MINUTES OF MEETING:
INVERNESS SOUTH COMMUNITY COUNCIL Monday April 6th 2009
INSHES PRIMARY SCHOOL AT 7pm

PRESENT:

Jean Pumford (Secretary & Vice Chair)
Veronica Mitchell (Treasurer)
Liz Gilchrist (Minute secretary for this meeting)

Gavin Norton
Meg Gunn
Ian MacFarlane
Kevin Findlay
Cathy Sengupta

Councillors:

John Holden
Jim Crawford                              

Also in attendance:

PC Dave Elliot
Members of the public ( 4 )

Apologies:

Barrie Haycock
Nigel Collins
Bob Roberts (Chair & Planning Secretary)
Roy Pedersen
Thomas Prag

Introduction and Welcome:

Jean Pumford stood in for the Chair and thanked the public, PC Taylor and the Councillors for attending.

Community Police Report:

PC Gary Taylor reported 59 calls to the area last month and there were 63 the previous month.
Listed included
Thefts   -  1
Vandalism   -  2
Domestic Assault   -  1
Children and Youths Non Crime  - 2
12 Disturbances.

It had also been reported that the Bus Shelter at Stevenson Road has been vandalised with windows smashed.
PC Elliot advised the Police with a Dog and Handler had visited The Gaelic School and a visit to Life Scan had also taken place to give Drug Awareness Talks.

Minutes of last meeting:

The minutes were then approved.
Proposed by Kevin Findlay and seconded by Veronica Mitchell.

Matters Arising:

Highland Housing Fair replies  from Susan Torrence. Fiona Porteous & Councillor Urquhart had been informed the Brochures for the Highland Housing Fair were no longer in circulation.
Susan Torrance has asked to come and give an update on HHF's progress.
This has been agreed for the September meeting.
Mary Scanlon still pursuing the matter in Holyrood.

UHI Campus Exhibition hopefully as many attended as possible.

Still awaiting progress of Milton of Leys Primary School – no one available at the Education Department to give a time schedule. Pressure to be kept up to ensure we have a Community School. Jean has reminded Charles Stephen ( Ward Manager) & Brian Hemming (Education Dept) re Public consultation

Letters sent to T.E.C. Services, Tesco, Sepa & E-mail to Kilmartin about Litter & Trolleys, reply from Tesco Inshes Manager. Phoned T.E.C. Services before writing & they are having a BIG problem with trolleys left at Westhill bus Stop Suggest that Tesco should use coin operated trolleys and will keep pushing.
Danny Kelly Store Manager for Inshes Tesco said they had removed two trolleys from the burn.  It was reported that there was still one trolley and litter in the burn at Dell of Inshes.  Pressure on Tesco would be kept up to keep the area tidy.

Liz Gilchrist has a meeting with Sepa 17th April and will ask for their assistance on keeping the water ways clean.
Letter sent inviting Mr Malcolm MacLeod, Development Plans Manager, Highland Council to attend Meeting June 1st to talk about “ The Future Vision of Inverness “ and how to get involved in forming the new local plan. Mr Macleod said he will attend.

Planning Report:

1.  Soccerworld:

Are pleased to announce that it has recently acquired a site in Inverness for a purpose built 5-a-side soccer facility.
Soccerworld has recently received planning permission for eight outdoor 5-a-side pitches laid with 3rd generation rubber crumb infill carpet. Each pitch will be surrounded by kick boards and loose netting up to a height of 5 metres, ensuring the ball is never out of play creating a fast and exciting game.
In addition, there will be a purpose built pavilion which will have male and female changing facilities, reception area, disabled toilet, and licensed bar area overlooking the pitches where players and spectators can relax in a pleasant sporting environment.
Construction on the centre is scheduled to begin in the Autumn of this year with an expected opening in Spring 2010.

