MUCH of the November meeting of Merkinch Community Council was taken up with an attempt to implement the measures which the previous month they had reaffirmed, and to censure one member in particular, Donnie Kerr. A move to have the debate, discussed in private was voted down. At times the discussion became quite heated with interruptions on both sides.

Minutes secretary Alec Macleod referred to an article in the local press in which Mr Kerr had not only discussed his previous “outright and despicable attack” on local councillors Peter Corbett and Chrissie Cumming, but had repeated the abusive allegations word for word. “If Mr Kerr has an agenda of his own, he is not entitled to pursue it in the name of this community council,” he said, adding that he was sick of Mr Kerr representing himself as the champion of Merkinch people when he was bringing the community council into disrepute.
He moved that Mr Kerr be censured and asked for a motion of no confidence.

Mr Kerr asked that he be allowed an equal amount of time, 14 minutes, to answer Mr Macleod’s statement which he described as “nonsense”. “I did not run to the press,” he said. “They came to me and asked me to comment on a report in the News & Views. I gave my opinion as a person, but I did not say that as a member of the community council.”
Mr Kerr also referred to another report in which he had wrongly been described as the community council treasurer. “It’s not my fault if the press get it wrong,” he said. After a digression into various side issues, Mr Kerr moved the direct negative.

After a five minute break to allow chairman Ally Maclean to discuss procedure his vice-chairman and the secretary, it was agreed to defer voting on the issue until the next meeting, in February, to allow Mr Maclean to take legal advice.
Mr Kerr left the meeting at this point saying that he “had better things to do”.

Other matters discussed included the following:

• Cllr Cumming said Carse Road residents were unhappy about the proposed traffic calming measures.
• Cllr Corbett said the next crucial meeting in the matter of the development of Capell Inch would likely be 17th December when the question of the transfer of land would be raised again. A survey of the Welfare Hall, financed by SIPs, was being carried out.
• Clair Pieraccini of Merkinch Traders reported that lighting was to be improved in Grant Street for the CCTV cameras. It was noted that a tree obstructing the camera outside MacDonalds paper shop had been removed.
• Dell McClurg said it was hoped that the damaged timber benches at Carnac Point would be replaced before the spring.
• Members agreed to write to the Chief Constable, and to urge other local groups to do the same, on the question of policing levels in Merkinch. The two community police were being called to work in other areas at times.
• The next meeting, which will be publicised well in advance, is to be held on 21st February in Merkinch Community Centre.