Chair: Frank Riddell
Community Councillors: Ken Crichton, George Davidson, Richard Douglas, Ken Fraser, Ian Goudie, Joe Lamb, Pete Lindsay, Dennis Macdonald, Gordon Pay, Joe Peterson, Frank Riddell, Archie Strachan, Cynthia Tero, Jean Thompson, Penny Uprichard.
Nominated: Bill Sangster
Fife Councillors: Bill Brooks, Sheila Hill, Jane Ann Liston, Frances Melville
Apologies: Chris Lesurf, Murdo Macdonald, Donald Macgregor, Rory O'Hare, Ewen Sparks
Approved
none
Russel Hutcheson of Kingsley Media gave an update to the information circulated in the agenda and answered questions.
He explained that this would be a purely commercially funded venture as it had not proved possible to establish a joint venture with local government / voluntary groups which would permit funding from the likes of Sport Scotland. Another restriction placed on the proposal was that only the beach beyond the third roundabout of West Sands Road was available for use because of a feeling that the Blue Flag area should be available to the public at all times. There is no infrastructure, such as power or water supplies, installed in this area so it would have to be provided in a temporary form; he is talking to support organisations about this. Facilities for participants and spectators will probably be provided through temporary structures such as tents and marquees. The overall pitch area if a full size event comes off will be about 300 yards wide along the beach in an end to end layout, while depth would depend rather on the state of the tide, though the pitches themselves are about 20yds square. The initial proposal had been for football only, but on feedback from various organisations other sports such as volleyball were under consideration. The inclusion of some of these beach sports in the recent Olympics in Australia was mentioned and the possibilities for 2008, but if there are no opportunity to take part in events beforehand there is unlikely to be a UK entry.
Community council agreed to support the principle of beach sports on the West Sands though would need to know more about the details of any specific event.
4.1.1. Refurbishment of Bus Station Welcomed the recent announcement of funding to upgrade and refurbish the site.
4.1.2. Rights of way officer no progress in having this post, which covered the whole of Fife, reinstated. There is an application in progress for funding of a post but for now funds are only available for specific projects. There is concern about general maintenance. She urged community council to keep pressing this issue.
4.1.3. Harbour Work ongoing, weather has not helped, but still within contract. Replacement bridge still being considered, as is longer term regeneration and future of the harbour.
4.1.4. Tourism task group This group has recently been arranging meetings with Fife Councillors regarding a St Andrews Vision. She has suggested the should also involve community council.
She commented that there seem to be a lot of groups looking at the future of St Andrews and tourism at the moment, at some risk of duplication of effort.
There was some concern expressed about the unelected and self-appointed nature of some of the groups.
4.1.5 Craigtoun Park The consultants' report recommends keeping the park 'as is' with refurbishment and improvement of existing facilities. The report to go to Fife Council as investment will be required, though not much money, relatively speaking, she felt. She hopes to get the report to community council.
Joe Peterson remarked on the need for attractions other than golf in St Andrews, especially family attractions.
4.1.6. Western Development she finished by commending the research and work in Ian Goudie's paper on the subject.
4.2.1. Bassaguard The meeting to discuss will be in the next few days, she will report next month.
4.2.2. Craigtoun Road B site Ian Goudie asked why the most visible part of site, the new entrance gateway, has not been subject to public scrutiny through the planning system? Had it been approved by officials using delegated powers?
Cllr Hill to investigate.
4.3.1. Harbour confirmed Cllr Melville's report and added that thouqh the work had been delayed it is still within contract limits and not in danger of a cost overrun yet.
4.3.2. Tourism and study groups Backed Cllr Melville and others' comments about the number of different groups looking at the future of St Andrews. He felt there should have been more involve-ment with local councillors.
4.3.3. Kinnessburn report Still not arrived.
4.3.4. Murray Park/Place resurfacing work delayed by the poor weather.
4.4.1. Grit Bin, Dempster Brae as feared last month this ended up in the burn, but has been recov-ered and will be attached to something when it is restored.
4.4.2. Madras Pool Shock An incident of children using the pool receiving an electric shock was widely reported in the press. School pools closed across Fife for safety checks but reopening as they are cleared.
The cause of the Madras problem not established yet. May be linked to the electrical underfloor heating. The pool was built in the 1960s, so chloride ion attack weakening the concrete structure may be involved (a common problem in concrete structures of that period).
4.4.3. Town Library Gave further details of funding from Aileen McLaughlin.
“There is now a total of £422,000 in the refurbishment pot. This includes the £76,000 disability access money for the lift, which I mentioned before, plus an estimated £46,000-£50,000 from NOF (the infrastructure aspects of this have still to be confirmed by a survey - I think I explained this part of the funding in my previous email).
The rest of the funding comes from over-programming capital (£228,000) and Community Services capital, part minor works (£22,000) & part carry forward (£50,000) from 2001/02.”
4.4.4. Children's Library The Library Service will continue to rent the town hall premises in the short term and try to sublet when the children's facility is moved to the main building. This will maintain Common Good Fund income until a permanent replacement is found.
4.4.5. Trees at Woodburn & Pipeland Parks Scottish Water to replace trees removed during con-struction work of recent years. Pipeland's died in storage. Woodburn's were transplanted on site pending return to their original locations but this wasn't done: they are now too big to move. Scot-tish Water are to replace both parks' trees.
4.4.6. Common Good Fund Can't return to exactly the old system as Fife Council has decided to im-plement a single system for consultation / decision through Fife. Details to follow.
4.4.7. Water Supply Disruptions Supply to Bogward, and town centre have been cut off for short periods recently for essential work. The notice was quite short on both occasions. In the centre the intention had been to shut off at 11pm until she raised problem of pubs etc whose hours would have been curtailed. The shut off was rescheduled for 1am.
