Minutes of the meeting, May 2026

Apologies:

L Reid (Vice Chair), D Doyle (Comms Officer), L Michie, W Watson, F Hodge, J Morrison, Cllr Erskine

1.

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.

Apologies

See above.

3.

Declarations of Interests

No declarations of interest were made.

4.

Minutes of Last Meeting

These were agreed as a true record.  Proposed by J Purdie.  Seconded by S J Ratcliffe.

5.

Matters Arising

a)      Catchment Survey: Covered under Secretary’s report.

b)      Ore Energy Park: (i) BCC’s response to planning application.

(ii)  Secretary to write to Wind Estate for more information on the second round of consultation.

c)       Firework Control Zones: Take up with Fife Council, with help from Cllr Barrett.  Respond to A Ewing MSP and resident who raised the issue.

d)      Fife Visitor Levy: BCC response to be included in next Newsletter.  The Secretary reported that this had been omitted from the Spring issue but would be included in the Summer issue.

e)      Inchgall Avenue: S Colquhoun asked if a reply had been received from Cllr Erskine.  No reply has been received.  It was agreed that the Secretary write to Cllr Erskine to ask for an update.

f)        FC Grant: Application for this year’s grant to be submitted.

g)      Passageway Under Bridge in Lochore:  J Morrison to speak to Fife Council workers the next time they are in the Benarty Centre to see if they have information about opening/closing times for the gate.

h)      Dallas Doyle Park Flooding:  Secretary to take the matter up with Fife Council.

All other actions had been completed.

C Howe /

J Purdie

C Howe

C Howe

C Howe /

D Doyle

C Howe

S J Ratcliffe

J Morrison

C Howe

Once planning application has been submitted.

4 June

31 July

1 June

4 June

3 September

4 June

4 June

6.

Reports

a)       Secretary: The Secretary presented her report that had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

i.        Flooding Catchment Survey: The BCC noted that Michael Anderson had been invited to attend the September BCC meeting, by which time, all work should have been completed.  The BCC also noted the comprehensive reply that had been received on this issue, at Annex B to the Secretary’s report.

ii.        Scottish Forestry: The BCC had no objections to the application.

iii.        Correspondence: The BCC noted the other correspondence that had been received, as noted in Annex A to the Secretary’s report.

b)       Treasurer:  The Treasurer presented her report that had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

c)        Police: S J Ratcliffe reported on the last joint meeting with the Police.

d)       Schools: K McLean gave a report on St Kenneth’s RC Primary School.

(i)              Work is underway to refurbish the nursery area, including the garden.  The school are aiming to recreate an infant playground.  D Holmes said that there might be a grant available to help.

(ii)             Pupils have been raising funds to pay for small items of play equipment, such as frisbees, bats, ball, hoops & skipping ropes; and had completed a Zumbathon to help.  More substantial items are also required and the children had come up with their own ideas, such as a buddy bench and a climbing frame.

(iii)           The school’s planting project needs to be kick-started again, but work has started.  The pupils planted strawberries earlier in the week.  K McLean gave credit to Ann McLean, from the Benarty Forum, for all her help previously with the growing project.  K McLean also reported that there had been some vandalism to the water butt and compost heap.  The Secretary asked if the Environment Group had been in touch yet about a joint growing project.  K McLean said that they had not.

(iv)           The fair share shop (Thursday & Fridays pm) is going well.

(v)            iPads have now been rolled out to P6/7s, with P5s due to receive their IT kit soon.

(vi)           A successful family learning session had been held, with parents engaging fully in the process.

(vii)         The school plans to move to its Facebook page to give updates etc, in the hopes of reaching a wider audience.

(viii)        Transition arrangements to St Columbus are in progress.

(ix)           38 children went away to camp.

(x)            The pupils will be writing their own show.

(xi)           There is a deputy vacancy to be filled.

(xii)         S Colquhoun asked if the school needed any more picture frames from the Community Shop.  K McLean said that she would check.

(xiii)        Secretary to provide Newsletter deadlines to K McLean.

e)       Local Councillors: Nothing to report.

C Howe

4 June

7.

Any Other Business

a)       AGM:

(i)      It was agreed to hold the AGM immediately prior to the business meeting on 4^th June.  Start time 7pm.

(ii)     Anyone wishing to submit a motion to the AGM should send it to the Secretary by Tuesday 26^th May.

(iii)   Secretary to inform Fife Council of the date of the AGM.

b)       Incinerator Lorries: B Menzies raised an issue of lorries going through Benarty on their way to the incinerator at Westfield and said that he had date-stamped photographic evidence as proof.  B Menzies agreed to provide copies of the photos to the Secretary.  He also asked about the contract for waste incineration, in particular the cost involved and the tonnage.  The Secretary reported that she had received notification of an application by the company to Fife Council, asking for additional days to be added to the agreement.  Chair to take the matter up at the next Westfield Community Liaison Committee meeting.

ALL

ALL

C Howe

D Hynd

4 June

26 May

8 May

20 May

8.

Date of Next Meeting:

AGM: Thursday 4^h June 2026, 7pm, Benarty Centre.

The normal meeting will follow the AGM.

ALL

4 June