Approved
(Copies of Agendas and Minutes of the Community Council are held at Fife Council’s Local Office, St Mary’s Place, and the Town Library, Church Square. Those from late 1997 on are on-line at http://www.louisxiv.demon.co.uk/standrewscc/)
Chair: Donald Macgregor
Bette Christie, Ken Crichton, George Davidson, Richard Douglas, Ken Fraser, Ian Hamilton, Joe Lamb, Chris Lesurf, Pete Lindsay, Dennis Macdonald, Murdo Macdonald, Donald Macgregor, Joe Peterson, Bruce Ryan, Ewen Sparks, Archie Strachan, Cynthia Tero, Penny Uprichard.
Simon Atkins.
Chloe Belcher, Keir Lawson.
Jane Ann Liston, Frances Melville, Bill Sangster.
Laurel Aguilar
Approved
It was noted later that the Chair had been omitted; this was corrected.
Michael Buchanan circulated the following document and mostly spoke from it. Introducing himself added that he’d been associated with St Andrews since the mid-50s and had been a student at the university for four years.
First Thoughts at the 11th Hour: The Growth of HMOs in St Andrews – A Plague on all your Houses?
Background
The University and its c.6700 F.T. student equivalents are important, valued, but not untouchable. The University’s size and shape and great growth in recent decades impact, sometimes adversely on the wider community. It is not the only show in town. The presentation of St Andrews as a quality townscape is needed for its honest and successful promotion as an international tourist destination and complements its rôle as a major golf resort. The Open later this year will bring tens of thousands to the town. The highly competitive conference and summer school trade can only be enhanced by a high quality environment.
The growth of HMOs, displacing the settled residential community, has the potential to compromise such quality, as can second homes, holiday lets and undermanaged parking arrangements. The nature of the academic year causes almost whole streets to be empty for many months each year. A ghost town with little community spirit is not a desirable prospect.
As there are in place no mechanisms to limit HMO growth, it is likely to continue, catalysed from April 2006 by new tax breaks for buy-to-let investments (doubling rate of return, see Sunday Times 9.1.05). Such tendencies are not unique to St Andrews (see Times 18.1.05 re. Nottingham) but few places can face the prospect of their historic core, a conservation area with many Listed buildings, becoming a student enclave and playground, unless measures to restore a balance are implemented soon.
Corrective Measures
A. Nitty Gritty Measures
- Assess overall accommodation needs and cap HMOs to match such need.
- Monitor housing stock use and utilisation
- Articulate and enforce standards for external maintenance (inc. private open spaces)
- Presumption of HMO licence refusal for Listed Buildings in Conservation area (except halls of residence)
- Encourage non HMO uses
- Priority parking for residents
- Foster town-gown relations and good neighbour relations – mitigate negatives
B. Big Picture Initiatives
- Use Public Petitions Committee (Holyrood Parliament) to request inquiry into ‘Development, maintenance and administration of St Andrews – 1990 to 2020’ Clerk of Committee James Johnston 0131 3485186)
- Create a Czar/Czarina/Executive Provost to champion St Andrews (joined up governance, mediation, mitigation, communication, trouble-shooting, progress chasing, coalition building, fund-raising)
- Re-launch Conservation Area with studies of past effectiveness and future purposes and procedures.
- St Andrews 20-20: ongoing, forward looking, open and participative discussions (facilitated by Freedom of Information) involving stake-holders, movers and shakers. Transform factions into partners, property ownership into stewardship. Identify core values, mission statement. Constructive engagement. Harmony. Sing from same hymn sheet...
J. Michael Buchanan 7 February 2005
Cllr Frances Melville strongly advised him to turn this into a submission on the Local Plan consultation, which has a section on HMOs. As he had noted some difficulty in extracting statistics on various classes of housing (private lets, HMOs, second homes etc) from Fife Council (along with the city councils of Edinburgh and Glasgow) even through the Freedom of Information legislation, she suggested, for Fife Council, an approach through Mike Melville (Law & Admin, Cupar) who was, she said, very helpful and familiar with FoISA requirements.
She added that senior Planning Officers had foreseen many of the problems with HMOs when the legislation was introduced and drafted a policy document, but it was rejected as unnecessary by the Director of the planning service of the time.
Ian Goudie commented that he appreciated the problem from both sides – as a community councillor and as a parent of student children. The effects of any proposed solutions needed careful thought. Simply capping the numbers of HMOs, which in themselves are a safety measure, risks endangering students, or anyone else in the rented accommodation market, who might then be forced into unlicensed, unsafe accommodation. There is clearly a question that has to be addressed when local people cannot buy a home in their own town, but an extra 1800 houses, as suggested in the draft local plan, will cause St Andrews to grind to a halt with the resultant traffic.
