MEETING 29/04.03

PRESENT

R. Robinson, M. McNeill, A. Irvine, M. Mawson, L. Gow, J. McArry, D. McArry,
R. Lee.

IN ATTENDANCE

Inspector Miller, P. C. Holden, J. Leeds, (housing)

WELCOME & APOLOGIES

The chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting, and a special welcome to our new community constable P. C. Thomas Holden. Apologies were tendered for Mrs J. Robinson.

The chairperson then asked P. C. Holden to give the meeting a background report of his career in the police force; inspector Miller introduced P. C. Holden to the community council, he said he had come to them highly recommended and that he had volunteered for the post of community constable he also stated that P. C. Holden had 12 years experience with the force in various branches i.e. the crime unit, the serious crime unit, he has also served in Sauchie and Alloa. He is locally based so hopes to be accepted into the local community, he will soon be seen on our streets riding the latest up to date police cycle which he hopes will endear him to the locals.

He has already introduced himself to the local schools and businesses as well as the residents of Newmills and the orchard in the hope that a police presence is seen to be in the area but he wants us to let people know they must be involved if the area is to better itself by informing the police of any ongoing disturbances immediately they happen, he has had problems with his computer and promises to let us know his e-mail address as soon as it is up and running.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

Copies of the minutes were distributed to everyone present, after reading the minutes the chairperson asked for the minutes to be proposed and seconded.

Proposed by Linda McLean and seconded by Margaret Mawson

MATTERS ARISING

Feedback re plaque for the war memorial.

The secretary Linda McLean after writing to several organisations in the village to join an action committee to seek funding to build a plinth which would bear the names of those service men/women, who lost their lives in war, got the following response. One group the retired miners was willing to have one of their officials sit on the committee, the other groups would not but, would give a donation to the fund.

It was suggested that it might be beneficial to the community if we were to involve the local children in the community in a competition to design the memorial plinth and plaque, thus giving some knowledge to the younger generation in our community what the war memorial means. This might help to curb any vandalism towards it and instil some public pride in the young people.

It was suggested that a plinth faced in granite with three or four flat sides would be ideal for a bronze plaque to be secured to it, or the names could be engraved in the granite surface with room to add any names of future fatalities.

It was also suggested that the winner of the competition would have the honour of unveiling the plaque at the opening ceremony.

The secretary will write to the heads of the schools in the community to see if they would form a project where the children could take part in the designing of the plinth and plaque.

When the winning design has been picked the chairperson will seek a costing for the plinth and plaque, we can then go ahead with the fund razing to build it.

When the project is complete, we shall re-establish Remembrance Day parades to the war memorial.

JACKIE LEEDS REPORT (housing)

Door entry systems will be getting installed in Newmills apart from number 114, Linda McLean brought up the worry that another high dependency unit was going to be placed in the area, and Jackie assured us that this block would not be turned into another high dependency unit.

Linda also brought to Jackie’s attention that a red Vauxhall car has seemingly been abandoned at 125 Newmills and it is sitting on bricks in an unstable condition and presents a danger to children in the area. P. C. Holden took a note of the situation and said he would look into it, but it had to be investigated since he could not just tow it away immediately. Jackie brought up the issue of litter being strewn about the Newmills area, she had been in touch with the supervisor for the Newmills area and he had promised to advise the road sweeper to lift any existing litter. Donna informed us that this had not been done and Jackie said she would look into it; however any large items must be reported to the appropriate department.

Jackie informed the community council that the housing department were waiting for the installation of security doors in the Newmills blocks, before any real work can be done to graffiti in the blocks, however if the graffiti is of an offensive nature it will be dealt with as soon as possible.

The fencing around the O.A.Ps bungalows is finished and the final coat of paint will be finished as soon as possible. Jackie said there had been some problem with vandalism in the lane that runs at the back of Ladbrokes in Ochil Street to Stirling road. P. C. Holden informed us that two teenagers had been caught and charged with the vandalism, Jackie was informed that the lighting in the lane was defective and she said she would inform the road lighting department, but if nothing is done we must persist with complaining since these things must be kept on being reported for the amenity services to take notice.

P. C. HOLDEN`S REPORT

The police had 281 calls in the period from 25th March to the 29th April. Crimes detected 18. disorderly conduct, 4 acts of vandalism, 2 drug offences, 23 road traffic offences 3 drinking offences, undetected, 21those involving school vandalism 10. inspector Miller also said it would be very helpful to the police if the community council had any ideas for youth diversion that they could initiate to try and keep the young people from hanging around the streets at night.


SECRETARYS CORROSPONDANCE

The secretary had e-mailed George Reid about the CCTV for the Tullibody area but so far has not received any reply, this could be due to his work load preceding the elections, we will put off any further action until after the elections.

The next e community meeting will take place on the 29th of May, the pilot project is coming to an end and has been a great success, discussion on ownership – upkeep of the computers and internet fees will be discussed. The chairperson stated that it would be unrealistic for Clackmannanshire council to think that the community councils could bear the cost of this on the £500 grant they receive from them, he further stated that after all the hard work the community councils had put into the pilot project to make it a success would be lost if the burden of these costs were placed on community councils, and he would be advocating at the meeting that Clackmannanshire council should carry on bearing the costs or increase our grant accordingly.

Linda said she thought she had read somewhere in correspondence that the extra £I, 000 grant we received last year was to become permanent and to be used for that purpose, the chairperson said that this had not come up at any of the e community meetings, nor had he received any correspondence to that effect, however he would make inquiries and if this is the case it should cover the running costs of the computers.

TREASURERS REPORT

The treasurer presented the annual balance sheet, this was scrutinised and found to be a true account of our monetary affairs. The present balance stands at £1247, 95 some of the moneys included in this amount is in the form of donations from local businesses towards sponsoring our community web site, it was decided in future to have a separate bank account for donations from sponsors who sponsor our community web site, this would give a truer account of the grant we receive from Clackmannanshire council. Eileen Cook from Clackmannanshire council audited our books she charged £20. Which we thought was reasonable; the treasurer will send her a cheque for £20. And ask her if she will audit our books annually.



A.O.C.B.

1. Community councillor Janet Robinson was reimbursed for the purchase of ink cartridges for one of our computers, a total of £34.92.
2. It was decided by the community council to have a petty cash kitty of £50 to cover postal expenses etc; the treasurer gave a cheque for this amount to the secretary.
3. Community councillor Jimmy McCarry suggested that the community council should consider a fenced off dog walking area in the public park where dog owners could walk their dogs cutting the chance of dog pooh being trod on by the general public and people who use the football playing areas, however dog owners would still be encouraged to clean up after their dogs and deposit poop scoop bags in bins provided in the fenced off area.
4. The community notice board in Tron court has not been replaced since it was vandalised about two years ago, councillor Scobbie had asked on several occasions to have it replaced without success, the secretary will write to Robert Brewster at Clackmannanshire council to have it replaced.

As there was no other business the chairperson closed the meeting and thanked everyone for attending.

ACTION POINTS



POINT DECISION ACTION BY WHOM BY WHEN
All schools contact Set up competition Linda McLean 24-06-03
cctv George Reid msp cctv for tullibody Linda McLean 24-06-03
Our computers Query costs Bring up our points Robert Robinson On 29-06-03
Set up bank account Set up For community web site Margaret McNeill & Bobby Robinson As soon as possible
Robert Brewster Notice board Erect new notice board Linda McLean 24-06-03


DATE OF NEXT MEETING 24/06/03 venue the Tullibody civic centre at 7pm.


SIGNED _________________________

SIGNED _________________________