1st to 5th June 2012

Its called Go East to the tune of ‘go west – by the pet shop boys’

Its poking fun at glasgow too, all good natured of course.

Sunday 10th June 2012  11am to 5pm

See over 1,000 Vintage, Classicand Performance cars, military vehicles and motorbikes.

Webpage link for all the information, including programme and prices.

Sounds like a great day out !

Oxton’s own Bill Loneskie has his e-book on Amazon now, Threat Level Critical.

This link will take you to our Edinburgh Zoo page first, therefore please look for the link PandaCam and click.

Enjoy!

There is a problem with BT phones in the area. Rest assured that if you are experiencing problems, you are not alone and BT are on the case.

Your ring tone is continuous and all you hear is a crackling sound is the commonest problem reported. Crossed lines too.

All will be sorted soon we are promised.

Thanks to Mike and Phil for excellent communications to keep the Oxton and Channelkirk Community up to date.

Phone cards can be swiped, goods paid for using Maestro/ Switch etc,

Cashback available too.

This is a welcome addition to the Village Shop.

Craig is also planning on a DVD Rental service, with the weekly Top 40 DVD’s being available. Please contact Craig for further information.

 ‘Floreat Oxtona – Let Oxton Flourish’

Minutes: Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council

30^th April 2012

Oxton War Memorial Hall

7.30 pm

In attendance:

Iain Robinson – (Chair)

Jules Reeley – resident and Committee Member

Dave Burrell – resident

Stephanie Knight – resident & Committee Member

Paul Docherty – resident

Allan Dawson – resident

Ian Young – resident

David Parker – SBC Council

Andrew Cunningham – resident

Sonia Borthwick – resident and Committee Member

Fiona Johnston – resident and Channelkirk School Parent Council Representative

John Moffat – resident

Martin Jackman – resident

Jackie Pinkerton – resident

Jonathon Stevenson – resident

Apologies:

Dave Dickinson – resident and Committee Member

Malcolm Edgar – resident and Committee Member

1.Welcome and Introductions: IR welcomed everyone and asked for a ‘round the table’ introduction

2.Apologies: IR intimated apologies, as above

3.Adoption of previous Minutes: IR apologised for not having circulated the previous months Minutes and therefore the formal adoption could not take place.

Matters Arising: IR brought the meetings attention to the resignation of Malcolm Edgar from the Committee and reminded the meeting that the Constitution requires 6 Members on the Committee and that the Council could co – opt a Member onto the Committee. IR asked for volunteers from those present and asked that any interested parties come forward by the next meeting.

SK suggested that a Vote of Thanks be Minuted and IR agreed and confirmed that ME would still be able to concentrate on organising the Games.

Matters Arising: IR then brought the meetings attention to the recent closure of the Tower Pub and Hotel and intimated that he had had communication from solicitors acting for the owners of the Tower asking the Council to confirm whether there was any interest from the Council in running the Tower.

IR read from a number of emails and letters (to be made available to those interested) and started a general discussion as to whether the Council would consider taking on the running of the Tower.

The general view was that taking on such an establishment was not in the interests of the Council but they would make representations to the current owners to confirm that the Council would wish that the Tower remain as a pub / hotel and that the Council would not support an application to redevelop the property for residential use.

PD suggested that in order to maintain communication IR should respond, seeking further clarification from the owners as to the current financial viability of the Tower by providing up to date figures from the accounts.

AC also added that as far as he recalled there was a prohibition within the Title restricting the use to a pub with letting rooms and that the Title further burdened the property preventing a Change of Use.

4. Village Resilience planning:

IR informed the meeting that the First Responders course would be held in due course.

5. Village Improvements:

IR noted that an application to Toddleburn Community Benefit fund had been submitted to fund Phase 1, planters, hanging baskets, new logo, new notice board etc.

IR informed the meeting that he had a quote from a local craftsman Neil Norris to build and supply the planters and that they would be made from oak, the price quoted was £7000.

A discussion the ensued about the tendering process with various attendees (JM, MJ, DB) suggesting that the tendering process should be widened.

PD suggested that a time limit be enforced for other parties to intimate an interest in tendering and that if after that time had expired there were no other interested parties then the Committee should move on and instruct the current tenderer.

DP reaffirmed that it was SBC general policy to seek local tenders and that if those tenders were within sensible cost grounds then the contracts were awarded without the need to seek further competitive tenders.

AC voiced concern about who would be looking after the hanging baskets, planters etc, IR said that he would certainly be attending to some but asked for others to come forward to volunteer.

