AGENDA ITEM AND CONTENT

ACTION POINTS

1.       INTRODUCTIONS

Our sixth meeting of session 2003/2004 was opened at 7.30 p.m. by our Chair, BK. 

Welcome was extended to all attendees. Apart from the committee, it was noted that there were 14 attendees at this meeting.

2. APOLOGIES

There were no apologies received, but it was noted that Carrickstone Community Council were meeting at the same time in the school, and that the Councillors may be at that meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

Copies of the minutes of the last meeting, were available to all meeting attendees, who were given time to read and digest.

The minutes were accepted as being an accurate account of the meeting, nominated by Ms Ailsa Clunie, seconded by Ms Jo Brown.

4. COMMUNITY POLICE REPORT

Constable Shad Scott presented this report.

Since our last meeting, there has been only 1 crime report for the area, which was one of shoplifting at Tesco. The area continues to be one of the lowest for crime reports.

Constable Scott passed on his thanks for our letter to his superiors regarding his support at the Christmas event, which was given during his own time.

When asked about recent contact with the youth club, he stated that he would visit the club again this Friday, talk to the kids, and keep a monitor on any potential problems in the pond vicinity.

As regards the perceived problems with youngsters at the Tesco café, he has spoken to the manager, who appears happy that all is ok at present.

For anyone who wishes to contact Shad, this should be done via the Cumbernauld Police Office at 503900, and request a radio call to be put out.

Shad was thanked for taking the time to come to the meeting and for his report.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES

AP9/2 Path at Craigmarloch Lodge – A letter has been received indicating that it may be included in refurbishment plans. It will be between Craigmarloch Lodge’s representative, Mitchell and Butler, and landowners NLC to decide. Update - AC advised that NLC had lost our letter and that she would send another. The Mitchell and Butler contact had left the company and she would copy the correspondence to them also– ongoing AC.

AP4/5 Community Centre – letter written to NLC, still waiting response. - ongoing AC.

AP2/7 McBride Property / NLC – Letters written requesting details of common land and insurance liability. Still no replies. AC will take up the matter with Councillor McCulloch re Glen Clova, and also write to Persimmons regarding Glen Douglas - ongoing Councillor McCulloch.

AP2/8 Broadband – Present position is that Broadband is not available in Craigmarloch, This has been explained in both the winter Newsletter, and on our web site. We still continue to register interest- ongoing SC/AC.

AP1/9 Local Plan – This plan is apparently well developed, but we have not been consulted regarding same. The new  “Local Plan” will now cover a larger area. AC to try to find out more details. - ongoing BK. (see CC Members feedback)

AP2/1 Pond Pump – This was installed to keep the pond filled with water, but is not working. AC had written to NLC, but no response as yet. E-mailed again - ongoing AC.

AP3/1 Tesco car park maintenance – AC has written to Tesco regarding the poor condition of some areas. Mr Thomson, Customer Service Manager advises that he will get contractors to fix the lumps and bumps. AC - discharged

AP2/4 Strathclyde Police bogus workmen leaflets – will be delivered along with Spring Newsletter. - ongoing AC.

AP4/4 Area boundaries within Craigmarloch – AC to wrote to Community Services Department regarding these. - discharged

AP5/4 A80 upgrade proposals – MO got JAG to request that each Community Council formally objects. - discharged

AP6/4 A80 upgrade proposals – AM raised at the meeting of the Association. - discharged.

AP1/5 Top-up Grant Application – Made by JT – discharged

AP2/5 North Area Committee Meeting  – Attended by AM & BK – discharged.

AP3/5 Community Council Forum  – Letter of complaint written – discharged.

AP4/5 NHS Proposals – See Secretary’s Report – discharged.

AP5/5 Landscaping opposite school – Letter written by BK – discharged.

AP6/5 Hacking & Patersons – Copies of letters written to H&P, and other supportive info provided to couple being sued – discharged.

6. TREASURER’S REPORT

JT presented the Treasurers Report as detailed below.

Bank Account

Income

Opening Balance                                                                  £361.73

Grant Received                                                                     £500.00

                                                                                                £861.73

Expenditure

Cheque No. 015 Rent of School                                         £44.55

Cheque No. 016 NLC Grant repay                                     £500.00

                                                                                                £544.55

Closing Balance                                                                  £317.18

Petty Cash

Opening Balance                                                                  £129.82

Introduced (excess from Christmas event)                      £73.05

                                                                                                £202.87

Closing Balance                                                                  £202.87

Award of Honoraria of £60 to each of 3 CCC members. A vote was taken on this proposal, and was carried. (20 for, 2 against, 1 abstainer).