4.4.8 Flyposting This problem has reappeared, the offenders being local traders and students. Unfair to the well-behaved traders. As this is currently regarded as a Planning matter complaints about fly-posting are dealt with by Lyle Smith in Planning Service, based at Cupar. She hopes that this may be something for Town Centre assistant/manager to take over when appointed.
Ian Goudie apologised for the lack of a written report, due to pressure of work. There are a lot of applications - even Planning Service officials are reported to feel 'snowed under' at the moment. He understands most applications will not be dealt with until January.
5.1.1. Bank of Scotland, Queens Gardens, disabled access ramp: revised plans still have the ramp intruding on the pavement when there is room inside the bank's premises - reiterating previous objection.
5.1.2. Links Hotel, external alterations: these seemed spectacularly out of place in conservation area. Plans now withdrawn.
5.1.3. St Nicholas, Abbey Walk: proposed blocks of flats too high, and over-intensive - objecting
5.1.4. Tesco proposed facelift: internally illuminated signs in conservation area, and garish fascia - objecting
5.1.5. Kinnessburn Road flats: too high, absence of housing need, over intensive development - objecting
5.1.6. West Port flats: new plans show some improvement over previous design (no balconies), but block still too high.
5.1.7. Drummond Cook & Macintosh gable end sign felt to be excessive - objecting.
5.1.8. Feddinch golf development: Environmental Impact Assessment received. Proposals are premature until green belt determined and also concern over the height of the redevelopment on the existing steading - objecting.
[For the discussion on the Western Development Frank Riddell declared a potential conflict of interest as he is a member of the University Court. He relinquished the Chair to Vice-Chair Ian Goudie]
Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Brief response
(Draft response to the scoping brief circulated at the start of the meeting).
Further advice on the EIA procedures from Tony Jackson of Abertay University has changed the position of last month, which advised no action in response to the brief. Current understanding is:
1) Scoping Brief states what the developer intends to cover in the EIA
2) Fife Council reply with a Scoping Opinion which sets out what the EIA must cover
3) Then the EIA is undertaken
The current position is that Fife Council is asking for input to help them form the Opinion for step 2. Methodological comments are needed at this time, not necessarily objections. Hence it is now proposed to respond as set out in the draft.
There were no objections made or points added.
Proposed response agreed.
Frances Melville commented that the Scottish Executive want longer term strategic planning: a 20 year vision plan. For instance over the next 20 years 21,000 houses to be built in Fife, mostly in west and centre. She added that Edinburgh pushing hard to take on strategic planning for the western end of Fife at least.
Ken Crichton to attend
Noted
Further details supplied clear up the problems; no need for a visit by Prof Stines.
7.1.1. Amended Scheme timing of consultation over the holiday season and the setting the seminar on Saturday immediately before a Monday deadline felt to be unhelpful.
Pete Lindsay to write on timescale
Discussion of the proposals in January;
points for consideration to Pete Lindsay
7.1.2. Community Councils Seminar
3-4 expressed interest in attending.
7.2.1. Waste Collections and Traffic There was general backing for the comments. Cllr Bill Brooks will look into the proposal with Waste Management Service.
Cllr Bill Brooks
7.2.2. Shop signs: Subway While it was agreed that the appearance of Subway was not to the taste of community councillors it was unclear that anything further could be done, submissions having been made to the planning system at the appropriate time. There is some hope for the future though when the Town Centre Design Brief finally appears.
Various members will be attending. Some concern expressed at poor general publicity of this meeting.
noted
Suggest meeting with Planning committee plus other interested members.
Pete Lindsay
noted
John Knox Road development.
Developer proposal of “Prince William Drive” felt to be exploitative of the individual and inappropriate as it uses a living individual's name which is against the general policy for streetnames in St Andrews (since 1948). Drive seems inappropriate description of the street
Rejection of “Prince William Drive” proposed by Pete Lindsay, 2nded Ian Goudie. None against.
Prince William Drive rejected
Ken Fraser noted the 200th anniv of death of Robert Chambers, whose work was a precursor of Dar-win's Origin of Species. Dennis Macdonald preferred to acknowledge golfing champion Bobby Jones.
Chambers Place: Proposed Ken Fraser, 2nd Cynthia Tero - 12
Bobby Jones Place Proposed Dennis Macdoanld, 2nd Joe Lamb - 3
(no abstentions)
Chambers Place accepted
There was further discussion of whether plain Chambers Place was sufficient or if the forename Robert should be included:
Addition of Robert proposed Frank Riddell, 2nded Joe Peterson: 6 for, 7 against, 2 abstain.
Robert rejected
no report
Donations are being received for Senior Citizens' Christmas Party
noted
9.1.1. General Purposes
Recommendations agreed
9.1.2. Recreation
Ken Crichton gave a verbal report on progress for the Senior Citizens' tea - all looking well.
Art & Photo Exhibition - reduced attendance/takings due to clash with Art Club who were also selling paintings. Thanks to Ruth Walker for hanging pictures and stepping in to open the show. Thanks to Mike Joy for sponsoring photo side. Debrief at next Recreation Committee.
Thanks to Joe Peterson for all his hard work making the show happen - applause from all.
none
Ken Fraser and Joe Peterson raised the matter of a consultation paper on fluoridation of water high-lighted by Scottish Civic Forum. They asked whether community council wanted to comment and what that comment should be.
Frank Riddell gave a summary of the issues: dental health vs mass medication.
To comment: 8 for, 1 against, 6 abst
Community Council to comment
Against fluoridation mass medication: 8 for, 2 against, abst 5
Against water fluoridation
Joe Peterson to write