NMCC 2008-2009 (1007-1017)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday, 23rd April 2009

 

Members:

 

Mr Mike Taylor  ( Chair 2008-9 &Sec)  [MT]     Mr Alexander Buchan                  [AB]

Mrs Fiona Duncan               (Treasurer) [FD]     Mr Martin Morley, JP                   [MM]

Prof Roy Bridges             (Minute Sec.)   [RB]     Mrs Pamela Young                        [PY]

Mr Gordon Murray                                [GM]    Mr Robert Loughridge                  [RL]

One post vacant

 

In attendance ex officio:  Councillors Dr Martin Ford [CllrMF]; Nan Culllinane [CllrNC] and Fergus Hood [CllrFH]

 

Abbreviations: AC = Aberdeenshire Council;  NMCC = Newmachar Community Council

 

Apologies were recorded for: Mr Gordon Murray; Councillor Hood; PC David Calvert; Ms Annette Holland.

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Mr John Findlay (Ryden); Ms Marianne McGowan (Stewart Milne); Ms Elaine Farquharson Black (Paull & Willamsons)

 

Minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting of 26th March 2009 were accepted as a correct record.

 

1007.   Traffic Matters

            (i) The enforcement of the new traffic regulations, including speed limits, seemed            necessary;  MT undertook to write asking for more police activity in this regard.  It was also    hoped that AC would provide a list of the regulations.  CllrNC said she believed there   would be a single consolidated Traffic Order for Newmachar.

            (ii) Amusement as well as incomprehension greeted news of the establishment of a zebra crossing on Corseduick Road which led from ‘nowhere to nowhere.’  It was explained that         it resulted from a Planning Gain deal with the developers of the new estate.  Members contrasted its coming with the long and frustrating campaign necessary to obtain a             crossing            on the main road through the village and called for an overall traffic management plan.

 

1008.   Election (See Minute 999)

            The Chairman reported that, so far, the number of nominations was disappointing.       Nevertheless the Hall had been booked for Election Day.

 

1009.   Youth Project (See Minute 996)

            ClllrC reported that finance would now be available for the remaining necessary work on            the drop-in centre to be completed whilst Annette Holland continued her efforts to   arrange for the use of the building by the people for whom it was intended.

1010.   Community Hall (See Minute 997)

            It was reported that the AGM of the Hall Association on 30th March had been quorate although there were few young people present.  However, it had been possible to proceed           with necessary arrangements for the next phase of the campaign.

 

1011.   Aberdeenshire Council Matters

            (i) CllrMF said that he and CllrNC had investigated the problem of providing a waste     recycling centre for the Kingseat residents.  The Waste Officer is aware of the problem and         hopes to establish a facility.

            (ii) The councillors also reported that money had been found to effect repairs at             Monykebbock Cemetry; it would, after all, be possible to repair the wall rather than simply            bank it up as had earlier been contemplated.  NMCC welcomed this news.

 

1012.   Local Community Plan, Garioch Area 2008-12

            The Plan was noted, in particular the aim of bringing the ‘Youth café’ into use in           Newmachar.

 

1013.   Planning Matters

            NMCC welcomed the communication from the Scottish Government to all Chairs of    Community Councils of 2 March 2009 which promises consultation on LDPs and SDPs;   that all development bids designated ‘national’ or ‘major’ must after 3 August 2009          involve Pre Application Consultation (PAC) with communities; that community councils             who make representations in such cases will be given the right to be heard at the planning           authority’s planning committee.

 

1014.   Insurance

            It was noted that community councils are now insured for all their normal activities.

 

1015.   Notice Board (See Minute 985)

            PY reported that a new backing was in place and the facility had now become usable again.         She would now be able to ensure that it was for the benefit of the community.

 

1016.   Local Development Plan (See Minute 993)

            It was noted that AC’s Main Issues Report setting out its policy and the preferred options          for development bids would appear on the morrow.  NMCC must be prepared to make its          reactions known and submitted to AC by 6th July.

 

1017.   Development Bids II

            Mr John Findlay from Ryden presented information about Development Bids G 128 and           G138 on behalf, respectively, of Mr AF Buchan and Stewart Milne Homes.  However, the            two bids were connected and would be phased to complement one another.  With the assistance of Ms Elaine Farquharson Black and Ms Marianne McGowan, he answered           questions from members of the Council.  Printed versions of the information about the             bids are attached to the principal copy of these minutes.  The Chairman expressed the    thanks of NMCC for the expositions.

 

There being no further business, the Meeting closed at 2140

 

The next meeting will be on Thursday, 28th May 2009