UPPER TEVIOTDALE AND BORTHWICK WATER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

 

Minutes of the Community Council Meeting of 1st March 2010 held in Roberton Village hall at 7.30pm.

 

Present: Community Councillors: Francombe (Chair), Wilson, Robson, Douglas and Pennington (Treasurer).

 

In Attendance: SBC Cllrs. Turnbull, and Paterson, Mr Hepburn and Mr Plumbe.

 

 

1.       APOLOGIES

 

SBC Cllr Smith, John Godfrey (Sec) and CCllr. Templeman (Vice)              

 

 

2. CONSIDERATION OF CO-OPTION OF MR JOHN HEPBURN.

 

Proposed by CCllr. Douglas, seconded by  CCllr. Wilson and welcomed by CCllr. Francombe (Chair).

 

 

3.PRESENTATION BY MR DALJIT SINGH

 

Mr Singh, introduced himself – he is the Development Director for the Scottish Community Foundation who would liaise with Airtricity regarding the income generated by the Langhope Rig. He proceeded to pass round a paper copy of a slide show presentation outlining the way in which this would be carried out. Mr Singh was led to believe that the Langhope Rig would generate around 20MW at a price of £2000 per MW and with community benefits this would be approximately £54000 to be split between the three Community Councils, Ashkirk, Teviotdale and Etterick.

He stressed that going through the Scottish Community Foundation, was the preferred route by the developer and all costs would be met by the developer.  The SCF would do a Community Profile, help set up a Decision-making panel with representatives from each Community Council, manage all application forms and write a short report on each applicant regarding criteria met, but would leave the decision making up to the Community Councils. Applications of under £250 would not be dealt with by the Foundation but the Community Council would be given a budget for this, the Foundation would assist with the accumulation of funds for larger projects, perhaps over 3/4/5 years and also setting aside an annual amount for investment if needed. The SCF would put in place all the necessary vetting procedures, financial and legal requirements that would be needed and would do away with the need for the Community Councils to set up a charitable trust. All of he above would be put in place if the 3 Community Councils joined together as one decision –making panel, if they each decided to go separately then the developer would limit the funding available so that some costs would have to be met by the Community Councils and the role of the SCF would be reduced.

Both CCllrs. Douglas and Robson were both under the impression that a decision to work together had been agreed as long as the funding was split evenly, they understood some years one Community Council might have more requirements than another but as long as this balanced out over a period of 3/4 years then this would work.  Mr Singh explained that as part of the SCF work they would ensure that the funding was split evenly but perhaps not to the last penny!

CCllr. Robson asked if they amount payable per MW had been set or was this open to negotiation as he believed that the amount of £2000 per MW was less than the amount first agreed.  Mr Singh said that the SCF do not get involved with the rates only the distribution of the funds but in his knowledge this was a standard rate.

 

Mr Plumbe asked if there would be funds available for Community compensation as the Roberton Valley was to bear the brunt of all the transport issues.  CCllr. Francombe stated that he understood that we were being included in the payments due to this reason.  CCllr. Robson understood that as our Community Council was within a 10k radius of the site then we were entitled in our own right, to payments and thought that it was up to the SBC to repair any damage to the roads caused by the building of the wind turbines.  SBC Cllr. Patterson understood that it was in the whole package to reinstate the roads.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Plumbe asked which option would be adopted, either working as 3 separate Community Councils or joined together as one decision making panel.

Mr Singh said he was to have a third meeting with the remaining Community Council and then he suggested that the 3 Community councils have a meeting to discuss this.

SBC Cllr. Turnbull expressed that it was his belief that working together was the best option and the enhanced services provided by the SCF far outweighed going separately.  CCllr. Douglas said that the steering group would take this to the next meeting and Mr Singh said they could ask Pauline about the enhanced payments available.  CCllr. Douglas asked about the application forms and what if all criteria were not met, Mr Singh replied that this would be in their report. Mr Plumbe asked about the application process, Mr Singh confirmed that the SCF make no decisions on payment but that the developer will set the parameters.

 

 

4. POLICE REPORT

 

No report.

CCllr. Francombe had contacted John Scott with all the set dates of the next meetings, so that PC Murray would be aware and that also WPC Wood might attend as promised, the email sent had been acknowledged.

 

CCllr. Robson said that he understood that if PC Murray could not attend, a report would still be sent, CCllr. Francombe agreed but nothing had been received.

 

CCllr. Robson went on to say that he knew a theft of timber had taken place in the valley and CCllr. Wilson said that the Police had been involved with a missing person.

 

 

5. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

 

Proposed by CCllr. Robson and seconded by CCllr. Wilson

 

 

6. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

 

SBC Cllr. Turnbull said that regarding item 10. Hawick Community Wind Farm – a meeting was planned this Thursday 4th March at 7pm in Hawick.

 

 

7.TREASURERS REPORT

 

CCllr. Pennington stated that there had been no movement within the account other than an expenditure of approximately £8 on envelopes.

 

 

8. TIMBER TRANSPORT

 

SBC Cllr. Patterson expressed his concerns regarding the timber lorries using the Howgate in Hawick, the weakness of the bridges in that area and three schools within that proximity, he felt that an accident was waiting to happen. 

