INVERKIP AND WEMYSS BAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of Business Meeting held on Thursday 1st of June 2006
Inverkip Hotel at 7.30pm

Present: Innes Nelson (chairman); Ron Potter (vice chairman); Cliff Lyons (treasurer); Paul Maloney; Hugh Ritchie; Harold McPherson and Lynne Chambers (secretary)

Apologies: none

In attendance: Cllr Eric Forbes; Sgt Norrie Barnes; PC Willie Howat; Alan Cumming; N. Cupples; Isabel Hunter; W. MacFarlane; Jim McIntosh; Fran McIntosh; Julia McLellan; Alison Nugent

3. Police Matters: Sgt Barnes introduced P.C. Willie Howat as the new community officer for the area. He had held a surgery in Inverkip police office the previous evening to meet locals and was quite pleased with the response. He will continue to hold these surgeries in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay and will pass a notice of dates to the secretary who will post them in the villages. Cliff Lyons asked what news there was on a break-in at the Pavilion. Evidently only sweeties had been taken. Groups of youths gathering around the Pavilion after it’s closed are being asked to move on and extra patrols are in place. Sgt Barnes said even the Scouts’ bothie at the Cloch Road End had been broken into – there was nothing to steal, but bolt cutters had been used. Alan Cumming said he’d contacted the Problem Solving Unit about youngsters trying to intimidate a neighbour of his. He alerted the officer to the situation. Ron Potter asked if it was appropriate the school bus should park outside Inverkip Primary School for twenty minutes – as had happened that afternoon – blocking traffic completely. Sgt Barnes said that period of time was not acceptable but agreed with Cllr Forbes that the children’s safety is paramount. Cllr Forbes felt the problem was a car parking rather than a school bus problem. Alison Nugent said a broken down car had added to problems. Cllr Forbes said there will be a launch soon of a ‘walk safe routes to school’ project. Innes Nelson said the morning school bus could hold traffic up for as much as ten minutes. Alison Nugent said inconsiderate parking at the school was a big problem. Cllr Forbes said 90% of the problem was inconsiderate driving. P.C. Howat will observe the situation towards better traffic management. Cllr Forbes will ask the Head Teacher to pass on more considerate parking advice. Innes Nelson said the Community Council had been approached by a lady living in Millburn Court in Inverkip about kids playing football and running through the gardens. P.C. Howat has spoken to the lady. As an extension of this conversation it was reported the Head Teacher has declared there should be no-one in the
school grounds after 3.30pm. However as photographs - taken by Cliff Lyons – showed,
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fencing around the school has gaps permitting access. Cllr Forbes said that as soon as the fence is repaired it’s broken again. Innes Nelson was of the opinion the fence was beyond repair and should be replaced. It looked as if angle iron had been welded on to rusty fencing. Cllr Forbes said the blacksmith would be asked to attend to the fence but he will look into the overall condition of the fence. P.C. Howat has agreed to supply crime statistics to the Community Council and he reported in May 2006 in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay there had been 26 reported crimes with 11 detected. In May 2005 there had been 31 crimes reported and only 10 detected. So, he said, crime’s down and detection up. Lynne Chambers said she’d received a phone call at the beginning of the week from Inspector Campbell Crawford from Greenock, introducing himself and saying he had already made visits to people in Inverkip who had policing issues. He stood ready to come to speak to the Community Council when and if it was felt necessary.

