RHU & SHANDON COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTE OF ORDINARY MEETING HELD AT RHU COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTRE WEDNESDAY 9th JUNE, 2010 WELCOME:- Extended to all by Archie. Advised the meeting of the resignation of Catherine (Secretary). Catherine gave a listing of items to be addressed under Matters Arising. Apologies from Guest Speaker Fergus Murray, Argyll and Bute Council. Sybil Johnson, Senior Planning Instruction Officer was attending as substitute for Fergus Murray. Present:- Archie McColl (Convenor) Gordon King Pat Pollok-Morris Martin Ritch (Minute Secretary) John Fenney Jan Crawford Provost William Petrie (Guest) James Leatherby R.N. (Guest) Colin Caskie (Treasurer) Arnold Bretman Apologies:- Stewart McKendrick Malcolm Hyatt (Vice-Convenor) Jack Rudram List of Attendees :- List Completed by all in attendance Acceptance of Minute of Meeting held on Wednesday 12th May, 2010. Proposed by Jan Seconded by Pat. Matters Arising:- Jack Rudram had summarised the Argyll and Bute Landscape Study Review Policy for Green Belt for the proposed changes to the Rhu & Shandon area. This had been e-mailed to all committee members. Jan advised that the cycle path wall had now been repaired. Colin advised the plate had still not been replaced on the Post Box in Upper Hall Road, and that the water flow had now ceased at Hebe Villa. The hole at the foot of Pier Road (turning left towards Helensburgh) dug up in December, 2009 has now been filled in. Archie read out as follows matters arising received from Catherine, 1. Arrangement made for Fergus Murray to attend Meeting on 9th June, 2010 and talk on the Development Plan 2. Catherine e-mailed Lynn Smillie twice and left message via Belinda. Lynn off sick so perhaps try again this week. 3. Grant Whyte is off sick, perhaps he can be contacted for August meeting? 4. Catherine has contacted Andy Crawford, Crime Prevention Officer, and he will be happy to attend September meeting. He can be contacted at Garelochhead Police Station. 5. Nigel Miller is still waiting names of any attendees at the talk by Sir John Arbuthnott, Thursday 17th June, 2010 at the Commodore Hotel 7.p.m. Catherine advised him we would let him know as soon as possible. It was noted that the Declaration of Interest has now been removed from the Agenda. We were advised by Archie that we would not be able to have film nights in the hall as the village of Rhu was classed as Urban and not Rural. Archie confirmed that non attendance by any member of the Community Council for a period of 6 consecutive meetings would deem to make that person no longer eligible to be a member of the Community Council unless the Community Council had good reason to retain that person. Guest Speaker:- In the absence of Fergus Murray, Sybil Johnson, Senior Planning Instruction Officer gave us an informative talk on the Argyll and Bute Local Development Plan. Sybil advised that the Scottish Government would like the plan pushed through prior to 5 year timescale. Advised to read Circular 1/2009 for full information. There will be meetings for members of the public prior to the plan being published. It was stressed that any objections should be made very clear, there will be a limit to the wording allowed in an objection, and the Reporters will be supplied from the Scottish Government. The participation Table will be contained in the Local Development Plan. A Feedback Questionnaire will be on the Website and the Website will also be interactive. There will be no right of appeal, but there will be a legal challenge. Should anyone have any questions they should Contact Mark Lodge, Senior Planning Officer, Argyll & Bute Council. Guest Speaker:- James Leatherby R.N. commented briefly on the talk by Sybil Johnson. He advised that he had given Jan the contact details for the Defence Estates at Rosyth. Advised the meeting of the Visit of The Second Sea Lord to HMNB. Public Question Time:- No member’s of the public were present. Treasurer’s Report:- Colin advised that he had nothing to report. Cheque for £250 sent and letter of acknowledgement received from the Junior Warden Scheme. Argyll And Bute Council had indicated to Colin by letter that the grant to the Community Council was on its way. This was some five weeks ago. Correspondence:- Archie reminded us that he had outlined the Secretary’s duties at the previous meeting and these duties had been minuted. NHS Highland Annual Review:-to be held in Dunoon on the 27th June, 2010. Reshaping Care for Older People:-meeting to be held on 14th June, 2010.Pat will attend. Letter from Catherine Jones (Secretary):-Letter of resignation with immediate effect received from Catherine. Archie reminded the meeting that the new secretary was the main point of contact, and should have the time to deal fully with the criteria of the post. Colin advised that he had recently paid a bill of £40 for secretarial materials. Archie advised that he had material returned from Catherine including postage stamps. Community Engagement:- Jan advised that there had been no more responses from the