BENARTY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting 10 January 2019
Present: John Purdie, Tom Kinnaird, Anne Hay, Willie Clarke, Jim Christie, Jim Carr, Brian Menzies, Jack Colquhoun, Cllr Linda Erskine
Also Present: Two members of the public
Absent: Cllr Lockhart
2 Chair Welcome
Chair Welcomed all to the meeting.
4 Apologies
Apologies were received from PC Smith, Cllr Rosemary Liewald, David Moore, Brian Di Placito. Cllr McLelland had passed on that she hoped to attend the meeting, duties allowing.
5 Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the November meeting were read. The minutes were proposed by Jim Christie and seconded by Jack Colquhoun.
6 Matters Arising
Jim Christie enquired about the date of the Citizen of the Year ceremony. Tom Kinnaird said that he will be giving that information out during the meeting. Willie Clarke asked if there was any news about the issue with the buses and the Children walking to and from Lochgelly High School. Cllr Erskine said there will be a report at the next Education Committee meeting, she also mentioned that she had and had raised concerns about disadvantaging children from the area, there had been another campaign in the Glenrothes area on the same subject and although the walk to and from Lochgelly High School appears to be a strait walk it is not a safe road. Willie noted that he had been involved in a similar situation 32 years ago, he and other councillors had walked that and other routes and there was less traffic then than nowadays. They had checked for accidents report and concluded that it was not safe. Willie Clarke advised that Councillors should object to this and not pass it through as roads are more dangerous now than previous. Cllr Erskine said that the Council was looking for a travel policy and this is an attempt to get one. Cllr Erskine wants a bus pass for all the children in the area. A member of the public asked if there was a situation where some children could be on a bus and some from the same street not on the bus. Tom Kinnaird mentioned that this had been discussed and there was a street in Ballingry which was the dividing line where children from one part could go on the bus and children from another part of the same street would not be allowed to go on the bus. Cllr Erskine said that whatever is agreed won’t be implemented until 2020 but added that things won’t get quieter on the road and assessment s need to be done in both the summer and the winter. Also poverty needs to be taken into consideration as some parents cannot afford bus fare if their children don’t qualify for a pass. Jim Carr mentioned that there is also a stigma attached in this respect. Tom Kinnaird asked if the council can look at the situation in regard to Benarty being a deprived area. Cllr Erskine said she was looking to get the department to consider such things as deprivation. Brian Menzies asked if it covers kids from Glencraig to St Kenneths. Cllr Erskine wasn’t sure and would ask but mentioned that there were different qualifications for primary schools. Willie asked what cost savings there would be for this? Cllr Erskine answered that the purpose was for a walking to school policy.
7 Police Report
PC Smith had informed the Community Council he was on day shift and could not attend but had mentioned he would submit a written report. However, one was not received either via email or left at the Centre reception desk.
8 Treasurer Report
The Treasurer gave a verbal update. There was no change but a bank statement had been received, some cheques had come off and one was still to come off. Brian Menzies asked if the bank transfer has been complete yet and Treasurer said not yet, that is the only thing left to happen.
9 Secretary Report
Secretary referenced the Secretary Report and items; the notice was agreed that it would ask to be placed permanently in the Benarty Centre and Brag. Members of the public suggested the Medical Centre, the Surgery and the Community Shop. Willie Clarke also mentioned putting a small item to the Central Fife Times. There was a discussion on the position of the Community Council on the Lochore Meadows Development Board and it was agreed the Community Council should have a representative on the board, Tom Kinnaird asking each Community Councillor individually. It was mentioned that Fife Council had made it clear the board was to have no powers and act on in an advisory capacity. Willie Clarke said that if Fife Council were to block things for which there was a need then the public could be told of the situation to help decide one way or another. The Secretary was asked to think again if they want to be that representative. A map from Fife Council was handed round, showing a small amendment made to the border in relation to the consultation currently taking place. Secretary asked if it was ok to respond confirming the Community Council was in favour of the change. This was agreed. There were no planning items.
