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for approval
Chair Murdo Macdonald
Community Councillors: Ken Crichton, George Davidson, Richard Douglas, Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, Joe Lamb, Pete Lindsay, Dennis Macdonald, Murdo Macdonald, Donald Macgregor, Callum Macleod, Lindsay Murray, Gordon Pay, Joe Peterson, Archie Strachan, Cynthia Tero, Jean Thomson, Penny Uprichard
Students' Association: Dana Green
Fife Councillors: Bill Brooks, Sheila Hill, Jane Ann Liston, Frances Melville
Apologies: Chris Lesurf, Frank Riddell
Accepted
Accepted
4.1.1. Kinburn Park Lights - problem with broken lights and cables hanging free, reported by one of the Student Reps. Kate Hughes is chasing up Property Services.
4.1.2. Duke's course - there is a problem with the proposed Section 75 agreement for a footpath from St Andrews to Craigtoun Park. The developer will not agree to the condition. This will have to go back to East Development Committee for reconsideration.
4.1.3. St Andrews Toilets - report from the survey of use due soon.
4.1.4. Lammas group - meeting on 14 November.
4.1.5. Doubledykes Road - the planning application for a temporary car park approved, and a pedestrian crossing over Doubledykes Road is being looked into. Ian Goudie pointed out that the community council suggestion had been for a pedestrian crossing over the entrance to the station car park from Doubledykes Road in view of the increase of traffic - vehicle and pedestrian - in the area on top of already heavy pedestrian use. Cllr Melville explained that location was not seen as possible by officials, but that some provision in the area was felt necessary.
4.1.6. West Sands - the current system for controlling access by gate and toll hut is archaic, and there are security concerns over the takings and the safety of the attendant. The council is looking at various ideas.
4.1.7. Common Good Fund - referring to the financial statement reproduced in the agenda Cllr Melville said that lots of income was missing. She will try to get more detailed report to show the true position. Archie Strachan, community council CGF representative, said the poor information made decisions about CGF grants very difficult. On further discussion the Fife Councillors suggested that a detailed, up-to-date statement be requested from head of Finance Service, Brian Lawrie.
Pete Lindsay to write
Ken Crichton suggested that CGF should only be used for startup funds. Cllr Jane Ann Liston explained that this was already how the CGF committee usually operated.
4.2.1. Additional grit bins - with the onset of cold weather grit bins have been provided about the town, with some new locations - suggestions for further sites welcome.
4.2.2. Wilson Developments - are the company taking over the remainder of the Craigtoun Road site from Wilcon. She met them recently as local councillor, with Frances Melville in her capacity as East Area Development Chair.
4.2.3. Speed Limit extension - she asked for the 30mph zone to be to cover the new Craigtoun developments. The police support this. It will happen but there is a delay while the new developer is persuaded to contribute to the costs.
4.2.4. Gibson House - Coffee Morning 1st December.
4.2.5. Recycling Centre - Murdo Macdonald asked what progress had been made in the year or so since Fife Council reawoke to this. Cllr Sheila Hill to report on progress in December.
4.2.6. Largo Road Pedestrian Crossings - Joe Lamb called for controlled crossings along the ever busier Largo Road-Bridge St, flanked as it is by residential areas. Several members backed him. Cllr Jane Ann Liston recalled from previous occasions this has come up that Largo Road is listed for a crossing but is not a priority. Cllr Hill will check current situation.
4.3.1. Coastal Path - Countryside Ranger will start work in April.
4.3.2. Kinnessburn Meeting - Cllr Jane Ann Liston and Donald Macgregor met with a SEPA representative at the Kinnessburn.
SEPA against dredging the burn in view of the risk of environmental damage and the danger of erosion. SEPA do inspect the burn weekly. Flooding is caused by water backing up during high tides and the harbour gates being closed during heavy rain and its aftermath, but not substantially contributed to by sedimentation and vegitation.
Most of the banks from Maggie Murray's Bridge downstream are the responsibility of Fife Council except for a stretch of the north bank down to but not including Dempster Terrace.
She suggested that to get full information directly, rather than at second telling through her, community council invite SEPA and relevant Fife Council officials to speak.
There was some discussion of the possible causes of flooding and the role, if any, of the new holding tanks in flood prevention. Joe Peterson and others felt that the burn looked better in a more natural state than it would as a scoured concrete channel. Cllr Brooks felt the maintenance of paths along the banks and state of the stream bed were separate; Fife Council could take action on the paths.
It was felt that having officials to speak to community council would not be sufficiently open a forum for public questions. It was decided to arrange a public meeting.
