Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council
Agenda October 1999
There will be a meeting of the Community Council at 7pm on Monday 6th September in the Burgh Chambers, St Andrews Town Hall.
1. Apologies for absence.
Received: Helen Lawrie, Archie Strachan, Donald Macgregor, Lindsay Murray
2. Contributions from members of the public
(for anyone wishing to address the meeting on a matter relevant to St Andrews. Please contact the Secretary or Chair at or before the meeting.)
2.1. General
2.2. Fife Councillors
3. Minutes of previous meeting.
(read for corrections of substance - harangue the Secretary for minor (spelling etc) mistakes outside the meeting)
4. Matters arising from the Minutes
4.1. South St Problems
(September 5.3.12.) Reply received from the Police to our request for further information. Superintendent Thompson writes:
"...I can assure you that <the person who wrote>'s comments, and those of his neighbours, have been given serious attention and an Action Plan has been drawn up to provide a response to the issues raised. As always, the Police response to such situations is aided by prompt reporting of disturbances as they occur and I trust we can maintain and build on the trust and co-operation of those residents who have written to the Police."
4.2. July Proposals
(September 5.1.4. & July 4.2) Appendix C
5. New Business
5.1. Young St Andrews Citizen of the Year Award 1999
The attention of Council members is drawn to the posters publicising the above award enclosed with the agenda papers. The co-operation of Council members is respectfully requested to help in the publicising of the award. If required more posters may be obtained from the undersigned.
Archie Strachan.
5.2. Proposed amendment to order of business
Meeting Break: [Following on from discussions in the General Purposes meeting - PL] "...many StACC members don't know each other, so perhaps we ought to have a 10min break" at a fixed time "in each meeting. This could include personal exchanges with members of the public, too."
Chris Lesurf
5.3. Millennium Projects Competition
Chris Lesurf to present a draft letter/press release proposing a Millennium Projects Competition.
6. Officers' Reports
6.1. Chair
6.2. Treasurer
6.3. Secretary
6.3.1. Fife Partnership Vision for 2010 (Sep 5.3.8.) Independent consultations to be run by Chapman Hendry Associates at various locations about Fife. We are invited to attend - various places and times available: Kirkcaldy W 6th (a), Glenrothes 7th (e), St Andrews F 8th (a), Anstruther M 11th (e), Newburgh 12th (e), Leven Th 14th (e), Cupar M 18 (e). (a=2-4pm, e=6.30-8.30pm). Meetings are not supposed to be location specific - we can attend any convenient. The consultation paper was received last month.
Who can go, when?
6.3.2. Association of Scottish Community Councils: election for executive member for Fife area. See Appendix E for biogs of candidates.
Whom do we pick?
6.3.3. NE Fife Volunteer Bureau AGM: we are invited to send representatives. 7pm Thursday 14/10 Golf Hotel, The Scores St Andrews. (Mary Rae of the Bureau spoke to us in July)
Who can go?
6.3.4. Tree problems at Crawford Gardens Martin Jeffcott of Community Services has written asking for our opinion. See Appendix F.
Do we have an opinion?
6.3.5. Links Trust information meeting: Donald Macgregor writes "Dr Duncan Lawrie of the Links Trust has written to me (thinking me still chairman) inviting the CC to send 5 reps to an information evening being held by the Trust at the Links Clubhouse on Tuesday 19 October at 6.30pm.
The purpose is to update reps of local community on things that have been or will be happening. The meeting replaces the public meetings that have been held over the past ten years or so.
Might I suggest that the 5 reps be the Chairman or his nominee, plus the 4 Golf Sub-Committee members?
Who is to attend?
6.3.6. Lindsay Murray has left me a supply of sponsorship forms for late donations following her triumph...
7. Matters raised by committees
7.1. Coat of Arms.
Appendix A
7.2. General Purposes
Appendix C
7.3. Golf
7.4. Millennium
Appendix D
7.5. Planning
7.6. Publicity
7.7. Recreation
Appendix B
7.8. Youth
8. Any Other Competent Business
Appendix A - Coat of Arms Committee
Thursday 16.09.99
Present: Mr Archie Muir, Mr Archie Strachan, Mr Dennis McDonald, Mr Ken Crichton
Apologies - Mr Bill Sangster, Mrs Cynthia Tero
a1) Some years ago the committee approached Fife Enterprise with a view to market the Coat of Arms in a more business like way. A group was formed called St Andrews Heritage Co. and ten private companies were initially involved who intended to use and pay for the use of the Coat of Arms. Nothing came of this venture.
a2) One Glasgow Company approached the committee and a lucrative contract was agreed. After a number of very satisfactory payments the company ceased to trade.
a3) Exclusive Card Co., is at present the only paying licencee the committee have authorised, to use this product, and spasmodic payments are received. This occurs on every new run of about 10k. cards.
a4) In order to clarify the situation in a number of instances, Mr Archie Muir agreed to write to the following companies/persons these were -
St Andrews Heritage Co. (Fife Enterprise)
St Andrews ( Fife ) Ltd.
