MEETING HELD AT 7:30PM ON TUESDAY 22ndAUGUST 2017
IN THE SUPPER ROOM AT THE KIRKCOLM VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: – Susan Irons (KCC), Thomas Cochrane (KCC), Barry Miller (KCC), Ronnie Boyce (Police Scotland), Carrie White (Senior Citizens Welfare Committee), Tony Agate (Resident), Andrew Giusti (Councillor), Eric Garrett (KCC), Gail Adams (KCC), Jennifer Comery (Church), Jean McKeown (Church/WRI)
APOLOGIES: – Sara McCulloch (KCC)
1. POLICE BUSINESS
Ronnie Boyce informed the meeting there was nothing to report in the Kirkcolm area. He did say that the legislation for car safety seats has changed and if anyone/group needed a demonstration the Police would be willing to do this. A good source of information for the public is www.goodeggsafety.com.
- RESIGNATION OF MEMBER/ELECTION OF CO-OPTED MEMBER
The Chair informed the meeting that Angus Carrick Buchanan has resigned as a community councillor on the KCC but is still wishing to help with matters he had ongoing.
Eric Garrett proposed that Cathey Downie, 35 Main Street, Kirkcolm, DG9 0NN be co-opted onto the KCC as a community councillor. This was seconded by Thomas Cochrane and unanimously agreed by all.
- MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the previous KCC meeting held on Tuesday 25th July 2017 were proposed by Thomas Cochrane and seconded by Eric Garrett.
- MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
- Financial Statement April 1st 2016 – March 31st 2017
Last year’s financial statement was passed around. KCC started the year with £20,784.15 in the bank and ended it with £29,211.41. The financial statement was proposed by Thomas Cochrane and seconded by Susan Irons. It will now be signed by our independent auditor Jim Brown and send into D&G Council. (Appendix 1)
- Other financial matters
Thomas Cochrane, Treasurer handed round a financial report including all monies from the last KCC until present. The KCC bank balance was £12,840.76 on 22th August 2017.
- Contractual agreements with Windfarms
The contract with Glenapp windfarm has been signed the KCC is currently waiting for the first payment to come through to the bank.
- Community Assets Transfer
Barry Miller told the meeting that himself and Susan Irons had met with Kerry Monteith and Jamie Fergusson from D&G Council regarding community asset transfer relating to Kirkcolm Village Hall and the car park. The proposal that was discussed was that the hall and the car park would be transferred to the community. Barry Miller told the meeting that the hall could be open to the public as a meeting place for older residents to cook if they wish, youngsters could use it as well to meet and play. It could perhaps be rented by businesses, make an income through a cafe and broadband facilities could be installed for the public to use. The car park would be kept as it is a car park as it is what it is needed as but could have an income through the garages and the BT exchange. The plan to go ahead and put in an expression of interest to D&G Council was proposed by Eric Garrett and seconded by Gail Adams.
- Clarification on funding application to cut grass in old church yard
Barry Miller told the meeting that there was no clarification on this matter yet.
- Grants to community groups from windfarm income
Thomas Cochrane told the meeting that the North Rhin’s windfarm money payments had been distributed to the Sailing Club and the WRI. The Brownies, Guides and Senior Citizens Welfare Committee were still to receive their payments.
- Upgraded website
Susan Irons informed the meeting that Angus Carrick Buchanan had met with Liam Bailey regarding the new updated website. She also listed the areas discussed to go on the website and told the meeting she had the quote for the work to go ahead. It was decided to put this quote on the next agenda for approval.
- WREN funding
There have been no further updates on this funding source.
- KIRKCOLM ACTION PLAN
Barry Miller told the meeting that the KCC had been gave the draft Kirkcolm action plan from the Creetown Initiative and were very pleased with the content. The Creetown Initiative had asked for any changes to be sent to them by the end of August so hopefully the final action plan should be ready by the end of September.
- CORE PATH PROJECT
Barry Miller had compiled a paper on a proposal to add to the money the KCC already has and create a 2-mile circular walk down Fishers Lane along the beach to the Scaur and to create a new path along by Kirranrae making it entirely off road and usable by families with buggies and wheelchair users. This would also be supplemented by an environmental scheme to reintroduce a new shingle plant community on the shore side of the Scaur. This was agreed in principal and Barry Miller asked if Eric Garrett and Cathey Downie would work on this proposal together. (Appendix 2)
- COMPILATION OF ASSET LIST
Barry Miller told the meeting the KCC needed an asset list created so every item was listed, pictured and had details of cost and condition etc attached to it. He asked if Gail Adams and Sara McCulloch would work on this project.
- CORRESPONDENCE
Susan Irons told the meeting the KCC had received an email from Kerry Monteith regarding Community Resilience. As the old members had now left a new team would need to be created for the winter in case of any emergency to help any vulnerable people in the area. Thomas Cochrane said he would be willing to try and put together a group and then each member would be given a list of vulnerable people to check on if need be.
The KCC also received an email from Anne Richards, from the Dhuloch asking the KCC if she could please borrow or hire one of our marquees for her daughter coming over on Saturday 23rd September 2017. It was agreed by all for the KCC to lend her a marquee for a donation to the KCC.
- AOCB
Thomas Cochran told the meeting the KCC had received a thank you card from the MS Society for the money given to their charity from the money raised in the car park at this year’s Gala day. It was brought up that the War memorial at the church is needing repointed and one of the bars is loose. Susan Irons will contact the D&G Council through the CCES to ask what can be done regarding this matter. Barry Miller told the meeting that the Corsewall Lighthouse is 200 yesrs old in September and the Lighthouse board are inviting the p7’s from Kirkcolm, Leswalt and Portpatrick schools up to the lighthouse for a day to look around and climb the lighthouse etc.
- DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next KCC meeting will be held on Tuesday 3rd October 2017 at 7.30pm in Kirkcolm village hall.
Appendix 1
Kirkcolm Community Council Balance sheet 2016/17
Income
Date Payer Statement No Amount
01/04/16 Opening Balance A/C 50023342 51 18670.63
01/04/16 Opening Balance A/C 10020818 10 2113.52
Subtotal Bank Balances 20784.15
Deposit No
20/04/16 Petty Cash 65 50.00
05/04/16 63 70.00
12/07/16 Foundation Scotland windfarm receipt 3431.41
13/07/16 Gala Income 68 1718.70
02/09/16 Gala Income 69 355.00
03/11/16 D & G Xmas Lights 200.00
23/11/16 D & G Grant 477.15
22/02/17 The Energy Saving 2125.00
Subtotal Income 8427.26
31/03/17 Year End Total 29211.41
Expenses
Date Payee Cheque No Amount
11/04/16 Gala Disco 150 150.00
12/04/16 Gala Marquee 152 553.91
17/04/16 School Blinds Repair 151 216.55
25/04/16 WC in Fields 149 144.00
07/06/16 Gala Float Cash 154 500.00
09/06/16 Gala Pipe Band (for 2015) 148 110.00
09/06/16 Gala IM 155 162.93
17/06/16 Gala Scot Signs 153 12.00
21/07/16 K Bowling club windfarm payment 35 1480.00
25/08/16 K Nursery windfarm payment 36 3280.00
25/08/16 K Brownies windfarm payment 38 400.00
31/08/16 Gala Road Closure 156 77.88
01/09/16 MND Donation 157 200.00
14/09/16 Gala Raffle Tickets 159 100.48
14/09/16 K Guides windfarm payment 37 380.00
11/11/16 Gala Raffle Burgers 158 227.50
16/11/16 Gala Classic Cars Donation 163 40.00
17/11/16 Gala Bombshell Donation 160 40.00
25/11/16 Petty Cash 165 30.00
28/11/16 Xmas Items IM 168 264.75
08/12/16 Lakeland Productions Panto 167 225.00
13/12/16 Gambling Licence 166 20.00
28/12/16 Retiring Auditor Gift 164 27.00
19/01/17 Gala Pipe Band Donation (for 16) 162 40.00
27/01/17 Questionnaire printing (P Caldwell) 169 120.00
02/03/17 Xmas Hall Hire (2 events) 170 86.87
30/03/17 Gala Hall Hire 175 11.40
Sub total Expenses 8935.27
31/03/17 Closing Balance A/C 5523342 20271.21
31/03/17 Closing Balance A/C 10020818 4.93
Subtotal Bank Balances 20276.14
31/03/17 Year End Total 29211.41
Appendix 2
Core Path Project – Kirkcolm lost plants.
