A “Welcome Pack” is currently being created online and once it has a lot of local information it will be made available for everyone to view. Any new residents will receive a card directing them to this information and also stating that if they do not have internet access then a hard copy can be obtained. Action: David Hamilton to coordinate writing of Welcome Pack Action: John Vaughan to write to Fife Counci - Wind Turbines : Fife Council are currently running a consultation on its strategy for wind turbines (see www.fifedirect.org.il/windenergy) . Our area is included on the different maps showing alternative proposed guidelines. Looking at maps we are right on the edge of where permission will be granted for several sizes of development. This means that there would likely be planning applications at some point in the future. Across Fife such applications might be submitted by individuals, companies and communities, but any application is considered on its individual merits. Neil Stoddart proposed that the CC submit a response to the consultation to encourage Fife Council to promote the ‘community interest’ before big business in any application for wind turbines.. The proposed response to the draft consultation document would be 1. Community developments receive priority over commercial applications. With the proviso that small, single installations sought by landowners for their own use be considered in the same vein as community projects. 2. In lieu of a commercial application, the local community is given the opportunity to make their own application, within a set time frame 3. Fife Council to develop a strategic approach to encourage & support community projects 4. Partnership working with communities on these project to enable the region to develop a sustainable future It was suggested that the Community Councillors take a vote on the proposed response, however not all had viewed the Consultation Document Action: Neil Stoddart to email the proposal to all Community Councillors so that views can be fed back to him and a response submitted. 6.
Treasurer’s Report : The account balance stands at just over £1850. Some of this money can be used to help with paving the area at The Toll (as per item 4). We have not received the annual “per-capita” grant from Fife Council – Action: Cllr Arbuckle to make enquiries for us.
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Village Hall Report : Couple of events over the festive season with Letham Nights on Saturday 18th and the New year Dance on Saturday 1st. Finally found a good floor-cleaning material which is not too slippy and doesn’t leave any residue with dancing. Thanks also offered to Val & Willie Fenton, Gordon & Scott Smith, Jim Rotheram and Bruce Forrest for their hard work in clearing a path through the hard-packed ice from the road across to the Main entrance.
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Playpark : Most of the new equipment is in place with the swings and skate-park area still to be completed.
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Transition Toun : All households should have received their NHTT survey in the last week or so, which gives the chance to win a Christmas hamper.. The Transport Group has been successful in gaining partial funding for the footpaths network. Question was asked about the Monimail to Letham route which should have been a priority however it was stated that the relevant Landowner was unwilling to participate in this project. The subsidised insulation and draughtproofing offer is now closed though there are still some installations to be completed. An event has been arranged in Letham Hall on 26th February next year to highlight what has been done as well as look at the way forward for projects with renewable energy being a priority. The Energy Group will be applying for funding for feasibility studies into 4 possible projects : - Collessie Biomass District Heating - Waste Heat from Methane Extraction (ex Melville Landfill) - Wind Turbines - Wood Fuel Network Our area will come under future pressure to be developed and we need to choose whether we engage with that change, or do nothing, Either way we see developments start to happen close to our community. It would be amiss for us as a community not to look seriously at the issues facing our ability not only to generate power for our homes but also create an income stream that could provide us with many of the services & maintenance that we look to Fife Council for at the moment.