Minutes of THE Meeting of Westhill Community Council held in the Community Lounge of Cradlehall Primary School at 7.45Pm on Monday 17 MARCH 2008.

Present: Catriona Johnson, June Alexander, Brian MacGregor, Craig Ewan, Neil Hornsby
Councillors : Cllrs. Crawford (second half of meeting only, but including Castle-Hill Play Park and Maxwell Park discussions), Pedersen and Prag

Residents: Thirteen residents were present.

Police: PC Kinnaird (for item 4 only)

Apologies: Cllr. Holden, Treasurer

1. Welcome

The Secretary reported that the WCC had recruited a new webmaster, who would manage the WCC website (and who would provide this service free of charge). The website’s maintenance cost would be £50pa.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 18 February: these were amended, then accepted.

Acceptance of minutes: proposed by Brian MacGregor, seconded by June Alexander.

3. Matters arising

· Castle-hill Play Park: depending on residents’ progress in their discussions with the Factor over the next few weeks, it was agreed that Ward Councillors and the WCC would broker a meeting for residents to meet with Tulloch and the Factor.
ACTION POINTS: Ward Councillors to maintain contact with residents; if necessary, and with the WCC, arrange a meeting* (see above); 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.
(*POST-MEETING NOTE: THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7.45 PM ON MONDAY 7 APRIL AT CRADLEHALL SCHOOL)

· Maxwell Park: ACTION POINTS: The WCC was disappointed to hear Cllr Crawford's report that Highland Council had again said that draining Maxwell Park would be too expensive, but without having substantiated their assessment. Cllr. Crawford to ascertain the specific cost estimate for draining the Park; Secretary to arrange for commemorative plaque to be reinstated.

· Dog bins: a dog/waste bin had now been sited near the Spar shop, though some concern had been expressed about its precise location. ACTION POINT: Secretary to request that a bin be sited near Culloden Road/Leonard Road junction; Minutes Secretary to report back on location of ‘Spar’ bin, and to advise Cllr. Pedersen.

· Milton of Leys Community Facilities meeting: Residents were now in discussion with the developers; a further meeting had been scheduled for 10 April.

· Balvonie Housing fair. The Vice-Chair outlined developments.

• Cradlehall bus shelter: No response had yet been received about the WCC’s request for the bus shelter to be moved. Cllr. Prag reported that Tulloch had agreed to finance a bus shelter on Castlehill Road.
• Planning Services Development Report: The report had now been circulated to WCC members

· Clock for Mr W MacKay, the WCC had now donated £200 towards the cost of the clock.

• Sports equipment. ACTION POINT: Secretary to check with Inverness South Ward Manager that there were no objections to the WCC retaining the £500 originally set aside for sports equipment, until such time as a new request for funding for a similar purpose was received.
• Inverness-South Ward meeting on 27 February. The Chair outlined details of the Inverness-South meeting The WCC welcomed the Highland Council’s commitment to the proposed 80 acre Inshes Park, details of which were described at the meeting on 27 Feb. (see also ‘Green Inverness’ website).

· HC training day for Community Councils on 15 March: four members of the WCC had attended.

· Postbox: an acknowledgement had been received from Royal Mail responding to the WCC’s request for a post box near the Spar shop, which they would consider.

4. Community Police report: PC Kinnaird said there was nothing further yet to report about the assault and robbery at Cradlehall on 16 February. He noted residents’ concerns about problem drinking in the streets and smashed glass in bus shelters.

5. Planning: The Chair advised that she had a personal interest in one planning application currently under consideration by Highland Council, and that she would vacate the Chair if that application came up for discussion. The Secretary reported that no significant planning applications had been received.

6. Treasurer’s report: the Treasurer was away.

7. Gala Day/Newsletter: the Chair reported that the Cradlehall School headmaster was enthusiastic about the planned Gala Day, and that a late September date (20 Sept.?) was now proposed. ACTION POINTS: the WCC proposed arrangements for establishing a sub-committee to arrange the gala day, and the need for a sub-committee to develop the newsletter was agreed.

8. Correspondence:

The Chair advised that a planning application for a mixed development of houses and shops at Caulfield Road North had been withdrawn.

The Secretary reported details of correspondence received including:

· MFR having invited nominations for an award (deadline now passed)

· The Forestry Commission were consulting on their draft Climate Change Action Plan 2008-2010 (deadline for comments: 6 June 2008)

· Affordable Housing development guidelines

· A Planning Modernisation Publication Strategy

· SEPA’s water treatment plans

9. AOCB

ACTION POINT: Chair to arrange for next meeting to include discussion with PC Kinnaird about vandalism, including broken windows, along Caulfield Road North.

10. 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..

· Cradlehall School handrail (see minutes of 18 June 2007) ACTION POINT: Secretary to contact Cllr Holden about progress

· Nairnside buses (see minutes of 21 January 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

11. Date and time of next meeting: to be held at 7.45pm, on 21 April.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm