Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council

 

27 June 2022

at Mey Hall

 

In Attendance:

Councillors:

 

Eric Green (Chair)

Mark Gibson (Secretary)

Barry Butler (Treasurer)

Beatrice Farmer

Henry Gunn

Carole Whittaker

 

Guest: Willie MacKay, (Highland Councillor)

Eilidh Coll (Foundation Scotland)

 

Apologies: Bill Mowat

Rob James

Andrew Skene

 

1) Minutes of previous Meeting

These were agreed with Amendments. Proposed: Henry Gunn: Seconded: Barry Butler

2) Chairs Report

Councillor Green welcomed everyone to the meeting. He noted that the agenda covered

items that he wished to raise and that the Local Plan was ongoing.

 

3) Treasurers Report

The account balance stood at £1524.03. No monies had yet been received in respect of

the latest financial year.

 

4) Secretaries Report

Councillor Gibson noted the attendance of Eilidh Coll from Foundation Scotland and

invited her to make her contribution to the meeting.

5) Stroupster

 

Eilidh Coll noted the results of a consultation on a review of the fund. There had been 32

responses and analysis had been done. There were a few suggestions but also a lot of

negativity around promoting enterprise and tourism. As a result it was proposed to change

to wording of this “Promoting |Enterprise and Responsible Tourism.”

Councillor Green agreed with this and noted that tourism was a large employer in the area.

It was not just a benefit to tourists but to the area itself, especially John o’Groats.

Councillor Green suggested that the review waited to see what came back from the Local

plan as it might not be advisable to change anything until that plan was done. It might

suggest something different; housing, transport etc.

Both councillor Gunn and Councillor Whittaker raised the lack of adequate public transport

and how this made it much harder for people to get jobs unless they had a car. Councillor

Green also noted fuel poverty. Everything added to disadvantage and transport was one

of the keys. It might be time to look at community transport.

Eilidh noted the need for a housing needs analysis. Councillor Gibson noted that there

were a lot of derelict houses in the area but planning rules meant that it was harder to

bring some of them them back into use.

Councillor Willie MacKay noted that in terms of the private rental market, soon every Air

B&B would need to be registered. This would be a big task.

Eilidh moved on the Improving Health and Wellbeing for all ages. There was work to do

and deciding the criteria. All applications needed to say something about impacts on the

environment.

It was also being proposed to give micro grants to Community Councils to allow them to

award smaller amounts (e.g. £250).

Councillor Green noted that this was possible a good idea. Originally there had been a lot

of opposition to the idea of the community council giving out grants but he felt that opinions

may have changed

Eilidh noted that the Micro grants could be up to 5% of the main fund.

It was agreed that the Community Council would look at Micro grants at the next meeting.

Eilidh noted that the current grant split was 80% locally to 20% Caithness wide. There

was a lot of discussion about widening this 20%.

Councillor Green notes that the questionnaire had been a small sample size. There was a

need to wait for the local plan consultations before decisions could be made. The local

community might not be happy with widening the benefits too much.

Eilidh noted that a review should take place every three years about the fund scope.

Councillor Green noted that it was really unfortunate that both Keiss and Lythe were

outside the area the fund covered and perhaps there could be discussion about this.

There then followed a discussion about the Community council Hybrid Meeting application

which had been send back by the panel for further work. Councillor Green reiterated the

 

Community Councils real disappointment in this and that a decision seemed to have been

had been taken to delay a really important application that was set to widen access to local

democracy. It appeared that only a small number of the committee were able to deliberate

on it, which was unfortunate. It was decided to resubmit the application as it stood to the

next meeting of the Panel.

5) Transport and Infrastructure

Councillor Whittaker fed back her experiences with the Chamber of commerce meeting

without the Transport Minister. The Community Council Question did not get asked at the

meeting but we had been assured that it would be sent to the minister. No reply has yet

been received and it was determined that if it was not received then the Community

council would write direct to the Minister.

The dire state of the local roads was raised with Councillor Mackay who asked that all

complaints and issues be directed to Jonathan Gunn.

 

6) Any Other Business

There was no other business.

Date of Next Meeting

To be arranged

 

Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council

 

23 May 2022

at Canisbay Hall

Annual General Meeting

 

1) Apologies

Bill Mowat

2) Chairs Report

Councillor Green noted that the development of a community plan would be a mechanism

to steer most future development in the area and give guidance for the windfarm fund. It

would be a very important document for the area and important that everyone in the area

had an opportunity to have their say. It was also preferably that the plan be reviewed and

updated every two years in order that it remained fresh and relevant.

3) Agreement of Accounts

The accounts were agreed (Proposed by Henry Gunn; Seconded by Beatrice Farmer)

4) Secretaries Report

The secretaries report was given in the Ordinary Meeting

5) Election of Office Bearers

Chair Elected: Eric Green (proposed Beatrice Farmer; Seconded Henry Gunn)

Treasurer Elected: Barry Butler (proposed Beatrice Farmer; Seconded Henry Gunn)

Secretary Elected: Mark Gibson (proposed Beatrice Farmer; Seconded Henry Gunn)

6. Committee Appointments

Beatrice Farmer stepped down from the Stroubster Committee to be replaced by Eric

Green

It was agreed that Beatrice Farmer and Barry Butler would remain the main contacts for

the Association of Community councils but that subject matter experts from the council

(e.g. Carole Whittaker on transport matters) would attend where appropriate.

Mark Gibson undertook to request a copy of the Association Constitution as it was felt that

the Association should not be used as a substitute for consultation with individual

Community Councils but rather as an opportunity to share knowledge and information.