Michael Buchanan added that he was very concerned that the buy-to-let tax subsidies would undermine the University’s investment in new residence places; he hoped they would not be left with a white elephant.
He also noted that HMO licences can enforce standards of external maintenance; but this is apparently not used by Fife Council in St Andrews.
Rev. Marie-Louise Moffett introduced Pilgrim Care and the project:
Chairman and councillors: Thank you for the opportunity to speak here tonight – we want to enlist your interest in, and support for, this community project, Pilgrim Care.
In the early 1990s a group of concerned church members who were in touch with many elderly citizens realised the need for more residential places in St Andrews for the frail elderly; they also agreed that continuing care, including terminal care, was very important, and that there was a real need for spiritual care and support – so a Christian Care Home became an aim.
I want to make it quite clear that we do appreciate the devoted care given by all the existing care homes and the welcome they give to the clergy and visitors from the churches.
On the initiative of members of the Baptist church a group representing all the churches came together and in 1995 Pilgrim Care was launched at a packed public meeting in the Town Hall and shortly afterwards was registered as a Scottish Charitable Company whose aim is to work for the setting up of a care home in a Christian setting for frail elderly people in this community, open to all, welcoming people from any denomination or none.
We now have 60 members and 10 directors.
In the last 10 years research has been carried out with the social services to confirm that bed-blocking is still a problem and that there is a real need for such a continuing care home here.
Studies over the period have confirmed that, for those with a personal religious faith, maintaining spiritual support increases the quality and length of life.
The directors have made many visits to care homes all over Scotland and discussions have taken place with five different developers, but none were able to help us with a specifically Christian project (a non-profit-making continuing care home with a Christian ethos).
A few years ago new directors joined us with valuable expertise in nursing, managing care homes, in chartered surveying and law, and we formed a small action group.
At the same time we formed a link with the Auchlocan Trust, a private Christian charitable trust which has built up a large care complex over the last thirty years in the west of Scotland.
We realise that we share the same vision of care for the elderly and they are now proposed to to build our Pilgrim Care Home here.
We have had great support from the community over the last ten years from churches, legacies, and obviously from our stall at the Lammas Market – which has raised about £1,000 each August. Just this afternoon I accepted a cheque for £199 from the Ladies Association – formerly the Townswomen’s Guild – at their meeting in the supper room!
Douglas Gray (an Elder of St Leonards Parish Church) then gave more detail on the current situation: as mentioned, Pilgrim Care set up an action group on the basis of link with Auchlochan Trust about 3 years ago. They have prepared designs and plans for a facility that requires about 4.5 acres of land and will cost about £8 million to develop. There have been preliminary discussions with planning officials and landowners, but progress is ‘on hold’ awaiting the development of the Local Plan. They would like Community Council input on how this project can be fitted into the developing Local Plan. While he preferred to keep details of the location confidential, he did say that the site they had identified appeared to be scheduled for housing in the draft Local Plan.
Andrew Brown, Director of the Auchlochan Trust, then spoke about their existing project at Lesmahagow, south of Hamilton, just off the M74, and how it may be reflected in St Andrews.
The trust has developed Auchlochan, over 30 years, into the largest care complex in the UK. They have never before worked with groups outside though have given advice to other projects. Currently the population stands at 350 residents and growing to probably hit 500 in the next few years. It provides a range of retirement cottages, through ‘extra care’ housing (similar to sheltered accommodation flats) through to residential and nursing care.
St Andrews would not be on the same scale. The site at Lesmahagow is about ten times the area considered here. The proposal is for 24 retirement cottages, 36-40 flats and a similar number of nursing places. It would be non-profit, with surplus income put back into the facilities. The emphasis in selection of residents to be on need, not an individual’s funding. Cottages are not sold, but “licensed” for occupation; the trust/complex retains the freehold. There is a rental option for those who cannot afford the capital sum, with weekly charges for services. They take the minimum payment from the usual sources of public funding; some pay the shortfall, some don’t.
Murdo Macdonald spoke for many, from the nods and assenting mutters about the table, when he said that this was the most exciting proposal he had heard at community council in many years.
Ian Goudie, as convenor of the Planning Committee, noted that despite his personal support for the concept, community councils were advised not to get involved in discussions with developers (Planning Advice Note 47). However he felt that it would not be unreasonable to give an short opinion or guidance on community council’s likely position on the basis of indicative plans and an A4 summary of the project. Plans were passed over and an outline promised.
