Gourdon Community Council Meeting 7.30pm, Tuesday 02 nd June 2015 Location: Gourdon Mission Hall, 7.30pm Persons present at meeting: Joynson Chairman / Treasurer Joynson Secretary John Gove- Vice Chair Cllr. D Stewart A. Wells B O Hare S Wilkins J Niven E Gove PC M Skelly 1438 PC K Johnston 1104 Others I Craig D Taylor H H-Hall J Marshall E Myatt & Hamish Minutes (Prepared by Joynson) No Item Action By 1 Welcome by Chair 2 Apologies: Cllr Carr, Cllr Dick, R Joynson, G Ivinson 3 Police Report: As per Monthly report attached. Additional: For incidents of car scratching please call 101. Repeat request by J Gove to follow up on last year Brae Road incident re scratched car and stolen bike. 4 Approval of Minutes dated 05 May 2015 Approval: Proposed- J. Gove, 2 nd J. Niven 5 Matters Arising from Minutes 07 Oct 14: 14 Planning update - Planning Process concerning William St has raised issues which have been referred to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. May 2015: SPSO has found that AC acted within policy in terms of the complaint but noted that other information if provided may alter their finding. It was agreed to provide more information. Additional 05 May 15: G Ivinson and I Craig also requested GCC to write to Planning Democracy re AC Planning Process and issue of equal right of appeal which does not exist. The GCC
agreed it would do this. It would also include the conflict of interest around Planning investigating Planning re the complaints procedure. Additional 02 June 15: It was agreed that FOI would be raised re decision not to enforce and re conflict of interest (Planning investigating planning) S. Wilkins asked for the record to show appreciation for the work done to date on his issue. Expressed outrage that GCC had lost a long standing member over this issue. 02 Dec 14: 9. Rodney s low wall, hazard, fence required, bus stop problems, when children get off bus they land in Rodney s garden. Nowhere for passengers to lean on when getting off, especially if infirm as many are. Has been reported and logged in AC Roads Dept. Still Awaiting further action from AC. Additional 05 May 15: H. Hall raised the issue of the new pavement on junction to McGill terrace (school side) causing a problem with Brae Road parking by pushing parked vehicles further out into the road and prohibiting a view of vehicles coming up the Brae Road when exiting McGill. Cllr Carr raised the issue that the new pavement there had not come before the Area Committee and that GCC should contact S MacFarlane in AC Roads Dept re the situation. 02 June 2015: has raised this with AC and the police. AC claimed they could not do any enforcing. S. MacFarlane no longer in position. Cllr Stewart advised GCC to contact D. Elrick on this issue. 3 Feb 15: Condition of Mission Halls steps, raised as still no repair action by AC. Cllr Carr advised to get AC commitment in writing. Suggestion was made for GCC to get quotes and perhaps engage M Fotheringham to look at the work. Ongoing. / Additional 05 May 15: J. Gove informed the GCC that the Mission Hal was looking into getting a sign for the top of the mission Hall Steps. D. Ramsay had contacts that MLMM used. Temporary signs made by including large one at top of steps. Thanks to S Wilkins for support. 03 Mar 15: 8. Wind Turbines Noise - Near by Wind Turbines are noisier in westerly wind directions. has reported this to Environment & Planning for investigation. They have requested
reports of noise disturbance with dates and times. Liaison with Landowner and engineers in process. Ongoing 16. AOB item 2. Harbour Signs/Info Boards to be re-grounded by AC to securely fix them in position. to chase work as nothing has been done despite communication on it. Cllr Carr advised to write to I Thomson, I Welsh and Willie Munro at AC as they are responsible. Ongoing 05 May 2015: Item 8. Green Dog Warden Project. has made the laminated posters for the dog walking routes. Closed Item 9. Beach Clean Date: organized press release. Closed. Item 11 CAIR: Representatives unable to attend to make presentation. GCC requested to re-book them. Item 13 Japanese Knotweed: Bridget and mapped the JK sites. and Deryk produced map and advised AC. CLOSED Item 15 Funding: There is also funding for Beach clean equipment. To be costed and proposed at next GCC meeting. 02 June 14: too busy. Will do for next beach clean. Meanwhile consider using Tesco grant. Closed Need for photos for an eventual report for grant received to for community maintenance of Gateway, etc., was raised. D.McNeill offered to do them over the next few months as people were working. Deryk 6 Miss Angela Wells Gourdon Primary School School Fayre 23 May 15 1400-1600hrs. Big Success and raised in the region of 1200 profit. Thank you to the community for the fantastic support. Planning to have a Trim Trail around the school a permanent play activity no matter what the weather and part of making a safe happy playground. Requested that School sign be restored by AC. 7 Maggie Law (J. Niven) 1. Rota of volunteers going forward is now sorted. 2. Celia Craig has offered to help with the proposed children s poetry club during the summer to promote
