Fossoway and District Community Council - 2nd February 2021

Proceedings of the Virtual Meeting of
Fossoway and District Community Council
2nd February 2021

As it is still not possible to hold physical meetings of the CC we are continuing to publish this description of what was discussed in our Virtual meeting, including any updates that we are aware of. Members of the Public are encouraged to comment on and question the items below, by email to fossoway.cc@gmail.com or via the CC’s Facebook page, which we will answer in our next meeting, be it virtual or physical, on Tuesday 2nd March 2021.

Contributing: Community Councillors Sarah Bruce-Jones, Angus Cheape, Trudy Duffy, Carol Farquhar, Carole Haigh, Michael Haigh, Nicola Marchant and Graham Pye; P&K Councillors Callum Purves and Richard Watters.
Apologies: P&K Councillors Michael Barnacle and Willie Robertson.
Declarations of Interest: None.

Police report: There were no incidents to note in our area since the last CC Meeting from the Commander’s Reports received via Perth and Kinross Community Watch.

Minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the March 2020 meeting (the last face to face meeting) will be signed off once normal meetings resume. Any significant decisions made during the virtual meetings held since then will be brought to the next physical meeting to be formally recorded and ratified.

Matters Arising
Bank of Scotland Kinross Branch Closure: CCllr Marchant reported that there is no date currently agreed for the next meeting with the bank, Cllr Purves will progress getting a date for the meeting. There was general agreement that the lack of facilities to withdraw and, for small businesses, deposit cash would be a problem once the branch is closed.
Cllr Marchant has met with Carole Anderson of Age Scotland who has provided much information that will be useful in the next meeting: Age Scotland have received a large volume of calls regarding closure of banks; Some Banks are changing the way that customers can access bank information using phone and are trying to move people to online banking. Age Scotland are also about to launch their over-50s survey seeking views on issues and challenges this group faces, which will provide useful input.

A977 Mitigation: Plans have been presented by PKC for the 20mph zone in Crook of Devon. The CC has to comment by 12th February. The details have been posted on the CC’s Facebook page and have received several positive comments; indeed many suggested that the main street should also be included – previously it was very difficult to get 20mph limits on A-Roads, but Cllr Purves said that there is now a precedent in Kinesswood, so he and his colleagues will propose the Main Street be included.
Cllr Purves reported that he had requested lowering of the speed limit through Carnbo to 30mph but this is still awaiting further traffic monitoring before it might be implemented.

Fossoway Area Transport/DRT: CCllr M Haigh reminded the meeting that neither Powmill nor Blairingone have any public transport at all. Margaret Roy, from the PKC Public Transport Unit, undertook to explore whether services on perhaps three days a week could be incorporated in the time available between school runs, with the aim of catering for the needs of west Kinross-shire in particular. At the last meeting a member of the group, John Fallon, wondered if the X53 service could be sometimes extended to Halbeath which is a major hub.

Hydro Scheme Fund: CCllr Duffy reported that Energy for All has now paid the annual contribution and the remainder of the bridge fund; she reminded the meeting that the fund is open for grant applications.

Community Development Trust: The first meeting of the Trust will be on 3rd February.

Crook Moss Travellers Site: CCllr Farquhar reported that two of the pitches are very well maintained, although the other end of the site is still a mess, possibly even a health hazard.
The CC wrote to PKC’s CEO last month about lack of action by the Planners. CCllr Duffy described the reply, which came from Jamie Scott, team leader of the Major Applications and Enforcement Department as disappointing. According to PKC the landscaping is as required – this somewhat surprising view is because the permission only mandates landscaping around the developed pitches and not the whole site, as planning was refused for extra pitches. PKC say they are monitoring the site and acknowledge our concerns about waste and unauthorised use. CCllr Marchant wondered how this view was arrived at when we have also been told that site visits are not currently allowed by PKC’s planning department (See later). CCllr Farquhar undertook to act as the liaison with the site if possible.
Cllr Purves told us that a new version of the Planning Enforcement Charter has been issued – The CC should review that and see whether it mandates any actions that are not currently being taken. The CC will write to PKC’s new CEO when they are in place to repeat our concerns.

Crook & Drum Growing Together: CCllr Duffy reported that the group have had their first ever Zoom meeting to discuss the spring planting plans. Colour schemes have been decided on. The group will once more plant up 30 (ten more than last year) hanging baskets and tubs to be handed out to residents in visible areas, mainly along the Main Street. There is no cost to the householder involved for this. Other discussions were about planting more bee and hedgehog friendly areas and the possibility of developing a community garden and/or orchard in the village.

Aldie Road Vegetation: CCllr Marchant said that the vegetation has been cut back but only a small section of the ditch has been cleared resulting in water running down the road, which subsequently froze creating a major hazard. There have been some reports of Grit bins missing in other parts of the County too, perhaps the Roads department should ask CCs to list the ones in their area to create a definitive list for future maintenance.

Fossoway Gathering: CCllr Duffy said that there is a provisional plan for an event on 4th September. It will become clearer over the coming months what shape this event would take.

Matters Arising with no update since last meeting:
Rumbling Bridge Gorge Bridge, Powmill in Bloom, Blairingone War Memorial, Crook of Devon Skate Park, Devonshaw Whinstone Quarry, Ivy Cottage Powmill and Cemetery Car Park Extension: No information at present.

