Maxton & Mertoun Community Council - Minutes of 2007 Annual General Meeting

Maxton & Mertoun Community Council Minutes of 2007 Annual General Meeting

Held on 27th September 2007 at Maxton Village Hall

Present:-
Andrew Leitch Chairperson
Isobel Veitch Treasurer
Ann Collie Secretary
Trudy Leitch Community Councillor
Vera Holbrook Community Councillor
Penny Harvey Community Councillor

Len Wyse Scottish Borders Councillor
PC Duncan Begg Community Police Officer

Tom Veitch Member of the Community
Ron Collie Member of the Community

Chairpersons Welcome and Report:
Andrew welcomed everyone present to Maxton and Mertoun Community Council’s first AGM as a newly formed Community Council in September 2006 after quite a long struggle to get up and running. There was lack of support from a number of members of the community and to a certain degree this still exists, however we have been delighted with the support, interest and encouragement we have received from those who feel a Community Council can be an excellent communication structure to effect change for our communities.

Chairpersons Written Report
(A printed copy of this report is available on request from the Secretary)

As this has been our inaugural year as a CC it has very much been a time of coming together as a collection of individuals to form an effective group, and then come to terms with what is expected of us by both the SCB Council and the local community.

I feel we have managed to perform these tasks well in our first year and have some small but notable successes.

These include:
· The replanting of the Birch Trees in the Glebe Field, thanks to those who donated them.
· Treatment of the bench at bus stop at Dryburgh.
· Beginning the process of addressing speeding vehicles through the village at Maxton. (Potential reduction?)
· Addressing the wear and tear on the verges on the main road trough Maxton and the excess water run-off, as well as landward road repairs.
· Building a relationship with Community Police Officers, and Local Authority Elected members (this was difficult with the changeover to new multi-member wards, and all the new members based in Jedburgh, but we are getting there).
· Providing Consultation and feedback on local bus service review.
· Responded to a large number of consultation papers and made these documents available for community members to add their contributions.
· Members have attended training and information days, which will add to their knowledge and skills as Community Councillors.
· Attracting members of the public to our meetings on a regular basis and having good, open discussions, helping overcome some of the scepticism by some members of the community, more to do!

Hopefully we will spend the next twelve month pursuing the issues already highlighted and deal with those that are flagged up during that time.

Thanks to all members of the CC for their work over the last 12 months, particularly to Ann Collie as secretary for all her behind the scenes workload.

Andrew Y. Leitch
Chairman
27.09.07

Presentation of Approved Annual Abstract Accounts:
Isobel presented the approved accounts for 2006 – 2007 these have been accepted by Scottish Borders Council. Expenditure has been small this year as it took some time to receive the Annual Grant of Ł615.00, expenditure from the grant has this year been:
Hall Hire Ł45.00
Stationary Ł40.46
Donation to Maxton Church Ł9.00

Balance of account is Ł1,146.94

A full set of the approved accounts can be made available, please contact the secretary.

Accounts will be checked and approved by a suitably competent financial person the Treasurer is at present in discussion with such a person and will report back to the Community Council for their approval.

Nominations for Community Council Members to Represent Mertoun:
None received

Annual General Meeting closed with thanks from the Chairperson to all that took the time to attend.

Date of Next Meeting Thursday 25th October 2007
Time 7.00pm
Venue Maxton Village Hall