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Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council

Agenda - November 2001

There will be a meeting of the community council at 7pm on Monday 5th November in the Burgh Chambers of the Town Hall, Queen's Gardens. There will be a short break at about 8pm during which the 200 Club draw will be made.

1. Attendance

2. Minutes

(read for accuracy in matters of substance - harangue the secretary for minor (spelling etc) errors outwith the meeting)

2.1. October 2001 Monthly

2.2. October 2001 Inaugural

3. Presentations

(For anyone wishing to address the meeting on a matter relevant to St Andrews. Please contact the Secretary or Chair before the meeting. Priority will be given to those who have been invited to speak or have given advance notice).

4. Fife Councillors

4.1. Frances Melville (West)

4.2. Sheila Hill (South)

4.3. Jane Ann Liston (South East)

4.4. Bill Brooks (Central)

5. Planning Committee Report

6. Matters Arising from previous meetings

6.1. Delegation of Committee Powers

6.2. Town Library

Iain Whitelaw reports that the plans have been reconsidered in the light of our comments at the July meeting, and that the new design permits maintenance of current accessible stock levels. Work on funding proceeds. He'll be pleased to speak to us at December's meeting.

6.3. Meeting with Chief Exec NHS Fife

Our schedule does not match Tony Ranzetta's in the short term. Would we like a joint meeting with another body, a much later date, or even forego a meeting as he's visited us a some time in the past? Perhaps a meeting with HEW instead of full community council?

6.4. Iain Smith MSP on Strategic Planning review

Appendix E - Letter to Lewis Macdonald MSP Deputy Minister for Transport & Planning.

6.5. Local Holidays 2002

East Area Local Services confirmed dates: 4 Feb, 4 Mar, May Day 6 May, 14 Oct, 4 Nov, half day Thursday.

6.6

There is no item 6.6

6.7. Other Matters Arising?

7. New Business

7.1. Young St Andrews Citizen of the Year Award - 2001

A poster giving details of the above award is being distributed to each member of Council. It would be much appreciated and of considerable help if Councillors would be good enough to assist in the publicising of the award in whatever way they deemed appropriate.

Archie Strachan

7.2. Bandstand Concerts Report - Summer 2001

Fourteen concerts were scheduled of which two were cancelled.

Appendix B - Bandstand Accounts 2001.

For Discussion:

7.2.1. Does Council wish the concerts to continue next year?

7.2.2. If so, I would request Council appoint another organiser.

Archie Strachan

7.3. Comment on Community Council Elections

This was the first time that a postal vote has been used for community council elections in Fife. Should we pass on to Fife Council the good and bad points about this year's arrangements?

eg
+ increased size of poll, indicating wider involvement
- date particularly disenfranchised students (as we warned in February)
- date posed problems generally with year-old register of electors
- lack of information on candidates
- lack of warning of switch to postal vote

Pete Lindsay

7.4. Association of Scottish Community Councils - October Newsletter

Report of AGM (as entirely forgotten over the summer by PL & FGR!); Young community councillor of the year award; Beyond Twinning - why build links abroad; Scottish Voluntary Sector web portal - www.scvo.org.uk; Human rights act; Glasgow's future housing plan; Scottish Tenement Group; Safer Playgrounds; Common Good Funds; Goods vehicle operator licensing; Queen's Golden Jubilee; Community Local Action Network; Wanlockhead response to irresponsible media E Coli story; Scottish Accident Prevention Council; Strategic Planning Review; Scottish Rights of Way Society (insert).

7.4.1. ASCC Recruitment of Executive members we have the opportunity to nominate an executive member for Fife - any takers?

7.4.2. Common Good Funds seminar ASCC propose to hold day long seminars on all aspects of CGF - history, use, misuse (and what to do about it) - early next year at a cost of about £10 per head. They would like an indication of interest.

