HELENSBURGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

"Helensburgh - Be Better: Be Excellent"

Minutes of the Helensburgh Community Council Meeting
Thursday 25^th October 2007

Present: Sonja Aitken, Brian Bruce, Ronnie Finnigan, Marion Gillies, James Gorie, Alastair Macbeth, Catriona Malan, Findlay McQuarrie, Stewart Noble, Kathleen Siddle, Richard Trail and Gordon Tran.

Councillors: Vivien Dance, Al Reay, Ellen Morton, Gary Mulvaney and Andrew Nisbet.

Helensburgh Online Editor: Fiona Howard.

Apologies: Karen Brabender, John S. Croy, Compton MacGill and David Sinclair.

Chair: Nigel Millar.

Topic	Minute	Decision / Action
1. Welcome	The Chair welcomed those present, especially Brian Bruce as the new representative of the Helensburgh Retailers’ Association.
2. Public Session	There were no members of the public present.
3. Local Issues	3.1 Helensburgh Partnership Reports Gordon Tran said no report of the Partnership Meetings had been sent with the papers for the HCC Meeting although he had requested that they be included. As he particularly wanted to know about the Partnership’s Traffic Study and the Retail Study. The Chair indicated that these were not yet in the public domain, but that he would investigate.	It was agreed that they would be circulated when available.
	3.2 Development at Pierhead Findlay McQuarrie asked about developments on the Pierhead site. The Chair indicated that the ownership of the land still needs to be established before developments can take place. He suggested that HCC should insist on the following procedure: (i) The terms of remit should be in the public domain. (ii) The agreed terms of remit should be sent to the architects – possibly in the form of a competition. (iii) The winning designs should be sent to developers.
	3.3 East Clyde Street School Site Gordon Tran asked for news on East Clyde School. Councillors Morton and Reay explained that the listed school building would be retained and used for council offices and that the land alongside would also be used for council offices and car parking. It was hoped Janitor’s house would also be retained.
	3.4 Work on East Bay Esplanade Gordon Tran asked why Scottish Water was digging on East Esplanade. The Chair undertook to consult with ABC Area Committee.
	3.5 Malfunctioning Street Lights James Gorie said three streetlights in the immediate area of his house had not been functioning for some time. Councillor Reay said Council has lead role and advised James Gorie to contact appropriate ABC Department.
	3.6 East Princes Street Post Office Kathleen Siddle raised the matter of the proposed closure of the East Princes Street Post Office. Councillor Dance said the matter was to be referred to the Area Committee. Councillors had been inundated with calls from the subject on this issue. Nigel Millar indicated that he would speak to its manager tomorrow.
	3.7 Conservation Areas Kathleen Siddle distributed Conservation Areas leaflets to all assembled. The following kindly volunteered to help distribute further copies to households in the Conservation Areas: Catriona Malan, Stewart Noble, James Gorie, Brian Bruce and Nigel Millar.
	3.8 Town Web Site Richard Trail described how the HCC website could be a subdivision of the very successful Helensburgh Online Website. There would be no loss of HCC Editorial right. Fiona Howard confirmed that the HCC website could become interactive with its users.
	3.9 Additional Members The Chair raised the subject of holding an election to gain new HCC members.	Nigel Millar agreed to contact Charles Reppke (ABC Legal Officer) to confirm that this would be possible. An advert for candidates should be placed on the HCC website.
	3.10 Liaison with Schools James Gorie raised the possibility of links between the schools’ 6^th forms and the HCC.	It was agreed that James Gorie should approach the schools to investigate this.
4. Minutes of Previous Meeting	Stewart Noble requested that the non-decision in Item 4.6 should be deleted. The minutes so altered were proposed by Gordon Tran and seconded by Stewart Noble as accurate.	It was agreed that this be so.
5 Matters Arising	In Item 4.4 The Chair indicated that there would no problem with reporting back on public meetings. However, reports of private sessions need to be cleared first with Derek Anderson (the Partnership Chief Executive). In Item 4.7 Brian Bruce asked various questions about the findings of the HCC Retailers’ questionnaire. Catriona Malan agreed to pass a copy of the questionnaire and the answers to Brian Bruce.
6 HCC Priorities	6.1 Local Planning See Appendix I	It was agreed that Kathleen Siddle should request that HCC continue to receive hard copies of SPP and PAN documents.
	6.2 New Blood in the HCC The meeting was reminded that Stewart Noble had agreed to be HCC Publicity Officer. He will arrange a meeting, with himself, Stewart Noble and the Editor of the Helensburgh Advertiser.	It was agreed that · the net should be spread much wider to co-opt members and representatives of groups in the town. · James Gorie should investigate how more young people can be involved. · HCC meetings should be advertiser in the Helensburgh Advertiser
	6.3 Review of Local Government Boundaries Alastair Macbeth and Findlay McQuarrie reminded us of suggested changes regarding City Boundaries vis a vis changes in the Planning Act. See Appendix II.
7 Group Reports	7.1 Planning See Appendix III. The Chair made a presentation on the proposed development on the Hermitage Academy site.	It was agreed that HCC should hold a workshop in the Victoria Halls to enable the HCC to gather the opinions of the community regarding the proposed development. It was agreed that Kathleen Siddle would meet with Lighthouse personnel in Glasgow to explore the possibility of the HCC receiving some training from them on architectural design, site layout and landscape.
	7.2 Statutory Plans See Appendix IV. Further copies of the Summary of the Scottish Landscape Forum can be obtained from Simon Brooks, Tel: 01463 725315.
8. Finance	The Treasurer reported currently have £581.45 in the bank plus £280 for the costs of the Remembrance Sunday service. We have also applied to Argyll & Bute Council for our annual grant of £700.
9. Next Meeting	The next full meeting will be held on Thursday 29^th November 2007 at 19.00 in the Victoria Halls.

