An attempt by St Andrews Community Council to extend its influence outside its current boundaries has raised concerns.
As a statutory consultee, the community council is consulted on Fife Council planning matters within the St Andrews town boundary.
But with the recently established greenbelt extending as far as Feddinch to the south-west of the town, the chairman of St Andrews Community Council has called on its boundaries to be extended into areas currently looked after by the likes of Strathkinness and Cameron community councils.
In a motion to this week’s meeting of St Andrews Community Council, chairman Howard Greenwell said: “Given that the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council campaigned for 20 years to establish a green belt for the burgh, and that Fife Council will not recognise the community council as a statutory consultee on all planning applications in the green belt, the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council hereby calls on the local Fife councillors to make representations to the whole of Fife Council seeking to extend the boundaries of the Royal Burgh of St Andrews, and by implication, the area of responsibility of the community council, to encompass the whole of the St Andrews green belt.”
But community councillor Izzy Corbin said: “Should we not be contacting Cameron and other community councils first?”
Pat Mathewson, president of the St Andrews University Students Association, also questioned whether the motion was valid.
He said: “I can’t agree something that I’ve not researched.”
St Andrews Fife councillor Brian Thomson also questioned the competency of the motion.
He said the motion was effectively calling for a reduction of the Strathkinness Community Council area.
Community councillor Chris Wallard said: “I would not be comfortable putting my name to this until we’ve spoken to other community councils.”
St Andrews Fife councillor Frances Melville agreed that speaking to others would be a sensible first move.
Councillor Melville went on to say that this issue went beyond Fife Council. The Boundary Commission had ultimate responsibility.
She agreed to take the matter up with neighbouring community councils and report back at the April meeting.