Ken Fraser asked how Pilgrim Care proposed to raise the £8M? The response was that funding sources were identified and the project was partly self-funding. While they were not complacent they were reasonably confident that the amount was achievable.
Cllr Frances Melville again encouraged the speakers to put a submission in to the Local Plan consultation process; it is only a draft, so the outlining of an area for ordinary housing is not irredeemably set.
Mark Dewar, an engineer from Transportation Service, gave information on works occurring over the next few months.
Work on alterations to the Bus Station access road from Petheram Bridge car park will take 12 weeks, starting Monday 14 February. As part of this work involving reconstructing the current footpath to the car park a swipe card controlled gate will be installed to reduce ‘rat run’ abuse by motorists other than buses and taxis.
Asked about effects on the taxi stance he replied that the contract says minimum disruption to the bus station operation itself, but that taxis will have to move, for a while, to the top of Petheram car park where there is space for a queue of five in a row of parking bays which will be sacrificed for the necessary period. They don’t expect taxis to be displaced for full 12 weeks, probably only 2-3 weeks. It is probable that they will be able to wait in the usual places outwith contractors working hours, but it would be unsafe to do so when heavy earth-moving and road-building machinery would be operating. Fife Council was urgently seeking to meet with the taxi operators. There would be a display board at the bus station with all the taxi phone numbers so people could call a taxi up if there were none present at the bus station and the short walk to the temporary stance was impractical for whatever reason.
Responding to other questions he said that the old railway station access path from Doubledykes Rd to the bus station would remain open and that the works would not affect access to Petheram car park for access to the recycling point, cycle route, or car parking.
Reconstruction of the St Mary’s Place / Doubledykes Road / City Road roundabout and junctions. This will start on Monday 14th March, again lasting 12 weeks. There will be a warning mail drop to properties in the area to warn them. While Fife Council will try to keep City Rd operational, the need to reconstruct the roundabout will close St Mary’s Place and Doubledykes Rd at various times.
Work is to convert the roundabout to a ‘continental’ style slightly raised above the road service with a small ‘upstand’. This won’t inconvenience large wheeled buses and lorries but will encourage cars to go round rather than suffer the jolt of cutting across. The approaches will be reworked to make them single lane. The intention overall is to give a better traffic flow in the area.
Asked about diversion routes for the roundabout work he noted that the layout of St Andrews, with the height restriction of the West Port, the one way system etc, made for a rather scenic tour. There would be particular problems with HGVs for Tesco, who were co-operating with Transportation Services in testing practical routes and vehicles; they had found that a full size articulated Tesco delivery lorry could not turn right out of Bell St. It might be that smaller vehicles would be used on a few days.
Several people expressed doubt that anything that restricted the free flow of cars would be a benefit, predicting queues back to the West Port and Argyle Street. Mark Dewar responded that the reasoning behind the change came from traffic modelling; he’d just designed it to the specification he’d been given and was to oversee the construction. He added that a full rebuild of the road surface should last 20-25 years, while a simple resurface, which was the minimum needed, would only last 10 years.
There will be work on the footpaths from North Street to the Golf Museum which will commence Monday 21 Feb for 12-14 weeks. Golf Place will have to be made one way during this period because of the need for working room in the carriageway while the pavement is being reconstructed.
Transportation Service appreciate that there will be disruption from all these works, but hope to minimise it.
There was some general criticism of the lack of consultation or public information before this time, echoed in part by some of the Fife Councillors.
Murdo Macdonald felt the problems of the re-routing for the closure of St Mary’s Pl showed the dangers of pedestrianising St Andrews. Penny Uprichard saw the same plot to drive cars out of St Andrews centre at work in the roundabout changes as had inflicted zebra crossings. Cllr Bill Sangster said there were several issues of concern and that he wanted a further meeting with Transportation Services to discuss the proposals.
Ian Goudie said that the various transport issues in St Andrews were being picked off piecemeal rather than being considered as a whole in the context of a fully consulted local transportation plan.
Mark Dewar replied that the ‘piecemeal’ approach was due to limited budgets. For the other matters he was a simple roads engineer who built what he was told to by those who decided policy. Chair Donald Macgregor suggested to the meeting that further queries and comments would be better addressed to the policy-makers rather than the workers.
She has asked Robin Presswood, (Development Manager (Business & Strategy) in Fife Council Development Services) to come to speak to community council in March, to talk about Bassaguard and/or economic issues. He agreed, but he’d rather limit the subject to his area of expertise to the area and not cover the general issues of the Local Plan.
