Extracts from a letter sent to Karen Reid, CEO of Perth and Kinross Council after her responses to the issues listed below. If you would like more information about her response to an individual item, contact Mike Barnacle for more details.
Dear Karen
Thanks for your comprehensive report of 7 October, 2020 to the notes I made for our virtual meeting on 1 September 20. When I first emailed you on the above last February, I referred to Senior Officer resistance to resolving same, which is why I asked for our private meeting; it is therefore disappointing that, in relation to Issues 5 & 6 (where I sent you much background documentation), along with Issues 8 & 11, you have simply reiterated the views of planning and housing colleagues that I have disagreements with.
While content with your replies on Issues 4, 9 and 12-14 [listed in the October issue of the Newsletter – ED]; I feel I must respond on the other issues as follows:
PILOT AREA COMMITTEE OF PKC FOR KINROSS-SHIRE
Our draft pilot scheme included statutory responsibility but not quasi-judicial matters. Without some of the former it would just be ‘a talking shop’ with no devolved power to decide anything.
LACK OF POLICY @ PKC ON MAINTAINING SUSTAINABILITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES
None of PKC’s Policies and Strategies helped Blairingone, which has lost all its facilities, including finally its school, despite proposals for housing development. ENSURING THE RETENTION OF ONE BANKING FACILITY IN KINROSS-SHIRE
I will write to Group leaders and copy you in.
RESTORING THE LANDSCAPE DESIGNATIONS FOR THE CLEISH HILLS & DEVON GORGE I have explained why I and other organisations felt the methodology was flawed and reached the wrong conclusions. You make no mention of the Cleish Hills and why the consultants and planning came to the ‘illogical view’ that the landscape changes at the Fife boundary.
ADDRESSING THE O/S CRIME, ENVIRONMENT & PLANNING ISSUES @ CROOK MOSS GYPSY TRAVELLER SITE
Planning permission is flawed if the absence of landscaping on the North Eastern site boundary exposes, in particular, the eyesore scrap yard in the paddock area, especially given the landscape consultant’s report (ignored by PKC). The absence of enforcement action on the paddock area and the illegal structure in the turning area is unacceptable to me and the community I represent, not to mention residents of the site itself. I disagree that there is no planning harm and consider residential amenity compromised by PKC’s lack of action.
OCHIL HILLS & LOMOND HILLS REGIONAL PARKS CREATION & EXTENSION I will write to Group leaders to see if they would agree that PKC should write to neighbouring authorities.
LEVEL OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN KINROSS & MILNATHORT & THEIR EFFECT ON CONDITION OF LOCH LEVEN, ITS CATCHMENT & OUR LOCAL HEALTH FACILITIES
I don’t accept planning’s response and find approval recommendations for the area do not reflect community concerns.
FLOODING IN DRUM AREA
I will write to SEPA (where I have contacts) and challenge why Drum is not within a PVA.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF KINROSS-SHIRE
I disagree that there is no demand for social housing in our rural villages and so would our Community Councils; all that is being built are large expensive houses for the Edinburgh market, with locals unable to downsize or having to move to the towns.
You will note that I have copied my fellow ward councillors in on my response and I am sure I will be meeting them soon to discuss how we may pursue these outstanding issues.
Councillor Michael Barnacle Independent Member for Kinross-shire