the name 'Reed' should be 'Reel'. In para. 8, the Citizen of the Year Award should be referred to as an award, not a competition. With these amendments the Chairman's Report was accepted.

4. Accounts

These had been circulated in writing. The Treasurer suggested distributing the surplus of the defunct Tree Planing Account equally between the Floral Basket Account and the General Account. Mr. Muir proposed allocating it all the the former. The Treasurer's proposal was accepted by 10 votes to 3. The Accounts were then accepted.

5. Dated of meetings in 1996/97

Subject to the agreement of the new Council it was agreed that meetings should on on June 3rd, July 1st, September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th and December 2nd, 1996 and January 6th, February 3rd, March 3rd, April 7th and May 5th, 1997. Dr. Goudie pointed out that more frequent meetings of the Planning Committee would in future be necessary, and that this strengthened the case for more free lets of the room. Councillor Liston said she understood that no lets were now to be free, but that the administration grant would be increased in proportion. Several members suggested that as the Council was a statutory body, all lets should be free.

6. A.0.C.B.

Dr. Riddell and Mrs. Stewart-Meiklejohn proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman.

ROYAL BURGH OF ST ANDREWS COMMUNITY COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING - 6 May, 1996 MINUTES

Present

1. Apologies

Mr. Lamont-Brown.

2. Address by Mr. Gordon Harming

Mr. Gordon Hanning of the Fife Council Transport Department, spoke on the Transport Plan and asked particularly for comments on bus routes. It was agreed that this whole matter should be referred to the (new) planning committee and that they should hold a discussion with Mr. Hanning later. In the meantime, he answered several questions.

3. Submissions from members of the public

None.

4. Minutes of the Council Meeting of 1st April 1996

It was agreed to add Mr. Muir and Dr. Riddell to the list of these present. Under item 7, Mrs. Melville pointed out that the phrase "the decisions would be taken by the appropriate Area Committee" should read "any decision would be reported to the Area Community Service Committee for notification". With these amendments, the Minutes of the meeting of 1st April were approved.

5. Matters arising

(a) Possible use of Council Office

For report only.

(b) Workshop in Health Care:

This report was to be passed on by Mr. Paterson to the (new) Welfare Committee.

A letter from the Fife council announced that the first meeting of the new Council would be on Monday 27th May at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

6. Matters raised by Committees

(a) Planning

(see separate sheet)

Under item 3 on St. Nicholas Dr. Riddell contended that the condition which the late District Council wished to impose on the site was not permissible. Dr. Goudie seconded by Mr. Crichton, proposed the motion that the Council should endorse the Planning Committee's view. This motion was passed by 16 to 1.

Mrs. Melville pointed out that an application had been received for a funfair at the West Sands. After some discussion there appeared to be no consensus on this matter.

Mrs. Carleton pointed out that the late District Council had agreed to provide screening plants around the Kinkell Caravan Site but it had not been done. There was general sympathy with this point.

(b) Recreation

(see separate sheets)

1. Mrs. Stewart-Meiklejohn asked that a letter of thanks be sent to The Royal Bank of Scotland who had presented several trophies for the Childrens Library Competition. It was agreed to do so.

3. Mr. Strachan asked permission to write to Mr. & Mrs. Nisbet to thank them for storing the seats. This was agreed to.

4. Mrs. Carleton reported that the "60's Day" was to be held by the Fife Council in Kinburn Park on 23 and 24 June.

(see separate sheets).

It was agreed that Mr. McCartney's suggestion should be passed to the new Welfare Committee.

(d) Millennium

(For report only)

(e) Cultural Links

Dr. Riddell said he would shortly be visiting Upper Arlington and it was agreed he should pass on the Council's good wishes.

(f) Tree Planting and Floral Baskets

It was agreed to give Mr. Muir formal permission to continue the floral basket scheme.

7. Matters raised by Fife Councillors

Mrs Melville reported that work was under way on a possible Residents Parking Scheme.

Mr. Cassells said the four local Councillors had met with two representatives of the Community Council to make recommendations on two recent applications to the Common Good Fund. It was intended that such meetings should be minuted and copies of the minutes sent to the Community Council. It was noted that the next Council ought to elect two representatives to that Committee, which would operate under the authority of the East Fife Community Services Committee.

Mr. Fraser asked if arrangements had been made for a mechanism for naming new streets. Mrs. Melville said it had not become clear. It was agreed to write to the Fife Council suggesting a system similar to the previous one.

Ms Liston declared that she was organising a meeting on Business Rates, with the Assessor, the Local Councillors, and representatives of the Merchants' Association and the Community Council. It was agreed to support this meeting, through the representatives would have to be chosen by the new Council.

Ms. Liston explained that under the current rules of the Fife Council, she, although the Local member, would be unable to speak at the Planning Committee on the St. Nicholas proposal. Much sympathy was expressed with her predicament.

Mrs. Carleton wished it to be minuted that she objected to the use of Proportional Representation for the Community Council Election.

7. Other matters of public concern:

(a) East Area Development Committee

For report only.

(b) Statutory Review of Electoral Arrangements

Councillor Cassells said these were unlikely to be major implications locally.

Passed to Welfare Committee

(d) Fife Health Council Work Programme

Passed to Welfare Committee.

(e) Local Agenda 21

Passed to Welfare Committee.

(f) Voluntary Sector Strategy Group

Passed to Welfare Committee.

(g) Coastal Erosion

For report only.

(h) Rural Partnership

For report only as the circular made it clear that St. Andrews was not rural.

(i) Environmental Events Diary

Copies were distributed.

(j) Votes of thanks

The Chairman thanked the office bearers, councillors and local councillors for their work throughout her period of office. (She also wished to add one to Mrs. Tero for her efforts in typing papers).