JACKTON & THORNTONHALL
COMMUNITY COUNCIL [COMCIL]
Community Council Meeting.
MINUTES OF MEETING, WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL 2001, 7.30 PM
Malcolm Reid (Acting Chair & Sec'ty)
Michael West (Treasurer, Minutes)
Fiona McCrae
Ronnie Niven
Attending : Cllr. Michael McCann
Robin Johnston
Dr & Mrs. David Pollock
Dr. Norrie Suckle
George Gibson
Apologies : R Iain Gardner
Ron McIntosh
Doreen Sweeney
Malcolm Phillips
Malcolm Reid, in the chair, welcomed all present and opened the meeting at 7:40pm.
1.
SEDERUNT
As above
2.
APOLOGIES
As above.
3.
CHAIRPERSON'S BUSINESS
3.1 Membership of COMCIL
The Chairman reported that a letter of resignation had been received from Eric Forgie, who regretted that pressure of other commitments prevented his continued participation as COMCIL member. lain Gardner had acknowledged and accepted Erie's resignation with regret and with thanks for his many contributions to COMCIL activities.
The Chairman stressed the need for additional members of the community. Mrs. Margaret Pollock kindly agreed to serve and was warmly welcomed on to the committee. The Chairman said that the invitation for others to join was still open.
3.2 EK Local Area Plan and Greenbelt Campaign
Malcolm Reid reported that acknowledgements from SLC appeared to have been
received for most of the "representations" of objection submitted through COMCIL. A
response from SLC is now awaited, to follow on from the planning committee stage, which may continue until late 2001. Further stages such as a Public Enquiry would depend on SLC's response.
Malcolm Reid read out a letter from SLC to Mrs. Linda Fabiani, who had passed it on as a follow-up to her visit to Thorntonhall. Letters having identical wording had been sent by SLC to others enquiring about the proposed developments at Thorntonhall. This wording therefore appeared to represent the present stance of SLC, in spite of the discussions of COMCIL objections at the meeting between COMCIL representatives and SLC Planners on 8th March 2001. (See report attached to minutes of COMCIL meeting of 7th March 2001).
After some discussion it was agreed that SLC's stance shown in the letter remained contrary to the objections of COMCIL and the overwhelming majority of residents; and was furthermore contrary to SLC and National Greenbelt and Development Policies. It was therefore agreed that COMCIL should prepare a response to the points raised in the letter. To this end, an aide-memoire would be prepared as a basis for early action by the core campaign committee. The text of the aide-memoire is to be attached to these minutes.
Cllr McCann explained that SLC was under great pressure from developers, who may sue if insufficient land is released to meet housing targets. Moreover developers will target the areas where houses fetch the highest prices. In cases where the objections could not be resolved, the Scottish Executive would appoint an impartial Arbiter/Reporter.
Malcolm Reid reported that an invoice for £2937.49 had been received for the services of RPS Chapman Warren/Mr. John Smith, and had been found by COMCIL Chairman and Secretary to be in accordance with the fixed fee previously agreed. It was unanimously agreed that payment should be made accordingly
4. MINUTES OF MEETING OF WEDNESDAY 2IST MARCH 2001
Copies were available, and after due consideration were approved subject to the following amendments:
(i) Number of representations to SLC regarding the Greenbelt development was 290, not 286 (Section 3 and last paragraph of Section 5).
(ii) Section 7, 12th line: for SLA read SLC.
5. MATTERS ARISING
5.1 Jackton Re Cllr McCann's comment that no objection had been raised to the Police College, it was accepted that an initial objection was later withdrawn, only after it was confirmed that the proposal was confined to the Police College. Cllr McCann repeated that the GSO would reduce the traffic through Jackton, particularly in respect of large vehicles, and would thus make the housing development sustainable in this respect.
Malcolm Reid confirmed that few residents of Jackton had attended Campaign meetings, and that during the distribution of the SLC Representations Forms, some residents favoured some form of new development.
5.2 Ronnie Niven asked what amenities, access etc. were included in current planning.
Malcolm Reid replied that there may be plans in outline only as part of the developers' forward planning, but they would not be available to the public.
5.3 George Gibson emphasised that the policy in the "Greenbelt Review" of 1995, published in 1997, was that such land should be sacrosanct for 10 years. George also said that maps showed that SLC owns significant other land areas to the North and East of Thorntonhall.
5.4 The question of local purchase of the SLC plot of 1.65ha, presently included in the housing proposals, had been raised during the meeting with SLC planners on 8th March 2001. SLC could consider this in principle, however any local purchaser would be offering only the open-field value, which would be much less than the £1,400,000 value for housing development.
6. SECRETARY'S REPORT
6.1 Malcolm Reid had chaired the East Kilbride Crime Prevention Panel monthly meeting of 17th April 2001 and copies of these minutes will be made available. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th May 2001.
6.2 The draft LAND REFORM BILL is due soon and Malcolm, as Secretary of COMCIL, will request a copy.
6.3 Correspondence received included:
-Notice from SLC Amenity Services inviting entries for the "Beautiful Scotland in Bloom" (BSIB) campaign;
-Notice from SLC Licensing Section regarding training booklets and Open Days which will be available for guidance of Community Councils.
6.4 A planning application by the Lodge House, which is on the Carmunnock By-pass just beyond the A726 roundabout, had been passed to COMCIL by SLC. This development appeared not to have a direct impact on Thorntonhall, but it will be necessary to check any implications regarding Greenbelt policy.
7. TREASURER'S REPORT
Michael West confirmed that the following three accounts were now established at the Bank of Scotland in Princes Mall, East Kilbride: Jackton & Thorntonhall Community Council (general); Jackton & Thorntonhall Greenbelt Campaign; Marjorie Dowie Memorial Fund. This Bank gives better rates than RBOS on " Treasurer's Accounts". This is particularly relevant to the Campaign Fund.
8. COUNCILLOR'S REPORT
Councillor McCann reported that:
-Two planning applications (not identified, but not of direct interest to COMCIL) had been refused.
-Railtrack had been asked for an assessment of load capacity of the bridge over the railway, so as to judge whether heavy traffic should be restricted.
-Ground Maintenance: 2 cuts per year were now planned for roadside hedges. George Gibson mentioned tree overhang and damage to street lamp near Peel Road on Braehead Road.
9. AOB
9.1 Peel News - Malcolm Reid confirmed that the Peel News was issued as required. Costs currently were borne by individuals and were not charged to COMCIL's Account.
9.2 Marjorie Dowie Memorial - This would be highlighted in the next Peel News Discussion of the form of Memorial took place with some preferring a bench at a suitable roadside site on Peel Road. However, some were concerned that any bench or monument should be vandal-resistant.
9.3 Fiona McCrae confirmed that a COMCIL website was now established
10. DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS
10.1 Scheduled meetings:
May 16th
June 20th
10.2 Meeting of core Campaign committee at Fiona McCrae's house: 25th April at 10.30am.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00pm with thanks to all attending.
Signed ...................................................... Date .............. 2001
Malcolm Reid (Acting Chairman)
LEGEND
COMCIL Jackton & Thorntonhall Community Council
SLC South Lanarkshire Council
EKDCPP East Kilbride & District Crime Prevention Panel
EKDACC East Kilbride & District Association of Community Councils
GSO Glasgow South Orbital (Eaglesham By-Pass)
EKLAP EK Local Area Plan