Community Council Minute, 20th April 2026
ST. MONANS AND ABERCROMBIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minute of the ordinary general meeting, held in the Church Hall, Station Road on Monday 20th April 2026 at 7.30 pm
| Present: | Marjory Ashworth (Chair), Eileen Montador (Secretary), David Robertson (Treasurer), Katy Gall, Diane Martin (Minute Secretary) | |
| Apologies: | Suzy Cheong (Vice Chair), Peter Peddie, Cllr Alycia Hayes, Cllr Sean Dillon | |
| Members of the public: 7 | ||
| 1. | Welcome and apologies Marjory Ashworth welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received and recorded. | |
| 2. | Declarations of interest There were no declarations of interest. | |
| 3. | Reports from Community Groups 1875 Memorial Garden – Hugh Wallace I have three things I want to do this evening. I want to bring you an update on progress with the 1875 Memorial Garden. I want to make a request of the Community Council.I want to make an intimation. Update As you know we completed Phase One of the Project in time for the Opening Ceremony and Service on 22nd November last year. But there was always the intention of a Phase Two. There are three additional features which we want to add to the Garden. Firstly, a wave bench which will allow visitors to sit and reflect on the Memorial; secondly, bollards to protect the Memorial from any vehicles which may try to mount the pavement; and thirdly, signage, a storyboard to give information about the events around this disaster, and how the Memorial came to be here. Mary has a mock-up of what that Storyboard (shown to the meeting) might look like, although obviously it will be professionally finished. We have already applied and have been successful in finding funding from the Crown Estates to help with this Phase. Request There are two other things we wish to do to finish off the Garden. One is to include a Community Noticeboard which can advertise activities and events within the village. We would install this at the same time as the Storyboard and would match its design. And two is the removal of a surplus lamppost from the pavement. We have been told that this unfortunately still has live cables, and so would need to be capped. Fife Council would need to do this. They have indicated that the cost might be around £2,000. Fermin is arranging to meet on site with someone from the Estates Department to facilitate the removal. We believe that these two additional actions would be a further benefit both to the Memorial Garden and to the community. When we applied and met representatives from Fife Council last year to acquire a Common Good Grant of £15,000, we were told that we could come back and apply for further funding if required. We would ask that the Community Council support an application for £10,000 towards the completion of the Garden. We have already raised ourselves the matching amount to qualify. If the whole amount is not used, we will return the surplus to the Common Good Fund. Intimation Sunday 10th May at 4.30pm in the Auld Kirk, a Seamen’s Service of Remembrance followed by a walk to the Memorial Garden and an Act of Remembrance. A discussion followed and David Robertson advised re Crown Estates funding and asked for details to be sent over to him together with estimates. Heritage – Mary Henderson Three new volunteers enabling the centre to be open 7 days per week over the season.Three new books available for sale. Last 20 copies of the William Easton book are available with £5 from each sale going to the Heritage. Also 2 other books which Jerzy Morkis wrote. One is a book about the fisherman poet, and the other is about the School Master at Braehead, John Jack, a man of many words! Bert Cargill from Truro – book based on a folk song about the sinking of the ‘Rose in June’.Query how to claim Heritage expenses – David Robertson explained the correct accounting process.PLI query? – The CC has PLI and Eileen will get a copy of this for the Heritage. Floral Group – Katy Gall Very busy over the past month with flyers distributed to householders, posters displayed and a tidy up of the Station Road area. In addition, the group has been maintaining the plug plants and following a watering rota for the Poly Tunnel. SMAKE – David Robertson & Marjory Ashworth Awarded £57920.00 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding received will allow the group to go through its’ business plan and, over the next two years, prepare a submission for the Planning Department. The kirk will remain as it is for the next one to two years, but it is available for hire for weddings, concerts, events, funerals etc. The church is now open 7 days per week. Appreciation was extended to all the people serving in the different community groups. | |