Further discussion lead IR to put a Motion to the Floor – Is the Floor happy to proceed with the Phase 1 of the Scheme and the construction of the planters with the current preferred Contractor Neil Norris – Yes 7, No 4, Abstentions 3 – Motion Carried. IR confirmed that he would put notices in the shop for Phase II and ask for interested parties to come forward and quote for the work.

Finally IR noted, with regard to the Loan, the hedge would be cut  and thereafter maintained.

6. Community Path Network:

DP reported that SBC were still in discussion with various landowners but that there would be work carried out at Justice Park and on the path to Shielfield – work to be carried out by the Criminal Justice Group.

7. Village Cemetery:

IR informed the meeting that work would form part of Phase II.

8. Film Nights:

SB reported with a very busy schedule ahead that it may be prudent to leave this matter until the winter unless there were others who wanted to take up the matter sooner.

 9. Web site:

JS noted that web site was improving all the time with additions of old photos. SB noted that various trophies and pictures had been uplifted from the Tower that belonged to the Community and that they would be safeguarded at her house for the time being.

10. Village Hall:

SK raised a number of issues in connection with the general use of the hall, those being the state of the ladder in the hall and the safety of the heaters when in close proximity to the proposed curtain for stage use.

SK sought the approval to erect a number of fixings to hold up rails and IR suggested that she email RS and SS of the Hall Committee to seek approval.

SK further raised the issue of Public Liability Insurance, DP responded by adding he would take this matter up with the Insurance Manger of SBC but explained that SBC maintained Public Liability Cover for exactly these type of circumstances and events.

11. Defibrillator:

DB was able to confirm that the defibrillator had been installed that day, that there was a code for its use, that Mr Hardy had completed the work free of charge with the exception of materials and that there was another training course for the 23^rd June for those wishing to attend.

IR moved to propose a Vote of Thanks to DB for all his effort in bringing this project to fruition.

12. Village Logo:

SK informed the meeting that she was waiting for a link to the winning designers web page.

13. Broadband:

PD updated the meeting saying that BT were not really interested in this project and that he was waiting for feedback from Updata, thereafter he would go back to Duncan Nisbet at SBC.

 14. Windfarm Planning Applications:

IR informed the meeting that the Rowantree Public Enquiry was about 80 % complete, the Reporter likely to make a decision by the end of the Year. There was no update regarding the Gilston Application.

15. Road Safety and Bank Erosion:

The matter of encroaching vegetation at the Annfield / North Village junction with the A68 was raised by SB.

DP responded by saying he’d bring the matter to the attention of his colleague Craig for further comment..

16. Music Workshop and Ceilidh Dance:

SK reported that she was very concerned about the viability of the event and reported that at present no tickets had been bought. SK reported grave concerns that despite all her efforts in attracting a high quality line up of musicians the event may have to be cancelled and that she had made an application against losses that may arise from the event. SK reaffirmed that the minimum age for the event through the day was 8, that the evening event was a May’s Eve Dance and that she was trying to fire peoples imagination for the event.

IR noted that everyone needed to get behind the event and that tickets would be sold as a priority and that momentum would build towards the date of the event if people started buying tickets.

17. Games Day and Village Day:

SB reported that at present there was an apparent lack of interest in organising the Oxton 5’s.

IY noted that the 30^th May was earmarked for the Oxton schools 5’s,

JR added that Gemma Ross may be able to assist with sourcing small 5 a side goals..

18. Windfarm Grant Applications:

IR added that there were no current applications.

AOB:

JP raised three points

a. The lack of a Notice pointing the way to the church – DP responded asking if Oxton would like to receive an ornate sign post similar to those seen recently in Melrose and Lauder pointing to local places of interest, Community Path network, St Cuthbert’s stone etc, to which the Meeting responded affirmatively.

b. Bus shelter – that here was no protection from the wind and rain. This matter had previously been raised and DP suggested that the shelter could be modified, with IR adding that the logo panel could provide an in fill.

c. Bus Stop – that there was no longer a bus stop at the bottom end of the village DP responded by saying that he would ask his colleagues at Passenger Transport to assess the viability of a stop at this point and whether it was a safe drop off point.

DB raised the issue, again, of the lack of a reliable service from Munros sighting a number of recent occasions when the service had failed, DP asked that DB confirm all these specific instances in an email to him in order that he could take it up directly with Colin Douglas who, in turn, would deal directly with.

Finally DP informed the meeting that, in reponse to a point raised by JM, there would be no diminution of the bus service on the A68 once the rail link had been established but that there may be a lessening of the bus service on the A7, market factors would come into play.

Next Meeting: IR closed the Meeting and arranged that the next Meeting be held the 28^th May 2012.