Cllr Bill Sangster suggested that it might be possible to get a special meeting on the Local/Structure Plan for the community council. It was agreed that he and Cllr Melville should try to arrange this for a Monday in March, provisionally booked for 28th March. Confirmation next meeting.
Ian Goudie criticised the huge problems in the way the review process for the various plans is being tackled. In theory there has to be a Structure Plan in place as a framework in which context the Local Plan is then developed. In fact we have to respond to the Local Plan before, or in parallel with, the structure plan.
Community Services are looking at taking some land in the pitch area for parking for football events etc to reduce overflow parking on Hepburn Gardens.
With the substantial completion of work at Hepburn Hall Fife Council is working to get the lane, somewhat churned by developers vehicles, brought back to its former condition or better, with a possibility of it being adopted by Fife Council.
Ewen Sparks drew attention to the magnificent Buchanan Gardens pothole collection.
Cllr Frances Melville agreed the state of the road was terrible, but said that substantial work on it would, practically speaking, have to wait until the completion of heavy construction work at David Russell Hall.
Another of the young trees, outside Argos, has been damaged, presumably by a reversing lorry. A total of three need replaced at the moment.
Joe Peterson noted the pruning of the mature trees; he was pleased by the careful, thorough work. Bill Sangster explained that only 20 trees were to be done due to the limited budget available.
There is now a new £35,000 road and pavement sweeping vehicle operating in St Andrews. He is pressing for all the current traditional sweepers to be retained as well.
There are 811 at latest count
The flag rope has been fixed again and has been strapped to the pole part-way up to try to stop it fraying on the supports.
Originally the closest meeting in this consultation programme was in Cupar, so he asked for a local meeting: Wed 2nd March 7pm Town Hall. Phone 01592-226923 to book a place.
Cynthia Tero asked when various missing drain and toby cover plates around town would be replaced. The holes, though small, were quite deep, and could be a danger to high heels or small children’s feet. Cllr Bill Sangster replied that these covers are the responsibility of Scottish Water, who are notoriously slow to respond to these problems.
Chris Lesurf added that there was a hole not, she thought, a water-related one, in Church Square. Cllr Sangster indicated that he would look into it.
Referring to Agenda 7.2 Ken Crichton asked when there would be a shelter erected at the hospital. Cllr Bill Sangster told him he thought that there would be another bus shelter programme along shortly.
This has been removed for repair.
Murdo Macdonald complained that this has gone from being an occasional nuisance to seeming a permanent feature, blocking a large part of the pavement during and just after wet weather. Cllr Bill Sangster said that it may need dug out. Fife Council is supposed to have a schedule for cleaning these drains but he has not seen any sign of it in action.
Ewen Sparks asked if the council tax rise of 3.5% would be reflected in the parking charges? Cllr Bill Sangster hoped not. He has asked for a breakdown of the money raised through parking charges in St Andrews vs the benefits received.
Meetings with Fife Council school meals service & NHS: there has been a nutritional analysis doe of the meals and the primary menu revised as a result. The secondary menu will be revised and free fruit juice available. NHS are interested in license applications for chip vans which operate near schools. Finally she noted a move for free school meals in parliament, with cross party support
Chloe Belcher, a Madras College Whole School Council representative, supported the free school meals. She thought it would make it much easier to get pupils to eat in the school café if the food was free; there is a problem in that the chip van which lurks outside Kilrymont is both cheaper and quicker than the café currently.
To be piloted in Cupar & Howe of Fife. Reason is lack of recycling. Fife may be fined for level of landfill soon through central government and / or European legislation taxing landfill. Council officials expect the penalty to amount to £50 per annum on the council tax by 2009.
Ian Goudie noted that there had been concerns about the large size of the bins when they were issues some years back, now proved correct. He called for the large bins to be replaced by smaller bins to encourage recycling, but to maintain a weekly collection. He pointed out there was likely to be a very unpleasant smell from two week old bins over the summer.
She will be having a rail campaign meeting with officers from Planning, Transport, Economic Development to try to bring the differing threads of support in various Plans together and all pointing in the same direction.
Ian Goudie hoped that the community council response to Structure, Local and Transport plans would strongly support the rail campaign. He was interested by the suggestions by a transport consultant at a recent StARLink (St Andrews Rail Link) meeting for an integrated approach to combine transport funding with and from development.
Ian Goudie explained that the first paragraph of the planning minute in Appendix B refers to the fact that the Scottish Executive’s National Planning Framework is what is driving the direction of the Fife Structure Plan. On checking the extent of the consultations on the NPF he found that while some community councils were involved St Andrews was not invited to participate in any of the consultations that set this national level document.
