SAUCHIE COMMUNITY GROUP - JANUARY 08 - (51) PRESENT:A Fleming, A Irvine, A Irvine, A Airnes, A Robertson, C Weld, C McDonald, E Fraser, E Connor, E Davies, F MacKenzie, G Rennie, G Cummings, G Foxton, G Fraser, H MacKenzie, J Sharp, J Allan, K Nelson, K Turner, L Turner, L Gibson, M Comrie, M Freeburn, M Lindsay, M Michie, M Mitchell, M Ketchion, M Bradie, M Muir, N Morgan, N Paterson, N Archibald, N Pollock, R Kane, R Cammack, S McKean, S Gruar, S Pollock, S Gilchrist, S Ross, S Allan, S Munro, T McIntosh, T Burnett, W Hunter. COUNCIL:D Stewart, G Womersley, A Newbigging M Fox and N Voung. APOLOGIES:A Tapsfield, C Taylor, C Wright, C Brady, D O'Donnell, E Tapsfield, E Rodgers, E Lindsay, F Orr, G Walker, G Hastie, H Fleming, J Cameron, J Allison, J Gallacher, L McLellan, M Horne, M Duffy, S Kirkwood, S Paterson and T Reynolds. MINUTES PROPOSED:T McIntosh. SECONDED: H MacKenzie. MATTERS ARISING:Letters received from Clackmannanshire Council in direct reply to points raised during AOB in the Dec 07 meeting in relation to the following: Outside lights to be fitted to No's: 100-104 Main street. Agreement and assurance that a second Pedestrian crossing will be placed in Main Street Sauchie - Time frame next few years as prioritised by Traffic &Transport Development Services. The Coalfields Trust has rejected the application for funding for a Teen Play facility at Fairfield Park Sauchie. Action is to be carried out on the resurfacing and/or instalment of street lighting in the following locations: Branshill Road - Resurfacing Newtonshaw - Footways Hallpark road - Lighting (Has been repaired) Ten Acres/Abbeycraig Road - lane lighting to be provided in the coming year GUEST SPEAKER:Ochil View Housing: Josh O'Hagen (Development Officer) and Alex MacDuff (Architect), gave the following presentation: Ochilview Housing has investigated and consulted the Council on what type of housing is required in the Area. Looking at the current waiting lists it has been identified that the greatest need is for elderly amenities. It is Ochilview housings plan to propose a site comprising 15 units at a low lying level of 1 or 11/2 stories. Consideration was given to location in regards to the new hospital and town centre along with ensuring that residents would be sheltered from the antisocial elements. This is a courtyard development encompassing an internal car parking facility. There is a single block of 2 story flats, which could house a younger element of the community but with a view to giving some sort of added neighbour hood watch facility. Use of the old stonework is to be incorporated in to the proposed site. Each unit will include its own small manageable garden along with ensuring that the units are Eco friendly i.e. cheaper to heat. A report has been asked for from the local Police force with recommendations on how best to facilitate reduced risk from anti social behaviour in and around the site. The application is currently in with the planning authority and the design can be looked at both on line and in the council offices. All housing will be for rent and come under Ochilview Housing. Q.Will the Houses be exempt from right to buy? (From the floor). A.There are currently issues being raised in connection to right to buy and it would be unfair of myself to comment on a future decision, which is a situation to be dealt with by the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland. Q.Why are you placing a 2-story block in the development when it spoils the overall look? A.The 2-story block would be for mixed tenancy types in conjunction with indications from the police investigation, which outlined that by placing only elderly personnel in the whole sight actually further increases, the risk from anti social elements. Q.Are there any other sites in Sauchie which Ochilview are currently interested in? (Keith Turner). A.Not currently but we are always interested in sites. What you have to be aware of is that we can't compete against independent developers, as we are part funded by the Scottish Executive. Often what we can achieve is not what we would like, but we do realise that there is a huge need for social housing within Clackmannanshire. Q.Was the use of the existing building looked at with a view to development? (From the floor). A.We looked at using the existing structure but it was not deemed to be financially viable due to not being able to gain a suitable amount of units available for rent. Q.Is the current boundary wall being retained and if so what if any consideration has taken place with a view to the new roundabout, which is planned, as this will directly affect the rear end of the project. A. I wasn't aware of the roundabout being built at the time we drew these plans. We shall investigate with the Roads and Traffic department and