Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council
Agenda December 1999
There will be a meeting of the Community Council at 7pm Monday 6th December in the Burgh Chambers of the Town Hall. There will be a 10 minute break at about 8pm.
1. Apologies for Absence
Received: Sheila Hill, Steve Durrant
2. Contributions from Members of the Public
(for anyone who wishes 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
2.1.1. Firemaster Nigel Campion - invited on our behalf by Cllr Frances Melville to explain changes to St Andrews fire cover.
2.1.2. Police
2.1.3. Mr Gordon Christie
2.2. Fife Councillors
3. Minutes of November meeting.
(Read for corrections of substance - harangue the Secretary for minor (spelling etc) mistakes outwith the meeting)
4. Matters arising from previous meetings
4.1. Discussion of Committee structure report
(circulated at November meeting, and to absentees thereafter)
4.3. Police Consultation
Report - see Appendix D
4.4. Planning Seminar (20/11/99)
Report - See Appendix B
4.5. Bow Butts proposals
(Nov 2.3.3) As a result of the letter of comment written by Pete Lindsay on behalf of Planning Committee, on these preliminary plans from Fife Enterprise there was a meeting at the Bow Butts between Archie Strachan (Bandstand Convenor), Pete Lindsay, Archie Jamieson (Fife Enterprise) and Sue Allen (FE's Landscape Architect) 30/11/99. This was a friendly discussion of the issues which were resolved generally satisfactorily. A second draft plan is to be prepared incorporating most of our suggestions and omitting various extra paths, extraneous flowerbeds etc.
Pete Lindsay
5. New Business
(New items of business should be passed to the Secretary in time for inclusion in the agenda otherwise they will be taken under 8. AOCB)
5.1. Chair
Motion proposed by Frank Riddell, seconded by Maries Cassells:
That during the absence abroad of the Chair, Frank Riddell, during the period 16th January 2000 to April 28th 2000, Vice-Chair Murdo MacDonald should take in his place as Acting Chair as necessary during this period.
6. Officers' Reports
6.1. Chair
6.2. Treasurer
6.2.1. State of Funds as at 30th November 1999:-
| Administration Account |
£3580.38 |
| General Account |
£904.54 |
| Millennium Account |
£4715.00 |
| Youth Com.Account |
£50.00 |
| St.Andrews Day Account |
£365.39 |
| Sen.Cit.Xmas Party |
£2244.33 |
| Bandstand Concerts Acc. |
£764.56 |
| Upper Arlington Acc. |
£216.41 |
| Coat of Arms Account |
£160.35 |
| Total Balance |
£13,000.96 |
6.2.2. Coat Of Arms Sub-Committee - The Convenor will report.
6.2.3. Millennium Grant Scheme - A grant of £1,538.00 has been received from the Fife Council Millennium Grant Scheme for millennium projects.
6.2.4. Expense Claim Forms - These may be had from the Treasurer.
6.2.5. Invoices - Councillors are requested to submit council business invoices to the Treasurer as soon as possible so that payment may be made promptly.
6.3. Secretary
6.3.1. January Meeting - Monday 10th to avoid the holiday.
6.3.2. Invitation to Cathy Adamson (Fife Primary Healthcare Trust) - Accepted for January 10th meeting. She passed on the news that there will be a healthcare consultation seminar Sat 29th January which she hopes we will attend - she'll give details when she speaks to us, but if anyone is interested in helping set the agenda (ie what health matters are of community interest) she would be very happy to hear from them beforehand.
(There is also a Fife Council Community Forum consultation around the same time I hear - PL)
6.3.3. Hamilton Hall Ball (3/3/00) - the Ball Convenor writes to inform us that they are applying to Fife Council for permission to hold a fireworks display at Bow Butts as part of the ball:
This will be a single display lasting approximately 10-15 minutes, commencing at 8pm. No other event will take place on this land. During the course of the display the Ball guests will be kept on the pavement on the south side of The Scores by the use of 7 stewards and a rope fence.
Do we have any comments?
6.3.4. Special Warden Proposal - Cllr Scott-Hayward (Elie, St Monans & Pittenweem) has written to all community councils proposing a combined scheme for dog, litter and traffic wardens, suggesting that if so minded we raise a petition on the subject.
6.3.5. Food Hygiene 2000 - Environmental Health Service write to remind anyone holding millennium celebrations involving food of the dangers of some Millennium Bugs: e. coli, salmonella, staphlococcus, b. cereus etc. There is an advice poster. Contact Kenneth Riddoch on 01334-412731 for further details or to let him know of anyone organising a celebration who might benefit from this poster.
6.3.6. VONEF newsletter - VONEF charities Christmas Fayre, Church of Scotland Priority Areas Fund, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, Festival supporting victims of child abuse, new parking badge for the disabled, free publicity for community groups, Working it out in Fife (conference), changes to NLCB grant policy, funding seminars, working with volunteers, website design, Going Live - using local radio, Warm Deal for Scotland - energy efficiency grants.
