Reflections on CC work
Look back at last 6 months
Coupar Angus and Bendochy Community Council office-bearers were all unanimously re-elected to their positions at the AGM, held last week in the Y Hall on Union Street.
Wendy McCombes was reelected as chair, John Easson as vice-chair and treasurer and Keith Langelaan as secretary.
The re-appointment of the office-bearers followed the presentation of their annual reports covering the previous 12 months.
In her report, Mrs McCombes reflected on the previous six months as the current community council was formed after elections held by Perth and Kinross Council in November last year. Seven community councillors were elected, although two stood down immediately after the elections. As vacancies can only be filled six months after an election, efforts are now under way to co-opt new members.
Mrs McCombes thanked Strathmore councillor Dennis Melloy and minute secretary Michelle Peet for their support, adding: “It was gratifying that members of the community have come along to several of our meetings as they always add a great deal to the discussion and provide a wealth of local knowledge.
She continued: “The purpose of a community council is to act in the interests of the local community and to reflect the views of the community as a whole to local and national government and any other relevant organisation.
“We have endeavoured to do this to the best of our ability. As we are all new to the role of community councillors, it has taken us a little time to find our feet and yet we have covered a wide range of issues in these last six months.
“It is the intention of CABCC to determine the views of community on as wide a range of issues as possible and to this end, once CABCC is at full strength – or as near to it as it can be – we will begin a series of consultations using a range of methods which will be subject appropriate.”
She said members have worked closely with council officers in a range of teams, including planning, roads, community greenspace and Live Active Leisure – as well as other groups and organisations such as the Strathmore Advisory Group.
The community council also played an important role in coping with the bad weather at the end of December and early January, getting 300 sandbags brought to Coupar Angus during the floods and hosting a follow-up meeting for the whole of east Perthshire, one outcome of which being the formation of local resilience groups for the community council areas.
Mrs McCombes added: “The last six months have been very interesting and I look forward to the coming year with optimism as I think, with the input of the local community, we can continue to make the opinion of Coupar Angus heard in places where it needs heard.”
The group’s next ordinary meeting is on June 13 at 7pm in Coupar Angus Town Hall.