7.5. Community Grants Schemes

Guide and application form received. Deadline for applications 30 Nov 01

7.6. Home Composting Trial

Fife Council are currently running a home composting trial to find how effective composting is at diverting green waste from landfill sites. There are still some places left to use up the supply of (free!) composting bins. Contact Recycling Officer David J Baker on 412263.

7.7. Tricia Marwick MSP - October Newsletter

Against proposed strategic planning changes; promotes National Volunteers Week and WRVS; Voices of Women - Fife group for (ethnic) women; Scottish Parliament debate of the voluntary sector; Anti Fox-hunting bill

7.8. SEPA Autumn newsletter

Waste awareness campaign; Energy from waste; Foot & Mouth Update; Diesel spill in Loch Lomond; Floodline launch 0845-988-1188; Sustainable urban drainage; SEPA in Dumfries & Galloway; Groundwater; Ecotourism in the Netherlands; British Trust for Conservation Volunteers; European & international news; Waste minimisation, profit maximisation in business; Construction waste; SEPA news; Managing Scotland's water; Books & reports; conferences & exhibitions.

7.9. VONEF September Newsletter

AGM report; Gift Aid; Funding News; VONEF training for volunteers; CRUSE Berevement Care committee vacancies; PAMIS in Fife; RNID Scotland's outreach information service; Couple counselling; Human rights; Data Protection; Charities Christmas Market (Cupar 25/11); Shell's Better Britain funding; Family-friendly policies for flexible working

7.10. Golden Jubilee official medal

We are invited to buy these, customised for our own Jubilee celebrations.

7.11. NHS Fife Board Meeting

10am Tuesday 6th Nov, Glen Pavilion, Dunfermline

8. Reports from Officers

8.1. Chair

8.2. Treasurer

Appendix C - Accounts

8.3. Secretary

9. Reports from Committees

Written reports are required by terms of the Scheme for Community Councils

9.1. Recreation

Work on St Andrew's Week show and the Senior Citizens Xmas Tea progressing, flu permitting. Next meeting 7pm Tue 6 Nov.

10. Any Other Competent Business

Please notify Secretary/Chair of items before the start of the meeting. Given that the end of the meeting is often taken in something of a rush unless items are truly urgent it might be better to submit them for next meeting's New Business

Appendix A - Further Bulletin responses

(For completeness and the benefit of new members this includes the responses listed in October - the question was "What do you think is needed in St Andrews?")

Replies received(10 slips, 1 email)
Points raised:

• As a main tourist town our Floral displays are poor. Large floral tubs and wrought iron stands for hanging baskets in the town centre would help
• Could the University be persuaded to spend some money on flowers at the front of College Gate?
• Removal of chewing gum from pavements please.
• A together hospital and health centre.
• Few if any more new houses.
• Policeman walking (as crime prevention).
• St Andrews to have more say in what affects it, and is best for it as against decision by west and central Fife.
• A drastic cut in the number of students at St Andrews University to 3,000. At present the real number is away above 6,000.
• More powers of administration should be accorded to the Community Council regarding local affairs and much less power to Glenrothes.
• Dredging of overgrown weeds in Kinnessburn, in places the burn is now choked and almost non-existent.
• Priority should be given to quality manned toilet facilities, preferably with information and tear room at Petheram Bridge car park to greet visitors arriving by car and assist with Park and Ride. Toilets in St Andrews are a disgrace, and are usually the first thing visitors (especially with children) require. Not those at the Bus Station or West Port where cars can't park. Perhaps Lottery funds might be available.
• Speed restrictions on Largo Road, John Knox Road, etc.
• Regarding planning and control from outwith NE Fife. This is a disaster I have seen coming for some time, and unless reversed will lead to our way of life ... being submersed by decisions reached elsewhere for all the wrong reasons.
• The Lade Braes, a disaster area in the making. The whole area is in need of rebuilding and renewal, all the old drains on the north side require replacement etc. Why can't the Common Good Fund help here? Or is it only high flyers like the Byre Theatre that warrant funds from this source?
• Transferring strategic planning powers for NE Fife to Dundee? Ridiculous!
• I would support the views expressed that either Fife should be split into smaller locally based units or that the possibility that strategic planning being transferred to Dundee should be strongly resisted.
• Make an archway into St Andrews at Petheram Bridge with a coat of arms on it (west of St Andrews).
• Make a large car park east of St Andrews before cars hit the town.
• provide more benches around town to sit on
• Make road to Leuchars a dual carriageway
• don't pedestrianise St Andrews
• don't allow parking on the slope of Argyle St car park
• don't have so many pedestrian crossings
• don't have so many alcohol outlets
• tidy up the Lade Braes walk
• Council should buy the Save petrol station at the West Port, make it into a garden and historic feature.
• A very urgent need for a ring road round St Andrews to carry the heavy lorries that pound up North Street, down Abbey Street and onwards with no business in St Andrews itself.

