Minutes of meeting on 18 November 2009 at 7.30pm in Uphall Community Education Centre
Present : Mr J Richardson (Chair), Mr J Moore (Vice Chair), Dr G Paisey (Planning Secretary), Mrs A Milne, Mrs M Davies, Mrs I Bishop, PC A Kidd, Mrs J Cumberford, Mrs I Jones, Cllr E Glass, Mr D Flight and Mrs H Hinton
Apologies: Cllr G Morrice, Mrs J Baxter and Mr F Graham
Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 21 October 2009 were distributed and read as a true record.
Proposed by Dr G Paisey and seconded by Mrs I Bishop.
Resignation of Secretary
Mrs H Hinton addressed the meeting regarding her recent resignation as secretary of Uphall Community Council. She outlined her reasons for doing so to the group and made reference to new guidance notes which have been recently issued.
Mr J Richardson then addressed the meeting, confirming that he had received Mrs Hinton’s resignation by e-mail and had responded accordingly. He read out his response to all present.
Mr D Flight agreed to copy the guidance notes for each community Councillor, for information, prior to our next meeting in January 2010.
Differences of opinion were discussed as a group, and it was agreed to add this topic to the agenda for January 2010’s meeting.
Matters arising from the previous minutes
Wheelie Bins: Mrs Bishop reported that the bins have been put back out (after being put away for a few days).
Reports
Police:
PC Andrew Kidd, Community Police Officer, introduced himself to the meeting. He gave details of the geographical area that he covers, his previous experience within L & B Police and talked about his responsibilities. During the month of October, there were 17 crimes reported, of which 9 were solved, giving a solvency rate of 52.94%. In the year to date, there have been 121 reported crimes, of which 30 have been solved, giving a solvency rate of 24.79%. Vandalisms remained a particular problem mostly occurring in the noticeably darker evenings. Stone throwing incidents were reported in Burnside, Middleton and East Main Street, Uphall. Colleagues in the safer neighbourhood teams are busy identifying youths responsible. This is proving difficult, as there is little or no eye witness evidence.
Service buses using East Main Street have often been targets for stone throwing, any information regarding this practice would be of great assistance (phone PC Kidd on 01506 852121 or, depending on the severity, call 999). Other crimes reported: 1 house break-in in South Middleton on 28 October 2009. Other crimes included assault and use/possession of weapons.
Treasurer
Mr Graham, our treasurer, had given his apologies. Therefore no report was available.
Newsletter
Mr Moore informed the meeting that he had contacted the Chairman of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade CC as they have been producing a quality newsletter. He highlighted some of the information received and will discuss content, design and costing at forthcoming meetings. Aiming for a spring edition. Again, he asked for content suggestions to be forwarded to him or any member of the group.
Website
The website has been updated and includes the current agenda and minutes of previous meeting. Members of the community council made a few suggestions (e.g. Christmas Lights switch on and Torchlight Procession) which will be added in due course.
Uphall Community Education Centre Management Committee
Mrs Bishop said that the new meeting room has been completed, looks very good and will serve a very useful purpose. Approximately £800 was raised at the recent Community Centre Craft Fayre. The 10th Birthday Ceilidh is being held on 12th December 2009. Tickets are still available. Uphall Community Centre is pleased to provide the wine for the OAP dinner.
The joint planning, between Uphall Community Council and Uphall Community Education Centre Management Committee, of our Christmas lights switch-on, refreshments and singing of carols is progressing well. Our Councilors’ have previously agreed to supply Christmas Mince Pies. The costs and expenses of holding this event will be shared equally between Uphall Community Council and Uphall Community Education Centre Management Committee.
Association of Scottish Community Councils Annual Conference
The Vice Chair and Mrs Hinton both attended this conference and spoke about the conference business. Dr J McKinnon, Scottish Government Chief Planner, spoke regarding changes to the planning system and new ways of working. A representative of APRS (Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland) spoke about various issues, including dealing with landscape planning concerns.
Planning Report
Our newly appointed Planning Secretary gave his report outlining various planning applications:
· Application for the erection of a dwelling at 20-30 Alexander Street, Uphall
· Application for housing and public amenity space at East Mains Industrial Estate, Broxburn (an exhibition on this proposal will be held at Strathbrock Centre on 26 and 27 November).
Mr Richardson informed the meeting that he’d received notification from the Reporter at the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals at the Scottish Government, regarding the Planning Permission Appeal: Philpstoun South Bing, West Lothian. Following the public enquiry, the reporter has decided that conditional planning permission will be granted provided that agreement under section 75 of the Act is negotiated between the planning authority and the owners of the land comprised in the planning application.
Correspondence
Several items of correspondence have been received:
· Annual Report from Gavin Brown MSP
· Community Progress Planning Report 2009
· Winter Services in West Lothian
· Information regarding the ‘living guidance documents’ from the Community Council Liaison Officer
· Housing Capital Programme 2009 from Mr J Reid of West Lothian Council
· Annual Report 2009 from The Scottish Rights of Way Society (ScotWays)
· Newsletter from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland
It was also noted that The West Lothian Association of Community Councils AGM will be held on Thursday 19th November at 7.00pm at the Civic Centre. All community councilors in West Lothian have been individually invited to attend. All welcome.
Any Other Competent Business
The Chair and Mrs Bishop attended the West Lothian Seniors Forum on 5 November 2009 at the Howden Park Centre at which the constitution of the forum was discussed and adopted. Mrs Bishop commented on the lack of a microphone and hearing loop system, and lack of refreshments. Mr Flight suggested that we write to the council noting our concerns. The next forum meeting will take place in the first week in February – date to be advised. Action: JR
Mr Richardson advised members of an e-mail received from Cllr G Morrice informing him of the success of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund – second tranche results. Bathgate have been awarded £600,000 and West Lothian Towns have been awarded £1,745,300.
Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of Uphall Community Council will be on Wednesday 20th January 2010 at 7.30pm in the Uphall Community Education Centre.
