UPPER TEVIOTDALE & BORTHWICK WATER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Community Council Meeting of 10th May 2010 held in Teviothead Village Hall at 7.30pm

 

Present:           CCllrs Francombe (Chair), Templeman (Vice), Robson, Pennington (Treas) and Douglas

In Attendance: SBC Cllrs Turnbull, Smith and Patterson, Mr Plumbe and Mr Godfrey (Sec)

 

1                     Apologies: CCllr Friell and Wilson

 

2                     Police Report : None. Concern was raised over the incidence of cattle and sheep rustling, with especially the numbers of animals taken at any one time. While not having happened so far in the Ward cases have occurred nearby. Another form of theft, that of cut firewood, has taken place, the latest being in the Roberton valley.

 

3                     Minutes of Previous Meeting: the minutes were passed as read. Proposed by CCllr Douglas, seconded by CCllr Robson.

 

4                     Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes:

 

The matter of the demonstration dwelling (log cabin) at Craik was raised and the site discussed. The SBC Cllrs will carry out follow up inquiries on progress, if any.

 

5                     Typing Arrangements for the CC

 

CCllr Templeman volunteered to take over the task from Mrs MacMillan. The CCllrs agreed and thanks offered to Mrs MacMillan for her services over the past years.

 

6                     Treasurers Report

 

The audit has been completed of the main account which presently stands at £1,700 in credit and there only remains the Secretary’s cash float to  be scrutinised and the public report will be ready in full in time for the AGM. The Code of Conduct of CCllrs is to be read out at the AGM in compliance with the new regulations. The CCllrs then discussed the new Grant scheme and the system of monitoring of donations.

 

7                     Timber Transport

 

There was still controversy over the passage of timber wagons down the Newcastleton road into Hawick and through Drumlanrig Square. This was a cause for concern on several counts.

 

8                     Wind Farm update

 

The latest meeting of the sub-committee has decided to opt for the single committee of twelve members, being a mix of CCllrs from the three CCs involved and a number of members of the public from the three areas. The Foundation (Scottish) has another meeting next week and the project is moving towards a conclusion, which will ultimately be satisfactory to all the CCs involved. The traffic management plan was described in broad terms by the Chairman who had attended a meeting by the firm and the question of Section 96 Order was raised through the SBC Cllrs. This concerns the question of damage and re-construction which occurs during and after construction. The SBC Cllrs would hopefully be able to clarify this point at the next meeting. SBC Cllr Smith advised that a Supplementary Planning Guidance on Wind Energy (Draft) site plan should be obtained as soon as possible.

 

9                     Hawick Community Windfarm

 

There is presently nothing to report and SBC Cllr Smith advised on the latest information he had.

 

10                 SBC Cllrs Report

 

SBC Cllr Turnbull spoke about the rail-link to Edinburgh and the Perth Timber Conference where road damage had been discussed. The new Fire Chief was Mr Campbell. The re-development of Hawick has commenced.

 

SBC Cllr Patterson had no complaints from constituents other than the road signs for Skelfill and Priesthaugh which were damaged.

 

SBC Cllr Smith had states his information in previous items.

 

11                 Area Committee Report

 

There have been two meetings, Insp Scott has moved on from Hawick Police and Insp Porter is standing in until the Autumn. At the last meeting in April Wilton Lodge Park had made a very good presentation. CCllr Templeman explained a new post in Public Services – Energy Officers, and described their duties. Official community council sponsored activities are covered by Public insurance, this has been confirmed.

 

12                 A7 Action Group

 

There was a meeting in Selkirk but no representation from Bear or Transport Scotland had meant nothing had been achieved with regard to solutions.

 

13                 Correspondence

 

Please see attached.

 

14                 Date of Next Meeting

 

The next meeting of the CC will be on 5th July 2010 in Roberton Village Hall commencing with the AGM at 7.00pm, followed immediately by the Bi-Monthly meeting at 7.30pm