4. Attendance by Laura Gray of URS, the consultants retained by Inverclyde Council to examine the parking proposal adjacent to Wemyss Bay train station:
Laura Gray said their remit was to conduct a feasibility study into a park and ride facility for bus/ferry and train passengers. URS has identified 3 potential sites as suitable - an infill site adjacent to the current parking area for ferries; Pearson’s parking site and within the station. Innes Nelson said the issue presented to the Community Council by Wemyss Bay householders whose homes fronted on to the A78 was residents’ parking. Residents are unable to park in front of their homes as passengers for the ferry park there. It was pointed out Inverclyde Council has no say on trunk road parking. Graham Scott who speaks for the Wemyss Bay residents has said even if no parking spaces were allocated to residents, they could have a permit that exempted them from time limits. Laura Gray said it would no doubt be mentioned in the feasibility study, but Cllr Forbes doesn’t think it will happen. Laura Gray said when the feasibility study became a proposal there would be further consultation with residents. Cllr Forbes had expected the consultants to speak to the affected residents. Laura Gray said that hadn’t been part of the remit, and that consulting with the Community Council – as requested by Cllr Forbes – was seen as resident consultation. However Cllr Forbes asked the consultants to contact the residents in question. Laura Gray said she would speak to Inverclyde Council about it. Cliff Lyons asked if parking would be charged. Laura Gray replied that if the car park was run by Inverclyde Council probably not, as no charging is their current policy. If run by Caledonian Macbrayne probably a charge and if located in the station there would be a charge. The Community Council said the infill site was their preferred site. Cllr Forbes said the North Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute Councils should also have an interest in the proposed park and ride site. Laura Gray said the proposed project was supposed to be a big transport interchange, but currently there are no plans to improve the hourly train service from Wemyss Bay. She asked if the Community Council was generally supportive of the park and ride proposal. Innes Nelson said the Council was supportive but he thought to work well it should be free. Laura Gray was thanked for her attendance.

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5. Presentation by Alison Nugent of Kip Nippers re community centre: Alison Nugent immediately made it clear she wasn’t attending the meeting as a Kip Nippers’ representative but as a representative of a group called Inverkip Community Enterprise (ICE). Alison Nugent had been asked to return to make a presentation to the Community Council following her contribution to the debate on a community centre for Inverkip at the April 2006 meeting. Alison Nugent said she had been in contact with the Kilmacolm community centre group and said what they had achieved was fantastic and her group was hoping to learn from Kilmacolm’s experience. ICE has arranged a public meeting for the whole village on Tuesday 13th June in the Inverkip Pavilion to establish an elected working committee, and 1 to 2 weeks later call the committee together. Jim Wood from the Kilmacolm group has been invited to attend the public meeting to share funding information and their experience. The Kilmacolm group’s advice was to survey the whole village as to what was wanted in a community centre and then analyse the findings. Those findings would then be summarised and presented to Inverclyde Council. Jim McIntosh has agreed to work with ICE to seek charitable status. A copy of Kilmacolm’s business plan was available and their website was recommended for information. Cllr Forbes admitted that in Inverkip ground for a centre was a problem. Hugh Ritchie declared himself puzzled as to the establishment of ICE when he felt the Community Council represented the community at large. So why could this work not be done through the Community Council. Alison Nugent said that while she intended no disrespect to the Community Council they had several issues to address. Like Kilmacolm, this would be a separate group with new blood and one focus. There followed a discussion - sometimes heated - involving suggestions a member of the Community Council could be elected to ICE’s new committee; was it felt the Community Council wasn’t representative of