10 Fife Councillors Report/Fife Councillors Submitting Reports
Tom Kinnaird mentioned to Cllr Erskine about the joint report from all Cllrs to the Community Council. Cllr Erskine said she was unaware of any agreement to issue joint reports and that each Councillor had their own individual work load to deal with. John Purdie pointed out that it was minuted in the June 2017 minutes, the meeting after the election, and that it was a Councillor suggestion. Willie Clarke said that he had worked with previous Councillors but each Councillor dealt with their own matters. Willie Clarke also said he was concerned with the lack of attendance with some Councillors. Brian Menzies said that Councillors could at least hand their reports in, they needn’t stay for the full meeting. Cllr Erskine said that attendance is not obligatory. Tom Kinnaird asked about Ward meetings, and if minutes from those meetings could be included with reports? Cllr Erskine said that Ward meetings had always gone on, and that there were notes of the meetings. Tom Kinnaird noted that the meeting was quite a bit behind schedule and moved on to the next topic.
28 Benarty Action Plan
The action plan was handed out and there was a discussion on the plan. Willie Clarke pointed out that a lot had been achieved during the period.
It was suggested to email Coalfields trust to find out the situation on a new action plan as it appeared they were losing funding and may not be able to do another one. Cllr Erskine suggested we write to Fife Council and ask if there are any plans to utilise a new action plan. Willie Clarke said that a lot had been achieved by groups in Benarty during the period, the play park in Crosshill, work on the Castle – it was pointed out by a Councillor that the Heritage Group had performed that – the expanded Gala, the Pipe Band Competition, Rockore and other items. Tom Kinniard suggested getting an audit for the community to see what had been done and what remains to be done. Jim Carr suggested we liaise with the forum on the matter as they were the lead group for the action plan. Tom agreed and added that other groups can be contacted also.
29 Social Media
Brian Menzies left.
The report given to Community Councillors in December was discussed. Draft guidelines for facebook were handed out. The issue of the Facebook Page for Benarty Community Council was discussed, a member of the public mentioned that there was very little information on the pages.
Cllr Lea McLelland entered.
A member of the public asked if the facebook page can threaten to block a person from the page? Willie Clarke said that a member shouldn’t be corresponding with the public as individuals. Tom suggested switching to a web page that gives out information only. It was agreed that all communication and questions to the Community Council should be submitted via to the Community Council.
Tom Kinnaird mentioned that on facebook questions were answered. Member of the public mentioned that administrators on facebook refused to divulge their identities. John Purdie said that was the way the facebook page was set up, with comments coming from the Community Council instead of any individual and there didn’t seem to be any reason to change this. Cllr Mclelland mentioned there was an option to change how identities post. Tom Kinnaird said that releasing some information to the Community online would breach regulations, and the Community Council must be careful about what information is given out.
Brian Menzies returned.
Brian Menzies said the Community Council is dead level, and if it wasn’t he wouldn’t be sitting on it. He added that the members of the public are welcome to attend every meeting to see that. Willie Clarke suggested the members of the public could join the Community Council as there are still places open.
The draft guidelines were not adopted.
12 Any other Competent Business
An email from Frankie Hodge was read out relating to the Social Media item. Cllr McLelland interrupted and asked Mr Hodge if he was happy with it being read out and dealt with here at the Community Council meeting. Mr Hodge replied yes, and he was more than happy this and everything to be made fully public. It was decided to accept it as a complaint and have it on the agenda at the next meeting.
A member of the public asked if there was a possibility of live streaming the meetings. Some people can’t get to meetings for various reasons and it would help connect with the community. Tom Kinnaird responded that the Community Council would be warm to that idea. John Purdie pointed out a possible barrier could be the Wi-Fi in the centre which was and had been a problem. It was decided to put it on the agenda for the next meeting.
Chair thanked everyone and gave the date of the next meeting.
Citizen of the Year information was given to the Community Council by Tom Kinnaird.
