HELENSBURGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the Helensburgh Community Council Meeting

Thursday 24^th November 2005

Present: Nigel Millar, Stewart Noble, Richard Trail, John White, Jim Gorie, Kathleen Siddle, Alastair Macbeth, Maggie Sheen, Bill Brackenridge, Gordon Tran, Jim Milligan, Marion Gillies, Catriona Malan

Cllr Gary Mulvanney.

In the chair Nigel Millar

1. Apologies

 Sonja Aitken, Clare Greig

2. Welcome

The chairman notified that Bill Brackenridge has agreed to represent HCC on the Board of the Helensburgh Partnership.

The chairman advised that proposals for conduction by-elections would be brought to the next meeting.

3. Public Session

None.

4. Presentation from Golf Club

 given by Douglas Dalgleish and George Watt.

The golf club have been considering selling off 30 acres of their land including the club house, and developing 60 acres of moorland on the north side of the course. They hoped to realise an undisclosed sum from the sale of the land which would fund the building of a new club house, the development new holes on the virgin moorland and upgrade the drainage on the existing course.

Mr. Dalgleish and Mr. Watt explained the problems facing the golf club were explained and highlighted the benefits that the golf club brought to the town.

Alastair Macbeth explained that the finalized Local Plan was being reviewed at the moment to see if there was sufficient housing provision for the projected changes in population. If there was a shortfall, then   consideration would turn on how to rectify the deficiency.

Questions from members as to the financial deal, the number of houses that might be built, and the proportion of social housing envisaged were sidestepped by the presenters.

After the presentation, the Statutory Plans Sub group agreed to take responsibility for making the response to the golf club.

5. Town Issues

5.1 Jim Milligan reported on a public 'Event' by the Scottish Executive on modernising the planning system. He outlined the main points under discussion at the workshop session and he attended the one on 'Public involvement in the Development Plan'. He tabled a paper on the event and he asked that it be discussed at the next meeting.

5.2 Stewart Noble raised the disgusting state of the staircase to the top deck of the car park at the Coop supermarket. It was agreed to write to the Coop and raise the matter at other public forums, eg the Local Area Committee and the local paper.

5.3 Cllr Mulvanney advised that there was considerable local opposition to the proposed change to the timetabling of the trains. First ScotRail had not consulted before proposing the change which comes into effect next month.

6. Statutory Plans

Alastair Macbeth reported that an informal meeting had been held with Sybil Johnson of the ABC Statutory Plans Unit and various community organisations who have made submissions on the Local Plan. Representations

7. NHS Boundary Changes

The chair reported on the meeting that he and Marion had attended in Edinburgh with the Health minister, Andy Kerr. HCC was the only CC to have made any attempt to carry out a poll of public views. He said that Andy Kerr had commented on the value of that effort. Nigel paid tribute to Marion and Catriona for doing it.

8. Representation on Strategic Policy Committe of ABC

Gordon Tran introduced a motion to seek fair representation for Helensburgh on the ABC Strategic Policy Committee. Cllr Mulvanney filled in the background as to how this committee came into being, and how important it was within the Council. Various members expressed their outrage that such an important committee did not have a single Helensburgh councillor on it. The motion was passed unanimously and the Secretary was instructed to send it to the Council, local MP and MSP and local paper.

9. Minutes

Stewart commented that the minuted record of the meetings was too long. It was agreed that shorter minutes be written, focussing on the decisions taken and action to follow.

Various members proposed amendments to the wording of the following items in the minute of the previous meeting:

Item 3.6, 3.9.1, 4.1, 4.3, 6.2.1

The amended minutes were approved.

10. Matters Arising

3.9.1 Kathleen Siddle confirmed that HCC would not be involved with the expenses of architectural students who may take part in the Urban Design study.

3.5 Stewart received a non committal reply from Lynn Smillie on his proposal for the sensory garden of Parklands school. The new head teacher may undertake to keep it maintained.

5.1.2 HCC members are to be involved in the planning of the new Kidston Park building for a cafe / public toilets.

3.3 Alastair Macbeth reported on temporary measures taken regarding the signage about dog fouling in Duchess wood. Further action will follow a meeting in December.

3.6 Kathleen reported that several people have expressed an interest in the proposed group to review the Conservation area. A meeting is planned in January.

4.4 Kahleen took down 3 copies of the Yellow Book to add to the library's collection.

6.2.2 Kathleen reported that the new website can be viewed online at http://dave-whyte.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. It was not finished yet.

11. Correspondence

11.1 Letter of thanks had been sent out to the helpers at the Rembrance Sunday service.

11.2 The Secretary tabled a discussion paper from the Scottish Executive entitled 'Whate can we do to help Community Councils fulfil their role?'. It was agreed that the Executive should undertake to make a response to this before the deadline of 28 Feb 2006.

11.3 A petition for real and effective rights for people to have their views taken into account in planning decisions was circulated.

12. Planning

12.1 Catriona and others will attend an all day hearing on the planning applications for 3 woodland sites on 29 November.

12.2 Catriona pointed out that Station road down to Craigendoran was in a dreadful state of repair. There was no one specifically charged with pressing for road repairs to be carried out. She also advised of a new style mastic asphalt which is being laid in some parts of the country. It is cheap but in the wet it is slippy and we should protest about its use here. Cllr. Mulvanney agreed to take up the matter with the Council.

12.3 Craigendoran phone mast proposal. Kathleen has requested a pre-application consultation on the phone masts. More masts spread across the town are envisaged.

13. Treasurer

Balance £1374. The grant for Remembrance Sunday and the corresponding expenses have passed through the account.

Date of next meeting 22 December.