Aristocrat Golf Clubs
Paterson (Scotland)
Gordon Paton of Redgate
Heritage Golf of St Andrews Ltd
a5) Matriculation of Arms of the Community Council. It is estimated that 70 are held by the Secretary. The stock held by the T.I.C will be withdrawn by Mr Archie Muir, and the total stock held then reconciled. It was estimated that the current sale value is in the region of £4.00 each.
a6) Two items were produced which showed devices similar to our own. This begs the question - is ours worth anything if similar ones can be used with impunity.
a7) Purchase of new ties was discussed but it was decided that any decision should be the prerogative of the new committee when formed.
a8) Mr Archie Muir is willing to act in an advisory capacity up to a maximum of one year, but the shorter the time, the better.
a9) All those present were keenly interested in this aspect of the Council's affairs but are heavily committed in other Council business and felt that they could not deal properly with their present workload if they took on any further commitments.
Appendix B - Recreation Committee Report for 4th October
b1) Spot the Odd One Out competition this year as already reported raised £84.50 gross. After checking the forms the all correct were placed in a 'hat' and five winners drawn. These hailed from South St to Newton Mearns. Cheques have been sent to all winners, and two boxes of biscuits given as token thanks for help and assistance rendered.
b2) Gardening Trophy Presentation details for 23rd September were agreed upon. Over fifty letters had been sent in relation to this event as well as a large number of telecons. It was unanimously agreed to ask Councillor Francis Melville to open the Presentation which she kindly agreed to do, and did so with her usual aplomb. It was nice to welcome Yvonne Stewart-Meiklejohn and Jennie McKenzie back who presented two of the trophies. Our Chairman gave the vote of thanks. I cannot close without giving our Secretary, Pete Lindsay a thank you for producing thirty six diplomas, and to our Chairman, Frank Riddle for signing them, of necessity, at short notice.
b3) Art & Photographic sub-committee met on 13.09.99. The opening times for the Exhibition were agreed to be
Fri 26.11.99 19.30hrs: Preview, all Councillors and invited guests
Sat 27th 10.00-16.00 hrs
Sun 28th 12.00-1600 hrs
Mon 29th 10.00-16.00 hrs
Tue 30th 10.00-14.00hrs
Tue 30th 14.30-18.00 hrs. Collection of all art.
Forty letters and posters have been sent to schools in the area and artists living outwith the St Andrews area.
The committee agreed to my proposal to make future Exhibitions open, yet keep St Andrews to the fore. To explain this radical departure it was decided to draft an advance notice poster for the year 2000 Exhibition for distribution at this year's Exhibition. This should give us a great deal of extra publicity. I must record the excellent help and assistance given to me by those outside St Andrews namely: Fife Council - Planning Dept. Cupar, Arts Cardenden, and Elmwood College. We have agreed to let the Girls Brigade serve tea/coffee, to assist their funds, to supply table space to Preservation Trust and the Save the Pier Project for the same aims.
b4) St Andrews in Bloom Committee - Positive responses have been received from junior groups, schools, and adult organisations including yourselves to help with providing and planting bulbs.
b5) Street Fairs Committee - Over the past year there has been such a steady demand for stalls that it was decided to continue with this project. It was agreed that end stalls not generally taken up would not be restricted to crafts people in Fife. This will result in more variety for visitors and locals.
b6) 200 Club - Request Chairman's permission to hold the draw.
b7) Meetings
| Recreation Committee | 05.10.99 | 19.00 hrs | 4 St Mary St |
| St Andrews in Bloom | 06.10.99 | 18.00 hrs | |
| St Andrews Week | 13.10.99 | 14.00 hrs | |
| Art Sub-Committee | 04.11.99 | 20.00 hrs | |
| Street Fairs | 07.03.00 | 10.00 hrs |
Appendix C - Minutes of General Purposes Committee Monday 20th Sept. 1999
Present: Maries Cassells, Chris Lesurf, Frank Riddell, Pete Lindsay, Archie Strachan, Lindsay Murray.
The purpose of the meeting was to consider the proposals adopted by the Community Council in sections 4.2.1 - 4.2.4 of its minutes of the meeting of July 1999.