APPENDIX I

Local Planning.

• What does "Local Planning" mean?  Suggested answer : anything affecting Helensburgh in the National Planning Framework, in Scottish Government policies or guidance and in the Argyll and Bute Council's planning organisation.

• What are our aims / objectives ? Suggested answer : local community involvement in planning as advocated in the Scottish Government's 2005 White Paper on planning AND those purposes laid down in paragraph 51 (2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act of 1973. The latter includes "express to the local authorities, and to public authorities, the views of the community which it represents" and "to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable."

• What resources are needed ? Suggested answer : time, commitment and preparedness to engage in the planning process. A particular resource problem arises from the recent decision of the Scottish Government to switch from hard copies to electronic copies of Scottish Government planning publications other than the Scottish National Planning Framework. At the HCC meeting it was agreed that the HCC Secretary would request that the HCC continues to receive hard copies of new documents.

• How are these to be taken forward ? The above points were accepted and the agreed mode of moving forward was to continue with the two sub-groups of the HCC on (i) Statutory Plans and (ii) planning.

APPENDIX II

Strategic Development Planning Authorities: Designation Orders and Statutory Guidance

Findlay McQuarrie reported on the HCC response to a consultation from the Scottish Executive/government which had been considered at the September meeting.

The Consultation was about the proposed introduction of Strategic Development Planning Authorities under the new Planning Act. Eight planning authorities in the Glasgow City Region would be designated a group of planning authorities and would jointly prepare and keep under review a strategic development plan for a strategic development plan area. Argyll and Bute Council was not one of these authorities.

In its response HCC submitted that consideration should be given to the Helensburgh area being designated as part of the Strategic Planning Authority for the Glasgow City Region because of its strong links to the conurbation. Before boundary changes it had been part of Strathclyde Region. The geographic reality was that Helensburgh and the surrounding area was still part of the Glasgow City Region. In that respect it met the principle set out in the consultation paper that the designated group is intended to "reflect the geographic realities on the ground."

The Scottish Executive/government was informed that HCC would welcome discussions with them and other bodies before a decision was made.

A copy of HCC's response was being sent to Argyll and Bute Council for information.

APPENDIX III

PLANNING GROUP REPORT

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

Plans not yet in the library.

Action: Inspect plans when they are in the library.

2. Hermitage Academy Site – Building 166 houses

An application to build 166 dwellings has now been lodged for this site, 26% of which are for affordable houses. Nigel Millar and Kathleen Siddle had a very useful meeting with representatives of the developer and the architect yesterday. Plans and diagrams for the site are to be brought to the HCC October meeting, for discussion.

A meeting with the ABC Planning Department is scheduled for 31 October at 10.am.

3. 31 West Argyll Street

Group looked at plans for the demolition of the existing cottage and replacement with a semi-detached dwelling. Architecture seemed to be in keeping with the surrounding buildings and the footprint adjacent to the pavement is to remain the same.

A decision was made to take no action, unless we are contacted by neighbours.

4. Colquhoun Street – Change of use from retail to office.

This building has been empty for some time.

No action required.

5. 213 East Clyde Street – addition of dwelling to existing terrace.

Plans were examined.

Decision made to have a site visit to check that the proposed roof angle and gable end match the existing terrace.

6. 115 West Argyle Street – extension

Plans not yet in the library.

Decision to examine plans when they reach the library.

7. 20 Cardross Road – single extension

Plans not in the library.

Decision to examine plans when they reach the library.

APPENDIX IV

SCOTTISH LANDSCAPE FORUM

• Alastair Macbeth reported on a newly-released report by the Scottish Landscape Forum entitled "Scottish Living Landscapes : Places for People". This will inform the forthcoming Scottish Planning Policy 14. Copies of the report are in the Reference Room of the Helensburgh Library. Its contents especially apply to Helensburgh. The report recognises that landscapes (defined as "all the physical elements around us") are important economically and for a sense of individual and community well-being. It suggests that landscapes are being eroded and there need to be local and national policies to halt that erosion. It encourages local community involvement in developing landscape policies for its area. The HCC agreed to take a local lead in seeking cooperation between HCC, local community groups, the Helensburgh Partnership and Argyll and Bute Council to develop landscape policies applicable to planning for Helensburgh. Initial steps were delegated to the Statutory Plans Group and the HCC Executive to bring proposals back to the full HCC for next steps.

APPENDIX V

Argyll and Bute Finalised Draft Local Plan (FDLP): Renewable Energy

Findlay McQuarrie reported on a paper setting out a proposed response to Modification 4 to the FDLP, which had been circulated to members of the Statutory Plans Group.

Four policies were set out for a) wind farms over 20 megawatts; b) wind farms 20 megawatts and under; on-site commercial and domestic wind turbines; and other (non-wind) forms of renewable energy.

He explained the purposes of the policies, pointed out that the Helensburgh area was excluded from the areas of search for large wind farms but was included in a 'constrained area'. While this offered a reasonable standard of protection for Helensburgh, he recommended that HCC should propose, as an amendment to the Modification, that Policy LP REN2 should include "Green Belt" in the criteria listed for protection against unacceptable adverse impact from wind farms.