make any changes they might require, including the introduction of possible pedestrian crossing options. Keith Turner and Councillor Womersley also raised the issues of Bus transport routes and the added fact that Sauchie Hall is the most used Facility of its type in Clackmannanshire. Josh O'Hagen has taken these points on board and has agreed to make sure that plans are implemented with the points in mind prior to final approval being granted for the project. POLICE REPORT: Laura Turner read The Police report as follows: Information is required regarding the spate of recent incidents whereby damage has been caused on four separate occasions at Craigbank Primary School. Road traffic operations will be taking place in the coming weeks throughout Sauchie and Clackmannanshire. Residents are advised to place all external property in a secure shed with a fitted hasp and padlock. The Internet page is updated regularly with relevant information regarding Sauchie community, please contact George Hastie with any relevant issues/events and these will be added to the web page. COUNILORS REPORT:Derek Stewart: Central Heating in all parts of Sauchie is to be upgraded in this financial year. Security cameras will hopefully be up and running by the end of Mar 08, the preparatory work has already started. One of the shops in the main street will be coming up for sale and will be coming in front of the planning committee shortly. Work is set to start on the newly planned roundabout at the end of Mar - early Apr 08. The naming of the new Bridge campaign has been placed back in to the Scottish Executive. The initial campaign although Clackmannanshire was given the belief that the deal was done it was then decided that Fife should be given the chance to run there own campaign and so the Scottish Executive will look at the naming of the bridge after the Fife campaign has been completed no later than 31 Jan 08. Clackmannanshire Council will support the bridge being named the Ochil or Mannan bridge but ultimately the goal is to have the name as the Clackmannanshire Bridge, which will put us back on the map and with the future planned expansion to our eastern borders this would be of vital importance in attracting new business. A vote of thanks is asked for Keith Brown M.S.P. for his support and hard work on the campaign. We have had much support from local business and Celebrities including the following: Alan Hansen, Alexander brothers, DIAGEO and Marshall construction. The decision is expected by the end of Feb, beginning of Mar 08. In relation to our presidents question on Fairfield nursery, There is a meeting being held at the end of Jan 08 on the issue of Schooling within Clackmannanshire which will provide the outcome of what and when is to be done with regards to both primary and secondary Schools, further more the old college Annex will not be used for Fairfield nursery and there is a current plan for the building. (See Guest Speaker section). Q.Gas boilers situated in bedrooms are unacceptable can it be queried as to whether this was the original instillation plan? (T Mcintosh). A.It is my understanding that there was to be no instillation of gas boilers or meters in the sleeping accommodation of properties within Clackmannanshire, point is acknowledged and will be raised. (Derek Stewart). COUNILORS REPORT:Gary Womersley: Gary started with the announcement that the Council had reserves of £9000, and made the point that he is surprised that the lights in the main street had been agreed to. Jokingly making the point that this really is quite astonishing since the figure should be closer to a £1.82m. The main point of this announcement was that the small individual queries, which as a group we raise, might actually not be done until monies are available. Gary further made the point that he would however continue to raise the points. As we progress through the year various projects have already had capital bids prepared for some aesthetic work such as the road covering at Branshill however as money gets tighter some projects may have to be sacrificed. Gary made mention to the fact of articles in the press with reference to Council Tax not being raised, at this stage he has not had this confirmed but jokingly this pleases him as it was a manifesto pledge of the SNP. The Scottish Parliament has agreed to extra funding to allow the freezing of Council Tax. Gary has received various calls on the subject of breakfast/after school clubs, at both of the local primary schools. Many of these calls are regarding the provision or with reference to cut backs in the times at which the facilities are available. Any one falling foul of any problems arising from such facilities are to contact Gary and he will follow these issues up when possible. Further to individual