UPPER TEVIOTDALE AND BORTHWICK WATER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

 

 

Minutes of Community Council Meeting of 2nd November 2009 held in Roberton Village Hall at 7.30 pm.

 

Present: Community Councillors: Francombe (Chair), Templeman (Vice), Wilson, Pennington (Treas), Douglas, Robson and Friell.

 

In Attendance: SBC Cllrs Turnbull,  Paterson & Smith, Mr Godfrey (Sec), Mrs Norris, Mr Plumbe, Mr Hutchison, Mr & Mrs Norton, Mr Gray, Mr Caw, Mr Mayby and Mr Evans SBC Planning.

 

1.  APOLOGIES

 

None.

 

2.   INTRODUCTION TO NEW PLANNING RULES

 

Mr Bill Evans introduced himself and then gave a detailed presentation of the new planning system and changes to personnel who deal with applications in the constituency.  Julie Hayward has replaced Mr Craig Millar.  There are several changes to making an application, new rules; notifications, appeals and neighbour notification are all affected.  An appeal panel may now be conducted by local SBC Councillors.  The general aim of all of this is to promote sustainable economic development and to speed up the system.  Legislation as it stands today will be changed for new legislation in the near future.  There are a number of identified problems to be ironed out and issues are being raised with Scottish Government all over the country.  Pre-application consultation details were explained in detail as well as minimum consultation requirements.  There will be further requirements arising as new planning applications are processed and there will be a need for pre-determination hearings, all these items will need consideration and adjustments during process procedure.  There then followed a number of questions for the CC and the public in attendance.  At the end of which the Chairman thanked Mr Evans for his time and efforts.

 

 

 

3.  POLICE BRIEF

 

None

 

 

4.  MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

The minutes were passed as read.  Proposed by CCllr Douglas and seconded by CCllr Robson.

 

5.  MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

 

None

 

6.  TREASURERS REPORT

 

A letter from Clair Malster confirming the £615 annual grant has been received.  The account stands at £2361 with the new grant.  £400 is to be put to the tent fund immediately and £143 paid for annual website fee.  The new total will be £1818.  There are outstanding charges for travel, hire and advertisements still to be met.  It was decided to write to Teviothead and Roberton Show Committees to distribute the accumulated monies for tent repairs and possible purchase of new canvas.

 

7.  TIMBER TRANSPORT

 

The first question raised of the Timber Transport Group was, ‘has an impact assessment by an independent body been carried out of the timber forest internal highway?’ It was also pointed out that the traffic flow would be in both directions and often fully loaded.  The timings of road use was raised, Craik Village residents report vehicles moving along the Roberton road between 4am and 11pm in any one day.  The state of the road is rapid deterioration similarly at Teviothead and on the B6399 south of Hawick.  SBC Cllrs Smith and Turnbull acknowledged the question that road maintenance on minor roads within the constituency has already been raised and that Technical Services were facing a shortage of Funds!  Cllr Smith then explained the present status quo on the Newcastleton Road south of Hawick, pointing out the difficulty of enforcing the voluntary code of conduct with the business in general.  It was decided that all incidents of timber transport matters should be directed to the Chairman of the C Council for re-direction to Mr Dyson.  It was requested that WPC Wood, the officer representing the police, and contact with timber transport, be requested to attend the next C Council meeting.

 

8.  WIND FARM UPDATE

 

The next meeting of the steering committee is to be 10th November at Ashkirk.  There is still no agreement at this moment on paper with the firm, a new personality has emerged at S.C.F. and as a result progress is on hold.  With no contractor yet awarded no further details of the wind farm construction are available.  It was decided that the final agreement with Airtricity must be sorted and for the moment this would be the thrust of effort.

 

9. HAWICK COMMUNITY WIND FARM

 

At the first meeting the subject of mast heights and possible sites have been mentioned, at least one of which is in the constituency.  The CCllrs discussed the subject in regard to this and noted that no notification or communication has been given to this body.

 

10.  SBC COUNCILLORS REPORT

 

Cllr Paterson pointed out the hazards of speeding cars at the Branxholme stretch of the A7 and that the police have been advised. Cllr Smith spoke of the difficulties with council tax charges for people who have had to give up their homes due to economic times or second home owners by default, inheritance, where in the present climate the sale of property is almost nonexistent.  He wished to be advised of any known situations. 

NHS hired ambulance car drivers are experiencing difficulties over the motor mileage allowance for fuel etc and this could well affect patients in the near future.

Cllr Turnbull advised the Borders railway is about to go out to tender.

Scottish Water has begun to carry out major repairs throughout Hawick over the next 22 weeks.

The SEPA Flood Relief meeting on 2nd November had not been well attended.  Finally local companies are struggling over contracts of all natures as a result of the present economic climb-down.

 

11.  AREA COMMITTEE REPORT

 

CCllr Templeman gave an account of the last meeting which she attended and CCllr Robson gave a broad outline of the new idea for the replacement of Area Committees currently being considered by SBC.  The new organisation would be reduced to 9 Area Forums.  The C Council supports the local SBC Cllrs in objecting to merging the areas a considerable distance away and quarterly meeting were considered entirely unsatisfactory.  The present Hawick Area Committee meetings are well attended and conduct a brisk business.  The Chairman would therefore write personally to Mr David parker before 26th November fully supporting the present system for Hawick and its outlying constituencies.

 

12.  A7 ACTION GROUP

 

There have been numerous complaints of water lying on the surface in a number of locations which BEAR seem incapable of dealing with.  After recent repairs white line road markings and cats eyes have failed to be replaced and this is a dangerous development and the point has been raised with the contractor.

 

13.  CORRESPONDENCE

 

SG* – changes in Planning System

SBC - Finalised Amendment Local Plan

SBC Pinks (meetings)

SBC Letter Mr David Parker Area Committee

Journal – The CCllr

Group Meetings Dates - Quest

Scottish National Heritage magazine

SBC Community Safety Preview – wardens

SBC Planning User Survey

SBC Zero Waste

CEMO – ethnic minorities

SBC CC Funding Review

SBC Teviot and Liddesdale Area Committee - wardens

SBC Planning Guidance – Gardens & Landscapes

SEPA View No. 44

STUC Trade Union

The Bridge, Letter Lorraine Hayward

SBC Future of Area Committees consultation

IOG Scotsturf Exhibition 2009

SBC Local Plan Amendment

NHS Borders joint consultation

SBC – Consolidated SB Structure Plan

SBC P/App. Internal alterations Borthwick House

Airtricity Wind Farm Benefit Package

 

 

*SG (Scottish Government)

 

14.  DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

 

The next meeting will be held in Teviothead Village Hall on Monday 11th January 2010 at 7.30pm.

 

 

 

Signed   Chairman            ___________________________________

            

              

 Secretary     ___________________________________