Investigate the possibility of utilising the already secured core path funding of £10,300 to trigger a larger environmental scheme based around a the development of 2 mile circular walking route from the school, down Fishers Lane, along the shore front to the pillbox at the Scaur, along the gravel road then through the wartime cement seaplane hard-standing and possibly linking up with the start point by the creation of a new pathway just inside Kirranrae field alongside the main road. This to be supplemented by an environmental scheme to reintroduce a shingle plant community on the shore side of the Scaur road and possibly other environmental improvements
The deep shingle beach along the foreshore to the Scaur would appear to be the ideal habitat for many of Britain’s more stunning beach and shingle plants. Remnants of colonies of these plants occur around the Luce Bay coast and elsewhere on the Solway and it is likely Loch Ryan lost these plants as a result of civil engineering activities during the War.
The possibility of restoring the type of shingle plant community which almost certainly existed in the past would appear to be a viable and worthwhile project. If this were done in conjunction with the ‘core path’ funding the creation of the 2 mile circular walk suggested above could be a stunning project well worthy of consideration.
A few of the plants listed below could be among those to consider reintroducing and already occur along the coast in the area – but not in Loch Ryan. – There are very many more.
As well and being attractive this type of environmental improvement would result in an increased biodiversity in both insect and bird life.
The 2 mile walk would not only be of benefit to locals but would be a real asset to the wider Stranraer community and if coupled by the environmental scheme suggested would act as a visitor as well as an educational attraction.
Since the part of this proposed path which follows the coast margin coincides exactly with the planned North Rhins coastal path close co-operation between the two projects will clearly be beneficial. The possibility of enhancing this part of the North Rhins coastal path by making the Kirkcolm section wheelchair accessible with the incorporation of rest huts or even toilet facilities is well worthy of consideration. The fact that the Kirkcolm section of the much larger North Rhins coastal path is readily accessible to a wider public with hard-standing car parking already existing and much of the walk already developed would appear to make these developements both desirable and achievable.
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Some plants which could be re-introduced.
Shingle/sand plant communities are characterised by large attractively flowering plants separated by large swathes of empty shingle. They are deep rooted, often succulent and are self seeding. They are not tightly packed.
Sea-kale is one of the first pioneer species. A type of cabbage, it is a large plant with a mass of white flowers and thick grey-green leaves with a waxy coating to reduce water loss.
Yellow Horned-poppy is another pioneer plant which can withstand the harsh conditions on the coast.
Biting Stonecrop has succulent leaves to help it retain water and grows low to the ground, forming a mat to protect itself from the wind.
Sea-holly is low growing and has silvery coloured, leathery leaves. It grows towards the back of the beach or where there is rather more sand mixed in with the shingle.
Oyster Plant another critically endangered shingle plant found close to the Cock Inn.
Birds Foot trefoil common but lovely plant
Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade has red berries and distinctive purple and yellow flowers.
Sea Bindweed also grows low along the ground on shingle and sand dunes. It is very pretty with pink and white flowers and kidney shaped leaves.
Sea Campion is pretty and seemingly delicate. It has very small leaves and grows in mats or cushions to protect itself from the wind.
August 23nd 2017
Kirkcolm Community Council
Contacts.
Chair Dr M Barry Miler
Secretary Susan Irons
Core path Co –coordinators Eric Garrett and Cathy Downie