The next meeting is 7pm Monday 7th December 1998 in the Burgh Chambers, Queens Gardens.
Received: Frank Riddell
N.E. Fife Community Wind Power.
Read for accuracy – trivial errors of spelling etc to the Secretary outside the meeting please.
(from Nov 5.3.1.)
Due to Ken Fraser’s foresight next year’s meetings, including Monday January 11th, are already booked.
(from Nov 5.3.2)
After further discussion, and advice from Ken Fraser, Forbes Place was agreed. Fife Council needed our decision before this meeting, it has been passed on.
"J. D. Forbes (d. 1868) Principal of the University and one of St Andrews two eminent nineteenth century scientists, the other being Brewster" who already has a street named for him " Forbes was best known as the pioneer of the scientific studies of glaciers." – Ken Fraser
(from Nov 6.5.3.iii)
If the stone is moved, Roy Rintoul, Hall Keeper at the Victory Memorial Hall suggests it would be appropriate in Memorial Hall’s garden where it would be more visible to a wider section of the public than at other sites. It could form a centre piece to the garden with an explanatory plaque etc.
5.3.1. Forthcoming Events
The following organisations are pencilled-in to address us:
5.3.2. Citizens Advice & Rights Fife
(from Oct 4.1.)
Further investigation reveals that a specific representative must join CARF on our behalf. Substitutes are not acceptable.
Who will join as our rep?
Chris Lesurf is unable to continue as our rep due to health and travel difficulties
Who will take over as our rep?
(From Nov 6.3.7 via Publicity Committee)
David Martin Stenhouse Ltd of Cupar (flags@stenhouse.co.uk) provided the following prices:
| 4 yard (12' x 6') | 5 yard (15' x 7.5') | |
| St Andrews Cross | £89.50 | £120.00 |
| Union Flag | £104.50 | £131.50 |
| French Flag | £75.00 | £105.00 |
(ex carriage & VAT)
How does Council wish to proceed?
Craig Nisbet suggested at the end of last meeting that we auction the old one, or parts of it to defray costs.
a) Does Council wish to do so
b) What has happened to the old flag (ask Jock before meeting!)
c) Who will undertake (contacts and commercial acumen seem at
a premium here...)
Miss Frances Humphries wrote to point out that most daytime St Andrews Week activities seem to stop at 4pm, making it difficult for those that work during the day to participate. Would we please suggest to the St Andrews Week Committee that such events be carried on into the evening?
As well as supplying some historical notes on the ‘First Golf Club Factory in the World’ at the Forgan site on the links (see Appendix C) Mr Christie wrote to express his disappointment that his display of historical charters, maps and related material (included in the Images of St Andrews exhibition) was not specifically mentioned in the St Andrews Week programme.
(from Oct 5.1.2)
Alan Bryan, Head of Transportation, has replied to our letter concerning parking policy and accusing Fife Council of bias for Leven at the exspense of NE Fife.
He lists the council’s 6 policies on parking (as adopted 16/12/96) which he cites as demonstrating that Fife does "have uniform parking policies which we are endeavouring to implement."
On Leven, the item that triggered our letter, he explains that controls have been delayed for surveys and analysis in response to concerns about the effect of out-of-town supermarkets on the town centre.
He finishes by welcoming our letter’s acceptance of parking controls in St Andrews but ignores the implicit criticism of the nature of the scheme.
The Clerk to the Harbour Trust, Mr Iain Donald, replied (11th Nov) to queries on the status of the Trust which arose during discussions of the General Purposes committee in October.
Q: Who owns the harbour – the Harbour Trust or Fife Council?
A: Under Clause 12 of the Pier and Harbours Confirmation (No. 1) Act 1897 otherwise The St Andrews Harbour Order 1897 the whole harbour area and its pertinents are vested in the St Andrews Harbour Trustees.
Q: Whose then is the ultimate responsibility to fund harbour repairs?
A: The Harbour Trustees
Q: What is the relationship between the Harbour Trust and Fife Council?
A: The Harbour Trust during the period of my clerkship received from the former District Council a revenue grant of £10,000 per annum which in line with other Grant supported bodies has been reduced by the Fife Council by 5% [sic – pl] to £9,000. There is no formal relationship with Fife Council but you will be aware that of the nine Trustees four are elected by the Fishermen and the remaining five in the terms of the Act are Fife Councillors.
He goes on to welcome any support, written or otherwise, that we can give to the Harbour Trustees.
For information:
Work is proceeding, a full draft should be with the General Purposes committee before Christmas (something to mull over on Boxing Day perhaps?). Working draft is on the web site now.
Fife Council will soon invite tenders for socially necessary services it subsidises. It would like views on routes and timetables
What views do we have and would we like Gordon Hanning of Transport Services to come and discuss the practicalities?
They’d like "...details of local problems and suggestions which would be of specific benefit in formulating the Policing Plan."
By 3rd December...
See 5.4 below!
see appendix D for full list
see Appendix A for Archie Strachan’s report, as our representitive, of the recent meeting.
PROPOSAL: that the Council write to the Chief Constable emphasising the importance of the post of Community Safety Officer to St.Andrews and District and requesting an appointment be made as soon as possible.
