Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting

held on 30th November, 2004, at 13.00 hours at Port-na-Con

 

Present:                                 E. Meyer, L. Black

In Attendance:                      F. Keith

Apologies:                             A. Marsham

 

Agenda

 

1.                  Minutes of Committee Meeting, Monday, 13th September, 2004

 

Minutes of Committee Meeting, Monday, 13th September 2004 having previously been distributed there were no matters arising.

 

2.                  Letters sent

 

Letters had been sent out to all with Laid connections inviting them to the Christmas Party on Monday, 20th December, 7:00 pm at Port-na-Con House. RSVP by 4th December.

7 Replies so far received – 4 yes, 3 no.

Don Campbell had been invited to play Father Christmas. Donny and Katy McDougall to play.

 

3.                  Letters received

 

None.

 

4.                  Resignation of Treasurer

 

Alfie Walker has resigned from the post, and passed all paperwork etc. to Andrew Marsham.

The Secretary has volunteered to take on the position temporarily until the next Annual General Meeting in March 2005.

 

5.                  Laid Fire Hydrants

 

Laid Grazings Committee had objected to the Water Authority’s plans for the upgrade of the Laid water supply because the Water Authority had not responded to any of the letters the Grazings Committee had sent them concerning the planned works. In addition to the objections it was suggested that the Water Authority include in the upgrade the Fire Hydrants that had previously been requested of the Fire Officer, via Durness Community Council. After a positive meeting with the two parties, Laid Grazings Committee have withdrawn their objections and the Water Authority will be taking the Fire Hydrant issue on board. We now have to wait for the Fire Officer to visit Laid and recommend the siting of the hydrants.

Andrew Marsham had been the liaison between this committee and the Durness Community Council on this issue, but as he was unable to be present we do not know if there has been any communication from the Fire Officer.

 

6.                  Laid Postal Address

 

Since the last meeting the Secretary had written again to the Council about this issue and during her absence a telephone call was received, but they did not leave a name or contact information.

The Secretary will write again.

 

 

 

 

 

7.                  Laid Notice Board

 

Laid Grazings Committee had made a request for a key to the Notice Board so that they, too, could post community notices.
There was no objection to this although there was doubt that another key could be cut since it is an unusual design!

It was suggested that Laid Grazings Committee might like to make a gesture donation towards the board as it had cost a lot of money.

 

8.                  Scrap Metal / Trailer in Quarry

 

Despite several requests to Hugh Morrison the old trailer and some creels were still in the quarry.

Francis Keith said that if we have to go through official channels (Campbell Stewart TEC Services Manager at Brora) there would likely to be a charge for removing the trailer.

It was agreed that Eddie Meyer would speak with Hugh Morrison again, and if necessary, make a specific arrangement with him to collect the trailer when other persons were available to assist him.

If this could not be arranged the Residents’ Association would contact the Council.

 

9.                  Footpath to Hood Stones

 

Nothing to report at this time, and it was not raised at the last Durness Community Council Meeting. This is another matter Andrew Marsham is liasing on our behalf and if he is not able to attend the next Durness Community Council Meeting (Monday, 6th December) Eddie Meyer would go along to raise the matter.

Francis Keith added that if the ‘markers’ are to be flagstones this might be expensive, as they have to come from Caithness. It may be wise to re-consider this, although it was D. Barclay (Council Footpath Officer) who made the original suggestion.

 

10.              HMS Sutherland visit / HMS Hood Memorial Shoot

 

The picture presented o the Residents’ Association by the HMS Hood Association has been hung at the Durness Tourist Office as this is the only place public enough for it to be seen.

As the Treasurer’s records were not at hand for this meeting it was not known how much sponsorship money had been received.

Eddie Meyer reported that some members of the Laid Community had made it known that they did not know why the shoot was named ‘Laid’ shoot when most people here do not shoot and they could not see the point of it. This is a source of income to the Residents’ Association as well as useful Public Relation for the community.

 

11.              Cattle Grid

 

This has been discussed before, but after this year’s problems with the sheep from Eriboll Farm, it is coming to fore again.

There was (and hopefully, still is) a cattle grid at the Road’s Depot in Durness. If it is still there it could possibly be purchased for a nominal sum (possibly £20). The Council’s Roads Department would have to be consulted about its installation / position and a request for an estimate obtained from the Council.

 

 

 

Prior to this the positioning may have to be negotiated with the Land Owner and the Laid Grazings Committee and any boggy ground would have to be avoided. The positioning would have to be wide enough for a detour to enable traffic to pass during installation or any future repairs.

A suggestion that it be placed just this side of the bridge at Polla would allow the minimum of fencing to be undertaken, but there is no space there for a detour. To bring it into the village as far as current fencing means the Landowner would have to be consulted and permission granted to allow fencing to be amended.

The installation of the grid will probably cost thousands and as the Residents’ Association cannot receive grants for this it was suggested the Laid Grazings Committee should take this on. There are, however, difficulties with communications between the two organisations.

 

12.              Christmas Party

 

As there was still time to allow responses to the invitation it was agreed to leave this until 6th December, when the Secretary will liase with Eddie Meyer.

 

13.              Any Other Business

 

Speeding through Laid:     We are all aware of this, but to slow traffic ‘officially’ requires police involvement and Laid does not meet their criteria (no school, village hall, church etc.). We could try private signs, e.g., ‘SLOW’, but there are no guarantees these would work, and there is likely to be some difficulties with insurance and siting the signs.

 

Sergio Blanco:                  Sergio has lots of ideas and input via members, it is a pity he is not a member of the Residents’ Association – was there any way we could entice him back?

 

Shoots:                             As there is some opposition to the shoots, which help raising money for the Residents’ Association were there any suggestions on how to raise funds from other sources?

 

 

There being no other business the meeting was closed at 14:00 hours.