Minute of the Meeting of Maxton & Mertoun Community Council of 30th November 2006

MAXTON and MERTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES of the MEETING
Held at Maxton Village Hall
on 30th November 2006 at 7.00pm

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

Apologies: None

Members of the Public Present: Two

Notes of Meeting Held on 26th October 2006:
Proposed as correct: Penny Harvey
Seconded: Vera Holbrook

Correspondence:
All correspondence received between meetings had been circulated to members of the Community Council.

ACTION POINT: No further action required reference the correspondence.

Community Council Training:
Members attending the training event for Community Council Members held at SBC Headquarters on 15th November the reported back to the group as a missed opportunity on behave of those organising the training. All agreed that the content could have been more participative had more time been available for each of the three workshops. It was felt by having the three workshops, which each representative was expected to attend diluted the learning process. Also as a very new Community Council they felt too much emphasis was placed on the ‘what we do’ by the more experience CC Members attending, we would have liked more time and opportunity to learn about the role of Community Councillors.

There is to be more training in the New Year, members agreed it is important to attend all training on offer.

ACTION POINT: Secretary to inform members of the Community Council when dates are received for further training and book appropriate number of places.

Eildon Area Committee:
Unfortunately the Chairperson was unable to attend the last Eildon Area Committee due to unforeseen circumstances, it was agreed that the Secretary will attend if the Chairperson cannot.

ACTION POINT: None required.

Constitution:
The Secretary had as agreed made the alterations to the draft constitution as noted from the previous meeting and circulated copies to members prior to the meeting. Amendments were approved and constitution was passed and signed.

ACTION POINT: Secretary to send copy to Anne Isles, Area Office Manager, Corporate Recourses.

Renewable Energy Seminar, Edinburgh:
Vera Holbrook attended, a brief verbal report was provided by Vera, she outlined what alternative energy was available and how as a community we could get involved, even in a small way. She was able to report that numerous grants are available to both communities and individuals who wished to become more energy efficient. Vera felt, however, that not enough time was given at the seminar to highlighting case studies of successful projects. There is a very comprehensive folder of information, which Vera brought to the meeting for members to read and make comment.

All members felt this was a very important issue, the chairperson suggested in light of our position as a new Community Council it is maybe to large an issue for us to consider at this point.

ACTION POINT: None at this point, further feedback may be available after interested members have read the folder.

Planning:
We should seek the assistance of SBC Planning Department for advice and guidance on the intricacies of planning applications.

ACTION POINT: This action point is still outstanding, Secretary to check if we could have a visit from a Planning Officer to one of our meetings.

Concerns Raised by Public:
Concerns raised by the members of the public attending mirrored two* of the three initially
Identified by CC Members at the previous meeting

*a) Speed of Traffic using the village…need for lower speed limit. In relation to this a
CC Member was able to report that she now had it officially in writing that there was has
been a vast increase in fast moving Heavy Goods Vehicles through the village in the years since access rights were given to ‘Deanlea’. As a Community Council along with the members of the public present we feel this suggests an overall increase in traffic since the last assessment of the present speed limit of 40 miles per hour.
*b) Grass verges…being churned up by traffic trying to make three lanes through the village and the lack of street furniture promised 18 months ago to discourage traffic mounting the verge.
In addition and related to the concern above the children at play sign is hit and turned round almost on a daily basis by heavy goods vehicles, both the residents of Maple Cottage and Glebe View have to turn it back so traffic coming into the village can see it.
c) Replacement of new trees, which have failed to survive, it was suggested these should be replaced in the same locations by Silver Birch trees, once planted the village will ensure they are watered regularly.
d) Review of bus service was due earlier in the year, a number of those using the service would like to know (a) has it taken place and is so what is the outcome and (b) if no review has taken place when will the review be carried out. On the same issue concern was expressed about the lack of a mid-afternoon service from Melrose to Maxton.

ACTION POINT: all the above matters would be followed up by the relevant bodies and reported back to the next meeting.

DATE, TIME and VENUE for next meeting:

Date: Thursday 25th January 2007
Time: 7.00pm
Venue Maxton Village Hall

Other meeting dates for your diary in 2007:
Thursday 22nd February
Thursday 29th March
Thursday 26th April
Thursday 31st May
Thursday 28th June
No meeting in July
Thursday 30th August
Annual General Meeting Thursday 27th September