Burntisland Community Council

Minutes of meeting held in the Burgh Chambers

On Friday 8th February 2008

 

Present:         Alex MacDonald (Chair)                   Cheryl Spears

                        Bob Smith (Vice Chair)                     Gordon Ritchie

                        Ron Blanchard (Secretary)               Ramsay Leuchars

                        Aneris Grant (Treasurer)                  Sam Purvis

                        Tim Hailey

                        Gordon McGregor

                        Sheila McGregor

                        Christine Dewar

                        Heather Leuchars

           

                        Councillor Ron Edwards                   Councillor Susan Leslie

                       

Attending: - 12 members of the public

 

1.         Apologies were received from Councillor Kay, Gillian Lowe, and Morag Douglas

 

2.         Minutes of the previous meeting were approved on a motion by Bob Smith and seconded by Tim Hailey.

 

3.         Topics requested for inclusion in Any Other Business were noted.

 

            Vote of Thanks – Primary School Scots Verse Prize Giving and Citizens award - The Chairman commented upon the pleasure in hearing the children recite their Burns and the satisfaction expressed by Karen Speirs (Community award winner 2008). Also thanks were extended to those who gave support by attending and contributing towards making the evenings a great success- Those who prepared and presented the Buffet received a special vote of thanks.

 

4.                  Police report - Sgt Scott Johnston

 

Matters to report; Breach of the peace; Local man drunk driving; Underage drinking; Speeding of 51mph in 30mph area; Minor shop lifting;  Woman’s clothes on beach – owner found; Deliveries to High Street shops still cause for concern; Parking at school cause problem; Theft of scrap metal – do not leave machinery etc on view; Council office High Street office window smashed by youths – please report any info; Whale in dock area; Police Front office now open Mon-Fri 09.00 – 13.30.

 

5.                  Combined report from Councillors.

 

Burntisland Primary School Extension - The £3m project to extend Burntisland Primary School making it fit for 21st century and provides disabled & able bodied access “under one roof” continues to meet completion deadline of 2010/11. This major project will be carried out in a phased manner to avoid disrupting the smooth running of the school.

 

Burntisland Skate Park - The design is complete, plans passed, tenders received.  Funds currently available £124,000 however for a “competition park” there is still a shortfall of £100,000. A time limit of 2 wks has been set to identify where shortfall can be met from.

           

East Dock Development, ferry & Station House – With the 76 seat ferry from Burntisland to Granton by 2009/10 apparently a “goer”, Forth Ports have withdrawn their Masterplan and at present are not in consultation with the community (including councillors). Fife Historic Buildings Trust is seeking involvement & funds to renovate the Station House into offices, probably for “starter” businesses.

 

Seamill Scheme – very little progress has been made with this scheme since the community representatives could not continue, and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust took over in July 2007.  It is for them to deliver the Seamill Pond Play Park.  FCCT are also to give a feasibility report on the Ross Point Project which was promised last September.

 

Haugh Road flooding – Scottish Water investigation coming to an end and a meeting is to be held early March to take the next step in solving the problem.

 

7.         Recreation on the Links –Brian Shand – Fife Council (Parks and Countryside Dept)

 

Brian Shand reported that due to a shortfall of allowances to the Parks Department, it had been decided that the running of the facilities (Including toilets and shelters) on the East end of the links had been franchised to an individual – Commencement to take place early in the season. Community council to write to Mr Shand to voice their concerns and lack of consultation.

 

8.         Matters Arising from minutes not otherwise covered in Agenda

 

a)                  Fife’s Local Landscape Designation Review – carried to next meeting

b)                  Core Paths – map has now been revised

c)                  Young Hall – meeting still to take place

d)                  Post Boxes – PO contacted and they rejected local mail boxes since all mail goes to Edinburgh to be sorted

e)                  Parking Restrictions –BCC draft to request reducing the 5 current types of parking restrictions within the town to two thus simplifying requirements. Also for there to be no restrictions on a Sunday.

f)                    National Planning Framework – to be continued

g)                  Exxon Mobile Challenge – Scottish Parliament 28th Feb.- Gordon Ritchie to attend

 

9.         New Business

 

a)                  Community Council Seminar – Glenrothes – 10th May – Gordon Ritchie and Sheila McGregor attending.

b)                  Fife Council Housing Allocations review – housing policy - Tuesday 26th Feb

c)                  Finalised Fife structure plan – Public consultation Tuesday 11th March

d)                  Planning for People workshop 29th March Town House, Kirkcaldy

            Tim Hailey to attend.

e)                  Road Maintenance – High Street & Links Street, missing drain covers; uneven pavements; Cowdenbeath Road – flooding & new calming deemed not to be effective – Councillors asked to look further and investigate these issues raised.

f)                    Dog Fouling; - Links/Beach and generally within the town there are owners who are not being held responsible for cleaning up after their dog.  Councillors to investigate the limited number of ‘doggie’ bins and the lack of emptying those that are available.

      g)         Christmas lights – Fund raising for this coming Christmas will need to start    

                  Between May and June. Gordon McGregor stated he is standing down

                  As co-ordinator – Volunteers urgently required.

h)                  Dare to care – Child poverty Initiative – Cheryl Spears is looking for helpers   

to move this forward – Anyone interested please contact Chery direct.        

       i)    Palace Cinema – last drawings were rejected and as yet no alternative                  .                 Plans have been submitted.  Compulsory purchase order still stands.

      j)          Community Forum – volunteers required

      k)         Sand on Prom – to be cleared

     l)        Town Clock – Work is ongoing to have it repaired

     m)       Buses - Investigations to be made as to why buses are not turning at the

             Railway Bridge.

n)              Floral arrangements – Large shrubs and flowers are still being removed from   

The High Street pots and containers – Can you help? If you see plants being removed please inform the Police.igh H

 

Date of next meeting Friday 14th March 2008.