The latest Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee meeting was held on Tuesday 23rd September at Viewmount. The agenda and supporting reports are available here, along with the recordings of the public part of the meeting.
The two reports presented and discussed were
· Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 – 2031
· K & M Area Committee Budget 2025 – 26
Following the usual formalities the committee moved on to discuss and comment on the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 – 2031. This document
· sets out investment priorities for affordable housing
· demonstrates how these will be delivered
· identifies the resources required to deliver these priorities, and
· enables the involvement of key partners
Councillors appreciated the comprehensive report and asked a few questions relating to specific developments in K&M. A more general question was asked regarding the involvement of private developers. 76% of the planned housing is expected to be delivered by private developers, and Councillor Dickinson queried the risks of developments not being completed and how many homes would be available within the timescales required. It was acknowledged that this is an inherent risk, and other options are also being explored. Councillors comments will be fed back to the Communities Committee on 6th November.
K & M Area Budget Applications
There were three applications for funding from the Area Budget considered.
· Portlethen & District Men’s Shed for £616.39 for new battery operated hand tools.
· Kincardineshire Development Partnership for £1238.00 towards a new pilot project for a community led tourism network, subject to a full funding package being assembled.
· Tangleha Artists Collective for £1001.00 towards installing rock armour on the Coastal Trail at Tangleha, again subject to a full funding package being assembled.
Councillors raised the issue of a previous Mearns Tourism Group, and queried if lessons had been learned from their work. It was confirmed that some members are part of the new pilot, so knowledge and experience will be retained. A general question was asked to clarify what happens to the funding from the Area Budget if a group folds. It was explained that groups only receive funding once the project is completed, and they reclaim the funding, rather than receiving it in advance.
All three projects were approved, subject to the full funding packages being received.
The next K&M Area Committee meeting will be on Tuesday 28th October.