6.3.7. NEF Volunter Bureau - Mary Ray (who spoke to us in July) writes to ask if we can help with finding volunteers to support the palliative ward at the Memorial Hospital, and volunteering opportunities for young people at Madras who would like to help with something. Anyone with ideas contact Mary on 01334-412998.
6.3.8. ASCC Autumn Newsletter - Electronic voting, The Calor Award, AGM, Village Schools, Scotland's Forests, Car Free Zone Houses, Scottish National Heritage - Grants for Communities.
6.3.9. Other correspondence - see appendix E
7. Committees' Reports
7.1. General Purposes
7.2. Golf
7.3. Millennium
Fife Council has now awarded the Millennium Hogmanay Ceilidh a grant of £1500, for which the Committee wishes to express its gratitude. With the addition of the ticket money already collected, there should be a significant surplus which can be devoted to other millennium projects. All arrangements for the Ceilidh are now under way. The other matters being considered by the committee will be taken up again once the Ceilidh is over.
7.4. Planning
7.5. Publicity
No meeting
7.6. Recreation
See appendix C
7.7. Youth
See Appendix A
8. Any Other Competent Business
Report on Youth Committee - 6th December 1999
a1. The present format of the Youth Committee has not been entirely successful. The main reasons for this appear to be
a) the lack of continuity of the membership and
b) the expressed wish of the young people to be able to carry on discussion without the presence of adults.
a2. It is therefore proposed that the following amendments to the scheme be considered:-
a) The name be changed to the St Andrews Community Council Youth Forum
b) A wider age range be encouraged to take part.
c) The membership of the Forum be comprised solely of young people of up to 21 years of age.
d) That a member of the Community Council be appointed to act as a link between the Forum and the Council and be available for consultation if required by the Forum.
e) That the Forum be consulted by the Council on matters concerning the youth of the town.
f) That the Forum (as a group) be encouraged to make representation to the Council on any municipal matters (not only youth concerns).
g) That council considers the co-option of the Convenor of the Forum when elected.
Personal Note - I feel strongly that it is incumbent on Council to do everything in its power to encourage the youth of St Andrews to take a practical interest in the running of their town and to this end we should persevere.
Archie Strachan
Report on Planning Seminar for Community Councils, Glenrothes (20/11/99)
(Nov 6.3.2) Ken Crichton and Pete Lindsay attended.
David Rae (Head of Planning Service) outlined the Planning System's aims and operation in general and Jim Birrell (East Area Planning Manager) spoke on experiences in East Fife. Both were quite general and not particularly technical, giving a good view of the subject for those unfamiliar with it. I would recommend anyone who takes an occasional interest in planning matters to attend any repeat. While both took questions afterwards, as the news of the Kingask Review had just appeared in the press their responses to even our more circumspect questions were somewhat constrained, which was a pity as some general points might have been informative for other community councils. The presence of Cllr Kay of the Strategic Development Committee chairing the meeting might also have been a factor.
Points of interest in the seminar:
The 'Nick Brian letter' controversy. Jim Birrell stated that while community councils would not normally be sent applications deemed of no public interest by officials "If there is any dispute plans will always be sent to the Community Council"
They hope to have the 'weekly list' system of planning application notification transferred to a modern computer system in the new year. This will provide more information on the nature of applications than is possible with the current 1 line limit. This will make it easier for community councils to determine whether of not an application is of interest for comment.
And also hope to put this information on the web for easier access, but emphasised (in response to cries of techno-horror) that this would not be compulsory and that anyway it is a longer term project.
Noted that the Scottish Executive is making progress at putting the various guideline documents and advice notes onto the web at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/planning/plan-main.htm
There are a number of planning advice sheets (written by Jim Birrell and his colleagues in Cupar) that are available to applicants. These should have been circulated to Community Councils but have not been, to JB's surprise and irritation. They will be, he promised.
It was, by the way, a sunny, cold day in Glenrothes. Ken reminds me that there were some problems with the arrangements: the lack of maps (designed to tire us out?) with a long walk to the car when we parked on the wrong side of the Kingdom Centre and got 'lost' walking through - Fife House isn't sign-posted inside, and you can't see it to navigate by. Within Fife House maps would have been useful too - a number of people got lost between the council chamber where the meeting was held and committee room 6 where the coffee was. Actually this was just as well as the committee room was still laid out with a ring of tables taking up most of the space, which made fitting the 60 or so delegates and their coffee rather a tight squeeze...
Pete Lindsay
Ken Crichton adds:
I would mention that I now do not agree with the crafty system of collecting two/three persons' questions at a time and answering them, but only giving an answer to the least difficult ones. My questions on
Why was the issue of a St Andrews rail link put on the back-burner.
