March 2010 KCC Minutes

Minutes of the Kirkmahoe Community Council Meeting of the 17th February, in Kirkton Village Hall.

Present – Jean Muir, John Young, Derek Ivy, Neil Munro, Hugh Johnstone, Peter Landale, Claire Corlett
In Attendance – Cllr John Charteris, Cllr Lorna McGowan and three members of the public.

1 – Apologies – Pam Taylor, Ivor Hyslop, Jeff Leaver, David Howdle

2 – Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes were approved by JM and seconded by JY.

3 – Matters arising from the minutes

3.1 – The Council is looking into the matter of the ditch behind Willow Cottage. Noted that there is water damage to the masonry under the culvert.

3.2 – The subject of water bore holes at Duncow playing fields is ongoing. (The holes are not on the actual playing fields).

4 – Treasurer’s report

4.1 – KCC has received £585.70 in respect of administrative support for 2009/10.

4.2 – KCC has received acknowledgements for its requests for support for the 2010 Gala and the 2011 Senior Citizens’ Social events.

4.3 – KCC Constitution – it appears that KCC may not have formally prepared and adopted a Constitution. D & G Council says that the last valid document was that applying before the split from Locharbriggs. Normally, the grants would be withheld until this omission Is rectified, but there is to be a general revision of all Constitutions commencing this year, so we have been told to do nothing, bar approve and send in the financial constraints form.
They await our formal acceptance of the financial constraints requirement. This was mentioned briefly in the last Minutes, but the situation needs to be formalised. Accordingly, the Treasurer made the following specific proposal and request that this be recorded in the minutes of this Meeting as a permanent record until KCC has adopted a new Constitution:

“It was agreed that there should be a minimum of two authorised signatories who are not connected. The definition of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 for “connected” was read out to all concerned.
Once signed, this document will be sent to Dumfries & Galloway Council and then our applications for grant assistance for events will be considered formally.
4.4 – Senior Citizens’ Social event, 2010. Some 42 people attended a lively and entertaining evening in Kirkton Village Hall. The total expenditure was £370. Dumfries & Galloway Council grant was £250, raffle brought in £41. The cash cost to KCC was £79 which was money well spent. £200 was donated in the form of liquid refreshments and Raffle prizes. KCC is most grateful for these donations.

4.5 – Airtricity Grant. KCC still awaits a detailed, costed proposal of £2,000 for further work to Kirkton Village Hall. Until this work is identified in the form of a costed quotation, it will not be possible to access the funds.

4.6 – Data Control Registration. KCC is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. The annual renewal fee of £35 will be collected in March.
4.7 – KCC to have relevant insurance for all events.

5 – Remuneration for Minutes Secretary. It was proposed by JM and seconded by JY that the honorarium paid to the Clerk to the Committee be increased to £350 p a.

6 – PA System. Two quotes were obtained, £602 and £352. It was decided to buy the cheaper one. JC informed the meeting that Auldgirth CC are buying a large sound system, which KCC could hire if needed. The KCC sound system is to be stored with Peter Landale at Dalswinton House and can be booked by members of the community only.

7 – Report of Emergency Planning Subcommittee

7.1 – Meeting with David Gurney attended by David Howdle, NM, JY, JM,. It proved to be a successful meeting with good rapport. NM received some leaflets with useful information. These were circulated to the committee. David Howdle, NM and JY in process of completing planning document which KCC can use. DH has written a piece for Grapevine.

8 – Update on Village Green Enhancement

8.1– Christmas tree lights – NM to have a meeting with Callum Edgar, on 18th February in order to discuss how to potentially install a safe and technically competent power supply to facilitate electricity for decorative Christmas lights in the trees on the green. If this work is done now when the new lamp posts are being put up, it would be to KCC’s advantage.

8.2 – Telephone Box – there will be an article by NM, in Grapevine re the telephone box.

8.3 – The Village Green is becoming very unsightly as people are driving over and parking on the grass. KCC (NM) will look into obtaining a grant for improving the centre of the village.

9 – Events

Friday, 12th March, 7.30 pm – Beetle Drive in Kirkton Village Hall (JY). Donations please.

Befrienders Quiz, Friday, 19th March in Kirkton Village Hall.

Sunday 11th April, 2pm – Spring Clean in Kirkton. This is a new and exciting event for residents and non-residents. Registrations by 21st March if booking a table. Advertisement re Spring Clean and the Car Boot Sale in Grapevine. Tea and coffee will be served in the hall.

Sunday, 13th June, Gala with Lottery and Grand Prize Draw where the first prize is a weekend away. Tickets (3000) will be available in April. Prizes to be decided by 9th March (next Events Subcommittee meeting). Need more attractions to encourage more people to attend.

10 – Grapevine - £306 for 400 copies.

11 – Kirkton Blog – Jill Corlett of Meadowbank is willing to take on responsibility for setting up and running the blog, which is a cost effective way to inform many re community matters. A blog is free whereas a website is costly. Jill is also willing to edit the information, which is put on the blog. The address of the blog is

http://kirkmahoenews.blogspot.com/

12 – Councillors’ Report

(LMcG) The Council have put through a budget to reduce Council costs by £5.5M this year. There will be an increase in kinship care allowances, a freeze on Council Tax, more money for the upkeep of roads and a disable persons badge is to cost £20 for 3 years. Next year the savings are to be £12M, thereafter £20M.

One of the damaged floodbanks near Carnsalloch has been repaired. The other is waiting to be repaired after talks with the landowner.

Flooding in the area needs to be looked at by KCC, focussing on The Whitesands which the Council needs to take responsibility for.

Winter Maintenance Revue – the way the roads are cleared in winter needs to be rewritten. It is important that it goes to public comment. A report needs to be written.

13 – Police Report – Nothing of significance to report.

14 – Planning Matters

– (HJ) The L-shaped workshops at Carnsalloch are to be demolished and a new 11/2 storey house is to be built instead. There is no reason to object, but at the same time KCC do not want over development in the grounds of a listed building.

15 – Correspondence – Nothing of significance to report.

16 – Any other business – The topic of next month’s meeting will be
The Local Plan

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 in Kirkton Village Hall at 7.30 pm.