Pete Lindsay to arrange
4.3.3. Cosmos AGM - she attended this, which had a disappointing turnout.
4.3.4. Parking Puzzle - [ref Oct] the recommendations from the international panel and the Paramics traffic simulation will be presented at next St Andrews tourism meeting (was TMP) in April.
4.3.5. Waste strategy consultation - most responses supported the maximum recycling option [Oct 9.2].
4.3.6. Local forum - the Howe of Fife is to be the pilot in East Fife. Callum Macleod asked what these fora can discuss that community councils don't already cover. Cllr Liston said that there could be 'cross-border' issues affecting more than one community council area, but testing what these fora can usefully do is one reason for a trial.
Murdo Macdonald reported that he had broached the subject of an area meeting of community councils with our neighbours before the elections, which might bypass the need for a body organised by Fife Council.
4.3.7. Bus shelter at St Mary's Place - Planning against any bus shelters in the town's conservation area. Cllr Jane Ann Liston has suggested to the Tourism Management Programme environmental working group that an acceptable design of shelter for use in the conservation area be added to the design brief for the town centre. Cllr Frances Melville noted that the bus shelter proposed by Transportation Service had been withdrawn for further consultation rather than formally rejected.
4.3.8. Motion on elections - Cllr Liston will be putting a motion welcoming postal votes but pointing out the problems of lack of information on the candidates, and problems with the student vote and electoral register.
4.4.1. Waste water by hospital - Ken Crichton asked if there had been any progress since he raised the matter in October. Cllr Brooks is still investigating.
4.4.2. Kinnessburn - asked his opinion on the problems here Cllr Brooks said his impression was that there had to be proof of actual flood damage before Fife Council could act to clear the bed. He would press for clearing of the overgrown paths along north bank mentioned by Cynthia Tero.
4.4.3. Seating in Abbey Walk - in view of comments from the feedback slips, and in the judge's remarks from the summer's Best Kept Town competition on the lack of public seating in the town, Ken Crichton drew attention to the broken seating (benches) in Abbey Walk. Cllr Brooks said that he understood that details of street furnishings for the Abbey Street improvements had not yet been agreed with Scottish Enterprise Fife - perhaps these could be included.
8.05 break
Report circulated
5.1. Report of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting of 8.10.01 (under the auspices of the previous Community Council).
5.1.1. Wester Langlands. The revised plans for this site were viewed by the Committee with some disappointment, as it was noted that few of our major criticisms had been taken on board. The amount of car-parking proposed still appears to be woefully inadequate, and our comments on the dangers of the access also do not seem to have registered. The new plans show some improvement in the layout of the site: individual blocks are better than long terraced rows. Despite this, the committee still regarded the designs of the blocks as unattractive, noting in particular the small size of the windows and the lack of concession to the local building style.
5.1.2. Review of Strategic Planning After further consideration, the response to the Scottish Executive was submitted in essentially the same form as the version circulated at the last Community Council.
5.1.3. Public Inquiry - 130, Market Street. Mrs Murray and Dr Riddell represented the Community Council.
5.2. Report of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting of 29.10.01 for the Community Council Meeting of 5 November 2001.
5.2.1. Planning applications.
(i) Proposed quad bike track. Following earlier consideration of the revised plans, Dr Riddell agreed to write, sustaining our objection and re-iterating many of our previous points.
(ii) R. & A. - Proposed fighting scheme. Mr Pay agreed to write welcoming the softer style of lighting that is envisaged, but expressing the hope that care will be taken to ensure that the increased number of lights does not result in greater problems of light pollution.
(iii) 133, Market Street (Clinton Cards). An objection will be submitted by Mrs Murray, who will seek a traditional wooden frame rather than the proposed aluminium shopfront. It was also noted that, in contrast to the proposed separate lettering, names painted on the fascia in the traditional manner are not susceptible to removal by vandals.
(iv) Proposed Madras FP sign. Miss Uprichard agreed to write, objecting to the proposed sign. It was seen by the committee as too large and prominent, and a potential distraction to traffic on the A91. The proposed location, at the western end of the Madras playing fields means that it would also detract from Fife Enterprise's project for a new town sign there.
5.2.2. Cycle Parking
Fife Council are seeking our views on the locations for new Sheffield U-tube bike stands. The committee agreed to the principle of cycle parks in Church Square (behind Holy Trinity) and outside the Students' Union, but could not support two further proposed sites, namely outside W.H. Smith's and outside Tesco, since in each case they would make it harder for motorists to see people, particularly children, approaching the adjacent pedestrian crossings. The committee agreed to propose two alternative locations, one in the grounds of the Local Office in St Mary's Place, the other on the eastern side of Martyrs Church.
