Community Council Minutes - November 2017

Draft Minutes Fossoway and District Community Council
7th November 2017, Fossoway Primary School

Attending: Community Cllrs Cameron Brown, Jennifer Donachie, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar and Graham Pye; P&K Cllrs Mike Barnacle, Callum Purves and Willie Robertson; 35 Members of the Public (MoP).
Apologies: CCllr Angus Cheape; P&K Cllr Richard Watters.
Declarations of Interest: None.
Police report: Unfortunately no Officer was able to be present at the meeting. There were no incidents to note in our area in the last month from the Commander’s Reports received via Perth and Kinross Community Watch.
Minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes were signed off without amendment.

Matters Arising
Blairingone Lambhill Site: A new traffic report has been produced showing a 1.7% increase of traffic as a result of the site’s activity, however if the number of HGVs is compared separately from the rest of the traffic, then there would be a 13% increase. Cllr Purves noted that there will be a site visit next week, to assess the current situation and enforcement issues. A MoP reminded the meeting that the Community don’t want this development in any form. Another MoP observed that the HGV traffic to and from the site must by definition pass through the other villages in our area, so it will not just affect Blairingone.
Blairingone School: PKC are reviewing the future of the school, an informal community drop-in session was held on 21st September, at which attendees were told that it costs £250k per year to run the school. Cllr Purves confirmed that this was the cost shown at the meeting. A Blairingone resident, representing the Blairingone School Community told the meeting that PKC’s ECS team have now changed the cost estimate to £107k per year. Other questions raised by the community of ECS have not been answered, with some of them being passed to the FOI team.
Although any changes will not happen for some time, the decision about which option to pursue (close, keep open, extend catchment, etc.) will be decided within the next three months, and the community were told that their views expressed at the drop-in session were the most important factor in making a decision. A MoP pointed out that community members present at the drop-in session will have made up their minds based on the incorrect figure and aren’t likely to change them now.
Cllr Robertson explained that the number of pupils is the most significant factor affecting a decision, so measures to increase that, e.g. widening the catchment area will be of most help. The overall problem seems to be because Blairingone is a diminishing community. Cllr Barnacle said that perhaps we need to go back to the beginning of the process and hold another drop-in session now that we have that correct figures. Cllr Purves will contact the Convenor of the Life Long Learning Committee to see if that could happen. CCllr Duffy said that there should be a community consultation to address all issues affecting Blairingone, and will contact PKC about this.
Hydro Scheme: CCllr Duffy described the community consultation questionnaire which has been posted to all households in the area; she encouraged people to submit their responses, which can also be submitted online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2DSYQD especially if there are more household members who wish to respond. Answers should be submitted by 24th November.
Crook of Devon LDP2 Rezoning Proposal: CCllr Duffy introduced this item by reminding those present that the development of the site east of the Crook of Devon Village Hall was presented for comment at a meeting on 18th February this year. Subsequently 60% of the community was against the inclusion of the site in LDP2, and after extensive discussion the CC reached a consensus decision that they were also against it. Amongst the CC’s concerns was the lack of affordable and/or small houses in the area. Cllr Barnacle has circulated a letter asking the community to look at this application again, as the developer has provided a significantly modified proposal. CCllr Duffy made it clear that the CC will not change its position unless it is certain that the Community support it.
Cllr Barnacle then described the changes to the developer’s proposal to reduce the number of house by 50% and for 50% of those houses to be “affordable”. Additionally, there will be market research into the need for an employment site and farm shop viability. Contributions will be made to A977 mitigation measures, along with improvements to footpaths and safe routes to school.
Cllr Barnacle explained that LDP2 will be discussed at a full meeting of the council on 22nd November which is the reason for the urgency to discuss this new proposal, which has only very recently been made available by the developer. Local councillors need to decide whether the community wishes them to move an amendment to the LDP2 debate to include the zoning of this site for development.
There have been changes to the LDP process such that sites now have minimum and maximum numbers of properties specified in the plan. There will still be a further six week period to comment on LDP2, either for or against the inclusion of any site. Cllr Barnacle stressed that if this development is not included in LDP2, it leaves the way open for an appeal by the developer which if successful would mean that the community would lose control of the type and size of development.
CCllr Duffy then turned the meeting over to the community members present for questions and comments:
Q: How many houses? A: 30.
Q: What’s affordable housing? A: Smaller (i.e. two bedroom) and/or cheaper houses. There was substantial uncertainty amongst those present about the exact meaning of “affordable housing”.
Q: What percentage will be affordable? A: Policy is 25%, but the developer proposes 50%.
Q: Could LDP2 include specific requirements as to number of properties and percentage which are affordable which would continue to apply to any future developer of the site. A: Yes.
Q: What impact will development have on existing flood issue? A: Cllr Barnacle agrees that Drum has a high water table, but this problem should be addressed by a more wide-ranging review of the state of watercourses in the area.
MoP pointed out that 48hours is too short a time to properly consult on this new proposal. This view was widely supported.
Q: Could the proposed farm shop upset the balance of retail availability in this area? A: As explained in Cllr Barnacle’s letter market research would be done.
Q: What is an employment area? A: It would provide small offices, workshops, etc., which idea hasn’t really taken off elsewhere, but zoning the site in this way would allow research to be done about the desire for such facilities.
MoP noted that the school, although not at risk like Blairingone, has poor road access, etc., for an increased population. Cllr Barnacle pointed out that the proposal includes A977 mitigation, and there are already plans to improve the school junction, which will be released next year.
Cllr Robertson suggested that the community also has the option of zoning the site as an opportunity site which would allow the possibility of looking at something in the near future. The implications of this option were not clearly understood by those present.
MoP noted that Crook of Devon is a nice place to live and he was able to move here 35 years ago as a result of another development like this – shouldn’t we allow another 30 or so people that chance?

