Present

J. Crowden, E. Geddes, D. Swanson, A. Swanson, I. Calder, A. Hill, I. Moodie (Village Officer), G. MacLennan (Northern Constabulary), G. Calder (Press), A. D. Fraser (Senior Area Manager – Bear Scotland).

1/ APOLOGIES

M. Cormack, G. Firth, W. Swanson, A. MacDonald.

2/ MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING FROM THEM.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 19th February 2004 were read and agreed as a true record.

Website: Some progress has been made.

Action D.S.

Broadband : Castletown should be connected to the network sometime in June.

Street Lights : Contact to be made in autumn.

Action D.S.

Highland Council Ranger : no contact has been made with Castletown Beyond 2000.

Action J.C.

Speed Camera : Camera will be in operation shortly in the village. Castletown sign obstructing view of emerging vehicles from Battery Road is to be re positioned.

3/ BEAR SCOTLAND. MR. A.D.FRASER- SENIOR AREA MANAGER.

Bear Scotland is now three years into its five year trunk road maintenance contract and intend to tender again. Mr. Fraser worked for Council for 18 years managing Trunk roads before joining Bear Scotland. It had been a difficult first year and a lot of criticism was made, some justified. Many of the workforce doing the jobs were previously employed by the Council. Scottish Executive pays out a set amount of money and the work done is based on safety issues and need. Work is determined by inspection. Winter maintenance teams are sent out after getting information from weather forecasts and sensors at Sordale, Lybster, Ord of Caithness, Berriedale and Achavanich. Police decision to close gates at Ord. Work is to be carried out on stretch of road between the snow gates and the hairpin bend north of Berriedale, starting in April and will last for eight weeks. Overnight closures will possibly be required.

John Crowden thanked Andrew Fraser for attending the meeting and answering our questions.

4/ BASKETBALL/SPORTS AREA.

Norfrost has now withdrawn their support for this project. As we did not have a lease we cannot do anything about it. As far as we understand a house is to be built on the land behind the Youth Club. An alternative site will now have to be found. Putting Green a possible choice. £2000 has been received from the Council Discretionary Fund, other funding bodies need to be approached.

Action A.M, J.C.

5/ VILLAGE OFFICER UPDATE.

Furniture away from Calder Square; now down at Harbour. Mention was made that the scrap cars and buses had all been removed from Morrison’s Garage. Dog fouling, again an issue. Nuisance neighbours and anti- social behaviour becoming a problem. Please report to Police.

Action A.M, I.M.

6/ CORRESPONDENCE.

Dounreay Newsletter.
UKAEA Today.
Calor Gas Awards.
Rural Partnership Fund.
Tomorrow’s House Today.
Access from Education to Employment.
Energy for All.
Highland Council Minutes.
Agendas.
Highland Health Council.
Dounreay Action Group. Meeting Park Hotel, Thurso. 25th March 2004.
Community Council Insurance Policies.
Nuclear Forum, 26th May 2004.
Dounreay shaft Questionnaire.
Wellbeing Alliance.
Scottish Seniors- Council Tax Costs.
Water Customer Panel- Questionnaire on Water use.
Strand Line- Adopt- A- Beach.
Council’s Performance Report.
Renewing democracy and Community Planning Permission.

Railway- Dornoch Firth Crossing- Letter of support to be forwarded to Dornoch Community Council.

Action J.C.

Heritage Society- Plans for Castlehill- Letter of support to be forwarded.

Action J.C.

7/ AOCB.

Request for bus shelters at the School and the end of West Murkle Road.

Being no further business the date for the next meeting was set for Thursday 15th April 2004 at 7:30pm in the Castletown Drill Hall.

The meeting closed at 22:10hrs.