7. SECRETARY’S REPORT

Various items of correspondence and materials were to hand that would be made available at the end of the meeting to interested parties. These included the Crime Prevention Panel minutes, surgery timetables for Cathy Craigie and Rosemary McKenna, posters and wallet cards also.

The main item in the secretaries’ report was the NHS proposals for North Lanarkshire. AC had attended a meeting on this topic, the previous Friday. 5 proposal options had been put to GP’s, of which none kept Cumbernauld or Kilsyth “ open” between 5-12p.m. regarding local access to a doctor. Coverage is proposed for 1 doctor on call for the whole of North Lanarkshire, for a home visit. The Association of Community Councils has written to all GP’s, all Councillors, MSP’s, and MP’s. There is to be a further meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday 2^nd March 7.30 organised by William Homer, SNP. AC will keep us posted on developments.

8. COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEDBACK

·         Website - SC advised that there have been some changes to the website including news headlines etc. 75 people have now registered their interest in Broadband, and the names have been passed to CK. Chris has also registered with a company E-hotspots, and is investigating access to Broadband via radio, its cost, and reliability. He will keep us posted.

·         Association of Community Councils – AM reported that the AGM was at the end of March. The Association indicated that it would support the Community Council Forum, and AM intends putting his name forward for Chair of the Forum. With regard to the NHS proposals, Alex is to organise a meeting with the 2 Directors of Health in North Lanarkshire on 4^th March. Questions will be prepared in readiness.

·         JAG / A80 – Action continues in an attempt to get a public enquiry into the upgrade agreed to. MO had been on the Leslie Riddoch radio programme with Cathy Craigie and others, and it went well. Donald Gorrie is to examine the alternative Kelvin Valley route. Support for this route has been given by Professor McCormack MEP. An exhibition is also taking place at the Condorrat Social Club. An example of the type of congestion and disruption that would be created in an in-line upgrade was evidenced recently when a lorry hit the over bridge at Haggs and dislodged some concrete. The main road had to be closed for inspection and repairs, resulting in a tailback miles long. 

·         Crime Prevention Panel – The last meeting of the CPP was on 2^nd February. Crime figures are still low. Some areas were complaining of youngsters riding quad bikes and creating a general nuisance. A new committee, the North Lanarkshire Crime Prevention Panel Forum met in the town hall on 26^th January. 5 out of the 8 CPP’s were represented. It is not clear as yet as to the main purpose of this forum.

·         Area Plan – BK stated the Local Plan (as used to be) was no longer applicable to our immediate area, and that our locality would now be included in what would be known as the “North Lanarkshire Plan”, which would cover a much larger area than previous. BK had an information pack in relation to what was now the NLC consultation process. Relevant local groups would be able to submit their input into what they wished the new North Lanarkshire Plan to include. The information pack was structured in sections, and submissions had to be received by NLC by the end of March, in order to be considered. BK asked the assembled meeting if there was anything that anyone wished to input at this time, albeit acknowledging that no-one had had much time as yet to consider the issue. Individual packs are available from Fleming House and also from libraries, which would have to be signed for. We would also try to scan the information on to our website. Stuart McIsaac of NLC has been asked to attend our next “interim” meeting on March 4^th in order that we find out more about the process and ask relevant questions. The past history in our area regarding local plans is not good, with hospitals never built, schools never built, libraries never built, town parks, sports centres, dentists, surgeries, etc, planned for and not delivered. An update will be provided at our next full meeting on 18^th March.

AP1/6 SC

9. FUNDRAISING

It was acknowledged that if we were to apply for a grant for repeating the Christmas event, or something similar, then we would not get anything like we received first time round. We will probably have to have some self-financing initiative, to allow us to run community events.

A number of ideas were discussed including holding a raffle, disco, ceilidh, beetle drive, barbeque, sponsored walk etc. It was agreed that a small working party is to be set up, chaired by AC, to explore further.

AP2/6 AC

10. A.O.C.B.

Nothing further was discussed

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date for the next meeting is as follows:

7.30 p.m., Thursday, 18 March 2004, at the new school.

The interim meeting for Council members will be on 4th March 2004 at 7.00 p.m., followed by meeting with Stuart McIsaac of NLC at 7.30. p.m.