Maxton & Mertoun Community Council - Minutes of Meeting of 22nd February 2007

MAXTON and MERTOUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES of the MEETING Held at Maxton Village Hall on 22nd February 2007 at 7.00pm

Present:
Andrew Leitch Chairperson, Vera Holbrook, Trudy Leitch,
Penny Harvey, Ann Collie, Isobel Veitch

In Attendance:
None

Apologies:
Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carr, Elvira Denoon (community member)

Members of the Public Present:
Five

Notes of Meeting Held on 30th November 2006:
Proposed as correct: Isobel Veitch
Seconded: Trudy Leitch

Councillor’s Up-date:
Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre was on holiday and unable to give the Community Council an up-date.

ACTION POINT:
None

Debate on replacement trees for Main Street Maxton:
The CC received a total of 5 letters from members of Maxton village, representing 10 opinions and ideas, a further 5 people attended the meeting to participate in the discussions. CC members provided the opportunity for a lively and open discussion on the pros and cons of replacing three dead trees with Silver Birch trees. There was acknowledgment that nobody in the village should have their views impeded as a result of any proposed replacements, it was however agreed that trees placed in the position of the present trees would not cause any lose of view. There was however a clear understanding that the trees would have to be maintained well. Ensuring their canopy was trained to a height that would neither hang over the road with branches liable to be caught by traffic travelling through the village and farm vehicles maintaining the crops in the field. Furthermore, it was agreed that should the replacement trees fail to thrive there will be no further replacements sought.

Community Councillors had agreed that monies for the replacements should not come out of the Community Council budget donations of three trees were to be made by Penny and Jake Harvey, Vera and Bernard Holbrook and Trudy and Andrew Leitch, should the appropriate permission be provided by Mr Euan McCorquodale owner of the land.

The Chairperson thanked everyone present for their contribution to what he realised was a sensitive issue to some members of the community. He hoped we had as a CC taken onboard everyone’s thoughts, both those presented in writing and those contributed by people present at the meeting and that we had reach a decision that reflected peoples concerns and wishes.

ACTION POINT:
Secretary to phone Mr McCorquodale and report back to next meeting.

Business Meeting:

Matters Arising from Previous Meeting:

a) Corrections to previous minute:
Changes to the previous minute carried out, new minutes circulated to members and community present
b) Notice for Church Car Park:
Suggested a notice be made referring to the general disposal of rubbish in the bins provided, aid to be sought from SP who may be able to assist.

ACTION POINT:
Secretary to contact SP.

Correspondence:
a) Notice of the following SBC Meetings, Education Executive, Executive, Scrutiny, Development and Building Control, Scottish Borders Council and Eilden Committee were circulated prior to the meeting for information and comments.
b) Dti ‘The Post Office Network Consultation Document’ this report was circulated to CC Members at the previous meeting, secretary asked for comments to allow her to produce a response. Members of the public can obtain a copy of the report from the Secretary.
c) One letter of objection, representing two people’s thoughts and opinions on the replacement of three dead trees being replaced by Silver Birch trees.
d) Four letters support, representing eight people’s thoughts and opinions on the replacement of three dead trees being replaced by Silver Birch trees.

ACTION POINT:
Community Council Members to pass on comments re: (b) in correspondence, comments from community members welcome to aid our response to this important consultation. Secretary will formulate the response and send to appropriate body.

Community Council Training:
None at present:
Secretary reminded members of the CC that Clare Malster will be attending the next meeting of the CC to answer any questions on our roles and responsibilities or any other questions we would like clarifying. Could members give some thought to this prior to the meeting.

ACTION POINT:
None

Constitution:
Anne Isles has informed the CC Members that she sees no major problems with the constitution, but has suggested small changes, which involve the change of official’s titles. These changes have now been incorporated into the constitution and presented at the meeting for signing by the Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary.

ACTION POINT:
No Further Action.

Bank Account:
The Treasurer has now opened the account and has the banking details, which will not be operational until the two other signatories have taken proof of ID into the bank in Newtown St Boswells. The Secretary reported she had taken hers in the previous week and the Chairperson would present his as soon as possible

ACTION POINT:
No Further Action at present.

Concerns Raised by Public:
One member of the public expressed grave concerns about the vandalisation of the small birch tree planted by the village car park. She felt very upset to think we had anyone in the village that would resort to such an act as deliberately cutting the tree in half. Everyone present expressed their revulsion for such a deliberate and destructive act and agreed as a villager we should report any further matters of vandalism to the Co-ordinator the village Neighbourhood Watch to allow him to take the appropriate action.

ACTION POINT:
No Further Action at Present

A.O.C.B.
Secretary made the CC Members aware of the alterations taking place at the village hall, which would definitely require us to find another venue for the March Meeting and possibly the April Meeting.
It was suggested we may be able to relocate to Maxton Church.

ACTION POINT:
Secretary to contact Douglas Scott, who will be able to make to necessary enquiries on our behalf to the Church Session Meeting.

DATE, TIME and VENUE for next meeting:

Date: Thursday 29th March 2007
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: MAXTON CHURCH (confirmed)

Other meeting dates for your diary in 2007:
Thursday 26th April
Thursday 31st May
Thursday 28th June
No meeting in July
Thursday 30th August
Annual General Meeting Thursday 27th September