literacy and numeracy during the holidays. Ceilia to liaise with A Wells. 8 Forum Feedback (AC) New Chief Executive Jim Savege introduced. The main themes from the Chief Executive were about listening to communities and how do we do this together? Items discussed were: 1) How can different departments work together better and 2) The role of Community Councils and the balance between CC s and local government. CC s were encouraged to escalate issues where they have received no answer. 9 Green Dog Warden Project Update - NTR 10 Beach Clean Date Saturday 16 th May 2015 1000-1200hrs for the South Beach and Warehole. Successful day and a full skip returned. Big thanks to all who participated 11 Planning - See 5. Matters Arising previous. 12 School Access/Security Mr.J Marshall spoke on the school s parents behalf about access and security. Problem was twofold: 1) public walk through during school hours with two routes through the school and 2) control and safety of children within school grounds and limiting exits from school during hours. AC partnering with school to get feedback from the community about their views and ideas and will undertake a survey. GCC agreed this was a good idea and would support it. The aim is to have a safe happy place for children to play in. It was noted that dogs should always be on a lead and not allowed to foul school grounds. 13 Gourdon Art Fayre J Niven reported that the art fayre of 20 June 15 had gone really well and all artists had sold. Thanks to all those helping set up especially Mr Ritchie, and Matthew Joynson 14 Japanese Knotweed (see 5.Matters arising 05 May 15 Item 13) Mr J Taylor spoke re the land between Mission Hall lavatory block and Pensioners steps (old footpath). According to title deeds this ground was responsibility of AC to keep tidy/under control in terms of growth and weeds. He had arranged with AC (Ryan Adams) to have the ground cleared to halt overgrowth of bordering gardens and deterioration of boundary walls and fences. GCC mapping of the JK had caused AC to put a hold on the clearance until JK sufficiently dealt with. Mr J Taylor looking for assistance to move the issue of clearing the ground forward with AC. GCC advised that it would support him with AC where it could. As Cllr Stewart was present at meeting, Mr Taylor was
advised to work with Cllr Stewart in dealing with AC for a resolution to the problem/issue. IT IS ESSENTIAL the JK is not cut down or dug up as it spreads somehow by very tiny particles/spores. MUST NOT BE composted or put to Green Waste. If any waste after treatment, must be carefully burnt. Further queries to Cllr. G Carr or via GCC Secretary (gourdoncommunitycouncil@gmail.com) or Bridget O Hare 15 Awards Update: GCC is pleased to announce that Bridget O Hare and Sally Wilkins have both been recognized with Long Services Awards for their Community Council work. WELL DONE! The GIG project for improving Gourdon has received a BRONZE COSLA AWARD Bridget to attend the Inspiring Aberdeenshire awards as CC representative. 16 Summer Plants The annual supply of summer plants by AC is due in the next week. Teams of waterers will be required going forward. 17 Summer Fundays Nothing planned for 2015. These will be on the agenda in 2016 18 GCC Summer meeting Dates There will be a meeting in July but not a meeting in August 19 AOB 1. E Myatt spoke about Boat Project need for storage site in Gourdon near Harbour. Also been offered a 40 container for this purpose if a site for it. Warehole? Suggestions welcome soon as need to vacate MLMM boatshed. 2. NOTE: Hamish advised 11 July 2015 planned for Boat Launch, possibly morning high tide c.1100 hrs 3. It was noted that possible subsidence was occurring in the lower portion of Brae Road. To be reported to AC. 4. reported that there was to be a documentary on Gourdon made. Further details when known. 5. The top covers of the road drains at Selby junction are a trip hazard and need reporting 6. First Responders meeting 02 July 15 at Bervie Fire Station at 1900hrs for those interested in enrolling. CC s are to have a supportive role in this initiative. 20 Thank You for your attendance (Chair) 21 Date of next meeting: Tuesday 07 July 2015 at 1930 hrs in the Mission Hall