ST. MONANS AND ABERCROMBIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minute of the ordinary general meeting,held in the Church Hall, Station Road on Monday 20th April 2026 at 7.30 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Present:\tMarjory Ashworth (Chair), Eileen Montador (Secretary), David Robertson (Treasurer), Katy Gall, Diane Martin (Minute Secretary)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apologies:\tSuzy Cheong (Vice Chair), Peter Peddie, Cllr Alycia Hayes, Cllr Sean Dillon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the public: 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.\t\tWelcome and apologies Marjory Ashworth welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received and recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.\tDeclarations of interestThere were no declarations of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3.\tReports from Community Groups1875 Memorial Garden \u2013 Hugh WallaceI have three things I want to do this evening. 1.\tI want to bring you an update on progress with the 1875 Memorial Garden. 2.\tI want to make a request of the Community Council.3.\tI want to make an intimation.UpdateAs 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. RequestThere 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 \u00a32,000. 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 \u00a315,000, 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 \u00a310,000 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\u2019s 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 \u2013 Mary Henderson\u2022\tThree new volunteers enabling the centre to be open 7 days per week over the season.\u2022\tThree new books available for sale. Last 20 copies of the William Easton book are available with \u00a35 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 \u2018Rose in June\u2019.\u2022\tQuery how to claim Heritage expenses \u2013 David Robertson explained the correct accounting process.\u2022\tPLI query? – The CC has PLI and Eileen will get a copy of this for the Heritage.Floral Group \u2013 Katy GallVery 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 \u2013 David Robertson & Marjory AshworthAwarded \u00a357920.00 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This funding received will allow the group to go through its\u2019 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4.\tLast minutes and matters arising\u2022\tMike Childs has advised that the Camera Club now has a dark room available to develop film if required.\u2022\tMarjory Ashworth has emailed the police about parking and speeding issues but has yet to receive a response\u2022\tOther 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5.\tPolice Matters and ReportContact email address: eastneuklandwardCPT@scotland.police.ukRob 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 recordedAbercrombie 1 call – 0 crimes recorded <\/p>\n\n\n\n
6.\tChairperson\u2019s Report \u2013 Marjory Ashworth\u2022\tBeach 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 \u2018Safer Communities\u2019 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.\u2022\tAlthough the Harbour Shop has been open for 5 months, locals still don\u2019t know it\u2019s there. It was agreed that the CC would highlight this shop through the minute.\u2022\tEmail 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\u2019t necessary, and that it would be more popular to have seats sited on the front.\u2022\tFife Council are currently \u2018behind\u2019 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
7.\tTreasurer\u2019s Report \u2013 David Robertson\u2022\tCash flow account \u2013 Total – \u00a35,030.04Made up of \u2013CC Available funds – \u00a31,346.17Memorial fund available fund – \u00a33,683.87ICO payment of \u00a335.00 has been paidPayment request received for town hall \u2013 (Burns supper) \u2013 Cheque raised, just to be posted\u2022\tFloral fund \u2013 Total – \u00a32,954.44This includes donations of \u00a3598.00 & last year\u2019s floral fund grant of \u00a3250.00. These years can be applied for in May 2026. Local company G & J Wilson Ltd. recently donated the sum of \u00a3200.\u2022\tHeritage fund \u2013 Total – \u00a33,521.53Electricity \u2013 UNPAID \u2013 To be chased upWater \u2013 2 Months to be paid \u2013 This will be paid once I have this month\u2019s costs\u2022\tNNG Fund \u2013 Has been approved, however we need to agree on a method of application<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8.\tSecretary\u2019s Report \u2022\tCC Annual grant \u2013 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\u2019 2026 AGM on 17th August. \u2022\tAdvice given re elections\u2022\tPlanning system advice document \u2013 produced by Crail CC\u2022\tLetter sent re 59 Newark Street, but no response received.\u2022\tQuery re holding wedding in Serenity Garden? Direct to Fife Council?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9.\tMembers\u2019 Reports Katy Gall \u2013 Planning\u2022\t59 Newark Street \u2013 now approved despite representations (report says none submitted). Concerns raised at the meeting about the actions of Fife Council with regard to planning applications.\u2022\t7 Forth St \u2013 listed building consent – gutters\u2022\tMillar Terrace \u2013 erection of timber garage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10.\tCouncillors\u2019 Reports <\/p>\n\n\n\n
11.\tPublic Questions\u2022\tKey to the windmill? Peter Peddie to be consulted as he owns this. Could be retained at the Heritage Centre?\u2022\tOld information board beside public toilets? Removed or replaced?\u2022\tRecycling query \u2013 answered via website\u2022\tAnother point raised regarding the harbour smell – when will the harbour be cleared?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12.\tAOCB\u2022\tNo water at the cemetery \u2013 to be reported to Bereavement Services\u2022\tSignage required to direct people to the toilets from the coastal path<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13.\tClose\/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. \t<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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