Minutes of THE Meeting of Westhill Community Council held in the Community Lounge of Cradlehall Primary School at 7.45Pm on Monday 19 may 2008.

Present: Catriona Johnson, June Alexander, Brian MacGregor, Craig Ewan, Ken Cox, Neil Hornsby
Councillors : Cllrs. Crawford, Pedersen and Prag

Residents: Twelve residents were present.

Apologies: Cllr. Holden

1.         Minutes of meeting held on 21 April: these were accepted.

Acceptance of minutes: proposed by the Vice-Chair, seconded by the Secretary.

2.         Matters arising

·        Maxwell Park: The WCC agreed not (now) to re-instate the commemorative plaque, and to include a mention to that effect in the minutes for 21 April.

·        Dog bins: ACTION POINT: Secretary to chase HC about a bin for the Culloden Road/Leanach Gdns. Junction.

·        Castlehill bus shelter: Cllr. Prag advised that the new shelter would be sited in the ‘upper’ lay-by. ACTION POINT: Secretary to invite Tulloch to finance an additional bus shelter in the ‘lower’ lay-by.

·        Woodside play-area: Cllr. Crawford reported that the Police had yet to respond to his approach about vandalism in the area.

3.         Community Police report: PC Kinnaird reported that: an additional sergeant plus four new constables were now based at Culloden station, with another constable expected shortly; a report on vandalism in the area was to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal shortly; CCTV was to be introduced via amobile police unit; two police cars would now be patrolling the area most evenings, but police ‘walking the beat’ was not common these days; and in response to a resident who expressed concern about the possible dangers faced by children of a young boy seen riding a moped in the area, PC Kinnaird said that  the police were empowered to seize vehicles. ACTION POINT: Cllrs. (Cllr Prag) to arrange for the summary of the HC’s meeting with the Police on 12 May to be made available to the WCC.

4.         Gala Day

The WCC noted progress with arrangements for the Gala day, and agreed to finance the purchase of a Rangers FC shirt (£30) and football (£5, as raffle prizes). Cllr. Pedersen advised of the possibility of the HC staging a community-based Winter Festival. ACTION POINTS: WCC to consider the organising committee’s request for Gala Day funding of at least £1000, and for a suitable indoor Winter Festival event.

5.         Castlehill

The Chair reported that, at her recent meeting, HC Planners had said they had yet to receive an approach from Tulloch about withdrawing the planning condition for the play-park. The Secretary reported that Tulloch had since notified him that the removal request would be lodged within the next few weeks. The Secretary also reported the HC tree officer’s advice that planting should commence in the Autumn, and that the WCC would be provided with a copy of the tree planting plan when ready for submission.  The WCC noted that the residents’ group was preparing a newsletter, and was also due to meet the Factor, though no date had yet been fixed. Cllr. Prag reported that the HC was reviewing the general provision of play-parks for older children, as residents appeared not to want them, although there continued to be a demand for play-parks for smaller children.

6.         Inverness Trunk Road Link

The Chair outlined details of the HC’s proposals, as communicated at the recent public meeting at Inshes Church, and the subsequent exhibition.  ACTION POINT: WCC to prepare a response to the public consultation on the proposals, taking into account residents’ views including those expressed on the WCC website. 

7.         WCC website

ACTION POINTS: The WCC to reflect residents’ suggestions for ‘forum topics’ in the website’s design, including the Gala Day; the Inverness Trunk Road Link; Factoring; and Community Policy, and to make clear on the homepage that there was no need to register except to access the forum.

8.         Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer reported that the accounts for 2007/08 had now been audited, and that there had been no expenditure since the last meeting. The WCC’s account balance was standing at £3,726.52, of which £600 had been earmarked for the garden project. ACTION POINT: Minutes Secretary to invite the Cradlehall School headmaster to consider using the £600 (instead) for school allotments (as work on the school entrance had not yet been undertaken).

9.         Road Safety ‘Smiley Face’

ACTION POINT: Bearing in mind the planned location of one road safety sign in Caulfield Road, the WCC to consider a suitable location for a second sign (both to be provided courtesy of Inverness South CC).

10.        Correspondence

The Secretary advised the meeting of details of correspondence received including:

·        a consultation on the establishment of community councils;

·        a Highland Community Mediation leaflet on help with ‘problem neighbours’.

·        alcohol licensing leaflets(available from the Secretary);

·        a consultation on additional support for education

11.         Planning

The Secretary reported:

·        his receipt of a letter from HC advising that planning permission had been granted for the proposed Care Home (see WCC minutes for 21 January 2008), including a requirement for a sustainable design statement as the WCC had requested;

·        an application for a chemist shop at Milton of Leys;

·        the withdrawal of an application for a development at Bogbain, with the submission of a new plan for the same site.

12.        AOCB

·        WCC membership: The Chair expressed her concerns about the small membership of the Council and the difficulties this created for the council’s effective functioning. The WCC welcomed one resident’s offer to be co-opted onto the Council

·        ASDA planning application for Slackbuie: ACTION POINTS: Residents were invited to register their comments on the application on the WCC website, as soon as possible; the WCC to submit its comments on the planning application (in the first instance, at least) to the Inverness Area CC Forum.

·        Private planning applications meeting: Residents and the WCC had been invited to the Inverness South CC meeting at 7.00pm on 2 June at Inshes School to discuss this issue. The Chair expressed disappointment that a poster, suggesting that the Highland Housing Fair was to be discussed at this 2 June meeting (which it wasn’t), had been produced without the WCC’s or the Inverness South CC’s permission.

·        Message board at Tesco, Inshes: Inverness South CC had kindly offered the use of this board to the WCC. The WCC agreed that a logo was needed for notices.

·        UHI: ACTION POINT: Minutes secretary to contact HC about providing a speaker for the next WCC to outline future plans for the UHI.

13. Outstanding Action Points, from earlier meetings

·        Response to CC planning questions (see minutes of 18 February 2008) ACTION POINT Mr Ferguson to report his findings back to the Council about the perceived lack of responses Community Councils were encountering from approaches to HC about planning issues..

·        Nairnside buses (see minutes of 21 Januaits ry 2008): ACTION POINT: Cllr. Crawford to obtain a timetable for bus routes taking in Nairnside

·        Noticeboards (see minutes of 3 December 2007): ACTION POINT: Minutes Secretary to contact Cllr. Holden about the provision of Notice boards

·        Castlehill play-park/community woodland (see minutes of 17 March):ACTION POINTS Secretary to place a forum on the WCC web-site, inviting suggestions for the (whole) Park’s use; Vice-Chair to ascertain the management arrangements for the Farr Community Woodland; and WCC to consider implications of a Community ‘buy-out’, in consultation with H&IE.

14. Date and time of next meeting: to be held at 7.45pm, on Monday 16 June.