Kirkcowan Community Council Meeting, 17th June 2024, Kirkcowan Village Hall, 7.30pm
1. Council Members present –John Drysdale (Vice-Chair), Hazel McWhirter (Treasurer), Mary Harkness (Secretary) Robert Drysdale, Mary McKenzie, Kevin Dean, Andrew Gladstone, Kath Googe (Minutes Sec)
Public present – Martin Marsh, Janette Steele
Apologies for absence – H Matthews, Cllr Hagmann, Cllr Marsh, Police Scotland.
2. Minutes of last meeting –Approved – proposed MH, seconded KD.
Matters Arising – The Beechgrove resident has been advised of the recommendations, and has responded to the KCC. No further action.
3. Police Report – Two incidents of Breach of the Peace – one leading to a charge, the second – inquiries ongoing.
4. Notified Public Concerns – A bird feeder has been placed on verge at Beechgrove at the gate to the Glebe footpath. It was considered to be inappropriately placed, a potential hazard to traffic & persons and encouraging to crows and vermin – a previously notified concern of a resident in the area. D&G Roads Department to be consulted.
5. Reports and Updates –
Treasurers Report
No 1 Account £1,133.74 No 2 Account £13,305.91
Expenditure
Keith Gordon – dyke stone removal £370.00
Hall Fees £40.00
Murray Gibson –
– service & recondition generator starter motor £172.46
H McWhirter – plants & compost for village planters £225.00
Total £807.46
No Income
KCDT Report –
Martin Marsh -Since Machars Action has stopped business activities, closing their offices, making staff redundant, & without funds to carry on, the bank accounts for KCDT have been frozen and the future of the Machars Action building is uncertain. As at 17/6/24 KCDT has managed to retrieve all documents and records pertaining to the Trust from the Machars Action offices and these are all now with Foundation Scotland (Gatehouse of Fleet) with whom KCDT will be making a management arrangement. Foundation Scotland will in future be making grant payments (including to Kirkcowan Post Office staff) and dealing with grant applications. All KCDT documentation will be altered to show the changes. No grants can be awarded until the transfer has taken place and an address for application submissions is known.
Hamilton Park – Contractors are currently working on the replacement of play equipment. No Health and Safety notices are displayed and there are concerns about the security of the working area. Martin Marsh will liaise with the contractor.
Planning – none received.
6. Elected Members Report – no Elected Members present.
7. Correspondence – The initial presentation of the proposed Shennanton Windfarm is due in the village hall 2-4pm 24th June, and in Macmillan Hall in the evening.
The face to face meetings about the future of the cottage hospitals at Newton Stewart and Galloway Community Hospital have been postponed until after the General Election
8. Insurance Renewal – The insurance for the container and contents including the generator is due on 25th June, the premium is £377. Agreed AG will contact NFU insurance to get a second quote and KCC agreed to go with whichever is cheapest.
9. Machars Action – Update from KD (Vice Chair Machars Action)
KD reported that a meeting of the Board of Machars Action Directors will take place this week and that they hope to remain in existence. It appears that MA may not be able to sell their building as they have not owned it long enough. More information to be made available when known.
10. Balgreen Rates -Stirling Park, debt collectors on behalf of D&G, are requesting payment of Rates arrears of £438.24 from KCC for the football ground. The deeds held by KCC for safekeeping, are in the name of Tarff Rovers. For clarification the ground was not passed to the Scottish Football Association when Tarff Rovers folded and was originally gifted to Tarff Rovers in 1948 by Craichlaw Estate. MH to speak with D&G on the matter and to ask about the process of removing the ground from the Rates Valuation Roles and/or have the ground reinstated as agricultural land.
11. Kirkcowan Village Sign on Station Road – AG has received a quotation from Galloway Granite for £300. Will check if this includes installation.
12. Any Other Competent Business
- CREPL – corner garden – invoice received from Keith Gordon for installing the road signs at the Corner garden £247 – a total of £2,137 due for work carried out on garden.
- Footpaths – approx 10x 4” square stobs are needed for waymarkers along the footpaths. RD offered to obtain these. AG will arrange for installation. Yellow arrow signs will be free of charge from D&G. Waterproof tops for the stobs will be obtained.
- AG. Some work along the riverside path is still needed. Community Payback has been asked to do this. AG will arrange for brush cutting with a tractor along part of the old railway path to be done later this year.
- Bowling Club – KD reported this has been reformed and an Open Day is arranged for Saturday 27th July 1PM – 6PM. All welcome. Posters will be put up with the details.
- Union Flag will be flying: 21st June – Prince of Wales birthday, 29th June – Armed Forces Day, 17th July – Queen Camilla’s birthday, 22nd July – Prince George’s birthday, 15th August – Princess Royal’s birthday .
Meeting closed at 20.55.
Next meeting – Monday 19th August 2024