Apologies: P Peddie Treasurer

None

P Copland introduced Allan Coote and Vince Murray from Fife Council’s Safer Communities Team who had come to the meeting to explain their remit.

They started off as Community Wardens with Fife Council and had about 12 years experience in that role before Fife Council decided to change them into Safer Community Officers.  They can issue fixed penalties for fly-tipping, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles and dog waste.  They are now based in Glenrothes in Rothesay House.  There is a shift system including a night shift mainly for complaints investigating noise complaints.  Two people cover each shift.  They tend to be in the office at the beginning and end of each shift.  They work alongside the police; and now cover from East Wemyss to St Andrews.

A member of public asked if anyone had reported cars parked in Elm Grove and Gourlay Crescent.  She said that one of the cars was on bricks and is really dangerous for children.   The Officers said that they would speak to their counterparts in the day-shift to check if they are dealing with it first.  She was also advised that the Safer Community Officers go out to see such vehicles, then try to find the owner, then if we cannot find the owner we put a yellow sticker on it.  We then check if it is taxed and MOT’d.  If the car is still there within 14 days, we can report it to a company who will take it away.

P Copland asked if they were the people to report the dog fouling to.  They said that such reports should come to the Safer Communities Team through the call centre.  The number to call is 03451 550022.  (available 24 hours).  They would have a look at the area, put lots of signs up and advise people to keep an eye out and report it.  They said that they need a description of the dog and the owner – hopefully a name and address.  Or, they said, if it is happening eg at 8-9 pm at night we will come out at that time.   They said that if we see a dog owner letting his dog foul and if they do not make any attempt to pick it up we will issue a fine of £80 (the same as for dropping a cigarette end).  If it is to do with a dangerous dog, then contact the dog warden.  There is a £200 fixed penalty for illegal dumping.

W Buchan said that he had been advised that nothing could be done about tree roots which were dumped on Muir Homes land, because they had been dumped over six months ago.  The Officers said that they were not aware of that rule.

In reply to a member of the public’s question the Officers confirmed that if we see somebody dropping litter we will issue an £80 fixed penalty; adding that we have to witness it happening.

P Copland said that there does not seem to be many signs around the village regarding dog mess.  The Officers said that they have signs of various sizes.  If the CC needs them they would drop them in.

The Safer Community Officers said that if the village wanted to have a litter-picking event that they also provide litter pickers, bags and gloves and said we will give you a hand.  M Ashworth said that we do a beach clean.  She said that there are certain forms we have to fill in and we filled ¾ of a skip with litter from the beach, along the coastal path and round the village.

V Salvage said that some of the signs “Reward for Clean Feet” are damaged.  She was advised to contact either Vince Murray or Allan Coote through their email addresses vince.murray@fife.gov.uk and allan.coote@fife.gov.uk or the safercommunitiesteam@fife.gov.uk

P Copland thanked the Safer Communities Officers.

 W Buchan

P Copland said that he had asked Gordon Bell to come to the meeting to give a quick resume to say what the position is now.

G Bell said that the position is very similar to the original position.  We had a set of plans that went through various processes including 2 public meetings and 2 public showings of the plans and for each of these we listened to what people said and made changes to the plan.

The planning application went in, but unfortunately Fife Council said that they could not do the checks in time for the Planning Application and because of that they could not pass the Planning Application.  They suggested that we withdraw the Planning Application because if we did that we would not have to pay the costs. So we withdrew the original planning application.

We then went into conversations with Fife Council regarding their concerns.  There was a time limit to the end of June.  We spent many hours talking to various departments in the Council, eg Roads, Sewage, Water.  But, some of these departments had not responded before we put the application in again.  In that time we made several changes to the plans.  The main changes were around the beach area.  The new one comes back about 7 metres back from where it was as the consensus was that they wanted more beach and less grass.  The wall will be one foot higher than the highest tide.  For the majority of the time the beach will be exposed.  It reduced the size of the original access for buggies and tractors going on to the beach.

So, the plans are all back in again.  The process that we are going through was not to get planning permission.  It was to establish cost.  The last time it went in, there was only one formal complaint.  The rest were positive supportive messages.   The areas that have been costed separately are:   the east slipway; the west slipway; small area round the west pier (which is basically upgrading the lifts for the fishermen to electric lifts); the shore; the winding shed

To get funding you need planning permission.

The exercise we are going through is to get planning permission; get fixed prices; to get a plan that is broadly acceptable.  We would then seek funding for individual elements.  It is very unlikely that we would funds for all the projects at the same time.  The structure is designed to be flexible to allow fundraising for individual elements.

If funding became available, it is foreseen there would be further elements to planning.  If we suddenly had monies for the beach we could then revisit the plans and check that everybody was OK with it before going ahead.