2. Moore’s Development Wester Inshes

R F More erect 131 houses at
Wester Inshes. 08/00613
The previous objections are still valid for this application. 97 properties were planned for this area application is for 131.
Phase 1 not yet complete. An enforcement order could be asked for to ensure Parks/Play Areas on the existing site.

3. Tulloch 337 houses Parks Farm

The Community Councillors and those present were able to pre-view the plans and we had concerns.
Some of which are listed below:
 
1. The SUDS pond being used to drain the whole area.

2. Pollution of the SUDS – what provision is being made for surface water run off contaminated by oil and diesel from Road.  Also the size and depth of the pond which will be variable due to weather conditions.

We wish for a more detailed report on drainage from S.E.P.A

3. Further information required on roads

4, Ratio of Affordable housing

5. House Design

6. Green spaces and safety

Public Consultation:

April 20  3 –7 pm Inshes Church – Everyone asked to attend.
Liz will contact Press and Radio to advertise the meeting

4. McGinnis:

16 houses at Culduthel Smithy – No objections but will recommend continuation of hedging to afford privacy for one property.

5. 3 Retail Units & 1 Hot Food Outlet Culduthel Farm:
 
Jean will write to Church St Planning Office saying although not our patch we hope all that could be done was being done to make sure that litter was not a problem from the take away The relevant Community Council will be notified of our concerns regarding a potential litter problem.  

6. Stables at Fairways now Passed

7. Veronica Mitchell Report PED meeting 18 March 2009:

Barrie and I attended this meeting mainly to listen to the item Development Plan Scheme. Presenter Malcolm Macleod stressed that whilst there were several planning applications for the A96 corridor he was of the opinion that until the outcome of the development of the the actual road was certain it was unlikely that any of the applications would be heard by HC. It was unlikely that if an appeal was lodged with the Scottish Govt any resolution would be forth coming until the road issues were resolved.
Having read the report for this item along with local knowledge of planning applications for this area some thing in the order of 15,000 houses are scheduled to be built over the next 5years, subject to the economic climate. No mention of creation of jobs for the new residents was mentioned. As an estimate , 1.5 jobs per house plus jobs to replace those lost in 2008 and 2009 could mean that 30,000 ish sustainable jobs are required.

Secretary Report & Correspondence:

1. Fairways Licensing Application – No problem

2. Health Board Newsletter – available to read

3. Invitation by Green Party to discuss A96 corridor Tuesday 5th May, 7pm -9.30pm

4.The Crossing Caledonian Canal Celebrations 16 -20th June 2009

5. Scottish Gas Energy Saving Leaflet – available to read

Reminder that the Community Council Forum will meet at the Town House on 12th May at 7pm Malcolm Macleod, Development Plans manager, with Highland Council will give a presentation on “Planning Ahead – An updated Vision for Inverness”.  As all CCs will be consulted on the Local Plan.

Treasurers Report:
 
*There is £1075 in the bank before the production of a news letter. It is anticipated that the new letter will cost approx £100 to have printed which ISCC will pay for, previously it has been produced by the Committee.

*Funding of the ISCC

*During the course of emails with Charles Stephen the following was stated 'The formula that was used to calculate CC grants was designed back in 2001/2. Grants were calculated at 50p per elector at that stage and have not been recalculated since then but have been rolled forward year on year with an inflationary uplift'.

Firstly RPI from March 2001 to March 2008 has increased by 39.9%. The grant rec'd by ISCC less the secretary allowance is as follows
Sept 2008 £754
Aug 2007 £728
Dec 2006 £710
Nov 2005 £774
Sept 2004 £754

There has been no inflationary increase in the grants given to ISCC.

Secondly

In Jan 2008 the number of houses in ISCC was in the region of 2500 - the new committee prepared and hand delivered a newsletter to all houses in the area.
Say 2 adults per house that would be £2500.
HC has encouraged house building in the area, HC has benefited by the developers contribution which in reality is included in the house price therefore paid by the resident of the new house, according to HC web site Ward 20 is a wealthy area average household income £39.5k, new owners have brought wealth to the region, brought disposable income into the area for the benefit of the Highlands, the funding from Holyrood to HC has many aspects which are related to population, yet the HC cannot give £1 per house back to the CC!

