approved
Community Councillors: George Davidson, Richard Douglas, Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, Joe Lamb, Pete Lindsay, Dennis Macdonald, Murdo Macdonald, Donald Macgregor, Lindsay Murray, Gordon Pay, Joe Peterson, Frank Riddell, Archie Strachan, Cynthia Tero, Jean Thompson.
Students' Association: Rory O'Hare, Marco Biagi
Nominated/Co-opted: Bill Sangster
Fife Councillors: Bill Brooks, Sheila Hill, Jane Ann Liston, Frances Melville
Apologies: Ken Crichton, Chris Lesurf, Penny Uprichard, Callum Macleod, Lindsay Murray (for early departure).
Bill Sangster queried what was reported he'd said under AOCB. No one, including him, could remember what was actually said so item 10.1 was deleted.
Amended minutes approved
Matthew Swift, St Leonard's School, described the project to raise money for local and national charities, and set a world record for the largest Strip-the-Willow. The target date is Friday 11 October, location probably the West Sands. Part of Jubilee celebrations and St Leonard's 125th year anniversary. This is not an exclusive attempt, they hope for general community involvement - need 1000s to make a convincing and difficult to surpass record; although there is no 'official' Guinness record set. The attempt is supported by Norris McWhirter (of the Guinness Book of Records) and through him may involve children's TV.
Asked how community council could help Mr Swift asked if we could supply a certificate or even medal, but for even a few hundreds let alone potential thousands of entrants this would exceed our resources. Another avenue would be help on the day, by individuals, with marshalling, refreshments, photography, etc.
Suggestions made for others to approach: the Rotary Clubs, student charities, and perhaps the author George Macdonald Fraser who wrote a story about a record-breaking dance: The General Danced At Dawn.
Inspector Craig Dewar, the new incumbent at St Andrews police station, introduced himself. He hopes to attend on occasion.
3.2.1. St Andrews-Leuchars cycle track. Dennis Macdonald asked if emergency services had access to the track should the road be blocked - eg key to gates and bollards.
Inspector Dewar was not aware of any special arrangements, but would look into it.
3.2.2. Police Station Sign Police had not realised that they would need planning permission to change their 40 year old sign. They will make retrospective planning application now the requirement has been brought to their attention.
3.2.3. Street Violence Asked about a bottle-throwing incident reported in the press the Inspector reported that the perpetrators were probably members of the student group known as 'The Breakfast Club' (not the Kate Kennedy Club as popularly supposed). Unfortunately no individuals were identified so couldn't prosecute.
3.2.4. 24 hour opening Looking at 24 hr opening of the police station (it is staffed 24 hrs). It will need an extra member of clerical staff.
Mr Hillyard distributed copies of a recent letter to Transportation Service with suggestions to reposition bus stops from South Street outside Madras College and St Mary's Place to a single stop at Bell St with a shelter.
While it was generally agreed that more shelters were desirable relocation of the stops was not supported. There were concerns that traffic congestion in Bell St would be exacerbated by a bus stop; that a stop outside Madras is necessary for the school children; Fife Cllr Sheila Hill reported that Kilrymont Rotarians have donated a seat for St Mary's Place; Fife Cllr Jane Ann Liston noted that she has pressed for an acceptable design for bus shelters in the conservation area to be made part of the planning brief and be passed on to Transportation Service as their last attempt to produce something for St Mary's Place had met planning problems - she was backed by Cllr Bill Brooks.
4.1.1. West Sands Management Client Working Group [June 7.11.] Noted.
Planning committee to respond
4.1.2. Kinburn Park Lighting Progressing there is indication that money will be available. May also include some path surfacing. Report to Local Services committee in August.
4.1.3. Potholes Problem in the area of Middleshade Road, Wardlaw Gardens and nearby streets. Some 40+ potholes counted.
4.1.4. Craigtoun Park Same consultants to look at this as the West Sands.
4.1.5. Petheram Car Park Hedges will be trimmed soon as it is feared that drivers may not realise there are parking spaces.
4.1.6. Kinburn Park Bollards are to be introduced at the main entrance to reduce casual parking overnight in the driveway. There will be access during the working day.
