The next meeting of the Garvald and Morham Community Council will be held on Monday the 3rd June 2013, at 7pm in Garvald Village Hall. Everyone welcome.

1. Attendance and Apologies
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising from Minutes
4. Councillors’ Report
5. Update from Kirstie Shearer, Council Liaison Rep
6. Update from Ian Smith, Broadband Rep
7. Update from Phillip White, Funding Rep – applications received from Crystal Rig
8. Update from Ian Middlemas, Funding Rep
9. Local Planning Applications
10. Garvald and Morham Updates
11. Garvald Woodland Project
12. A.O.C.B.

Dear All

You will remember that the idea has been put forward that we put together a gang of volunteers to help clear snow from in front of the homes of people who are too old/infirm to do it themselves. Before the summer arrives and we forget all about this issue, can I ask you to think about the following questions:

1) Would you be willing to be part of such a group?
2) Have you needed this sort of help in the past / do you know anyone in the village who does?

Please let me know using the form below, so that I can get a feel for the scope of the challenge and the potential size of the group we might be able to put together.

Many thanks

Rufus

The minutes from the Garvald and Morham Community Council Meeting on the 4th February 2013 have been uploaded to the GMCC page.

For this month only Councillor John McMillan will be holding his surgery in the Village Hall in Garvald on Monday 20th May (instead of Thursday 16th May). The time remains the same… 5.15pm to 6.00pm.

For future reference, Councillor McMillan holds his regular monthly surgery at Garvald on every 3rd Thursday of the month at 5.15pm.

Dear All

Please take a look at the following police information leaflets, which were sent to the last Community Council meeting. Police_Pamphlet_1 is about stopping the theft of Red Diesel; Police_Pamphlet_2 is about stopping thefts from heating fuel tanks; and Police_Pamphlet_3 is about protecting off-road vehicles.

Hope they are useful.

Rufus

Time Running Out….Apply by 31st May!

Just a reminder about the Crystal Rig Windfarm fund. As you probably know, this is a community benefit fund that is available to enable the community of Garvald and Morham to carry out improvements to their local area in any sphere including the environment, local amenity or tourism.

Money available

Each year, the wind farm allocates an amount of money to the community council, who then administer its disbursement to the community.

How to apply

Application forms are available to download on the GMCC webpage and should be returned by 31st May. For more information, please see the Application Form.

Dear All

Following on from Tim’s post about the snow plough idea, the Community Council would just like to clarify that the idea was only turned down after lengthy debate on the grounds that: 1) Crystal Rig had indicated in writing that it would not support it as it was work ‘the Council should do’. 2) There were widely held concerns about issues of liability, health and safety etc; 3) It was felt that as the problem was sporadic and relatively infrequent, community funding of the levels needed would be best spent elsewhere.

That said, everyone agreed that the problem was something that should be addressed, so it was felt that – as Tim explained – we would do the following: 1) Scope out the extent of the problem; 2) Work out what cost-effective equipment is needed (eg. grit bins, shovels, etc); 3) Get together a group of volunteers to help dig out those in need when the
time comes; 4) Work to ensure that the Council upholds its statutory duties so that main roads (and as many side roads as possible) are kept clear.

Rufus has said that he is happy to move this forward, but would like help (Indeed, if anyone would like to take on the co-ordination of a group to tackle this, that would be great). Anyone who is interested in lending a hand both in terms of collecting information and/or wielding a shovel please use the contact form below.

Cheers

The Community Council

Sad to report that the GMCC has rejected the idea of community snow plough(s). In its place its best and only offer is an attempt to set up a core of reliable volunteers to dig out citizens who can’t easily (or at all) help themselves. As that solution is much cheaper I hope it works. However, should it prove not to be the solution then money should not be an issue as Crystal Rigg grants are only for activities that local authorities do not provide, which is exactly the target this proposal aims at.

In the meantime I will try to find out how other small communities manage to deal successfully with problems such as insurance, public safety, maintenance, priorities and operators.

Thanks to all those who volunteered themselves or provided support.

Tim Flinn.

Here is the Agenda for the Garvald and Morham Community Council’s meeting tonight, (7pm, Monday the 8th April) at Morham Village Hall. All are welcome to attend.

1. Attendance and Apologies
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising from Minutes
4. Councillors’ Report
5. Update from Kirstie Shearer, Council Liaison Rep
6. Update from Ian Smith, Broadband Rep
7. Update from Phillip White, Funding Rep
8. Update from Ian Middlemas, Funding Rep
9. Local Planning Applications
10. Garvald and Morham Updates
11. Garvald snow plough
12. Garvald Woodland Project
13. A.O.C.B

Dear All,

Just a reminder about the Crystal Rig Windfarm fund. As you probably know this is a community benefit fund that is available to enable the community of Garvald and Morham to carry out improvements to their local area in any sphere, including the environment, local amenity or tourism.

Money available

Each year, the wind farm allocates an amount of money to the community council, who then administer its disbursement to the community. The total amount of money is based on the installed capacity of the wind farm. This year over £22,425 is available.

To give you some idea of what’s been supported in the past, last year the following projects were funded:

• Lothian Broadband (upgrades & Free WI-FI Hot Spots )
• Knox youth group
• New central heating for Morham Village Hall
• Garvald Village Hall Outside paintwork
• Morham Mix Arts and Activity project

However, please note that consideration will be given to all types of project, which will benefit the local community, and the Community Council is keen to widen the scope of projects funded. We are particularly keen to support any aspiring young sportspeople and musicians, so whatever idea you’ve got (no matter how big or small) please consider applying.

The fund is not available to projects that would be under the remit of the Council or which would be working against the windfarm(!).

How to apply:
Application forms are available to download on the GMCC webpage or from Phillip White at the Old School, Garvald. Complete this form with as much information as possible and return before 31st May to the Community Council. For more information please see the application form.