Meeting of Biggar Community Council 20 Nov 2023 Venue: Biggar Library. Time 7:40pm Present: Jimmy Ritchie Alan Wilson, Lesley Craise , Neil Ingram (Associate Member) Helen Leslie, Roger Curtis (Secretary). Caz Alcorn, Gilllian Gardner, Apologies: Laura Shirley, Ben Wane Ex Officio: Ian McAllan (SLC), Alex Allison (SLC). 5 members of the public were present, including 3 people who currently use the caravan site, and 1 from the golf club
Matters arising from the minutes of 16 Oct Caravan Park The letter from SLC of the 15th November was presented to the meeting ( see appendix). Councillor Allison said that David Booth. Executive Director, Community and Enterprise Resources, SLC would like to attend our next meeting on the 18th December 2023 to explain the situation. It was agreed that the Secretary will send a letter giving details of the time and venue. The meeting felt that any development of BiggarPark should be for the benefit of all residents of Biggar, including Caravaners’ and the Golf club Kello Hospital The BCC has issued details sent from the NHS concerning new opening times for Kello Hospital these are: “Appointments can be scheduled by calling Lanark treatment room at 01555 667150. * There is a specific wound clinic in Biggar (located within the out-building at Kello Hospital) that was established when the minor injuries service was suspended. It is well-utilised, and the hours are being extended due to demand. The clinic is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays (13:30-16:00), and starting from November 7th, the Tuesday clinic will be operational from 09:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be booked via the Lanark treatment room number mentioned above.” Bus Times Stuarts have issued a new bus time table. It is hoped that will be more reliable. Bonfire This is on track. It was reported that no consumption of alcohol will be allowed on the street, nor any children’s flames. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting (16/10/ 23). The minutes were then approved. Proposed by Lesley Craise, seconded by Allen Wilson
“Community Council-Police Report 16/10/2023 Police update –16/10/23 - 13/11/23 28 incidents were recorded for Biggar during this period. For comparison, in the same time period 174 calls were received for Lanark and 215 for Carluke. 3 crime reports were raised – these were in relation to 2 x Culpable & Reckless Conduct and 1x Fraud. From my analysis of incidents and crime reports there is nothing to indicate any other specific trends that should cause any concerns to the local community. Please report any incidents to police by either phoning 101 or using the online reporting tool on the Police Scotland website. Community Police officers can also be contacted by emailing [email protected] PC Alan Kerr Q1240 PC Ross Allan Q646”
Windfarm plans – plan includes and reduction of four turbines and to include current access road
Gillian Gardner raised the issue about BIggar applying for a “Biggar in Bloom” recognition, and to have a license for a Farmers’ Market. Both items were approved by the BCC. Funding for the Clydesdale Walkway has been approved by the Government.
Appendix:
Wed, 15 Nov, Dear Mr Curtis, Thank-you for your letter from Biggar Community Council received on Thursday 19th October. Apologies for the delay in responding. I appreciate you seek assurances around storage of caravans until the new arrangements for the caravan park are agreed. Firstly, I would like to provide you with the following update on plans for the park. The Council has made this difficult decision to close Biggar Caravan Park taking into account the current standard of facilities available at the site and the necessary investment required to bring the park up to an acceptable standard. The caravan park will cease trading for a period of no less than a year from 31 March 2024, giving the Council time to look into options for the future of the wider park, considering market interest in the site and the outcome of a public consultation on the park. Currently, no decisions have been made on what services will be provided at the park in the future. Separate to this, the Council’s contract with the current provider of management services at Biggar Caravan Park will come to an end on 31 March 2024. You have asked about an extension for the caravanners beyond the 31 January date (the date you state the service provider says he is closing down the site). However, the Council has no legal basis for intervening on matters related to use of the site during the period January - March 2024, and any arrangements caravan owners have with the above provider are strictly between those two parties. South Lanarkshire Council cannot therefore become involved in discussions relating to these arrangements. Nevertheless, the Council expects all caravans to be removed from the site no later than 31 March 2024 and will be issuing a public notice to that effect over the next couple of weeks You asked about the contractual obligations when the site contract expires, especially in relation to remedial or repairs. I can inform you that the current service providers’ contract is for the provision of management services only i.e. it is not a full repairing and issuing lease. That said, there are general cleaning and maintenance obligations on the Council and the operators. I note that there will be many caravanners who will have enjoyed long-term seasonal residency at the site and apologise for any upset caused. I hope this gives you some further information which you can relay to your members. Regards Michelle Michelle Wilkie Performance and Policy Development Manager Enterprise and Sustainable Development Service Community and Enterprise Resources Council Offices, Floor 7 Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA Mobile: 077168 72992 Email: [email protected]
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