4.1.7. City Region Structure Planning Scottish Executive seems determined to implement this, despite protests from Fife, but no information on boundaries yet so it is not possible to assess the effects on St Andrews (or Fife).
4.1.8. Harbour Trust There will be a opening ceremony at finish of the restoration of the pier, which will involve students.
Nothing to report (beyond "it's lovely to be back" (from Australia))
4.3.1. West Port Floodlight [June 4.4.1a.] The ugly and non-functional light-on-a-stick over the West Port has not been removed as it is believed to be Historic Scotland's, he reported. Pete Lindsay reiterated that when he spoke with Historic Scotland some time ago regarding the flagpole, they had denied all responsibility for it and indeed wanted it removed.
4.3.2. Blackfriars floodlights a possible trip hazard was raised with Cllr Brooks.
4.3.3. Parking Restrictions Transportation to look at yellow lining that needs replaced after the various town centre works; site visit later in the week.
4.3.4. State of Town Centre With the upcoming Beautiful Scotland in Bloom and Best Kept Town inspections a number of problems were mentioned to Cllr Brooks:
i) Removal of flyposted posters - Cllr Liston commented that flyposting comes under Planning Service: contact Lyle Smith, the enforcement officer.
ii) building work at Southgait Hall results in unsightly piles of materials, scaffolding etc.
iii) weeds growing in central locations (guttering, and around trees) - just like last year.
Widening slightly from the centre dead shrubs in Kinburn parks still there after a year and the rose beds at Safeways were described as "going back to nature".
Joe Peterson suggested the proper time to look at these problems was early in the year, not a week or so before the inspections, which met with general agreement.
4.4.1. Cycle lane counts [June 4.3.9.] data from the counting machines that recorded cycle user numbers are available for those sceptical of the figures given last month.
Ian Goudie urged these figures be treated with caution. The automated counters are open to abuse. Though supporting cycling in general he did not think the cycle lanes improved conditions for cyclists whatever figures might be produced about them.
4.4.2. Westward train fares [June 4.3.11.] Head of Transportation Services and Iain Smith MSP have both taken up the matter of route restrictions with the Strategic Rail Authority.
4.4.3. Letter re housing problem This was copied to most/all community councillors as well as the four Fife Councillors. On investigation it proved to be a matter in Cllr Liston's ward; she reported that it was receiving attention but could not go further as there were personal, confidential issues involved - as was clear from the letter.
4.4.4. Children's Library Window Not accessible due to the arrangement of bookshelves, the window currently displays a collection of dead flies. She has suggested looking for long tongs etc to get in.
4.4.5. 150th anniversary of St Andrews Railway is today.
4.4.6. Bandstand Concerts Archie Strachan informed the meeting that Cllr Liston had stepped in to organise concerts for July and August after a pair of concerts by Madras College.
Thanks for this timely rescue proposed and seconded by Bill Sangster and Frank Riddell (unopposed).
(Cllr Liston then asked who would be helping with the physical side of the concerts; the meeting shuffled its feet uneasily then moved swiftly on).
4.5.1. School Overcrowding Ian Goudie asked what Fife Councillors are doing about this. Fife has the highest average secondary school roll size in Scotland with an average of 1212 pupils against the national average of 817. The problem is more acute in NE Fife eg Madras College's roll stands at over 1800.
Cllr Sheila Hill, who sits on the Education Committee, said that the committee repeatedly ask for another school in NE Fife, but it seems all available funds have gone to just maintaining Bell Baxter.
Cllr Jane Ann Liston noted that at the East Area Development Committee recently Education Service stated that there is adequate school provision for a development of 15 housing units in Tayport. However at Madras School Board, it was reported that at fora involving Fife Council Administration, the point about roll sizes has been conceded.
It was agreed that community council should write to Fife Council highlighting this as an urgent problem which needs an adequate solution; and also highlight transport problems.
Pete Lindsay to write
Report circulated at meeting:
Report of the PLANNING COMMITTEE Meeting of 24.6.02 for the Community Council Meeting of July 2002.
1. Planning Applications.
(i) Kinness Fry Bar. A rear extension incorporating dining space is proposed. It was agreed to object on the grounds that this would be liable to exacerbate the existing parking problems at the foot of Melbourne Brae, both in terms of numbers of vehicles and their length of stay.
