Ballachulish CC Minutes January 08
BALLACHULISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting held in Jubilee Pavilion on Tuesday 8 January 2008
Present:- M MacAskill - Chairman (MMA); D Campbell (DC); M Cattanach (MC); S Grant (SG); L MacAskill (LMA); R MacLaren (RML); T Whyte (TW); M Wilson (MW)
Apologies:- K Hazelton (KH); K Michie (KM);
Also Present:- Stephen Norris (SN) - Oban Times; Mavis
Minutes of last meeting (AGM 13th November 2007) including the Chairman's and Treasurer's Reports - Proposed RML, Seconded DC. Since the last meeting a donation was made to the New Year Firework Display.
Underage Drinking / Youth Facilities
ACTION - MW to invite the new police sergeant at Glencoe to the next community council meeting.
Quarry development - The Community Company is to meet to progress this.
Community Website
Still waiting for community groups to provide information on setting up their pages on the community website.
Newsletter
A meeting was held in December to progress this. A deadline of 16 January 2007 has been set for information to be included in the first newsletter. A special e-mail address has been set up specifically for newsletter correspondence - ballcomnews@aol.com. A published newsletter is a considered a good idea to publicise community news as not everyone has access to a computer.
Grass cutting
Highland Council Discretionary Budget
It was highlighted at the last Forum meeting that there were funds remaining in this budget. ACTION - SG to submit an application to assist with funding the drainage work at the playpark.
Planning Notifications
ACTION - TW to request copies of detailed plans for two current applications.
Members of the Community Council attended a meeting held by Highland Council on the changes to the Planning and Development Services. There are concerns about the services and the Community Council will continue to pay close attention.
South Lochaber Community Councils
MMA has been in contact with the 5 community councils in South Lochaber with regard to the possible setting up of a South Lochaber association of community councils.
A82 Work
(a) A82 Action Group - ACTION - MW to ask the A82 Action Group to attend one of our meetings and ask for copies of the minutes of their meetings.
(b) A82 Speedlimit - Maintaining a watching brief on this.
School speedlimit - 20mph limit has now been approved for extended area.
Planters - Work to start on planter at Village Hall to start as soon as possible.
Playpark - Meeting to be held in January. ACTION - SG to report progress at next meeting.
Finances
RML presented the financial report as at 8th January 2008. The balance (£443) of the annual grant after the insurance costs has been received. ACTION - MMA to approach the Parks Committee for their share of the insurance premium. Letters of thanks have been received for the donations to the Senior Citizens and Children's Christmas Parties.
Notice Board - MMA still chasing Beckingridge to fund the repairs for the damage to the notice board
Boatsheds - ACTION - MW following up with John Duncan, Highland Council.
Footpaths - No further information to date from consultants for the cycle path.
Information Boards
No further progress. ACTION - LMA to ask Folio Hotels if they would support new signs / information boards with the Community Council.
Council Forum
The general consensus is that these meetings are useful but there are some concerns ie the Joint Forum meets too often; there are too many presentations which limits the time available for debate; and no forum meetings have taken place in Ballachulish.
Slate Arch
The cost of repairs is estimated to be £233,000 plus VAT. This is obviously a significant cost and possible funding sources need to be explored.
Road condition between the bank & shop
In response to requests from the Community Council the bank have responded that they have maintained their ground. To date there has been no response from the Co-operative Head Office. SN requested copies of the letters sent to the bank and the co-op.
Glencoe Hospital
MMA has requested that chairman of NHS Highland meets with the Community Council Action Group as a matter of some urgency.
A O C B
The Community Council have been informed of various websites on the changes to the Planning & Development Services.
Highland Council has approved the grant for the development of the website.
In response to an enquiry from the Forestry Commission, the Community Council has confirmed that it is preferred that the sign for the forest walk at Glenachulish is in both Gaelic and English.
A member of the community has expressing concern about the lack of potential for the transition from sheltered housing to the home at Abbeyfield.
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