Appendix B - Bandstand Accounts - 2001

Surplus Balance of £256.30 returned to Common Good Fund 1st October 2001

Petty Cash Account

Surplus Balance of £3.86 retained in Petty Cash Account

Appendix C - Accounts

Funds as at 1st November 2001 (unaudited)

* The funds held in these accounts are allocated to specific projects as indicated.

Appendix D - Common Good Fund Statement

Appendix E - Strategic Planning Review

letter from Iain Smith MSP to Lewis Macdonald MSP Deputy Minister for Transport & Planning, Scottish Executive

I refer again to my letter of 27th July and your reply of 4th September 2001 regarding the review of strategic planning, in particular the proposal that would split strategic planning in Fife between Dundee and Edinburgh. I remain firmly against these proposals and it is clear that the people of North East Fife share my view.

I have been contacted by over one hundred individual constituents and a number of Community Councils, expressing their support to keep strategic planning in Fife as it is. I enclose copies of all the correspondence I have received in this regard, which demonstrates the overwhelming feeling in my constituency.

In your letter of 4th September, you indicated that "well argued cases for additional areas to be added will be considered before any final decisions are taken". Can I draw your attention in particular to the well argued case presented by Fife Council in their submission on the consultation document.

As I previously stated, Fife benefits from having shared boundaries with NHS Fife, Scottish Enterprise, Fife Tourist Board and many other voluntary agencies which assist in developing community planning and joint services. This together with its unique geography and history makes it an ideal unit for strategic planning.

I ask you to take all the enclosed correspondence into account as submissions to the consultation, that you consider seriously the views of the North East Fife public, Community Councils and Fife Council and that you reject the proposal to split Fife and retain it instead as an integral strategic planning area.

lain Smith MSP Liberal Democrat, North East Fife

Correspondence received

Late Agenda Items

circulated at the meeting

1. Apologies

Frank Riddell, Chris Lesurf

2.1. Minutes of October 2001 monthly

Chris Lesurf’s apologies were noted on the agenda but not in the minutes.

6. Matters Arising from previous meetings

6.8. Town Hall Portraits

[July 6.4] Dr Gilchrist has sent us the information on the portraits; there are copies available for inspection. It is now up to us to do something with it…

6.9. Scenic Map

[October 7.3] Mr Rattray of Scenic Maps writes:

I had the St Andrews Citizen reporter contact me regarding some comments that Bill Sangster allegedly made as the Merchants Association representative at the recent Community Council meeting. She said he have stated that the Community Council should not get involved with businesses, or something to that effect and also about the Aquarium not being on the map.

I told her we had produced maps in the following areas of Scotland with the following people:- Pitlochry - Community Council 5yrs Callander - Community Council 5yrs Stirling - Stirling Council 3yrs Oban - Community Council 2yrs Inverness - City Centre Manager 2yrs

Councils are all looking at how to provide information for visitors without a direct cost to them, while ensuring the service is regularly updated and maintained.