(ii) 77, South St. The committee would prefer a traditional painted wooden fascia sign to the proposed raised gold PVC letters.
(iii) Purdie Building. It was felt that the proposed sign was both unnecessary and excessively large. The company will not be selling goods, and so does not appear to need to attract customers for that reason. There are less ostentatious ways to guide visitors to their premises from the A91 than having lettering so large that it can be read from that road. Consent for this application would set an unfortunate precedent.
2. Other recent developments.
(i) Hospital site. Although understanding that further site evaluation is still in progress, the committee welcomed the news that the health authority's preferred site for the new hospital is St Leonard's Fields.
(ii) Wester Langlands. The revised plans were passed. The Community Council had restated some of its earlier objections.
(iii) Strategic Planning. The Scottish Executive Development Department has confirmed its intention to proceed with most of the revised procedures which were put out to consultation last year. These include the creation of four city regions, which will each have a strategic plan. Areas outwith the city regions will just have a single tier development plan.
Discussion
5.1.iii Ian Goudie noted that the planning meeting was not quorate for this item as Frank Riddell declared an interest (works in Chemistry and is a member of University Court). The planning committee's concern was ratified on a show of hands after the plans had been circulated and the location described.
Item 5.1.iii agreed
Report accepted
5.3. Green belt forum Ian Goudie reported that the constitution wrangles were now over and the Forum is now looking to move forward.
5.4. Scooniehill/Feddinch Cllr Frances Melville reported that discussions have started for the latest version of the golf course and related development at Feddinch, between the developers behind the Scooniehill proposal and Planning Service.
We are asked to nominate two representatives. There may be a short meeting early this month.
Joe Peterson & Murdo Macdonald
Report noted
Noted
Noted
Noted
[June 7.9.] Joe Peterson reported that this was a body consulted by Scottish executive; that joining on a trial basis for £20/year seemed worthwhile and furthered community councils' role to express views of the community to the institutions of government.
Agreed to join [PL/AS]
[June 7.10] Ken Crichton to report
Carry over
Noted
Fife councillors unaware what decision had been taken at East Area Services as none had been present when the item came up.
[June 4.3.6.] The meeting on this will be after the start of term.
[June 4.3.4.] now moved to Bell St.
[June 9.2.1.] Bill Sangster relayed a proposal from one of the showmen involved in Lammas for a St Andrew's Week Fairground, Fri-Sun eves. Some discussion followed.
No problem seen with small rides in Church Sq/Logies Lane, but concern at, say, full dodgems in Market Street. More details of proposals needed for a firm response.
Bill Sangster to seek further details
noted
Joe Peterson
Murdo Macdonald
7.3 (again) Postwatch, 7.4. Costal Projects, 7.5. Jubilee Award, 7.6 Bus Service Changes, 7.7. SEPA Newsletter, 7.8. Bulletin Feedback.
noted
8.1.1. Craigtoun he was approached by the consultants brought in by Fife Council to look at Craigtoun Park operation. He had emphasised to them that it is not in our area but Cameron Community Council's, though still of interest to St Andrews. He'd said St Andrews would be unhappy to lose Craigtoun and suggested Cameron, as the local CC, apply to Lottery for improvement grants. He felt £3+ per head for access out of step with facilities. He also suggested opening opportunities for small businesses to take on some aspects of running the park.
8.1.2. Parking Charges he expressed his concern at the increase to 50p/hr.
Cllr Jane Ann Liston noted NE Fife towns all paying the same except Cupar but parking strategy has to suit the town; in St Andrews there too many cars, too few spaces. It is still cheaper than Perth & Dundee. She pointed out that Cllr Frances Melville asked for a half-hour option to be looked into. What is the extra money to be used for? Maintain car parks and the Park & Ride scheme; the rest of Fife has been complaining that this St Andrews scheme is subsidised from the Fife-wide budget. The future of the voucher system is being looked at because of the opposition of shopkeepers to selling them. The likely alternative is ticket machines, which will cost (even) more...
Murdo Macdonald asked that a copy of the report be circulated for discussion next month.
Report for August Agenda
8.1.3. Arms Contract Signed we have the cheque.
Nothing further
Nothing further
9.1.1. Recreation Committee Report
Noted
None.
None