Present: Councillors Anne Short (in the chair), Alan Hunter, Wilf Taylor, Alec Davidson, Douglas Cooper, Sandy Thomson, Jenny Fyfe, Trish McIver, Co-opted member, Charlie Davidson, Highland Councillor David Alston and Maria Peter (Secretary)

1. Apologies for absence:
These were received from Tanyella Alison.

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of 26th March 2002
Approved by Douglas Cooper and seconded by Sandy Thomson.

3. Matters arising from minutes not covered elsewhere:
Information Plaque
Alec Davidson advised that there is a historical "catalogue" of council meetings and asked that when projects are undertaken, that the person or people responsible are named. It would be wonderful for relatives to look back on!

The councillors asked for an update on the Town Yard sale. David Alston advised that co-ordination of the sale is now with Malcolm Mackean. David said that he would speak with Andy for an update.

4. Hugh Miller 2002 Update
Alan Hunter explained that everything is on track and going very well.

This includes, complete distribution of the programme (a big thank you to all people that helped post the programme), media coverage for the, Who's Hugh? Campaign with T-shirts now on sale and an advertisement for the Street Fair will go in the paper w/c 6th May.

Douglas Cooper suggested we make or store some stalls to be used in the Street Fair or future events.

5. Nigg-Ferry Update
The service will resume on the 1st June. The times of the service will be the same as last year.
David Alston thanked Talisman and the Highland Council for their support in getting this service up and running.

6. Treasurer's Report:
There is currently £5531.72 in the account.

The Miller account balance stands at £12,241.18

7. Bus Shelter Update
The roof is now on and the shelter is ready to paint. Anne Short asked for volunteers to help with the painting. Ongoing maintenance was highlighted and will be an agenda item at the next council meeting.

8. Youth Issues
Charlie confirmed that the youth activities are going well.
He also asked the council to consider the need for a bus-shelter at the car-park end of the town. Anne Short advised that Duncan Ostler might be able to tap into a B and Q funding initiative.

9. Cromarty Community Action Group Town Yard Visit:
The Steering Group AGM was held on Monday 25th April. Ross and Cromarty Funding has been approved at area level. The CCAG is now in a position to apply for the European Funding element. Application forms are being produced along with a letter that will be posted to all Cromarty residents, businesses and community groups asking for proposals.

10. Common Good Fund
The funding support for the library railings has arrived. The council is waiting for the funding for Cromarty Primary School Trip, which has been approved and applied for.

11. Highland Councillors Update
David Alston advised that there were no matters for update.

12. Planning Matters
Margaret Binnie advised of one application from the Cromarty Arts Trust for interpretative panels within the area, one at Eathie car park, one at the main car park and one adjacent to the waste water treatment park.
David Alston advised that the consultative draft of planning would be published next month.

13. Election Update:
Anne Short confirmed that Jean McBeath would be the Returning Officer for both Cromarty and Resolis. Posters are up in town and the formal notice in the Ross-shire Journal has been published. Last day for receipt of nominations is the 9th May.
Anne Short also asked for volunteers to help with the Postal Ballot and David Alston advised that if a Postal Ballot was needed, there could be financial support from the Highland Council.

14. NOSWA Update
There is a general concern for the effect that the large construction lorries may have on some houses in Cromarty. The lorries are so large that some houses are shaking as they go past.

This will be advised at the next meeting with NOSWA along with a commitment for any work not to interrupt the Hugh Miller celebrations.

15. Correspondence:
15.1 Letter from Sandy Thomson giving notice of his intention to resign from the Community Council after the April meeting.
Anne Short expressed that the community council was extremely appreciative of all the good work Sandy has done in his term and was very sad to lose such a valuable member of the council. Sandy will continue to focus on his other work with Cromarty Community Groups particularly the Adult Learners and the Cromarty Community Action Group.

15.2 Letter from Major Phipps advising that all the brambles has been cleared.

15.3 Letter from Colin Dunn to Sandy Thomson concerned about the position of the bottle banks and dumped branches by the Coast Guard building.

The council agreed that the bottle banks are in the most practical position for pick up. Sandy Thomson will take up the issue of the branches.

15.4 Invitation from the Black Isle Partnership to attend a progress meeting. Sandy Thomson to ask a member of the Cromarty Community Action Group to attend and to update the council.

15.5 Update on Rural Development.

16. Any Other Business:
Sandy Thomson advised that as part of this focus on fewer activities, he would not be continuing to maintain the Community Council web site and he asked if anyone would like to take this on? He also suggested that it might be incorporated into the Black Isle Partnership website?

Margaret Binnie raised the issue of the erosion on the 100 Steps and the Health and Safety risks it now proposes. David Alston advised that the Highland Council have an agreement to maintain the Steps. He said that he would contact Martin Hind to discuss.

Alan Hunter asked if the library railings should be erected after the Street Fair. The council agreed that work should be carried out in time for the Street Fair.

David Alston flagged that there is spare furniture from the library that could be usefully used elsewhere.

Alec Davidson advised that the beach needs cleaning and said that he would be happy to co-ordinate volunteers to do this.

Wilf Taylor advised that Jean McBeath had expressed that the railings up to the war memorial have become very rusty and the two seats either side of the tree in the graveyard need painting.

Wilf Taylor also advised that the Visitor Information Panel has been ordered.

Wilf then brought up the issue of street drinking. Wilf has been advised that both visitors and locals get abuse from street drinkers. Fortrose, Munlochy and Avoch have a street drinking law that prevents it. It was asked whether this would be practical for Cromarty. Due to its importance and appropriate time needed to discuss fully, this will be an agenda item for the next meeting.

Eric Malcolm would like to convey his thanks for the Civic Award he received.

A call was taken from John Meiklejohn complaining about the state of the public toilets on the links. The council agreed that they are not up to standard. David Alston will contact June Ross to discuss any action that can be taken.

17. Date of Next Meeting:
This would take place on Wednesday 5th June, 7.30pm in the Hugh Miller Institute.