All this is under the original initiative: it is under the Strategic Plan for the village for strategic growth.

What, G Bell said, you might see is men with white hats and clipboards.  It does not mean bulldozers arriving.  It is likely to be people doing costings.  We are asking for fixed prices for each project.  When this stage is completed we will have a price for each element and indicative outline planning permission.  It comes under the Regeneration Initiative, which comes under the Trust.  We are simply getting permission to get into a position so that , if money becomes available, the community could choose to go ahead.  He added that we are doing this in other parts of the country.

G Bell said that a lot of people are asking when it is starting.  If we get into a position where funds are available, we will ask the village if we are still up for it.

A member of the public asked, “Why do we need a wall along the beach?”.  G Bell said it was to stop parts getting washed away. G Bell said that he owns the shed and it has eroded 5 metres in 10 years.

G Bell said he understood that the houses that are there at the moment are struggling to get insurance because they have coastal erosion nearby.

G Bell said, if you were standing on the beach and you were looking at the grass, after about 2 months you will not see the wall at all.  So, you can walk down.  According to the estimates there will be 7 exposed steps down to the beach.  The wall is quite simply to draw a line between where the beach is and to secure the earth.

V Salvage commented that since Alec Anderson’s work was done, there is not nearly so much rubbish and junk washed onto that little beach.  It showed that a little bit of work is enough to make a bit of a difference already.

G Bell said that we started with wood, we started with gabions and quite simply the engineers are the guys who do the seafront said none of these would resist a once-a-year storm.  G Bell said that he was not promoting walls.  It is to stop what is behind the wall going out with the tide.   If planning permission is given, that does not mean that there will be a wall there.  If there was a consensus that the St Monans community does not want a wall then that will be all right.

A member of the public said that the rain that comes down washes everything in. It is nothing to do with the sea.

G Bell said either nothing is done or it is shored up to stop natural erosion.  G Bell said that you can go and stick some sticks at the edge of the grass and they will not be there in a month’s time.  The last big movement was last October when there were storms and a heavy tide.

G Bell said, if anyone has any other ideas to come forward with them.  One part is access to the beach so the idea was to also to create a place for seats: an area for the use of the community with grass and an area for use of the beach – it is an area people like and people use –  and make it accessible and secure it.

He said we looked at putting in a wall at the far side of the stones next to the harbour because they said that would retain 3 times the amount of sand.  Their idea was if they built a 2 foot wall that would end up the depth of sand, but that meant building walls across natural rock and we decided that that was perhaps a wall too far.

It was said that Win Brown mentioned gabions a while ago, and planting up – flower friendly.   A member of the public said that they look unsightly, citing the ones at Pittenweem.  They are not safe.  They are rough and kids could not play on them.   G Bell said you would then have to use steel pinions and gabions and rock and wire.

G Bell said that the concrete wall is not really a wall, it is a layer of locking slabs.  It goes up a set of steps so if you look from the beach there is not a flat wall.  You have steeper steps and flatter steps.   It is graded.  It is designed that the sea will wash up at the top of it.  When you are looking from the grass side you won’t see any wall at all.  From the beach side you will see a 2 ft set of steps.  The idea is that the existing marram grass will grow.  The front of those grasses is where the line of sand used to be when I came as a boy.  That is why we are planting it in front of the steps.  The grass will hold the sand at the front of the steps.

P Copland thanked Mr Bell.  G Bell said that the plans are still available and if anyone wants to see the plans they are on the Fife Council website and he said that he has a set of plans.  He added that if you want him to sit down with any individuals he would be happy to go over the plans with them.

5.1 (4.2, 3.2, 3.4, 5) Dog Fouling and Rubbish Dumping

P Copland referred to the visit of the Safer Communities Officers (above).  V Salvage offered to make up a small leaflet for people who preferred that to using the internet – with the contact details of the Safer Communities team including the 24/7 telephone number.

V Salvage

M Ashworth reported that the potholes are still there.  She said that she had had various members of the public complaining to her about them.   Cllr W Porteous said that Kevin Smith wrote that it is their intention to do something about this on the road through Abercrombie but not on the B942.  He also wrote that if there is any problem with vegetation overhanging signs that they can help with this.

L Holt said that she was told that Roads Department know about it and it is down for a minor carriage repair.   She had enquired when it was going to happen.  They eventually agreed that it would be at least 6 months.  It gets inspected every month in case it is a safety issue.

M Ashworth said that they have patched it and now there is a bump.

A member of the public gave example of someone who ruined a tyre coming over from St Andrews and it was sorted the next day.

M Ashworth said that some of the vehicles have been coming much closer to the verge.  We have the problem that we have a wall that we have pointed, but as they keep coming closer, the wall is going to collapse.  She asked if there was anything they could put along the edge.