| 4. | Last minutes and matters arising Mike Childs has advised that the Camera Club now has a dark room available to develop film if required. Marjory Ashworth has emailed the police about parking and speeding issues but has yet to receive a response Other items on the previous minute are being dealt with by Cllr Hayes, who is absent this evening. The March minute was proposed by Eileen Montador and seconded by Katy Gall. | |
| 5. | Police Matters and Report Contact email address: eastneuklandwardCPT@scotland.police.uk Rob Wallace and Davie Gordon doing speed checks in the area and promoting rural watch and community watch. 65+ driving courses now available at St Andrews Fire Station. St. Monans 27 calls – 5 crimes recorded Abercrombie 1 call – 0 crimes recorded | |
| 6. | Chairperson’s Report – Marjory Ashworth Beach clean has been organised for 10th May at 11am meeting at the West End car park. Location of the skip discussed, and it was agreed that it would be sited at the car park at the Muga. However, no tyres may be deposited in the skip, and ‘Safer Communities’ will collect the tyres. MA will contact Fiona to finalise site/collection for tyres. A poster is required to highlight the event, and Diane Martin will organise this. Young strong people are needed on the day as some of the items on the beach are very heavy. Although the Harbour Shop has been open for 5 months, locals still don’t know it’s there. It was agreed that the CC would highlight this shop through the minute. Email received from Bill Porteous regarding the request for a seat/bench on the grassy area at the end of Queen Margaret Street. The site is owned by Housing Services. Discussion followed and it was agreed at the meeting that this wasn’t necessary, and that it would be more popular to have seats sited on the front. Fife Council are currently ‘behind’ with keeping local signage up to date. Sawmill Corner and the Sandy Kirn has no signage and Marjory Ashworth is continuing to highlight this to Fife Council. There have been two accidents in a month resulting in people being taken to hospital in an ambulance. | |
| 7. | Treasurer’s Report – David Robertson Cash flow account – Total – £5,030.04 Made up of – CC Available funds – £1,346.17 Memorial fund available fund – £3,683.87 ICO payment of £35.00 has been paid Payment request received for town hall – (Burns supper) – Cheque raised, just to be posted Floral fund – Total – £2,954.44 This includes donations of £598.00 & last year’s floral fund grant of £250.00. These years can be applied for in May 2026. Local company G & J Wilson Ltd. recently donated the sum of £200. Heritage fund – Total – £3,521.53 Electricity – UNPAID – To be chased up Water – 2 Months to be paid – This will be paid once I have this month’s costs NNG Fund – Has been approved, however we need to agree on a method of application | |
| 8. | Secretary’s Report CC Annual grant – application now open and sent onto the treasurer. They are still requiring documents from 2023. To apply for the grant, we need to hold our AGM before the 31st of August and it was subsequently agreed, that the CC would hold its’ 2026 AGM on 17th August. Advice given re elections Planning system advice document – produced by Crail CC Letter sent re 59 Newark Street, but no response received. Query re holding wedding in Serenity Garden? Direct to Fife Council? | |
| 9. | Members’ Reports Katy Gall – Planning 59 Newark Street – now approved despite representations (report says none submitted). Concerns raised at the meeting about the actions of Fife Council with regard to planning applications. 7 Forth St – listed building consent – gutters Millar Terrace – erection of timber garage | |
| 10. | Councillors’ Reports | |
| 11. | Public Questions Key to the windmill? Peter Peddie to be consulted as he owns this. Could be retained at the Heritage Centre? Old information board beside public toilets? Removed or replaced?Recycling query – answered via website Another point raised regarding the harbour smell – when will the harbour be cleared? | |
| 12. | AOCB No water at the cemetery – to be reported to Bereavement ServicesSignage required to direct people to the toilets from the coastal path | |
| 13. | Close/date and time of next meeting The next meeting will be on Monday 18th May 2026 at 7.00/7.15 pm. Marjory Ashworth thanked everyone for their attendance and brought the meeting to a close. | |
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