Minutes of the meeting of the Cromarty and Distirct Community Council held on the 22nd February 2002 in the Hugh Miller Institute, Cromarty.

Present: Councillors Anne Short (in the chair), Alan Hunter, Wilf Taylor, Alex Davidson, Douglas Cooper, Margaret Binnie, Co-opted members, Tanyella Alison and Charlie Davidson. Highland Councillor Dr David Alston and Youth Development worker, Duncan Ostler.

1. Apologies for absence:

Jenny Fyfe, Michael McBean, Trish McIver, Sandy Thomson and Maria Peter. In the absence of the Secretary, Wilfred Taylor deputised.

2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of 23rd January 2002

Approved by Alan Hunter and seconded by Wilf Taylor subject to following points

Dr David Alston does not attend as a member of the Council but comes in attendance as the Highland Councillor for the area

Concerning the notice board update, Wilf Taylor was not able to give a definite cost although he has now obtained one.

As regards guidebook sales, Margaret Binnie agreed that she had not stated that the sub-committee was reviewing the style of book, rather that the reprinting of a colour brochure was under discussion by the sub-committee.

3. Matters arising from minutes not covered elsewhere

Anne Short recommended that members of the public wishing to bring up further items for discussion should let her have them two weeks in advance of a meeting.

4 Mthly calendar of events

Alex Davidson asked, arising from earlier minutes, if any progress had been made on the display of a monthly calendar of events. The answer was nothing further had yet been done.

5. Hugh Miller 2002 ­ Meeting held on February 1st

Alan Hunter distributed copies of the complete Community Events Programme, which the council agreed was most impressive. He went on to give an update of the meeting held on the 1st Feb, and other developments.

Susan Christie was going to give information about the obtaining or making of Victorian costumes.
The steering group has proposed that the proposed brochures were looking very good.
The procurement of smart T-shirts with a pertinent logo was going ahead.
A number of costings have already been finalised.
The organising of the presentation the prizes and the closure of the events had been decided on.
There might be the need for two ceilidhs instead of one to accommodate everybody.
Anne Short confirmed that a sum of over £8600 still remained in the Hugh Miller 2002 Fund.

6. Cromarty ­ Nigg Ferry

David Alston advised the committee that there had been one response by Wednesday the closing date to the advertisement for tenders.

7 Treasurers Report

In Jenny Fyfe's absence, Anne Short quote up to date figures.
There is now £5131.42 in the main account . Otherwise the breakdown remained the same as the previous month although a sum of £17.38 had been paid in January A letter of thanks had been received by the treasurer for the £69 send to the Benevolent Fund.

8. Forsyth Flower Beds Update

8.1 Sam Lowe has spoken to Sandy Thomson on this matter and confirmed his offer of half the cost of the planting scheme i.e. £1500 still stood. Wilfs application to the Highland Council's Environmental Projects Scheme for the other half had failed. Sam Lowe offered to come up with a more modest scheme at a cost of £2000 and thought that his department could provide the whole of this. He hopes to start planting in spring.

8.2 As regards planting of Cherry Trees in Victoria Park, Sandy had asked the committee of the Action Group to progress this. Sam Lowe is to order 10 trees along with stakes, ties and fertiliser. We would have to organise a work group to plant them. The cost of £200 would be met from last years Cromarty Trust money.

9. Cromarty Community Action Group

The committee had a meeting with Jackie McGinnity of RACE and Andy McCann of Highland Council. Delegates had attended a meeting to be briefed on the CED programme. The arrangements had great complexities but the Action group intended to invite all organisations in the town with all Community Councillors to a reception at which the funding position could be explained. They would be given a start up grant of £50,000 out of a total sum of £600,000 from the European Union over the next two years. This has to be matched by an equal amount of public sector funding. All being well, there could be £1200,000 available for Ross and Cromarty between now and December 2003.

All the information on the above two items had come from Sandy Thomson in an email to the Chair.