village views and an attempt would be made to discover why Kilmacolm decided to set up a group outside their Community Council - though there is a crossover of membership. Innes Nelson was concerned if there is separation and ICE went off at a tangent, it may be the Community Council could end up opposing their proposal. Hugh Ritchie thought the work could be done by a Community Council sub-committee with co-opted members. He declared that in his entire working experience he had never worked with a more democratic and transparent organisation than Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Community Council. Ron Potter said he understood Alison Nugent’s frustration about what appeared to be endless delays, but she must know the Community Council – following a well attended public meeting - had put details to Inverclyde Council’s planning department of a community centre incorporating the villagers’ most desired elements. These details would be presented to developer Stewart Milne as part of discussions surrounding their planning application. Was there not a fear that there could be confusion and a blurring of lines? Cllr Forbes confirmed the developers know of Inverkip villagers’ desire to have a community centre. However, if their application is not approved it’s back to the drawing board as far as a community centre is concerned. Fran McIntosh asked Alison Nugent what her group could do that the Community Council couldn’t. She repeated her belief that the ICE committee would bring new blood and a new set of eyes. It would endeavour to recruit the skills available in the village for help and advice, and focus on one project. Hugh Ritchie maintained
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that such a group should be fed through the Community Council for democracy and transparency’s sake. Ron Potter said if the project became a reality would the ICE group take over the running of such a centre. He felt if pulling in different directions it could weaken the project. Innes Nelson remembered that the village had paid for a facility in the past – then the ‘wrong people’ took over the running of it and it all fell apart. He had concerns about this perhaps happening again. He felt if built, if the running of the centre went awry then the centre should revert to the Community Council. Cllr Forbes pointed out that in Kilmacolm there were various groups operating – the Community Council, the community centre group and the Civic Trust. He also said there was another body alongside the Community Council in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay in the shape of the Wemyss Bay Community Association. However Innes Nelson pointed out that Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Community Association had been in existence before Wemyss Bay Community Association was established. Lynne Chambers asked Cllr Forbes if there was an indication of the progress of the Stewart Milne application to see what kind of timetable may be involved regarding a decision on a potential community centre as part of planning gain. He said that their application had been withdrawn from the pre-agenda planning meeting, the developers had asked for the application to be continued and there were meetings between planners and the developers. He understood they were hoping to submit the application to the planning committee in August. Jim McIntosh had been in touch with David Ashman of Inverclyde Council’s planning department who said that McInally Associates and Stewart Milne have consulted solicitors to seek a legal opinion on the proposed Inverkip station bridge gradient and whether it is DDA compliant. Innes Nelson said he had hoped there would have been a decision by now. Cllr Forbes said he was on holiday in September. Ron Potter asked Alison Nugent what questions would be asked at the public meeting and it was agreed thought would need to be given to the wording. It was learned that notice of ICE’s public meeting was included in the current village newsletter and therefore couldn’t be delayed. Ron Potter made a suggestion - as Alison Nugent, Jim McIntosh and Cliff Lyons were aware of the Kilmacolm situation, but not the remainder of Community Council members, could further consideration be deferred until next month’s business meeting and after ICE’s public meeting. Alison Nugent agreed to discover why the Kilmacolm community centre group had decided to go it alone and said she would return to next month’s business meeting of the Community Council.