New Business
Corona Virus – Information and Links:
https://www.auchterarderparentssupportingparents.co.uk/about/about This is a group of parents supporting other parents to help families support their children’s emotional and mental health wellbeing. In spite of the name it covers a much wider area.
https://www.kythe.org.uk/ KYTHE aims to serve young people by helping to meet their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs through innovative and Dynamic Christian Youth Work.

Crook of Devon Village Hall: CCllr Duffy reported that the hall has suffered a major water leak in the roof which has been temporarily patched, but substantial fund raising will be required in order to fix it properly.

Community Council Business:
Kinross and Glenfarg Stronger Communities: CCllr Marchant attended the meeting on 26th January – see Bank Closure item above for one useful outcome. The Kinross Kindness group noted during the meeting that they have a reduced number of volunteers during this lockdown, whilst receiving more requests for prescription collection.

Minutes Secretary: CCllr Pye has been undertaking this role since April 2011 and feels it is time for someone else to takeover. None of the current CC members are able to take it on, so initially we will try and find a volunteer, who doesn’t need to be a CC member, although we would probably make them an Associate. The post will be advertised in the CC’s FB page, and all suggestions for possible candidates are welcome.

If the next meeting of this CC is virtual, as currently expected, we will be offering online attendance by members of the public. Anyone interested in “attending” should email the CC at fossoway.cc@gmail.com for details

P&K Councillors’ Reports:
Richard Watters: The scheme for financing Wi-Fi connections for Village Halls has been approved to include Crook of Devon Village Hall.

Callum Purves: Cllr Purves has asked for Aldie Road speed limit to be lowered from40mph to 30mph; however the Roads department have refused as they want to preserve the distinction between urban and rural roads. They did offer to add more 40mph repeater signs. Several members pointed out that this is a narrow road with (small) passing places and many pedestrians and hence is very dangerous. CCllr Bruce Jones pointed out that this road is part of the National Cycle Network so surely it should justify a lower limit? Cllr Purves will go back to the Roads Department with our concerns and ask them to reconsider.
The Gigabit Kinross-shire project to upgrade internet speeds in smaller towns and larger villages is now underway. See the website at https://kinross-shire.org/ to register an interest in taking part.

Planning:
New Applications:
20/01915/FLL Erection of a garage at Whitewisp, Main Street, Blairingone, FK14 7NU. No CC Comment.

20/01907/FLL Alterations to garage to form extension to ancillary accommodation at 1 Braehead, Rumbling Bridge, Kinross, KY13 0PX. No CC Comment.

20/01860/FLL Erection of a dwelling house at Land 50 metres south west of Greenparks, Church Road, Crook of Devon. CC Objection: Access track must be improved, No SUDS plan (previously conditioned), flood risk.
We objected in 2006 on flooding and road use, but passed saying no SUDS plan, same in 2012 application.

20/01954/FLL Alterations and extension to dwelling house at Earnieside Cottage, Dunning Glen, Dollar, FK14 7LB. No CC Comment.

21/00001/FLL S42 application to delete condition 6 (access upgrade) of permission 20/01319/FLL at Land 180 metres south west of Powmill Cottage, Rumbling Bridge. CC Objection: Previous conditions to upgrade track should be continued; Deletion of Condition 6 is contrary to PKC Policy 15 as it would affect public access.

Decided Applications:
20/00972/FLL Erection of 2 dwelling houses and garages at Land 100 metres south west of Easter Muirhead, Blairingone. The application was approved, the CC had objected on road safety grounds and that previous conditions had not been met.

20/01425/FLL Extension to dwelling house at Duanbrig, Naemoor Road, Crook of Devon, Kinross KY13 0UH. The application was refused, the CC had not commented.

20/00976/FLL Erection of a dwelling house at Land 90 metres south east of Maiden Wells House, Rumbling Bridge. The application was approved, the CC had not commented.

Site Visits:
The CC notes that recent planning decision reports state “No site visit due to Covid-19 restrictions; site has been previously visited by officer/enforcement team and Google Street View used.” This also seems to be the case even if there have been no previous visits. The CC finds this policy unacceptable and feels that it is placing an unreasonable emphasis on the CC to provide impartial comments on the conditions at sites.

Scottish Government Consultation on Fourth National Planning Framework:
The CC will respond to this consultation - comments are due by 19th February.
https://consult.gov.scot/planning-architecture/national-planning-framework-position-statement

Correspondence:
The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership Conference will be held at the beginning of February, Ivy Cottage, Powmill is an example of such a property in our area.
Forestry and Land Scotland is conducting a ten year plan review of Glen Devon and glen Sherup Forests.
Registration for the next Scottish Rural Parliament is open. CCllr Duffy will attend.

If the correspondence list is not attached to this document, it can be found on the CC’s FB Page.
Should anyone wish to see any items please contact the CC by email and a copy can be provided.

AOCB: None this month.

Draft Agenda for Next CC Meeting:
Declarations of Interest, Community Policing, Minutes of last meeting. Matters arising: Bank of Scotland Branch Closure, A977 Mitigation, Fossoway Area Transport, Community Development Trust, Crook Moss Site, Powmill in Bloom, Crook & Drum Growing Together. PKC Councillors’ Reports, Planning, Correspondence, AOCB

Next Meeting: Tuesday 2nd March 2021
Powmill Moubray Hall - if Government guidelines allow, otherwise virtual.
Members of public wishing to join please email the CC at fossoway.cc@gmail.com
 
Correspondence January 2021