As they stated that they took full action against those who ignored planning conditions I asked when they intended to take Fife Council to court to implement the reinstatement of the Petheram Bridge which was a main condition.
Environment- Why no Waste Disposal Unit in St Andrews when there was cash allocated and a site available when Fife Council took over.
...were not even mentioned. The other item I queried was their statement that public interest was given priority or words to that effect. I asked in the case of Kingask what public was considered; the local one of St Andrews or that of Glenrothes. They did [not] mention this as they had a perfect excuse for not answering.
Appendix C - Recreation Committee Report
Tuesday 2.11.99
Nothing new was discussed as all was in hand for the Art Exhibition and the Senior Citizens Xmas Tea. That was the position on 2.11.99.
c1. Art Exhibition. I had to delay the meeting on arranging type etc of the picture rail. This resulted in the rail being installed on the Sunday with the pictures being hung the following Friday a very close call. It was a successful event and although I co-ordinated the Exhibition the success was due to the joint efforts of a large number of St Andreans and tremendous help from various offices of Fife Council.
c2. Xmas Tea. Arrangements were made last March on the only date given me 21.12.99. Last week I was informed that 21.12.99 was not suitable and could only be on the 14.12.99. I have managed to re-arrange the schedule and no advertising had been done. The new date is now Tuesday 14.12.99 so please alter your diary .
200 Club Request Chairman's permission to hold the draw.
Meetings Recreation Committee 07.12.99 7.00pm 4 St Mary St
The Recreation Committee wish all a Merry Xmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Ken Crichton
Fife Police Community Contacts Forum
(Cupar 17/11/99) A wide variety of organisations attended this from across NE Fife - community councils, neighbourhood watches, safety panels, etc. On the police side was a formidable array from the Chief Constable, down through pretty much one of everything, via our very own Inspector Ritchie, to PC Brand, the Community Safety Officer. After brief introductory remarks the meeting split into four workgroups to discuss priorities of various aspects of the police task. Though there was the opportunity to attend to workgroups there was also a special session for St Andrews and surrounding area on arrangements for the Open Golf Championship next year. As these were preliminary planning we were asked not to discuss details (such as they were) before formal consultations and planning starting March. In general the same sort of arrangements are being made as at the last Open.
Many thanks to Cllr Jane Hunter-Blair for the lift home!
Pete Lindsay
Appendix E - Correspondence
In
|
Date |
Who | What | Where |
|
3/11/99 |
NEF Volunteer Bureau | Volunteering - CC appearance? | f |
|
4/11/99 |
Volunteering Fife East | Event advert | event |
|
4/11/99 |
Housing Service | Alloc Council Housing, meeting Glenrothes 18/11 | f |
|
4/11/99 |
Law & Admin E | End of Uni year - rubbish collection | f |
|
6/11/99 |
CVS Fife | Note our change of Sec | f |
|
6/11/99 |
Byre Theatre | our change of Sec | f |
|
15/11/99 |
ASCC | newsletter | f |
|
16/11/99 |
John Landon | accept co-option | f |
|
22/11/99 |
CVS Fife | newsletter, conference 22 Nov | f |
|
22/11/99 |
Law & Admin E | Millennium Grant Award | f |
|
22/11/99 |
Michael K Thompson | our arms | f |
|
23/11/99 |
Fife Constabulary | Our meeting schedule | f |
|
25/11/99 |
Environmental Health | Millennium Celebrations - food safety | f |
|
27/11/99 |
EastArea Local Services | Agenda 1/12/99 | f |
|
27/11/99 |
VONEF | Annual Charities Market 5/12/99 | f |
Out
|
Date |
To | Subject | |
|
2/11/99 |
Env Health Cupar | Our change of sec | fax |
|
2/11/99 |
Scottish Power | Our change of sec | fax |
|
2/11/99 |
Scenic Maps | Planning to consider | |
|
2/11/99 |
Planning Service | Planning for CCs seminar 20/11 | email & fax |
|
2/11/99 |
CVS Fife | Our change of sec | fax |
|
3/11/99 |
NEF Volunteer Bureau | speak, space in Event | fax |
|
4/11/99 |
Volunteering Fife East | Event advert | fax |
|
10/11/99 |
John Landon | co-opt invite | letter |
|
10/11/99 |
NEF Volunteer Bureau | Event (with their advt) | post 2nd |
|
1/12/99 |
Michael K Thompson | Arms | post 2nd |
Cut or tear here!
St Andrews Pothole Watch!
List: Potholes (40mm/1.5in) in the road, damaged pavements (20mm/.75in), missing or damaged toby covers, blocked drains, floods, defective streetlights etc.
Identify the location (number of closest streetlight for instance).
Hand to Cllr Jane Ann Liston or to Fife Roads Service.
Defect Location