RESOLIS COMMUNITY COUNCIL Minutes of Meeting 6th March 2006 Present: Duncan Ross (Chair), Wynne Bentley, Hugh Maclennan, Rose Shirvani Highland Councillor: David Alston Secretary: Caroline Vawdrey In attendance: Andrew Edees, Ian Thorne Item Details Action 1 Apologies: None 2 Approval of December Minutes: Proposed by Hugh Maclennan Seconded by Wynne Bentley 3 3:1 3:2 Matters Arising: Community Council election: CC members agreed to hold elections on the same day as Cromarty CC – May 25th. CV to bring paperwork to April CC meeting Bus Contract renewal – CC comment: DR will contact WB to check whether she had been able to consult with people on this, and to draw up a response. CV mentioned the Dial-a-bus scheme and CC members agreed that this could be a useful addition to the Resolis Bus Service, and that it would be worthwhile mentioning in the CC response. CV DR to contact WB CC comment to be submitted 5 5:1 5:2 Treasurer’s Report: Current bank balance is £1,500. Still to be invoiced for meeting room rental. Accounts to be audited, and submitted to THC in order to receive grant funding. RS 6 Councillor’s Report: DA reported that: • Area Manager, Bob Cameron will be arranging a meeting for community councils in late April or early May. • Council tax has gone up 4.5%, because Scottish Executive funding has only increased by 1.4% and that this constraint on local authority budgets is likely to increase in the next 2 years. • The budget cuts will lead to efficiency savings, and are likely to lead to council reorganisation through a reduction in, or removal of, the Council area structure. • Structural changes are also taking places in HIE structure, which will replace RACE with an Inner Moray Firth LEC and a Wester Ross & Skye LEC. DA 7 7:1 7:2 7:3 Affordable Housing: CC members discussed the potential for affordable housing at both the proposed Mount High development and at Newhall School. With regard to the 7 plots available at Mount High CC members agreed that all plots should be available as Rural Home Ownership Grant (RHOG) plots. They further agreed that the land should be purchased by The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT) in order that their Rural Housing Burden right of pre-emption could be attached. This will ensure that the RHOG houses remain affordable in perpetuity. CC members also discussed the potential affordable housing at Newhall School. WB noted that her preference was for rented accommodation, with a possible division of 60% rental, 40% low cost home ownership. Other CC members to consider this further. DR reported that there would be a meeting of CC members, HSCHT, Albyn Housing, and the Mount High developers on Thursday March 9th at 18.30. This would be to discuss affordable housing at both sites. 8 8:1 8:2 8:3 8:4 Planning: Springfield Cottage, Alness Point: This application is on the site of an existing, but ruinous, cottage row and the design of the proposed building is of a similar scale and of sympathetic design. CC members had no further comment on this application. Ferryton: WB has requested a copy of the detailed plans. WB has also commented to THC planning dept. that the CC is receiving notification of planning applications too late to be able to respond. Burnside: WB has requested a copy of the detailed plans. IT suggested that it would be useful if the CC were to establish the criteria on which they judge planning applications, in order to provide an objective, clear and accountable decision. Cllr Alston did not take part in any of the discussion on planning matters. 9 9:1 9:2 9:3 AOB: Slow – Children signs: Requests have been made for warning signs at bus pick-ups on the Cullicudden Straight. DA suggested that the new Resolis School should have a school travel plan that would address these issues. Co-option of new CC member: Andrew Edees was invited to serve as a co-opted member of the CC until the elections in May. Andrew accepted the invitation. CV or AE to raise with Fergus Haldane Date of Next Meeting: 4th April 2006 at 19.30 in Resolis Hall