(Reports, etc.)
see Appendix B
see Appendix E
(for new business – AOCB)
Note on meeting of St Andrews & District Safety Panel - 11/11/98 (previously known as the Crime Prevention Panel)
(i) It was reported that there had been a reduction in the number of thefts of golf clubs and golf equipment from parked cars recently which would seem to indicate some success for the panel’s prevention initiative.
(ii) It was noted that since WPC Thora Togher’s retiral as Community Safety Officer in October no replacement has been appointed. The panel agreed that due to the importance of this post to the community a letter be written to the Chief Constable requesting the post be filled as soon as possible.
(iii) A bicycle clinic for the anti-theft marking and testing of bicycles is to be held in January – details to be published.
(iv) Reference was made to the number of cyclists cycling without lights during darkness – police asked to take necessary action.
(v) Four house alarms (auto-dialers and detectors) have been purchased and were now available for use. These alarms are intended to protect the houses of lone elderly residents while in hospital. The scheme is operated by the police.
For Consideration of Council
PROPOSAL that the Council write to the Chief Constable emphasising the importance of the post of Community Safety Officer to St Andrews and District and requesting an appointment be made as soon as possible.
Archie Strachan
16th November 1998
1. Cost of purchase of flags. Pete [Lindsay] agreed to approach Stenhouse in Cupar to obtain quotations for a replacement Saltire, a Tricolour and a Union flag in time for the next CC meeting.
2. Frank [Riddell] agreed to pursue several options for a medallion for the CC chairman.
3. Lindsay [Murray] agreed to pursue the possibility of obtaining lapel badges for members of the CC.
4. Lindsay gave Pete an article for Event dealing with visitors from Loches in St Andrews week. Also some publicity in Event concerning the Chariots of Fire Run would be sought.
5. Hugh [Grey] agreed to contact the local papers concerning a regular CC column.
6. Helen [Laurie] agreed to look further into the question of purchasing a notice board to be placed outside St Marys Pl Council offices.
7. Pete and Frank agreed to look further into finding an alternate source to host the CC web pages. Various options for additions to the pages were discussed.
FGR
I have done a fair bit of research on Dr. David Hay-Fleming, this city’s outstanding historian, there is a copy of his book "Notes and Extracts Concerning the Links of St. Andrews (1552-1893)" in the Hay-Fieming Library. Dr. Fleming was one of the leaders in the movement to acquire the Links for the City and he moved the resolution of the meeting of citizens which decided to promote a Provisional Order to acquire the Links for the City in 1894. I would be very surprised if any of the present Links Management Committee has ever read this very interesting book on the Links of St. Andrews.
Hugh Philp (1782-1856) – Golf Club Maker (1819-1856). He purchased property in Pilmour Links, afterwards occupied by Robert Forgan and then by Tom Morris. His assistants were successively James Wilson (1845 1852 and his nephew Robert Forgan (1852-1856). Following his death on 6th April, 1856, the business was bought by Mr. Robert Forgan including the stock-in hand and the simple tools he employed to carry out his craft. The actual stock consisted of the following:- 26 finished clubs, 9 irons, 420 blocks and 200 shafts called "Handles". This information is taken from The Excursionist Guide to St. Andrews, 1859. By this date Robert Forgan had his shop in what had been the salmon fisher’s house and it had been enlarged both at one end and at the back. With the arrival of the gas engine in the 1880’s the mechanisation of the first machines began with the circular saw and a band saw. These did away with the jack plane and the breaking-out saw used on the heads. These were followed with a machine which rounded the shafts from their initial square shape, rounding one every two minutes. In spite of all these labour-saving devices production could not keep pace with the demand and for several years in the early nineties a twelve hour day was the rule. Therefore I claim that the Forgan site at the Links was the first golf club factory in the world. I would like to suggest that Historic Scotland should award this historic site with a (B) Category.
Correspondence
The Youth Community Council at Madras College has around twenty members at present and is expecting to gain more in the future. The council consists of two committees one based in South Street at Madras College and the other on the Kilrymont Road site. We are therefore able to include a range of ages from eleven to eighteen year olds.
To establish a youth cafe or drop in centre where young people can acess health education advice, career advice and meet up with their friends in a warm Friendly atmosphere.
To arrange activities for young people in St.Andrews and out lying areas such as Newport, Wormit, Tayport Strathkinness etc.
To raise enough capital to organise a number of Discos per month for under eighteens
To visit the drop in centre at Monefieth to give us ideas for the future St Andrews project
To raise awareness on local youth issues such as; bus fares for sixteen to eighteen year olds, and the preservation of the pier and harbour.
We have raised a substantial amount of money through the two discos we have organised so far and therefore have opened our own bank account.
We have held two discos at the Victory Memorial Hall both of which went well. We had a turnout of around sixty children each time and have learned from these experiences.
We have also viewed the Cosmos facilities and were extremely impressed with the organisation and imagination of the youth workers there.
We have also helped with the Pier Project and raised support for the sponsored run at school.
In conclusion, I feel we are getting started and I am optimistic for the future. I think this community council has great potential and it is rewarding to see ideas and goals falling into place and starting to happen
Caroline Jack
Youth Community Council Representative