Minutes of Business Meeting
Held on Thursday 2nd February 2006
In the Inverkip Hotel

Present: Innes Nelson (chairman); Ron Potter (vice chairman); Cliff Lyons (treasurer); Lynne Chambers (secretary); Paul Maloney

Apologies: Hugh Ritchie; Hugh McPherson; Cllr Eric Forbes

In attendance: Sgt Danny Godfrey; WPC Lesley Gibson; Jim McIntosh; Fran McIntosh; Norman Cupples; Graham Scott

3. Police matters: WPC Gibson’s report was as follows:
Disorder – Disturbances 4
Dishonesty – Thefts 2; Housebreaking 1; Suspect persons 2
Traffic – Vehicle escort 2; Vehicles abandoned 6; Road Accidents 3; Alleged drunk drivers 1; Traffic Other 4
Miscellaneous – Damage to property 3; Alarms 4; Fire 3; General complaints 12; Assist members of other agencies 1; Miscellaneous calls 2; Assist members of the public 7; Missing persons 3
Total number of calls 60.
Reported Crime:
Total number of Crime Reports raised 11
Detections 3
Expressed as % 27%
There are a number of crime reports still in the investigative stage that may result in further detections. Ron Potter asked about results of investigations. WPC Gibson said she would review how detections progressed in January. Jim McIntosh suggested a quarterly review might be more meaningful and less work. WPC Gibson agreed to undertake the review on that basis. WPC Gibson confirmed that the Inverkip police office was now open.
There followed an extended discussion about the recent incident in Inverkip when a band of youths, around 25 strong and armed with golf clubs and baseball bats, invaded Main Street. The police reported that the catalyst for the event had come from outside the village and involved pupils from Greenock Academy coming into the area and joining with local youngsters. It was perceived by the police as a one-off – a ‘spike’ in reported crime. However, Sgt Godfrey had seen the problem for himself and extra patrols on Fridays and Saturdays have been instigated in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay.
Sgt Godfrey explained that from the 1st of November last year the Inverlyde Area Policing Initiative had come into being – and for the area, Inverclyde West - covering
wards 16-20 - there was a team of seven community police officers and a sergeant -the sergeant to have a problem solving remit. Sgt Godfrey said there would be a
clampdown on low level anti social behaviour bordering on crime, though the police were not out to criminalize young people. They were talking to young people in schools. The Community Council also learned of the success of an anti-knife initiative in Inverclyde that

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includes a specially designated court. Trouble in Wemyss Bay has settled down it was reported.

4. Minutes of Business Meeting held on the 5th January 2006 – Matters arising:
Planning Services, Fraser Williamson: Lynne Chambers confirmed that a letter had been sent to Fraser Williamson with the Community Council’s recommendations re potential planning gains/community facilities
Outstanding letters: Lynne Chambers confirmed a letter had been sent to the Scottish Executive about residents’ parking in Wemyss Bay but had not as yet received a reply from the Executive. Cllr Forbes – to whom the letter had been copied – sent an email saying he will be interested to see the Executive’s response.
Lynne Chambers said a letter had been sent to Network Rail expressing concern about vandalism at Wemyss Bay Station and CCTV cameras not working. Graham Scott pointed out it wasn’t a question of the cameras not working, there were no cameras. A reply has been received from Network Rail advising that responsibility for such issues lay with First ScotRail and our correspondence has been forwarded to them
Proposed bridge at Inverkip Station: Innes Nelson reported that he thought Network Rail would be objecting to the proposed bridge. Cliff Lyons has been in touch with the Margaret Blackwood disability organisation giving information of the revised bridge plans.
Cllr Forbes – who was unable to attend this meeting – will no doubt report on outstanding matters at the next Business Meeting.
Treasurer’s Report: Ron Potter asked what progress there was on the plan to donate
£200 to each of the village newsletters. He was told there no outcome as yet.

The Minutes of the Business Meeting held on 5th January 2006 were approved

5. Secretary’s Report and Correspondence:
A Wemyss Bay resident had asked why there was no white-lining around the Bankfoot Roundabout. The Secretary has passed the inquiry to Cllr Forbes who will ask Amey and report
Letter to Inverclyde Council Head of Planning Services re potential planning gain
Letter to Inverclyde Council Head of Planning – seeking confirmation following a conversation between the Secretary and Guy Phillips of the Planning Department confirming that all objections and representations made to the earlier Milne application would be transferred to the current application
Letter to the Scottish Executive – copied to MSPs Duncan McNeill and Bruce McFee and Cllr Forbes – re residents’ parking on the A78 at Wemyss Bay
Letter to Network Rail re vandalism and non-working CCTV at Wemyss Bay Station
Letter from Network Rail saying correspondence passed to First ScotRail
Community Care Newsletter from the Inverclyde Community Care Forum
Letter from Inverclyde Community Councils’ Forum enclosing an agenda for their AGM
Email to Inverclyde Council’s Brian Purdie – following a request by Ron Potter – to discover further details about a Scottish Executive initiative to give Community
Councils further powers or responsibilities. Brian Purdie responded promptly, attaching a copy of a letter he’d sent last month to Community Councils and the Scottish Executive’s discussion paper – forwarded to Ron Potter
Email from Edward Green of Community Windpower Ltd expressing a wish to meet with the Community Council again. The Secretary to write to him asking him to attend the next Business Meeting of the Council in March
Duncan McNeil, MSP’s Scottish Parliament Report
Scottish Health Council newsletter
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Postwatch Scotland’s newsletter – Ron Potter reported that he’d learned automated sorting equipment was to be installed at the Greenock Office with subsequent job losses

6. Treasurer’s Report: Cliff Lyons reported a balance of £404.06 at the 2nd of February 2006. One-off payments of £30 were made to Community Council officers to cover expenses, including Mrs Lorraine Marshall who resigned as Secretary last year. It was agreed the Secretary should write to Brian Purdie stating the Community Council’s wish to donate £200 each to the newsletters in Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Cliff Lyons has prepared the Council’s accounts to be presented to Inverclyde Council

7. Planning Matters
Inverkip – the Milne application for a residential development
Inverkip – The Langhouse, Langhouse Road – application for non-compliance – to allow use of double swing windows in place of sliding sash and case in new build houses by Langhouse Developments Ltd
Inverkip – 15 Aberdour Place – alteration and extension to house
Inverkip – extension to Inverkip Primary School to provide two classrooms and gym hall – Inverclyde Council recommended that the application be referred to the Scottish Ministers with a recommendation that planning permission be granted
Wemyss Bay – Wemyss Bay Road - erection of five houses to the rear of Cardell –
planning appeal decision – the Reporter found the proposal consistent with the Local Plan and has granted outline planning permission subject to conditions
The Scottish Executive has published their Seventh Annual Report examining the performance of Planning Authorities – the Report highlights Inverclyde Council as one of the best performing authorities in Scotland when it comes to the fast determination of planning applications

8. Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 2nd March 2006

9. Any other business:
There were reports of complaints by villagers in Inverkip expressing concern about the speed of buses travelling through the village. It was pointed out that large buses moving along a narrow road could create an impression of excessive speed while travelling comparatively slowly. It was decided that the whole question of bus transport should be discussed at the next meeting.
Graham Scott asked if the Community Council could discover if the Seaview Café in Wemyss Bay has a music licence.
It was stated the BBC intend to put up a satellite towards the end of the year which should improve TV viewing in the local area

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.35pm