V Salvage added that the cars that know that the potholes are there veer out and that can be dangerous as they could meet cars coming the other way.

Cllr L Holt

V Salvage reported that there has been no bill regarding this.  She said that she would email.

V Salvage

W Porteous asked if there was an abandoned car by Coal Farm.  A member of the public said that it had been uplifted.

P Copland said that we are still waiting for the bollards to be put outside Scottish Fuels to stop cars parking there.

A member of the public complained that a car came round the corner  and mounted the pavement at the temporary traffic lights on Station Road.  She asked if there was anything that the Councillors can do to chase this up for us.  Cllr J Docherty said that he would do that.

Cllr W Porteous said that with regard to the congestion around the Minimarket, he was asked by some of the local residents about how long Scottish Gas would be working there.  Cllr J Docherty said that he had made several phone calls and SGN were going to phone

Cllr Porteous back.  Cllr Porteous said he spoke to John Soutar of Scottish Gas on site and he said that he had put notification of impending work letters into the proper doors.  Cllr Porteous said that he had pointed out that any contractor should have visible signs up to advise people that work was going on and saying how long it should be.

P Copland said that Cllr L Holt sent the CC a link to the Scottish Road Management, which gives you a list of roadworks and the timescale. So the ones that are going on in Inverie Street are finishing this week.  He thanked Cllr Holt saying that he found it very useful .  https://www.roadworksscotland.org

Cllr J Docherty

Cllr J Docherty said that Greenpeace did a report regarding global warming and the effect it was having on the Forth.  Basically a lot of sand on the Leven side of the Forth is being taken up and put here and also there will be higher tides.

A member of the public said that she had only seen the street sweepers once since the last meeting, and, she said the bins at the bottom had not been emptied since Friday and they were overflowing.    P Copland said that there will be changeovers in the holiday rentals. A member of the public said the ones at the café, and at the garden at East Street, and the one diagonally across the road were overflowing.

V Bland said that at 1030 am he went through Elie and there were 4 men sweeping the streets in Elie.

A member of the public complained that the blue bin by the Harbour at West Pier is never cleaned – it stinks.  P Copland advised her to contact Waste Aware, adding that if you complain as an individual it has more strength than the CC.  W Buchan said that Waste Aware say they do not want to deal with bins, and suggested using the 24 hour contact line.  P Copland said that when there was a complaint about the bins in Johnston Close it was done within 24 hours.  P Copland agreed to put in a complaint as well.

J Docherty said he was happy to chase up the complaint about street cleaning.

P Copland

J Docherty

Cllr W Porteous said that he had spoken to  PC Tracy Elder – that morning and she had said that there is someone in Pittenweem  who runs an off-road biking scheme in St Andrews; and suggested to let those youngsters with off-road bikes know that that is available.

E Porteous reported that they had had a successful Quiz Night that raised £236 for Beautiful St Monans funds.  They had also received further donations totalling £50.

A member of the Beautiful St Monans Team, Tracy Rathbone said that the team were planning to make another Calendar to raise funds to go towards the CC for Beautiful St Monans funds.  She said that we are looking to have entries from local people from St Monans and Abercrombie area.

[Send entries to stmonansphotcompetition@gmail.com or give photographs to Elaine Porteous by Saturday 15 July]

P Copland said the Cllr J Docherty had very kindly agreed to arrange a meeting with one of Liz Murphy’s representatives.  They are having a meeting with the CC representatives on 3 July at 10 am at the Cemetery gates.

[NOTE – Please note a change from the date intimated above….

Cllr J Docherty sent a message a few days after this CC meeting giving a change in date.  The meeting at the cemetery is now on the

4th July @ 10.00 a.m.  The meeting will still be at the cemetery.]

Cllr W Porteous said he had advised Iain Barbour of the issues regarding availability of water.   A member of the public said we want the taps sorted and that is something that has to be brought to that meeting.

Cllr J Docherty

Members of the Public

A member of the public said that the drain covers had been replaced and two yellow lines had been painted across the bit required.

No update.

That can also be covered at the meeting at the Cemetery (above).

To be covered under AOCB.

Proposer: W Buchan                       Seconder: M Ashworth

No update.

No update.

V Salvage said we are still hoping to get a Secretary.  It is not onerous.

P Copland said he had nothing to report other than to congratulate Ruth and Brian Craib for the concert we had on Saturday evening for Meningitis Now.  The cheque we will be sending to Meningitis Now is £1,271.

P Peddie sent a brief report to the CC – as follows:  Bank Balances at 31/5/2017:

–          Floral a/c £3755.55

–          Cash Flow a/c  £3721

Donations have been coming into the Floral account since mid May £825 so far and this is approximately on a par with what came in last year at this time.  However, last year there were a couple of fundraising nights which added to the funds coming in – a band night and a 70s night – and these added significantly to the Floral Display funds.  Obviously, if anyone had ideas for fundraising during the summer, that would be most welcome.  Apart from that, everything seems under control.

