Benarty Community Council Meeting: Thursday 7 November 2024
Minutes of Meeting Held Thursday 7 November 2024
Present: Charlotte Howe, John Purdie, Jack Colquhoun, Davie Hynd (Chair),
Also Present: Linda Michie, Stephen Nardone, Pauline Grandison
Apologies:, Kathleen Donnachie, Sarah Jane Ratcliffe, Stephen Scott, Maggie Bell, Anne Hay, Watty Watson, Debbie Doyle, Lisa Reid.
Chair Welcome
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Declaration of interests
There were no declarations of interest.
Minutes of the October Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting were read by everyone. They were proposed by David Hynd but as there was no one to second them it was deferred to the next meeting.
Matters Arising
Charlotte Howe noted that the minutes had said the micro grant money had arrived but it had not as yet. John Purdie noted that there will be another meeting in November in Benarty Centre about the proposed BESS at Westfield. There was a note that Fife Council were paying for the water installations at allotments in Inverkeithing when they had denied a water installation in Benarty due to cost and it was agreed to write to Fife Council to see if they can think again on the Benarty installation.
Police Report
The police report had already been sent to members.
Reports
Treasurer gave a report that the Fife Council grant had arrived but as noted the micro grant money was still to arrive. The micro grants awarded at the previous meeting would have to come out of general monies until the grant arrived. One had been paid and one was awaiting correct bank details. There were no other reports.
Motion on Community Benefit Policy
To ask Fife Council to adopt an onshore renewable energy Community Benefit Policy, and for this policy to enshrine the Good Practice Principles of £5,000 per annum per installed megawatt, index linked, for the lifetime of the project, and to note that Battery Energy Storage Systems are included in this policy along with Wind and Solar.
The motion was proposed by John Purdie, seconded by Charlotte Howe, with additional information from both, was discussed by the Community Council and unanimously passed.
LPP and Fife Climate Hub
Pauline Grandison informed the Community Council that the Local Place Plan had been accepted and registered. The planners are happy with the Plans and want to launch them to make the public aware of them. There will be printed copies available also. As Benarty had been a Climate Action Town there was interest from Fife Climate Hub about working together with Benarty Community Council on these matters and offered to attend a Benarty Community Council meeting. Tying in with the Local Place Plan the Cowdenbeath area will be getting a Transport Plan, with consultations planned for the new year. Also the University of Hertfordshire were doing research and wanted to use Benarty Community Council as a case study. The Community Council agreed to participate.
AOCB
Stephen Nardone updated on the Armistice Service. Everything was in place with organist, bugler, piper and clergy arranged and the catering sorted. Mr Nardone was not informed that the Cadets in Ballingry had closed but he had managed to get someone in uniform for the event. The event was sent to the local papers for notification but the local papers did not publicise it in line with other Armistice events, which Mr Nardone said was disrespectful.
Linda Michie brought up the subject of parking in Lochore outside the butchers where sometimes employees park there all day and there is no room for other people. There was supposed to be a garage site at the back opening up for parking. Also there was the issue of the bins outside the Co-op in Lochore. Chair said he would speak to the businesses involved to see if there could be resolutions to the issues.
John Purdie noted that the Community Council should start promoting the Citizen of the Year.
The Chair offered his thanks to those in attendance and closed the meeting.
Microgrants
There were no micro grants to discuss.
Date of next meeting Thursday 5th December 2024 7p.m.
</#0000cc>