questionnaires. John had sent spreadsheets to Malcolm. Those names on the spreadsheets who had not received a reply/acknowledgement by e-mail were contacted by phone or by personal call at the door, and were assured that the matters raised were being taken seriously. There had been a burst water main through a path in Braehouse which had burst the path. This path has now been repaired. Other road queries included the patching in Caldwell Place, Station Road/Pier Road. The pot hole at Rowmore Quays had still not been repaired. Provost Petrie advised that the money allocated for Caldwell Place had in fact gone to another project in Helensburgh due to the delay by the Gas Board in carrying out gas repairs in Caldwell Place. Gas Board now due to start work in Caldwell Place on Monday 14th June, 2010 and the allocated money for the re-surfacing of Caldwell Place is now back in place. Arnold expressed his concerns that there could be a serious accident on the road between Laggary Road and Caldwell Place as cars have to go down the middle of the road to avoid potholes. Gordon advised that repairs should be carried out within the next month. Arnold reminded us of the amount of work done by John in connection with the website. Arnold thought it was time to target local businesses with a view to advertising on the website and asked for suggestions on charging, possibly a picture of the business and a link to their website for £50 per year? John expressed his concerns over the amount of time he would have available to spend on this if the web became too big. Jan and Colin suggested to the meeting that Arnold and John get together and discuss the matter. Arnold suggested that we could take up the offer of Hermitage Academy Computer Department to help us with the website. Arnold informed the meeting of his resignation from the Community Council. Member’s Reports:- Colin:-Plate still missing from the Pillar Box at Upper Hall Road. Drain at Hebe Villa/School Road looks dried up. Hole in road at the foot of Pier Road/left toward Helensburgh now filled in. Provost Petrie:-Rhu Bowling Club has a water leak and has received a Water Bill for £1500. If they cannot obtain any funding to excavate and trace the leak then there is a distinct possibility that they will have to close the club. Jan advised that the Gala gave funding last year, but a very high volume of funding applications had been received this year. Colin to investigate possible means of help. Jan:- Jan and Pat had attended the Development Plan Meeting and found it to be worthwhile attending. Junior Warden Scheme is now into week 5 of the 7 week programme. The Certificate Meeting will take place on the 21st June, 2010. Thanks had been received for our contribution. A good day was had by all at the Gala Day with support provided by Local Police, Fire Brigade and the Traffic Warden. Gordon asked Jan when the beach clean would take place. Jan will e-mail and check. John:- John advised that Jan, as part of the Gala Committee had discussions prior to the Gala with the Police. They would like to have input to our website and incorporate our website into the Police website. All thought that this was a good idea. John was looking for some history on the Community Hall. Pat offered to help John on this matter. Archie advised John that the website would not go down because of lack of funding. Means will be found to raise any shortfall by Tabletop Sales etc. Pat:- Phase 3 of the Playpark will require the raising of £28,000. Fund-raising is ongoing. Work is in progress installing the equipment on Phase 2. Pat advised that services at the Vale of Leven Hospital are increasing, and that some of the planned changes are ongoing. Whilst perhaps the hospital services are not the same the hospital is “Alive and Well”. Ongoing improvements to and in the building. Gordon: Main topic is Roads, Hopefully repairs will be carried out in the next month or two. John asked for an update to repairs. Gordon advised no update as nothing yet done. Archie:- Suggested that we concentrate on one road at a time perhaps Station Road/Pier Road where there are no white lines and presents a danger of going to near one side and possibly ending up in the ditch. Asked Gordon to take photographs of before and after, and put on the website. Pat/Jan:- Received handout at Planning Meeting from Planning Aid. They are not involved in individual housing applications. Martin:- Asked if the Telephone Box at the bottom of Manse Brae could be repaired or removed. After discussion it was agreed that we ask that this now be removed. Provost Petrie will deal with. A.O.B. Discussion took place regarding the filling of the posts of Vice-Convenor and Secretary. Jan reminded us that Fiona Hughes had at one time expressed an interest. Archie asked for volunteers for the posts of Vice-Convenor and Secretary. Jan volunteered for the Vice-Convenor post . There being no volunteers for the post of Secretary Archie asked Jan if she would take on the post of Secretary on a temporary basis. Jan agreed to do so. Date of Next Meeting:- Wednesday 11th August, 2010.