BENARTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting 2 May 2019
Present: John Purdie, Tom Kinnaird, Jack Colquhoun, Claire Graham, Sheila Ross, Sharon Kinnaird, Anne Hay, Jim Christie, Brian Menzies, Willie Clarke, Cllr Liewald, Cllr McLelland, Cllr Erskine
Also Present: Cllr Vettriano, 9 members of the public
Apologies: Brian Di Placito, PC Smith
Absent: Cllr Lockhart
Chair Welcome
Chair welcomed all to the meeting. Chair updated all on the situation of the water leak in Kirktoun Park.
Declaration of Interest
Claire Graham declared an interest as a member of the Mossmorran Action Group in the Mossmorran item.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were read.
Matters Arising
There were some minor errors in the minutes. Subject to revisions the minutes were nominated as correct by Sharon Kinnaird and seconded by Sheila Ross. Willie Clarke asked if there was any progress with the speeding issue raised at previous meetings and was informed that it was raised at Ward meetings. Cllr Liewald advised that the more people reported incidents the more it would build up on the system.
Police Report
PC Smith was not present.
Treasurer Report
The Financial report from the AGM also covered this meeting.
Jack Left
Secretary Report
The following report was circulated and discussed. Points were raised about the structural integrity of the walls, which Fife Council told individuals and clubs prohibited using the ground.
Brian left
Jack returned
BENARTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
REPORT ON COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER OF ORE PARK PROCEDURES
28 APRIL 2019
The Community Asset Transfer of Ore Park was brought to the attention of Benarty Community Council and the Community Council enquired further on the matter. An email was sent to Fife Council * and further information was received.
There were claims of a widespread consultation promoted on social media and carried out with over six hundred responses. There seems to be no evidence of promotion on social media of this consultation, there is none on the facebook page of the Applicant. Documents sent to the Community Council were incomplete, only four pages were sent, starting from page 9, none of them mentioning either Ore Park or Community Asset Transfer. The only question given to the Community Council was “Are you supportive of improving opportunities for young people to participate in sporting activities by the provision of a football academy in the Benarty Area?” This is a loaded question at best. Also, it is inconceivable that a consultation on a Community Asset Transfer does not mention that the asset proposed to be transferred or that it is a consultation on an asset transfer.
The consultation was undertaken between 9th October 2018 and 5th November 2018. On 6 November 2018, after the consultation, Fife Sons of Struth changed their entire constitution.
Information was given that “A rent of £750 pa is the standard charge applicable to football pitches” yet in the papers for the May meeting of Cowdenbeath area Committee a 20 year lease with Crossgates Primrose Football Club was signed for Humbug Park in Crossgates (a similar size to Ore Park) for £2,100 per annum.
While all the legal boxes may have been ticked there is enough evidence to show that the public, particularly the Benarty public was not consulted (documents claim the ‘football community’ not Benarty was consulted) even though it is claimed the forms submitted were mostly from Benarty residents. A complete change of constitution – from covering all Fife to only covering Benarty – is also odd. The consultation seems shaky, as only partial documentation was given.
There is belief that, if possible, this Community Asset Transfer should be referred by Benarty Community Council to a higher authority than Fife Council, perhaps the Scottish Parliament.
*This document was published online by a member of the public before it was sent to Fife Council, the Community Council should ensure future documents aren’t published online by limiting the documents the public are allowed to remove from meetings.
Fife Councillors Report
Claire left
Cllr Rosemary Liewald reported that she had attended the meeting of the Westfield Liaison Group, and had visited Rosewell Clinic. Cllr Linda Erskine reported that 9 days had been spent at Café Inc, and 7,150 meals delivered over the two weeks, and thanked everyone for the promotion of Café Inc. All Cllrs noted the distressing case in Cardenden which took up a lot of time and was emotionally exhausting for a lot of people.
Claire returned
Brian returned
Public Questions
No public questions had been received.
Westfield
Chair quickly summarised that four representatives had attended the Westfield Liaison group from Benarty Community Council and, as Cllr Liewald had mentioned, it was generally a positive meeting.
Mossmorran
A member of the public mentioned that Mossmorran had flared again that day. Cllrs discussed the motion that had been discussed at Fife Council that day and Chair notified people that a public meeting would be held in Lochgelly. It was asked if there would be a full investigation. Cllrs Liewald and Vettriano had been attending meetings with Leslie Laird MP, which Exxon had also been attending.
Any other Competent Business
Jim Christie attended the Save the Cage event, assurances had been given by Fife Mining Heritage that the artefacts will be preserved, although they will stay in the Levenmouth area. The National Mining Museum have been contacted and have shown interest. And a meeting with a representative from Newtongrange had happened. The Lochore Meadows Park Manger had also paid a visit to Newtongrange and a list has been drawn up of items that can be displayed at Lochore Meadows Country Park. The ultimate goal is a Heritage Centre.
Complaint/Allegation of Criminality against Community Council
The Community Council met in private to discuss an allegation made against the Community Council online and decided on a course of action. The matter is ongoing.
Citizen of the Year
Time did not allow this matter to be discussed at the meeting.