A lengthy discussion of the proposals was held as a result of which the following recommendations were made:
c1. Relations with the press (4.2.1).
A meeting would be sought between the Frank Riddell (Chair), Pete Lindsay (Secretary) and Lindsay Murray (Vice-) and the Editor of 'The Citizen' to discuss ways of improving contact and liaison between 'The Citizen' and the Community Council.
Action LM.
The Community Council should also look for someone to write a regular column of Council plans / future news for the local press. If no one on Community Council is able to do this on a regular basis co-option should be considered.
Action ALL.
c2. Dissemination and compilation of views (4.2.2 & 4.2.3).
The Chairman would attempt to arrange a meeting between himself and the Fife Council's Locality Manager to discuss local co-operation between the two Councils. Specific items for discussion would include co-operation on local consultation and participation meetings and the provision of a Community Council suggestions box in the St Mary's Place office.
Action FGR.
It was noted that the expanded "Event" news sheet would allow more editorial space for the Council's news and views to be distributed. Copy for this to be supplied to the Secretary. The proposed new notice board would also assist in the dissemination of Community Council and appropriate Fife Council information.
The Council's committees are where the work is done. More members should be encouraged to participate.
Action ALL.
More specific consideration should be given to the committee structure of the Council and the delegation of powers to the committees. This could include delegation of responsibilities inside committees. It was agreed that the Chairman and Secretary would prepare a paper, probably for the November meeting, with suggestions for a scheme of committees and delegation of responsibilities and powers within the committee structure. Ideas welcome.
Action FGR/PL
c3. The Council's public face (4.2.4)
It was agreed that the Council should attempt as far as possible to present a positive and constructive image to the public.
Action ALL.
Frank Riddell
Appendix D - Millennium Committee Report for 4/10/99
d1. Millennium Ceilidh. Councillor Liston has passed on an account of the recent meeting at which recommendations were made to Fife Council about millennium celebrations. It appears that grants might be made for up to 75% of the cost of these. However, applications have not yet been invited, and it is not known yet what the cost of the hall is to be. Thus it has not been possible to commence selling tickets for the proposed ceilidh. Time is running short, but progress still depends on decisions by Fife Council.
d2. Greyfriars Garden ground. The Committee's offer for the land has been turned down. It has been proposed that the Council should be asked to authorise the Committee, as an alternative, to investigate the possibility of leasing the ground. (It should be noted that the Committee has not in fact been able to meet since this suggestion was made, and has consequently not yet discussed it).
N.B. As this matter may be commercially sensitive, the Press is requested not to report it.
Appendix E - ASCC candidates
e1. William Ferguson has been a member of Kincardine Community Council since 1993 and currently holds the position of Chairman. He works for Scottish Power? having previously worked at Longannet Power Station for twenty-two years. He is a director of Trans-Fife Community Transport and also serves as a volunteer driver and trainer. He represents his Community Council on the West Fife Villages Forum. With strong interests in transport and environmental issues one of his first projects as Chair was to set up an environmental sub-group whose projects have included coastal clean-ups, tree planting and community path and cycle routes. Current particular issues are the new Kincardine Bridge and road network in West Fife. He lists his hobby as fishing.
e2. Malcolm Walker spent thirty-five years in the Scottish Office and took early retirement in 1996. He currently works part-time as a social survey interviewer. He was a founder member of his local residents' association, currently holding the chair, and has been in Touch & Garvock Community Council for two years where he is Treasurer. His main interests are in planning and transportation, making good use of his civil service experience. He was a member of the TA for fourteen years. Apart from his many voluntary interests and fund-raising for good causes, he still finds time for hobbies: family, golf, gardening, walking and rugby, although he says that these days he is a spectator rather than a participant.
These brief biographies are based on information provided by the candidates.
Appendix F - Trees on Public Open Space at rear of Crawford Gardens, St Andrews
From Martin Jeffcott, Community Services
I have been contacted by a number of householders from Learmounth Place, Lindsay Gardens and Crawford Gardens concerning the trees on the Public Open Space at the rear of these addresses.
Many of these trees are approaching their quarter century and their increasing size is apparently causing some concern to a number of people. Although I have no major concerns about those trees growing in the central part of the wider areas, I have to admit to misgiving concerning some of those growing just outside fence lines (i.e. 1-3 metres from the fence). Obviously a number of properties in Crawford Gardens come into this category. The purpose of this letter is to give owners of these properties an opportunity to air their views and concerns regarding the trees, which in turn will help me to ascertain the amount and type of work which might be carried out.
It is envisaged that any work to be carried out will consist mainly of thinning the crowns of various trees and/or crown lifting (removing lower limbs to allow more headroom).