(See 4 above.)

10.1 Parking on Station Road at the time of the Nearly New

A member of the public said that we would need cones at the time of the Nearly New Sale to stop people parking on one side of the road.

P Copland said he would ask about it.  He said there are no double yellow lines and we won’t get them because there are too many people who live there who want to park on the road.  He said that he would speak to someone in Roads Department to try to get some cones.

B Allan complained about the speeding in the village.

P Copland

In answer to a question E Porteous said she had reported this.  She offered to report it again.

E Porteous

A member of the public said she was really disappointed and hurt about the planning at 24 Station Road.  She said that they have received planning permission.  She said that she would have to go to the Court of Session if she wanted to do anything about it.  They say it is not affecting our privacy.  The CC asked for an extension and nothing was done about it.  She said they had asked someone to come down and see it from our perspective, but no-one came.  She said that we were straight to the point in our letter to planning, but they did not answer or give us any explanation.  She said she did not understand Planning.

P Copland said that we have discovered over the years that there are various planning issues that are swept under the carpet and they do not seem to listen to the voices of the community.  The feeling is that people are flouting planning regulations.

Cllr J Docherty said that if you can prove that there was something put in from the CC you can suspend proceedings.

P Copland said that it is not always the case that we will put anything in.  We will ask for an extension.  P Copland said that we have to be seen to be even-handed.  We cannot be seen to favour you or them, unless we can see anything that was grossly unfair.

Another member of the public said that there is not a definitive boundary at the back of Brae House.   She knew that the Council would strim as far as they could.  The member of the public said she had spoken to someone who was the Head Gardener and he cannot understand how they acquired the land, because he said that it was Common Ground.  P Copland said that the person could say that he had legally acquired Common Ground.

B Allan said that there is an issue in Anstruther that they are dealing with at the moment regarding Common Ground.  The member of the public gave an example in Crail where local people had prevented someone acquiring Common Ground.  A member of the public asked,  should the Council not inform the people nearby about the purchase of Common Ground.

Cllr J Docherty suggested that what you could do as private citizens is to perhaps try a Freedom of Information Request to find out regarding this area of Common Ground who in the Council has been dealing with it and what has gone through.

The member of the public asked why the CC had not used some of the Common Good money to find out which is the Common Ground and who has taken it.

The member of the public said that it is the same with this privacy thing with Planning – there seems to be rules for some and rules for others.  V Salvage said that all we can do is to try to look into it for you.  P Copland said that we will see if we can find anything for you.

V Salvage /

P Copland

A member of the public said that Janet Pollock ????? has moved from Abercrombie and she did a litter-pick every time she walked down that road. It was agreed to send thanks to Janet Pollock.

W Buchan asked if we could not get Community Payback to do the litter-picking.  W Buchan to contact Community Payback.

?????

W Buchan

11.1 Sea Queen Day

P Copland said that it is Sea Queen on Saturday starting at

11.30 am – in and around the town hall.  E Hughes asked for a programme.

V Salvage

B Allan said they are cutting less and less.  They are not doing the dips, which is dangerous.  Cllr W Porteous said he would contact

Iain Barbour.

Cllr W Porteous

M Ashworth thanked everybody who helped with the beach clean.  We had over 40 people.  We get a tractor from Balcaskie Estate so I would to thank them for all their help.

M Ashworth said that she had received an email from Linda Blacklaw from the Parent Council who are raising money for a gift for the new school.  They are getting a new stained glass window and are having to raise some money for it.  P Copland asked M Ashworth to get back to Linda Blacklaw and ask what the general donation was.

M Ashworth

V Salvage said that it is obvious that there is one.  Apparently there was 3 at a time.  The worst culprit is a black 4×4.  She said that she had got in touch with Iain Barbour and he said he did not know anything about it and referred me to John Easson.  V Bland said that it is one of the Coastal Path people; when he is on duty he leaves it open.  P Copland to contact John Kinsman.

P Copland

W Buchan complained about a cover over a hose going into the harbour at West Shore saying it was a trip hazard.   P Copland said that the lady who lives next door is on the case.

B Allan said that the weeds are bad on every side of the burn.  It was said that the Countryside Trust was working on this, and they were hoping it is going to get cleared.  It was suggested that, not being able to see the burn was dangerous, and that a child could inadvertently run into it.

????

B Allan said that the old railway bridge had been vandalised.

M Ashworth advised that the landowner is a Miss Braid, who has now died.  B Allan said she would contact the land registry.

In answer to a member of the public’s question P Copland said that that application to build houses next to the manse has been withdrawn.

7.30 pm on Monday 21^st August 2017 in the Mayview Hotel Function Suite.