Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council held on Thursday 23rd August 2007

St Boswells Parish Community Council

Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council
held on Thursday 23rd August 2007*, in the Lesser Village Hall, at 7.30pm

Present :
Cllrs A.Reed (chairman), G.Mitchell, D.Dawson,A.Drummond, C.Ellershaw, A.Gillan, J.Grieve, R.Lawrie, M.Murray, G.Sinclair, I.Skinner, R.Wild.
S.B.C. Cllr. Len Wyse.
P.C. D. Begg ( Lothian & Borders Police )
6 members of the public.

Apologies :
D.Oliver

Minutes of the Last Meeting :
The minutes of the last meeting, held on 28th June 2007, were accepted. (There was no meeting in July)
* Note: this meeting, originally scheduled for 30th August 2007, was brought forward 1 week to 23rd August.

[b]Police Report :
This report covered July and August. There had been 7 calls from residents during the gipsy fair regarding vehicles driving at excess speed on the Green; two calls regarding parking on the A68 during a Car Boot Sale on 29th July.
3 thefts or break-ins had been reported: wheels and tyres from a vehicle at Border Toyota; wheels from a car at Weirgate Bank; breaking and entering a car at Butchercourt Farm Cottages.
A window had been broken at the vets’ surgery premises.
There had been 8 calls regarding young people playing ball games at the bus shelter; one young person had been charged with breach of the peace.
D.Oliver’s complaint regarding a noisy scooter was relayed to the meeting. P.C.Begg will contact L & BP Traffic Dept. to have the noise level checked.
SBC Cllr Len Wyse had attended a meeting with Inspector K.Simpson who has recently been appointed to the Kelso division. There is a possibility that we may not in future have the continuity of the same officer regularly attending Community Council meetings. A duty officer may attend if not called away on other business. It was agreed that the chairman would contact Inspector Simpson to express the Council’s concern.

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
a) Road access to houses on St Boswells Green:
R.Wild had contacted SBC Legal Department for further information. It was stated that there was no servitude right for the houses in question but a prescriptive right (of access) now exists. Thus the Community Council has no liability for maintenance or upkeep of the track, but the solicitor suggested we write to the proprietors requesting them to contribute to maintenance. It was the case previously that insurance was covered by the then Borders Regional Council and now by SBC so the Community Council does not require separate insurance.
G Sinclair expressed concern regarding the rights of the proprietors. However it was decided, for the time being, to accept the legal position laid out.
b) “20’s Plenty” signs: No progress yet, but still on the list. In addition some money may be available to improve the bus shelter and surrounding area. (Suggestions requested)
c) Hedge trimming on Jenny Moores Road – this is the responsibility of the landowners whose boundary is the hedge. In this case SBC (re the rugby ground), householders, Ker of the Fens and McCorquindales of Crossflat. A.Reed has written to Mr Ovens regarding the hedge from rugby club to Strae Brigs. R.Wild and A.Gillan will raise the matter with Jim Hogg along with other business on 24th August.