points taken on board reference kitchen and central heating installations Gary has received a number of calls of dissatisfaction towards some of the contractors used in these particular upgrades and invites personnel going through this process to get in touch with him should they feel the need as this is a problem which is best tackled on mass rather than as an individual case by case basis. Keelers bray planning permission has been granted and the fall out of this is that Sauchie will receive some substantial planning gain which will include an increase in facilities at Fairfield playing park to include a BMX track and skate boarding facility, with more scope for further developments to apparatus dependant on the overall funding. Both primary schools will be benefiting by means of receiving the new combined goal posts/basketball nets. The facilities are to be in place prior to the development going ahead which makes this a win/win situation. Without wishing to worry anyone Gary pointed out that the Scottish Water authority had approached the council with a view to selling Gartmorn Dam as it is no longer required as a water source. The Gartmorn dam is seen locally as a leisure nemesis but is something we often take for granted. The Council own land surrounding the dam but not the Dam itself, however given the financial position mentioned earlier the council is looking for possible partners to preserve the Dam or the possibility of setting up a trust and applying for funding to do so. There are huge costs involved, but it would be wrong of Gary to divulge those details at our meeting. Q.The question was raised from the floor with reference to why Scottish water was able to sell the Dam when they had originally been given it for nothing from the council. A.Gary explained that this is much the same way as the council would do business in other areas such as the procurement of the sight for the original Alva academy, this would have been under national reorganisation and now that the new academy is being built, the council in much the same way can sell the original sight for the going rate to a potential developer. Q.The issue of tree cutting and drainage was raised by T McIntosh, with regards to personal cost for refitting of a TV antenna, which later became unnecessary after tree trimming had taken place. Drainage from Branshill road linked by footpath to Roundlewood is a fairly steep incline and when frozen proposes a dangerous hazard, drains close to this are often blocked by mud and could this be raised at the council. A.Gary has taken the points on board and will seek a satisfactory solution. Q.A further question from the floor was received on the subject of trees and bushes on the roundabout at ASDA in Alloa, can the removal of the plantings on this roundabout be looked at as a matter of urgency in connection with road safety as they cause blind spots. A.The original plans for the trees plantings on all roundabouts was for them to be cut back and maintained clearly this has not been happening, possibly due to budgets not being in place but I do agree it is an accident waiting to happen and will follow this request up as soon as possible. Gary finished by conducting a few questions of his own including topics such as the new Council Automated telephone service, and the Ochil view Housing project proposals for the site of the old College Annex. Gary has assured the meeting that he would take their views on board before making any decisions whilst voting on any plans for the future. LEISURE REPORT:Laura Turner gave The Leisure report as follows: 22 Feb 08Second Nature 8-11pm - Doors open 7.30pm - £4 per ticket. 18 Apr 08Frank Curran 8 - 11pm - Doors open 7.30pm - £5 per ticket. 17 Oct 08ABBA Mania 8 - 11.30pm - Doors open 7.30pm - £7 per ticket. A.O.B.:Change over of the Secretary: Keith turner received a warm vote of thanks for his outstanding commitment during his time as secretary, further to this Keith will continue to be involved in the community in a social capacity. Martin Ketchion was the only applicant for the position and introduced himself to the community group. I would like to thank the members of the group for allowing me to take this position and feel it is a great honour to do so. I will have very large shoes to fill in taking over from Keith but I am confident as Keith's brother in law he will be there in the background to give me the support and help required to settle in which will further allow me to serve you all as he has. I look forward to the challenge and hope that many of the skills I have acquired whilst in Military service will see me through as the new secretary of the Community Group. CLOSE:The date of the next meeting is confirmed as Thursday 28th February at 7pm in the Resource Centre. M D KETCHION Secretary