Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 23rd January 2007 in the Castletown Drill Hall at 7:30pm.

Present:

J.Crowden, E.Geddes, D.Swanson, W.Swanson, I.Moodie (Village Officer), A.MacDonald (H.C. Councillor)

Apologies:

A.Hill, M.Cormack, A.Swanson.

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

The minutes of the last meeting held on 12th December 2006 were read and agreed as a true record.

Bridges over burn at Sand End - A.MacDonald said that the council had been on the verge of making an agreement to take over responsibility of the first two bridges. He said that he would go back to the council and find out at what point did the discussion fail.

Action A.M.

David Barclay (Paths Access Officer) had offered to attend a meeting.

Action J.C.

3/VILLAGE OFFICER UPDATES

Comments made included: caravans in council house front gardens, rubbish building up - obviously council not made aware of the "Bulky uplift" items and dog litter becoming a problem again. Due to the contractor involved in the new sewage treatment plant not restoring the grass to its original state, mowing could be a problem. Sign for Olrig hill to be put in place.

Action I.M.

4/POLICE REPORT

No Report

Action J.C.

5/CASTLEHILL HARBOUR TRUST

No report.

Action A.M.

6/CORRESPONDENCE

Letters received were discussed and noted as follows:

• Rob Gibson - Christmas Card.
• Post Watch - Consultation Post Office Network.
• Scottish Health Council - Corporate Plan '07-'12.
• Sutherland Local Plan.
• NDA Defining the Dounreay Site End State - 5 options, number 4 chosen.
• NHS Team Update.
• Rail Consultation - Review of Responses.
• Dounreay Newsletter - UKAEA Today.
• Caithness Voluntary Group.
• Highland Environmental Network - Newsletter.
• Dunnet Head Educational Trust - Update.
• Local Bites - Newsletter Food Network.
• UKAEA - Particles.
• UKAEA - Low Level Waste Disposal Facilities at Dounreay.
• Forss Windfarm News.
• Bathing Water Review - Clean Coast Scotland, Dunnet Bay area retained its status as a designated area as from 9th November.
• Friends of the Far North Line - Money to be spent on refurbishment of trains should include controlled - emission toilets. Letter to be sent regarding this.

Action J.C

8/AOCB

Petition for Dornoch Rail Bridge - signatures asked for.

Hi-Trans draft strategy - Caithness had been almost overlooked, comments asked for.

Buses - Not keeping to timetable, letter to be sent to Mrs V. Swanson.

Action J.C

VSO - Global Exchange - 18 young people, 9 Scottish and 9 from Malawi, will visit Caithness at the end of March, staying for approx 10 weeks, they would like to get involved in community projects.

Being no further business the date for the next meeting was set for Tuesday 27th February 2007 at 7:30pm in the Castletown Drill Hall.

The meeting closed at 21:10hrs.