CCllr. Francombe said that this matter had been mentioned for over 12 months and that the infrastructure of the Border region was being damaged. 

CCllr. Robson said that a solution to this problem would be if a Timber Transport Group was set up to take the lorries south, via Steel Road end and through Newcasleton, this should be brought to Neil Dyson’s attention.  A report in the Southern Reporter had the miss concept that there would be less and traffic; CCllr. Robson felt that there would be more. 

CCllr. Francombe informed the meeting that SMP Lamont now knew what a ‘super single was and CCllr. Robson added that it was well known what damage they caused to the roads and the £2 million for the forest road would be better spent on the Roberton valley road.

SBC Cllr. Turnbull informed the meeting there would be a Timber transport meeting on the 31st March 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

CCllr. Douglas said that with the Scottish government wanting an increase of 33% more forestry the timber transport problems will get worse.

CCllr. Robson added that now that brash was to be removed there would be an increase in lorries above the normal timber ones coming out of Borthwick valley, CCllr. Francombe added that the brash lorries were already coming out of Falnash.

 

 

9.WIND FARM UPDATE

 

CCllr. Francombe informed the meeting that there was to be a meeting with Pauline, the New Project manager, Ian, Dan, Colin, himself and 2 local farmers on the 16th March 2010.

CCllr. Douglas informed the meeting that the MOD had put a ban on new projects within a radius of 31miles; he added a small wind turbine had been banned.

 

 

10. HAWICK COMMUNITY WIND FARM

 

See item 6. above.

 

 

11. SBC CLLRS REPORT

 

SBC Cllr. Patterson stated that recently he had tried to get the fine for dog fouling raised from £40 to £100 and he thanked his colleagues for their support, the matter had now been taken up by MSP Lamont who would bring it up in Parliament.

CCllr. Robson asked if SBC Cllr. Patterson could help with why it was now taking an extra half an hour to get into Hawick, there were traffic lights every where,

 

SBC Cllr. Turnbull said that at a recent meeting the long running problems with the work being carried out on the water pipes in Hawick had been discussed and that one shop keeper at the corner of Havelock street was having to prove that his takings were down by providing his accounts for the last 3 years. He felt that at no time had they been informed as to the amount of disruption the water works would cause, there are holes everywhere.  He added that as part of the Administration Working Group, the position for the Chief Fire Officer would be advertised and that it was hoped that there would be a small handover period; the present occupier of the post retires on the 25th June 2010.  The matter of providing wheelie bins for recycling would need to be further looked at, as Dumfries and Galloway Council had taken the opposite view by not providing them, one thing was sure the amount going into landfill had to be drastically reduced.

 

Mr Colin Plumbe informed the meeting that the Education Committee would look at the closure process regarding the school as to whether it would be closed or mothballed within the next 6 weeks.  CCllr. Francombe stated that CCllr. Templeman was carrying out a survey of the Roberton Valley and would be writing to all residents.  SBC Cllr. Turnbull added that he had attended a meeting that had looked at the type of housing/ residents in the area and it was felt that there would be no baby boon!  CCllr. Francombe said that an area quite near to the village hall had been picked out for low cost housing (20 homes in all); SBC Cllr. Turnbull replied that the building industry was stagnant at the moment and that no one was prepared to take on such a project.

 

CCllr. Wilson said that she had seen in the Hawick News planning permission for Plot A, Craik Farm and asked why this application had not gone through the Community Council, SBC Cllr. Patterson said that the original application had gone through 5 years ago and that this was thought to be a renewal before the permission ran out.

 

CCllr. Wilson also asked when the Chalet (log cabin) was being taken down, SBC Cllr. Turnbull answered that it had been passed to the enforcement officer.

CCllr. Robson added that the enforcement officer had been, taken pictures and that nothing ha happened, it should have been removed on the 17th July of last year. SBC Cllrs Patterson and Turnbull would check what was happening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCllr. Pennington asked if the old fencing which she felt was an eyesore, was to be removed before the new fencing would be erected, as you approach Hawick from the south, Cllrs Patterson and Turnbull would check.

 

 

12. AREA COMMITTEE REPORT

 

CCllr. Templeman was not present to give her report.

SBC Cllr. Turnbull stated that it had been the shortest meeting ever, approximately 47 minutes, the only major issue was the purchasing of a Thermal Imaging Camera £5000, it was felt that there was no need and voted down,

 

 

13. A7 ACTION GROUP

 

SBC have written to BEAR regarding their inactivity on the A7.

CCllr. Francombe added that new road signs were being fitted at Teviothead, he also asked when the toilets were to be removed at Teviothead, and SBC Cllr. Turnbull replied that he didn’t think it would be soon due to the lack of funding.

 

 

14. CORRESPONDENCE

 

SBC CC Training – Equalities and Diversity

SBC Meetings (Pinks)

SBC Spring Clean Scotland 2010.

MSP letter – Road Transport

SBC Insurance issues for CC’s

SBC Important Info for all CC’s

NSPCC communication for CC’s

The Nature of Scotland SN Heritage

SBC Planning Application Skelfhill – CCllrs Francombe and Hepburn to deal.

 

 

15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

10th May 2010. Teviothead Hall. 7.30pm.

 

 

SBC Cllr. Turnbull asked what was to happen to the hall at Newmill, - it would be demolished.