5.3. Craigtoun B housing site. Revised plans for this site have been received, and will be considered at our next meeting.
5.2.2. Cycle suggestions - Pete Lindsay suggested that arrangements be made to remove abandoned/vandalised bikes, such as build up in the bike racks in front of the Students' Association building.
Joe Peterson suggested racks at Madras College forecourt (South St), for school and public use.
Community council asked in January in a previous round of consultation on the TMP environmental improvements for cycle path on the south side of South St. This has not made it into the current plans.
Penny Uprichard asked what permissions do Scottish Enterprise Fife (SEF) need for the various environmental improvement schemes? She was concerned at the lack of wider public review of proposals. Cllr Frances Melville explained that some proposals were processed through Local Services committee and so did not enter the formal planning system. Street furniture does need planning permission. SEF are less accountable than other bodies in some ways - don't need to ask for permissions in like-for-like upgrades. She did praise the open attitude of Archie Jamieson who took care to involve and consult public and community organisations through the likes of the TMP.
No formal decision had been made at the inaugural meeting.
• it was agreed that only the planning committee needed general permission to act in the name of community council, in order to meet the externally imposed time scales of the planning system. Actions taken are to be reported to the full monthly meetings for ratification.
• It was also agreed that recreation committee should have permission to act to mount the Art & Photography Competition in St Andrew's Week and the Senior Citizens' Party in December
Any other permissions needed by committees will be sanctioned by community council for projects as necessary.
Community Council would prefer a full meeting at some time in the future to any of the other options.
Pete Lindsay to write
6.4 - 6.5 noted, 6.6-6.7 did not exist.
Bill Sangster pointed out that the difference between the Scenic Maps business, a profit making concern, and the Merchants' Association map was that profits from the latter go to town charities.
Murdo Macdonald read part of a letter from Nick Brian of Planning Service explain the position over the footpath to Kingask and the Section 75 agreement. A decision on changes to the Section 75 agreement, including the footpath, was taken by Fife Council Strategic Development Committee in May 2001 and is not a matter of current discussion.
Ian Goudie spoke for the continuing need for a footpath. Councillor Frances Melville pointed out that there were other development opportunities in that area which could provide a path.
Dealing with other matters in the letter, to do with the Kingask liaison committee, was remitted to General Purposes committee.
Posters were distributed. Publicity Committee to assist through Bulletin etc.
7.2.1. Does Council wish to continue next year? Yes, none against.
7.2.2. New Organiser? Interested members to contact Archie Strachan for information on what is involved.
Points listed in the Agenda agreed
Pete Lindsay to write
7.4.1. ASCC Recruitment of Executive Members - Callum Macleod interested.
7.4.2. Common Good Funds seminar - very interested in the proposed seminar, at least two delegates.
It was agreed that reasonable expenses would be paid if delegates had to travel to attend such an important seminar.
Pete Lindsay to write
Noted
Pete Lindsay to publicise in Event
7.7.-7.9. Noted
No requirement for medallions forseen.
Put Jubilee celebration on December agenda
7.12-7.15 noted
8.1.1. Remembrance Sunday - all those intending to attend the parade contact Murdo Macdonald for details of this year's arrangements.
8.1.2. Meeting with other Community Councils - Murdo Macdonald reported that he had broached the subject of an area meeting of community councils with our neighbours before the elections, as referred to earlier. He asked permission to follow up now, which was granted.
Murdo Macdonald
Drew attention to the amount in the Millennium account, which has been outstanding for some time.
MM promised a millennium / general purposes committee meeting to discuss this within the month, to present proposals to the December meeting.
Murdo Macdonald
9.1.1. Senior Citizens' Xmas party - 3.30-5.30pm 18 December
9.1.2. Hogmanay Ceilidh - Murdo Macdonald is in the process of organising this.
9.2.1. Links Liaison - Dennis Macdonald reported that some golf clubs concerned that Links Clubhouse extending their catering and they fear competition. Cllr Frances Melville noted that the clubs operated with private members licenses while the Links Clubhouse held a public house licence so they are not in the same area of business.
9.2.2. Police local forum - [Oct 7.6] Dennis Macdonald attended the meeting. Some disagreement as to the value of neighbourhood watch schemes since the advent of mobile phones.
9.2.3. Youth Committee - Archie Strachan reported that after a couple of years hiatus he hopes to have a youth member co-opted to community council next month.
Dana Green, Students' Association President, drew attention to this year's dates. She explained safety cover and efforts to minimise impact on the rest of the community
Mrs Johnstone, a member of the public, felt that the whole community council should attend Remembrance Sunday parade.