Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council held on Thursday 29th November 2007
St Boswells Parish Community Council
Minutes of Meeting of St Boswells Parish Community Council
held on Thursday 29th November 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, M.Murray, G.Sinclair, R.Wild.
S.B.C. Cllr. Jim Brown.
P.C. D.Begg (Lothian & Borders Police).
Mr. Jim Hogg ( SBC Parks Dept.)
2 members of the public.
Apologies : R.Lawrie, D.Oliver, I.Skinner.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting :
The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 25th October 2007, had been circulated. R.Wild requested that Item (d) in “Matters arising from the previous minutes” be amended. It should now read : “ Cheviot and Eildon Area Committees – no reply from Alan Niven, but Robin Wild had firmly expressed our views to the Cheviot Area Committee. It seems we are not alone in being dissatisfied with the new arrangements.” The minutes were then accepted.
Matters arising from these minutes would be taken later in the meeting.
Weirgate Avenue Play Park.
A.Reed announced that the Community Council had been awarded a grant of
£10 000 from the “Awards for All” ( National Lottery) fund towards the cost of equipment for the play park. Mr. Jim Hogg then gave details of work done and work planned to be done in the near future. Following the Jenny Moores Road development, SBC had intended that the Weirgate Avenue play park and the play area at the rugby ground should be improved. The community council has paid for the adventure trail, the planters and plants, and the picnic tables. The developer has agreed to provide metal self-closing gates on the linking paths, and a new gate in from Weirgate Avenue. SBC will not be able to provided money additional to the £10 000 from “Awards for All”, so this must cover purchase and installation of further equipment. J. Hogg is recommending some exercise units but the cost of purchase, carriage and installation of one such unit would be £13000, so further funds would be required if this was chosen. After 1st April 2008 it may be possible to get up to £5000 from the Rural Development Fund. A.Reed will contact Jean Robertson about this. R.Wild will check whether the grant from “Awards for All” must be spent within a certain time limit.
A.Reed will place the “Awards for All” certificate on the community council
noticeboard.
Additional litter bins will probably not be available until after April 2008. A.Reed will e-mail J.Hogg details of positions where bins are requested.
It was agreed that the hedge on the east side of the play park should be trimmed.
A.Reed thanked Jim Hogg, Andrea Gillan and her team, and Robin Wild for all the work they had done.
Police Report :
As there was no police report to the previous meeting, this report covers October and November.
There had been 5 calls regarding young people causing annoyance, including one riding a “Minimoto” on the road; 5 calls regarding neighbour disputes; one report to the Neighbourhood Watch meeting of a van repeatedly being parked all day on a private parking area.
A.Reed had attended a meeting of community council chairmen with Inspector K Simpson. He would like the public to phone the police immediately to report complaints, and not to wait until their next Community Council meeting. Also, in order to make best use of police officers’ time, he is suggesting that an officer should attend community council meetings only once per quarter or every second month, but statistics could be provided every month. If a particular matter required attention at any meeting, attendance might be arranged if sufficient notice was given.
After giving the police report, PC Begg left the meeting.
SBC Councillor’s Report.
Jim Brown had no details of the items which Len Wyse was covering. Regarding the SBC campaign against dog fouling, he reported that wardens are in training and will begin work in Kelso and Hawick in week commencing 4th Dec. Members of the public are asked to speak to any dog owner seen allowing a dog to foul a public area, and then if necessary report to the incident to the council.
SBC is considering alterations and improvements to the St.Boswells bus station. Drawings of some proposals are circulated for discussion. No decision will be taken without further consultation.
Jim Brown reported that the SNP has now officially relaxed its ban on co-operation with other political parties. Having given his report Jim Brown left the meeting.
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
(a) Access to garages on Orchard Park – no further information.
(b) Parking on paved areas at Southfield – vehicles now parking on these areas. A.Reed will contact Roads Dept to request that paving be replaced with tarmac.
(c) No reply to request to A.Niven for agendas and minutes of Cheviot and Eildon Area Committees.
(d) The “20’s plenty” signs have been installed at Springfield Terrace, and the hedge has been cut back.
Correspondence and Publications:
1. Letter from Erica Hume Niven re. hedge on Braeheads path. Following an on-
site visit, agreed to trim hedge.
2. Communication from Russell Cramb re. proposed double yellow line parking restrictions at Hamilton Place, Narrowgates, Braeheads and Jean Lawrie Court.
3. Communication from Clare Malster re. voting in Big Lottery Fund TV competition on 26th and 27th November.
4. Minutes of Newtown & Eildon Community Council meeting on 30th October.
5. Notice from ASCC, publicising advantages of membership. St.Boswells Parish CC is a member.
6. Notice re. SBC Scrutiny Committee ( 27th November).
7. Letter from RAF community relations officer offering meeting about low flying exercises.
8. SBC Structure Plan Alteration.
9. Letter from Clare Malster re. Community Council seminars in January and February.
10. Copy of SEPA-View magazine, autumn 2007 issue.
11. Copies of NHS Borders Scottish Health Council Assessment of Patient Focus and Public Involvement 2006/07.
Treasurer’s Report
Total balance is £ 1520.62 which includes £ 953.84 of play park funds, leaving a net balance of £ 566.78 attributable to the Community Council.
Brian Tait has agreed to attend to the Christmas lights. The Hall Committee and Post Office will bill us for electricity used.
Planning Matters:
Nothing to report.
AOB
1. Attention drawn to a report in Border Telegraph describing a dog walk from Jenny Moores Road to the river and back via St Boswells golf course.
2. Street lights in Springfield Square now very rusty and need painting. Also new lights installed in Weirgate have not been connected. ( contact Lisa Chiles, Street Lighting Manager at SBC ).
3. Request to e-mail Community Council minutes to Clare Malster, for inclusion in SBC web-site.
4. The road sweeper has not been round for some time; at least 20 days since last visit, and so a lot of hedge trimmings lying in the road.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at approximately 8.50 pm.
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 31st January 2008, at 7.30pm in the Lesser Village Hall. ( No meeting in December.)
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WELCOME FROM 7.30 PM.
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