*ASCC meeting in Elgin 21 March*

Open discussion with cross party representatives of Holyrood. Richard Lockhead, Peter Peacock and Douglas Ross deputising for Mary Scanlon.

Virtually the whole time taken with planning issues. All CCs present appear to have issues with the planning system and how to proceed forward. The top table were singing from the same hymn sheet.

Afternoon Vincent Waters ASCC took questions from the floor along with updating the room with current events.

New model scheme for CCs released to HC 23 March 2009 ( acknowledged by Jim Crawford that HC has rec'd the documents and were reviewing them) along with the code of conduct of the CCs and model constitution.

Discussions on funding of CCs and uses of the funds took place.

Differences of approach by the Local Councils through out Scotland discussed.

Six pilot projects to be managed by CCs were about to be released - funded by Councils or Common Good Fund to benefit the community. Perhaps this is the way forward.

AOCB:                                                                                                                       

Milton of Leys Youth Shelter:

Report sent in by the Chairman Bob Roberts Chairman and read by Jean Pumford

No base foundation.

Not level.

No thought to positioning, components dumped from the pickup truck and built up where they landed, hastily erected.

The idiots who put it up drove their Transit Van and pickup Truck up and down the footpaths to the site. (photo.  taken)

Is it in the right place or has it to be moved? Open side to the prevailing wind and rain blows straight in.

Who authorised the position?

Was the site chosen to annoy Barrie and myself for hassling Highland Council?

It is an eyesore on the landscape, does not blend in at all it is out of place where it is.

Who owns the land? If Tulloch, did they give permission. Does it need planning permission?

It seems to be of a sound design with solar powered light which comes brighter with movement (even a small dog), Problem with dog fouling in the area, notices needed.

I have contacted TEC services in the past as, an individual, for dog bins and notices without response.

I am glad to see a litter bin has now been installed, I hope it will be used and emptied regularly.

The youth of the area need more than just a shelter, they need something to do instead of hang around and drink. A play area with goal posts, playing field, (astroturf fenced with floodlights) for football, hockey, basketball, netball etc.) with changing facilities adjoining a youth clubhouse (cafe) not this carbuncle on the skyline. RRR

GREENBELT GROUP:

Gavin Norton said a meeting was being arranged with Richard Hartland Highland Council, Tullochs and Residents Association regarding the Greenbelt situation

BUSES:

Gavin also has a meeting with Cairn Housing.  There are also concerns about Bus Access for a Disabled person from Greenwood Gardens at Milton of Leys.
The buses do not go down that far as there is no turning point.

LAND OWNERSHIP:

Veronica has had a response from Highland Council saying the Accident had on the pathway between the Barratt and Tulloch sites was not in their remit.
She also had a letter from Greenbelt saying it was not their problem either.
Letters will now be sent to Highland Council, Greenbelt and Tullochs as the path urgently needs attention.

PRESS:

Lorna Patterson - Inverness Courier may like to do an article on the sort of Inverness we would like to live in.
It was suggested she be invited along to a meeting for residents to make their comments.

NHS:

Letter will be sent by Jean to Garry Coutts NHS Highland Chair as ISCC have concerns and hope there will be an appointment of two Cardiology Specialists as soon as possible who are able to carry out the Angioplasty procedure at Raigmore.  There is a risk due to lack of funds, that this could mean the loss of a Cardiac Physician just recruited and not filling the other vacancy with a suitable candidate.  Patients would have to either travel to Aberdeen or the Central Belt for the procedure if this happened.

Date of Next Meeting                                                                    
Monday 4th May 2009 at 7pm Inshes Primary School.

The meeting closed

Tea/coffee served after the meeting.
Time to Chat with Highland Councillors/Community Councillors