Minutes of August meeting

Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 28th August 2007 in the Castletown Drill Hall at 7:30pm.

Present:

E. Geddes, D. Fraser, A. Swanson, W. Swanson, I. Moodie (Village Officer), R. Coghill (Landward Caithness Councillor)

Others: R. Gunn

Apologies:

M. Cormack, I. Calder, G. Calder, D. Sutherland, G. MacLennan

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

The minutes of the last meeting held on 26th June 2007 were read and agreed as a true record.

A civic head will not be appointed

3/VILLAGE OFFICER UPDATES

Grass cut when able to - I. Moodie intimated that another party was interested in cutting the grass at Pentland Place, Memorial Square and Olrig Place for the price quoted by the Highland Council. Details to be worked out at a later date.

The Council is looking at a grass species, which needs less cutting.

Cutting of trees and other hedging at Harland Road and the Wick road are still to be attended to.

Bin at heritage car park has not been replaced.

The village car park notice board still awaiting replacement.

Village officer once again requested levelling of grass at West End.

Query about bridge over Stanergill Burn near to Spring Park House contact to be made with David Barclay. 

4/POLICE REPORT

Brief overview of calls received regarding incidents in the local area.

Continuation on previous general complaints concerning Castletown youths and road traffic matters.

Plans ahead include further utilisation of the youth letter scheme, carrying out the intentions of placing a poster in the local shop to prevent traffic congestion, monitoring the 20mph speed limit near the school and patrols on antisocial driving behaviour.

5/CORRESPONDENCE

Letters received were discussed and noted as follows:

  • NHS Highland Team Update - June
  • Dounreay Bulletins - June, July, August
  • Caithness Voluntary Group - Annual Report '06, '07
  • Community Recycling Network for Scotland - Newsletter Summer '07
  • Highland Council Quality Awards 2007
  • Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau - AGM MacKay's Hotel Wick 4/9/07
  • UKAEA - Dounreay Review '06, '07
  • UKAEA Today - Summer 2007
  • Transport Vision for Sutherland
  • Association of Scottish Community Councils - National Member Survey 2007
  • CORWM - Public Consultation
  • Highland Council - Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places
  • Scottish Water - Joanna Peebles, Community Manager Ness Region
  • Highlands and Islands Local Food Network
  • Scottish Parliament - MSP Peter Peacock, Future of Post Office Services in the Highlands and Islands
  • SEPA View - Summer 2007
  • North Highland Forest Trust - Newsletter Summer '07
  • Highland Council - Consultative Draft Caithness Core Paths Plan
  • Marine Conservation Society - Adopt a Beach Project
  • Durran Mains Windfarm Proposal

A short discussion took place on the above matter. Everyone was in agreement to object to the proposal on the grounds of loss of amenity. Councillor R. Coghill did not take part in this discussion.

6/AOCB

Two copies of letters were read, one from Jamie Stone MSP and one from Neil Gillies regarding various traffic issues at Castletown. Members were not satisfied with the content of the letters. Councillor Coghill had already made an approach to have an extended speed restriction on the three entrances to Castletown.

Parking at Post Office has been looked at before with no action taken.

The Prince's Foundation and Prince's Regeneration Trust had held workshops in the village in July and August. A further meeting due to be held in October. All members advised to attend this meeting.

Query about access at bottom end of Traill Street through to Police Station, David Barclay to be contacted on this matter.

Letting of Council houses - if you are declared homeless you automatically become top of the list which seems unfair.

Being no further business the date for the next meeting was set for Tuesday 25th September 2007 at 7:30pm in the Castletown Drill Hall.

The meeting closed at 20:50hrs.