Correspondence and publications:
a) Notes regarding SBC Meetings (all past)
b) National Member Survey 2007 for Association of Scottish Community Councils. Councillors to complete the survey and return to G.Mitchell by mid-September as the replies have to be returned to Glasgow by 1st October 2007.
c) SBC presentation to Focus Groups on Planning & Building Standards (attended by R.Wild and A.Drummond). Although longer than really necessary, this was informative. It covered Building Standards, Development Control and Planning and Research in 20 minutes, then almost 2 hours on ‘e-planning’. Community councils are being asked to put comments/objections to plans online via the SBC website.
d) Because proposed expansion of Newtown St Boswells could spill over into the St Boswells Parish Community Council area, Newtown and Eildon Community Council had suggested that boundary alterations should be considered. A meeting of representatives from both community councils has taken place but it was agreed that a joint consultation with SBC would be followed. A letter setting this out has been drafted and will now be sent to the Director of Planning.
It was noted that the modified Local Plan will be presented to SBC in October. After a short period of public scrutiny it is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
e) A letter from Mr Colin Smith and Mrs Lucy Smith was read out, regarding
the lack of hedge trimming along the Braeheads path. As this used to be a
popular viewpoint they requested the hedge might be reduced so that the view could again be seen. Because of the scenic and conservation designation, could we ask the Core Paths group or SBC local to do this? J.Grieve pointed out that because of weather conditions, hedge growth had been phenomenal this year and it has been hard to keep hedges in control.
f) A letter from Michael Moore had been received regarding the Digital
Forum. Areas which have good TV reception at present should be able to get good digital reception following the October 2007 switchover, and grants for necessary conversion equipment may be available in cases of need.
The public are reminded to be wary of door-to-door salesmen offering equipment at excessive prices.
g) St Boswells came 3rd in the Large Village category in Scotlands Floral
Gateway 2007 competition. (Melrose 1st, West Linton 2nd )
h) Request for footway alongside A68 from Charlesfield Road to Buccleuch Arms.
Letter from Bear states that Transport Scotland have approved request for a study.
i) Information on National Theatre of Scotland performances of two plays on
27th and 28th November 2007 at Jedburgh (“Molly Sweeney” and “A Sheep Called Skye”)
j) Notification from the Drug & Alcohol Action Team on sessions to raise
awareness of problems.
k) Planning Aid will hold their Annual Review on 26th September 2007.
R.Wild will attend.

Playpark in Weirgate Avenue:
A.Gillan reported that the Adventure Trail equipment will be installed Monday 27th – Thursday 30th August. G.Mitchell was thanked for a donation towards the planting. Other equipment originally expected to cost £4699 will total over £8000 including delivery and installation. J.Hogg will carry part of this on his budget. This is scheduled for installation in first week in September.
Planters and tables have been installed, the latter being well used. Disappointment on topsoil deliveries may not matter as soil excavated during equipment installation may be useable.
So far £1058.50 has been raised locally (held in account by Treasurer). A further £1400 raised 2-3 years ago, held in account may be made over also.
The Application to Awards for All is being progressed but the Lottery Officer will also be approached for other funding from the Community Scheme.
The meeting again thanked Andrea for her efforts.

Treasurer’s Report
Total balance is £2740.51, of which £1058.50 is for the Play Park leaving £1682.01 attributable to the Community Council

Planning Applications
a) Braeheads Stables – installation of some new doors and windows.
b) Permission granted to Messrs Reed, Brown and Cameron for erection of signboard at new Vet surgery.

SBC Councillor’s Report
Proposals being brought forward for Waste Management and for Flood Prevention.
The request for a 30mph speed limit on A68 at the Buccleuch Arms needs police support before it will be considered.
The meeting agreed to Councillor Lawrie’s proposal that the Community Council would not oppose giving up part of The Green at the A68 to allow widening of the road at the junction, for a mini-roundabout or improved traffic arrangement, should this be found necessary.
The request for dog waste bins at the rugby ground has been progressed. Cllr Wyse was asked to remind SBC of our requested dog waste bin at the west (A68) end of the footway along The Croft.
A free school meal service for 3-6 year olds is proposed.
A survey on public satisfaction with grass cutting and management in parks and open spaces is being conducted. The general opinion at the meeting was that we are pleased with the work in St Boswells.

AOB

1. Cheviot Area Committee informed us by letter that the Planning Application for a Child Care Residence had been considered on 25th July but the application is being continued to a further meeting.
2. Core Path Planning. There will be informal consultation on 28th September 2007 followed by formal consultation in 2008.
3. One resident in Orchard Park had received a letter from SBC regarding vehicle access across the public footway without having the kerb dropped. Cllr Wyse will follow up.
4. The paved area at the corner of Southfield is now becoming very cracked
due to it being used for car parking. Has parking ever been officially approved?
5. The efficient and obliging service provided by the refuse collection staff was
praised by Mrs. Hall.

Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 27th September 2007 at 7.30pm in the Lesser Village Hall.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WELCOME.