6. Minutes of Business Meeting held on the 4th of May 2006 – matters arising: Community facilities: Ron Potter asked Cllr Forbes whether there was any particular time a funding proposal should be made to Inverclyde Council. Cllr Forbes said the Capital Fund was ongoing and a proposal could come forward at any time.
Secretary’s Report and Correspondence: Ron Potter asked if there had been any response from Robert Polland and Lorraine Marshall of inverkip.com to the invitation to attend June’s Business Meeting. Lynne Chambers said she’d received no reply to the email she’d sent. Paul Maloney undertook to speak to Robert Polland and report back.
Paul Maloney confirmed he’d responded to the Scottish Executive’s consultation
document on the strategy for a Scotland with an ageing population. Innes Nelson said no
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meeting had as yet been arranged to discuss Core Paths but would pursue with the Planning Department the name of the new officer looking after the issue
Any other business: Cllr Forbes confirmed that the five-a-side pitch in the area of the community centre in Wemyss Bay will be going ahead
The Minutes of the Business Meeting held on the 4th of May were approved.

7. Secretary’s Report and Correspondence:
A letter has been received from Greenock District Scout Council enclosing a copy of a letter sent to all Inverclyde Councillors saying they had learned, via Stewart Milne, Inverclyde’s Director of Planning has determined to recommend refusal of the developer’s application because of the impact of the proposed bridge over the railway at Inverkip. The letter says if the Council, despite the planning recommendation, would grant Stewart Milne’s application or grant the application with the deletion of the rail bridge then the field adjoining Everton would be released to the Council and Everton’s future would be preserved. The letter exhorts councillors to preserve Everton. The Community Council will reply to the Scout Council.
Invitations have been received by Innes Nelson, Cliff Lyons and Lynne Chambers to attend the official opening of Community Windpower Ltd’s first windfarm at Dalry on the 26th of June. The councillors intend to attend.
An invitation has been received from Inverclyde Council inviting the chairman, secretary and treasurer of the Community Council to attend the Kirkin’ of the Council on Sunday 18th June. The chairman is unable to attend but the treasurer and secretary plan to attend.
Details of Planning Aid for Scotland’s AGM were received.
Postwatch’s newsletter was passed to Ron Potter.
A letter had been received from Inverclyde Council’s Brian Purdie outlining community council accounting procedures
A copy of Inverclyde Council’s corporate Public Performance Report 2004/05 was received from Brian Purdie
A letter from Inverclyde Council re on-street parking places without charges for use by disabled drivers. None of the sites related to Inverkip or Wemyss Bay
Calor Scottish Community of the year 2006 competition details were received
Details of the Scottish Executive’s Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour Awards Scheme 2006 were received
A consultation document from Scottish Natural Heritage on protecting Scotland’s species was received.
Innes Nelson reported that following a letter of objection to a windfarm on the Mull of Kintyre submitted by the Community Council he’d been in correspondence with – among others – Dunoon and Cowal Marketing Group. It is felt our support may well be reciprocated by Argyll based groups if Community Windpower Ltd’s application comes before Inverclyde Council. In addition some of the proposed sites will be clearly visible from Inverclyde. Of current concern is a proposal for turbines to be placed on the Bishop’s Seat hills above Dunoon. Innes Nelson has pointed out to D&CMG that following his enquiries to Argyll and Bute’s planning officer it appears the deadline has passed to object under Strategic Areas of Search contained in Argyll and Bute’s Local
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Plan. However, Innes Nelson thought it may still be worth writing a letter of objection as Inverclyde Council had allowed at least one objection to their Local Plan to be submitted months after the closing date. It may also be up to the Scottish Office Reporter whether he is prepared to accept a late objection or not. Alan Cumming recorded that the Mountaineering Council is interested in windfarm applications.

8. Treasurer’s Report: Cliff Lyons reported that the Community Council’s account stands at £1434.85 with a cheque for £50 still to be cleared. He noted the letter received from Brian Purdie formalising accounting procedures

9. Planning Matters:
12 Rannoch Road, Wemyss Bay – erection of extension to front of dwellinghouse
8 Striven Road, Wemyss Bay – erection of extension to dwellinghouse
4 Castle Wemyss Drive, Wemyss Bay – erection of rear conservatory
57 Lomond Road, Wemyss Bay – extension to dwellinghouse to form utility room
1 Larch Walk, Wemyss Bay – formation of dormer and construction of decking
7 Commoncraig Place, Inverkip – replacement of existing balcony and provision of hot tub
Innes Nelson said he’d been contacted by a Leven Road, Wemyss Bay resident about the dumping of garden rubbish on the cleared site on Leven Road. Cllr Forbes said he would pursue the matter

10. Date and Time of next meeting: As all members of the Community Council and their partners have been invited to attended the Queen’s Garden Party at Holyrood on the eve of the next due date for a business meeting, it was decided to defer the meeting by one week to Thursday the 13th of July 2006.

11. Any other business: Ron Potter said the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations had received information for developers from Scottish Water re provision of water and sewage. Did Cllr Forbes know when such regulations would come into effect. Cllr Forbes will inquire. Ron Potter also asked what about the sewage problems in Inverkip. Cllr Forbes said Scottish Water is laying out its plan of priorities for 2007-2115 and Inverkip is in there somewhere
Cllr Forbes made a quick commercial for Wemyss Bay’s Gala on the 16th-18th of June.
Harold McPherson asked about the extension to the community centre in Wemyss Bay – had there been any movement on it. Cllr Forbes will check

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 10.45pm