HELENSBURCH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

HELENSBURGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

"Helensburgh - Be Better: Be Excellent"

Minutes of the Helensburgh Community Council Meeting

Thursday 29^th November 2007

Present: Karen Brabender, Brian Bruce, Marion Gillies, Alastair Macbeth, Compton MacGill, Catriona Malan, Alastair Macbeth, Findlay McQuarrie, Jim Milligan, Maggie Sheen, Kathleen Siddle, David Sinclair, Richard Trail and Gordon Tran.

Councillors: Vivien Dance, Al Reay and Andrew Nisbet. Apology – James Robb.

Helensburgh Online Editor: Fiona Howard. Helensburgh Advertiser Reporter

Apologies: Sonja Aitken, John S. Croy, Ronnie Finnigan James Gorie and Stewart Noble.

Chair: Nigel Millar.

Topic	Minute	Decision / Action
1. Welcome	The Chair welcomed those present, including Robert Kirk and Richard Glen of the 16 Millig Street action group. He thanked the Retailers and Chamber of Commerce for their magnificent effort in the Sinclair Street car park on Sunday 24^th November for the switch on of the Christmas lights.
2. Public Session	Both Richard Glen and Robert Kirk spoke about the concerns of the neighbours of 16 Millig Street about the proposed development. Their fundamental concern is that of overdevelopment of the site and the precedence which it would set for other sites particularly in the Conservation Area. In order to be positive, they have, at their own expense, commissioned an architect to prepare a sketch proposal using the existing building footprint for seven dwellings and seven garages (outwith the footprint), which they feel would provide a commercial return. A proposal along these lines would find favour with the group. This proposal has been passed to the developers, but there has been no response so far.	The Chair agreed to contact the developers to ask them for a joint meeting with the residents.
	Could the Community Council use their influence to get the Planning Department to take the initiative in getting the developers to have meaningful discussions with the residents. The HCC would be willing to assist with this.	It was agreed that the HCC would take this up with Argyll and Bute Council Planning Officials at Blairvadach.
3. Minutes	Findlay McQuarrie asked that the first sentence of the Minutes of 25^th October be deleted and, to give a more accurate record, replaced by Findlay McQuarrie said he understood that the Partnership had decided to appoint Consultants to prepare a development framework for the Pier Area. He wondered how they were to be selected and suggested HCC should request a copy of the remit to be given to them. Approval of the minutes thus amended was proposed by Marion Gillies and seconded by Alastair Macbeth.	The meeting agreed to this.
	There was a discussion about the format of the minutes.	It was agreed that the format of the minutes should revert to portrait style.
4. Matters Arising	*Item* 3.1, Gordon Tran again raised the matter of transparency of the activities of the Helensburgh Partnership. In item 3.3, the question was raised of whether we should be considering the possibility of Argyll and Bute Council using the East Clyde Street School site for council offices. The Local Plans Sub Committee are discussing this issue at the next meeting. *Item* 3.5, it is understood that the message that James Gorie had wished to convey was that a single light had been reported as being out by three distinct individuals. *Item* 3.6, it was reported that opposition to the proposed closure of E Princes St PO had been made by the HCC, Local Councillors and individual residents. A survey of office use had also been carried out. Members are encouraged to write and express their views before 2 December.. *Item* 3.7, Kathleen Siddle indicated that the leaflets relating to the Conservation Areas would be distributed by the Helensburgh Community Advertiser along with the December issue. It was hoped that this would be financed by Argyll and Bute Council. She also thanked those who had helped deliver the invitations for the public consultation exercise on the John Dickie Homes planning application held on 17^th November *Item* 3.8, it was reported that the Community Council’s web site had been updated to allow easier use by users. Many thanks to Richard for this. *Item* 3.9, the Chair reported that he was awaiting a reply from Charles Reppke on how to conduct CC by-elections. He will establish when the next election for the Community Council is due to take place. *In Appendix II*, it was reported that there has been no response to the Community Council’s letter and reminder.
5. Local Issues	5.1 Builders’ skips Gordon Tran raised the issue of builders’ skips remaining in position uncovered for considerable lengths of time with the consequent littering of the surrounding area by their contents. The placing of skips is licensed by Argyll and Bute Council. While skips are being transported, they are required to be covered to prevent debris escaping and he feels that there should be a similar requirement on skips not actually being loaded.	It was agreed that the *HCC* would write to Argyll & Bute Council recommending this.
	*5.2 Civic Society Design* Competition** Findlay McQuarrie reported that the Civic Society were promoting a competition for proposed development of the pier head site on the basing of its current designation of leisure, recreation, tourism and community use. It would be judged by a panel including two eminent architects. The Helensburgh Partnership had been invited to meet them, but this had been declined. The question of the need for the submissions to be economically viable was raised.	It was agreed that Gordon Tran should be our representative on the design judging panel.
	5.3 Availability of Planning Lists Jim Milligan asked about the availability of Planning lists to outside parties. They are available in the Library and on Argyll and Bute Council’s web site. It was up to the relevant party to make arrangements direct with Argyll and Bute Council for special distribution.
	5.4 Helensburgh Community Centre Trust Maggie Sheen (who is a Trustee) indicated that a planning application for a new centre behind the Victoria Hall was imminent She asked that, in view of the importance of this development to the whole town, the HCC publicly support a public consultation exercise along similar lines as the one done for the Hermitage Academy site. The aim would be to uncover the level of public support for this development to be passed onto Argyll and Bute Council. As with the 17 November exercise the HCC would adopt a position of strict neutrality throughout. Note in addition to Maggie Sheen, both Nigel Miller and David Sinclair are Trustees.	It was agreed to stage a similar exercise to that at the Hermitage Academy site.
6. Local Planning	Kathleen Siddle reported on the Planning Group’s activities. See Appendix I for details.
7. Retail Survey	Catriona Malan gave a report. See Appendix II for details.	It was agreed to approach the Argyll and Bute Council Business meeting to present its findings.
8. Hermitage Academy Site	Kathleen Siddle reported (see Appendix III) on the public consultation exercise held in the Victoria Halls on 17^th November. She thanked those who had helped her deliver invitations to the 740 houses in the vicinity of the site. She highlighted a number of the results which had emerged, the most addressed being the proposal to make the existing cul-de-sac of Guy Mannering Road into a through road carrying significant volumes of traffic. A summary (see Appendix IV) of the results will be circulated to those who received invitations to the consultation. These results will form the basis of the Community Council’s response to the Planning Application.
9. The Concept of Landscape	Findlay McQuarrie spoke about the recent publication Scotland’s Living Landscape. There will be meetings between the Planning Group and the Statutory Plans Group to discuss the contents of this book. Other Groups have been invited to a further meeting on 18 December. A report will be submitted to a future meeting of the Community Council. It is also hoped that Argyll and Bute Council will also become involved.
10. The Lighthouse	Kathleen Siddle reported (see Appendix V) that she and the Chair had visited The Lighthouse to investigate the possibility of their providing training to members of the Community Council and others in design, energy efficiency, landscape, expressing one’s self. Such a course could take place over two days (weekend or consecutive Saturdays) for 16 people at a cost of £2,000. The Lighthouse are confident that they could identify the sources for grants for those attending.
11. Any Other Business	While the red folder passes round the table for members to see the correspondence which has taken place, there is no opportunity to raise any issue which this might generate.	It was agreed that consideration be given to AOB on the Agenda.
12. The Helensburgh Partnership	Nigel presented a verbal report on the activities of the Helensburgh Partnership. He reminded the meeting that the publicly stated position of the HCC meant that he would not take part in any Partnership discussion on specific development proposals for the site. There are no significant proposals to hand at the present time although the launch of a Farmers’ Market in the town early in 2008 was welcomed. Consultants had presented the Partnership with options on improved traffic management in the town. Possible options included : · park-and-ride facilities at Craigendoran Station, · for more pedestrian friendly streets in the centre of Helensburgh (within the zone bounded by William Street, King Street, Charlotte Street and the sea), · multiple level parking in Sinclair Street and perhaps adjacent to the station, The HCC welcomed the assurance that there would be extensive public consultation before any proposals were finally agreed.	It was agreed that future reports would be better pre-presented in written form.
13. Next Meeting	The date of the next full meeting will be held on Thursday 20^th December at 19.00 in the Victoria Halls.