CCllr Duffy summarised the discussion by saying that those present think that the consultation period is too short. At the moment, the consensus of those present is unclear, although zoning seems to be mostly unpopular, leaving the options of either zoning it as an Opportunity site or not zoning it at all.
CCllr Duffy closed the debate by urging the community to contact Cllr Barnacle and give him your views.
Fossoway Area Public Transport: DRT is still not able to meet the demands of many people, although one MoP finds that DRT works very well for them. A view was expressed that some destinations may be unpopular with the taxi firms. Cllr Purves said that we need data about what requests are not being met, so please report any occasions where the service cannot meet your needs to the local Cllrs and the CC. Cllr Robertson pointed out that there is a shortage of taxis throughout Kinross-shire.
Powmill in Bloom: Cllr Farquhar reported that bulbs have been planted.
Crook of Devon and Drum Growing Together: The group have used the unpaid work team to plant bulbs.
A977 Mitigation: Local Cllrs have been presented with options, which they have commented on, and budgetary proposals are now being prepared, following which a community consultation will take place.
Matters Arising With No Update Since Last Meeting:
Crook Moss Travellers Site, Blairingone War Memorial, Naemoor Bridge and Ivy Cottage Powmill.

New Business: None this month

Community Council Business
Meetings Attended: CCllr Farquhar was to have attended a meeting of the Disability and ASN Workshop of the Sports Hub on 9th November; unfortunately the meeting had to be postponed due to some cancellations, CCllr Farquhar hopes to attend the rearranged meeting. CCllr Pye attended Road Expo Scotland and met with suppliers of Vehicle Actuated Speed signs. One supplier suggested that it might be possible to get sponsorship for signs from local businesses that use the road.

P&K Councillors’ Reports
Mike Barnacle: Cllr Barnacle reiterated his earlier request for the community to let him know what they think about Crook of Devon proposal.
Willie Robertson: A paper is being put forward tomorrow to implement the charge of £25 for brown bins - Cllr Purves pointed out that this change was agreed by the previous administration. Cllr Barnacle added that this charge will support extension of the brown bin scheme to areas that don’t currently get them.
Callum Purves: The 20mph zone rules for urban roads are currently too rigid and more flexible ones are being developed.

Planning Matters
17/01762/FLL Extension to dwelling house, Broomhill House, Peat Gate Crook of Devon, KY13 0PG.
No CC comment
17/01813/IPL Erection of dwelling house and garages (in principle) Land 50 metres east of Leariggs, Crook of Devon.
No CC comment
17/01895/FLL Formation of access ramp, 13, St Serfs Road, Crook of Devon.
No CC Comment.
17/01902/FLL Erection of 2no. wind turbines and associated works at Land south-east of Wharlawhill Farm, Carnbo, Kinross, KY13 0NZ.
This application arrived too late to be considered so the CC will discuss after the meeting.

Correspondence: All the correspondence was available for viewing.

AOCB: None.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting
Welcome and Apologies, Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting.
Matters arising: Lambhill Site, Blairingone School, Crook of Devon LDP2 Zoning, A977 Mitigation, Fossoway Area Transport, Hydro Scheme, Crook & Drum Growing Together, Powmill in Bloom.
Community Councillors: Meetings Attended, PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th December 2017 7:30 pm
Blairingone Primary School
All Welcome