18 North St: the reason for the objection was that a new glass wall at 1st floor looked incongruous in the context of surrounding buildings and North Street’s old university buildings close by.
David Russell Hall: Joe Peterson asked why it was proposed to object to the extra buildings, why should the community council object to the University providing more accommodation for students?
Ian Goudie explained that the objection was not to the extra student accommodation; any steps to provide more University accommodation for the student population was welcome. The University point out they house 55% of that population, well over the proportion of other universities, and this is to be welcomed. However community council do have to take on board the interests of people live in the area affected by this proposal. The community council position has consistently been that there is insufficient parking space provided in the new DRH for the student residents, and more so the summer conference attendees. Overspill parking on Buchanan Gardens due to inadequate provision at DRH has been a problem in the past, to the great inconvenience of local residents and road users.
There is no minute yet for the meeting of 31st January. Two objections were agreed and another item investigated:
1) Starbucks, 127 Market St: Richard Douglas to object to an internally illuminated sign within the St Andrews Conservation Area.
2) Ottakar’s Bookshop, Market Street: this is a retrospective application for the air conditioning units. The reason for objection is because of the noise they produce. This is proving to be a nuisance for neighbours, who have contacted individual members of community council
3) Bella Italia, Bell St: Richard Douglas has enquired about the position on the internally illuminated lettering and sign in use here, within the conservation area. They do not have planning permission; Fife Council are starting enforcement steps.
Penny Uprichard referred to a recent letter of hers published in The Citizen, arguing that Bassaguard should be retained as a business area. She felt that Community Council should support this position. Ian Goudie said that best way for Community Council to do this through its local plan response, which was agreed.
Archie Strachan reported that after some initial difficulties in contacting David Galloway, as he is ex-directory, he has now done so. What is suggested is a simple pamphlet with local town walks. Looking at the proposed list he felt them to be very reasonable. However, as he is retiring from community council the papers have been passed to the Secretary for someone to take it up for the new council next month.
Archie Strachan, Chris Lesurf, Pete Lindsay
Joe Peterson attended the last meeting as an observer, as agreed by community council. He gave some notes on subjects under discussion:
He concluded that the World Class group seems quite forward-looking, but he felt it needs keeping an eye on.
Next meeting Thu 10 Feb.
Planning
Interested individuals to follow up.
Bruce Ryan
Ken Fraser
Donald Macgregor read out his comment to the press on this matter as Chair. He considered the invitation to a racist organisation to be repugnant, a smirch on university traditions. This opinion was reflected to varying degrees by all who spoke. Questions were raised as to the motivations of the members of the debating society responsible for the invitation.
Passed to Richard Douglas, for interest.
Donald Macgregor reported he’d found the meeting positive in atmosphere and successful in that lots of information was given on how the university see the future and how it needs the town, and friendly, if frank, discussion on problems and ways of dealing with them. He hoped it was of benefit to all attending and that there would more such meetings in future.
Donald Macgregor thanked the retiring members:
He said he had deliberately omitted a valediction of Ewen Sparks whose leaving of community council had more to do with missed deadlines, he understood, than intention. He was sure that Ewen would be back soon, one way or another.
As demitting Chair he also thanked all members of the committee for their support and especially the Secretary for his exemplary work.
Will have accounts provisionally audited ready for the new community council and new Treasurer, and final audit at end of March. He asked for outstanding invoices and expenses claims as soon as possible, so he could close his books on Friday week.
He gave an outline of the current, provisional figures in the various accounts (a copy of these has been passed to the secretary).
Commenting on the Arms account, Cllr Bill Sangster mentioned the number of instances of misuse of heraldic arms close to those of the community council. Could anything be done?
Cllr Jane Ann Liston had investigated this a while back; the arms were generally derivatives of, or actual copies of the Burgh arms which no one was, theoretically, allowed to exploit. She too was disappointed that the Lord Lyon King of Arms had not acted on the information she passed on at the time, nor had the community council’s trading partner.
Joe Peterson reported:
This meeting was useful, though not everyone needed was present on this occasion. There will be further meetings though.
£750 has been awarded by the Floral Enhancement Scheme towards this summer’s displays.
He has received no nominations as yet, but will give it another month. If there are no nominations by then, there will be no award for 2004.
He is investigating possibilities for a joint venture with Madras College in early/mid April.
Pete Lindsay suggested community council should consider a grant to Chris Lesurf towards costs of mounting the Fair Shares Fair.
Dennis Macdonald reported that he and Chris Lesurf had attended recently. There was some discussion of the possibilities for civilian flights to use the airfield.