APPENDIX I

PLANNING GROUP REPORT

1. East Clyde Street – Demolition of Launderette and replacement with 3 retail outlets each with a flat above.

Plans were inspected in the library and a site visit made.

We suspect that a taller building was there before. In streetscape terms, building would look better same height as the buildings around it. Other buildings are 3 storeys, whereas the proposed building would be 4 storeys.

Proposed building goes quite far back which would dominate the existing block of flats immediately to the east.

Decision: write a letter questioning (a) the roof height and whether it would be in accordance with this part of East Clyde Street and (b) asking for a light survey to be carried out to estimate the impact of the proposed building on its immediate neighbour to the east.

2. Proposed 166 homes by the developer, John Dickie Homes on current Hermitage Academy site: discussed elsewhere on the Agenda

3. Erection of dwelling house at Woodend Nursery, 17 West Montrose Street.

Plans examined. It appears that the site is a good size and could accommodate the proposed building. Proposed house would face the existing house at number 17 and would be of a comparable size and height. Some reservations were expressed regarding the proposed materials for the outside walls ie “rough cast stone” which seems to be another name for reconstituted stone or concrete.

Decision: no action unless the group is approached by a resident.

4. Erection of 2 storey extension at 3 Kennedy Drive.

Plans examined and site visit made. Existing property is a modern bungalow and proposed extension is in the same style and would reach similar roof height as the existing property. Site is plenty big enough to accommodate larger building.

Decision: no action unless approached by a resident.

For further details, please contact either Catriona or Kathleen.