I advised her that we offer cameo highlights on the map free of charge to Visitor attractions such as the Botanical Gardens, Golf Museum etc if they decide to support us on the map. I also said that people have the right to decide whether they want to highlighted. I advised her that there is one well known American Burger chain with a Scottish name who will sue anyone using their name on their products, as they feel they are using their well know name to enhance the products acceptance/viability/support if they are seen to be associated with it. So it is not just a matter of writing any businesses name on the map as we feel necessary.

Last year we were unable to establish contact with anyone at the Aquarium even though we wrote letters and numerous phone calls. This year we have been able to see them and show them what we are doing and they certainly did not make any comment or protest that they should have been highlighted or mentioned on the map.

We distributed questionnaires with our guides to all the accommodation providers, we received 30.9% return, with 1 in 3 of these giving us 10 out of 10 rating for the guide. RAF Leuchars, Royal British Legion, Golf Tours, German tour operator are amongst the organisations specifically asking us to send them our guides.

I am sorry there is this controversy over what we are doing, it certainly was not reflected to us by the many businesses we have phoned and I have seen these past few weeks. If anyone says anything to me about the Merchant Association publication, I say what I believe to be true. I believe the product produced by the Merchant Association on St Andrews is excellent.

I certainly do not believe we are in competition. The two products are very different to one another. The analogy I would give, is some one saying that the china shop is in competition with the book shop. Yes you are both shops, but you are both very different. The town benefits by having a number of shops for the visitor to choose from. If there was only one shop or type of shop, you will find many visitors' preferences are not catered for.

I believe the same is true of both our publications. They both help to promote St Andrews, each in their own different way. Our publication does not include Solicitors, Self Catering accommodation, Hotels accommodation etc car firms or anything that we do not believe has a direct relevance to tourist visitors. Accommodation we exclude deliberately as the Tourist Board offers an excellent service and we feel that our guide is aimed at helping get the most from their visit once they are here in St Andrews.

I hope that I have not gone over the top with my comments back to you, but I do want to feed back or answer any concerns people may have. Scenic maps in Scotland has been going for over 5 years now and I would say we have had excellent relationships with the bodies we have developed the maps with. It would be nice if the same could be true for St Andrews, I am told locally that St Andrews always has this controversy over issues, I just hope those of you who actively helped do not feel let down.

7. New Business

7.12 Castle Furniture Project

The charity is holding an open day at 1 East Moathill Cupar on Sat 1 December from 11am-2pm, Menzies Campbell MP will open their newly extended and refurbished workshop at 12.30pm. MacGregor Auctions will be attending and will identify and value any items the public bring along. While parents are having their cherished antiques valued, kids can have their faces painted by Sharon Morrison.

7.13. Fife Community Mediation

Write to point out that their neighbour dispute resolution service is available free of charge. They deal with neighbour conflicts, which may involve noise, verbal abuse, rubbish, children’s or pet’s behaviour; boundary disputes, especially where the situation is not clear; and community conflicts. Mediators are independent and neutral people who will listen to both sides and help you find common ground. Mediation is confidential and free. For further details contact 01592-597063, or we have a couple of their leaflets.

7.14. Tricia Marwick MSP: November Newsletter

Demands action over “appalling” rails service in Fife; Deplores cut in Fife’s housing stock; Condemns removal of independent councillor from Fife Health Board; Opposes Holyrood and Council election link; Critical of tourism “stealth tax”; Calls for stricter controls on fireworks.

7.15. SEPA Autumn Newsletter

Flooding special: View from Environment Minister Rhona Brankin; Flood defences for Edinburgh’s Stockbridge; Floodline; Flood monitoring services; Perth’s flood prevention scheme; Climate change and flooding; Flooding in Scotland who does what.

8.3. Secretary’s report

8.3.1. Remembrance Sunday wreath is ordered, same details as last year, approx £16.

8.3.2. St Andrew’s Day & Christmas Cards last year we produced (thanks to Frank Riddell) and sent out Community Council seasonal greetings cards. They seemed to be well received, indeed much appreciated, so I propose to do the same again this year, starting with St Andrew’s Day greetings.

• Is this agreeable?
• If so, please contact me with any suggestions for recipients.