10. Town Yard Visit

Four councillors plus Duncan Ostler and Malcolm Mckean had gone to the recent meeting. Various ideas for the use of the area had been put forward;

Alex Davidson said that one local business had expressed interest in taking over the site.
Duncan Ostler said it would be good if the yard could be put to educational use.
Margaret Binnie asked if the site could be a project for the next visit of American Students.
Alan Hunter wondered if a number of units for a variety of uses could be constructed.
The Chairman wondered if the site could be gifted to the Community Council by the local authority.
The Highland Councillor said it would be necessary to put the site on the open market and Alex Davidson suggested we go to the Highland Council to do this straight away.

However after further discussion it was agreed to set up a subcommittee to consider Community Council use of the site before putting it on the market. This sub committee would report back to the Council at its next meeting. Members will be Margaret Binnie, Alex Davidson and possibly Sandy Thomson.

11. Youth Issues

Charlie and Tanyella were enthusiastic about some of the activities in progress. The martial arts classes had been especially appreciated. Duncan Ostler said these had been well attended, their costs being covered by a few sources. He said the Victoria Hall committee had given two back changing rooms for use. He had also made a visit to the school canvassing about various activities. He has agreed to take charge of the public address equipment. Duncan had also acquired a number of volunteers to work on the bus shelter. The Chairman said the restoration of this should be completed by April.

12. Library Railings

Alan Hunter passed around his plans for the new handrails at the Library. The planning department had told him that planning permission was not necessary, as the handrails would not be attached to the building. The cost would be £225 + VAT which would include primer and topcoat. Galvanising will cost £100 extra.
It was decided that galvanising would be advisable. David Alston said that the Library Service would donate £100. The chairman said that she would enquire about taking money from the Common Good Fund to cover the rest.

13. Planning Matters

Margaret Binnie advised that she had received two applications both to do with oil fired heating

14. Highland Councillors Report

David Alston had nothing to add beyond that already given.

15. Election Update

The chairman said that the date for the election had been set at 29th May. A notice would be put in the Ross-shire Journal on the 25th May. There would be two press releases. It was likely to be a joint election with Resolis Community Council, the cost to be shared with them. The Chairman had received costings supplied by the Royal Mail for the Freepost system. The Freepost envelopes would be sent to Malcolm McArthur. David Alston said the Highland Council would help to meet the costs.

16. Correspondence

16.1 e-mail from Sandy Thomson concerning trees in the park, Forsyth Flower bed and the Community Action Group
16.2 Letter from Highland Council re winter maintenance of roads. Our most appropriate meeting place would be on Friday 22nd March at Fortrose Service Point, 10am to noon.
16.3 Copy of letter to Mr Caine, 3 Braehead from Roads and Transport Manager re surfacing of the Braehead
16.4 Copy of letter from John Duncan to John Nightingale covering three issues.
16.5 Letter from Sam Lowe re Community Works Progress Meetings. Our appropriate meeting would be at the Fortrose Service Point on Thursday 28th Feb, joining at 11am. Our response had to be received by the 28th Feb.
16.6 Letter from Head Teacher, Cromarty Primary re visit to Outdoor Centre in Fort William for a week in May. Would the Community Council consider contributing to transport costs? It was agreed to do so.
16.7 Material had been received from SEPA
16.8 Chairman had received a cheque from the Common Good Fund for £440 for two different purposes.

17. Any other business

Douglas Cooper expressed concern at how little the collection for Dr Hendry's retirement presentation has been advertised. The Chairman reminded the meeting that the Surgery had come to the Council for help in this matter but we did not want to be perceived as showing favouritism to any one person, so she had set up a committee. A door to door collection was felt to be out of place but a note slipped through the doors mentioning the deadline of 9th March would be useful. Duncan Ostler said he should be able to get volunteers to deliver these.

The Chairman mentioned the prevalence of the dumping of cars in several locations. It was agreed that this needed serious attention.

Next Meeting, Tuesday 26th March 2002 in the Hugh Miller Institute.