NMCC
2008-2009 (957-968)
Thursday,
11 December 2008
[The
‘November’ Meeting]
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]
Ms Lyn Lockhart (co-pted) [LL]
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: Ms Lyn Lockhart; Mr A Buchan; Cllr Ford; Cllr
Cullinane; Ms Annette Holland; PC David Calvert
In attendance as visitor(s):
Minutes
The Minutes of
the meeting held on 30th October 2008 were approved.
957. Dog Boxes (See Minute
949 i)
CllrFH
reported that he had raised the matter and AC would put lockable dog boxes in place of those subject to misuse.
958. Christmas Lights
(See Minute 946)
CllrFH was
congratulated on the display he had arranged despite some problems with the electricity supply. Scotia Animations produced the new
decorations and were ‘absorbing’ the
erection costs but NMCC had paid the £3k costs and will investigate whether any
payment was made in 2007
959. Police Matters
(i) In a note sent by E-mail, PC Calvert had said
the area had been relatively crime free with
only three reports over the previous six weeks – one for careless driving, a
second for breaking into a car and a
third involving threatening calls. He
added that there had been relatively
few calls about annoyances caused by youths.
David Calvert is co-operating with Annette
Holland over plans for younger people and hopes the youth café will become operational in the New Year.
(ii)
CllrFH reported that Grampian Police had received extra funding which would
make possible 480 extra hours
of police activity on the beat and he drew attention to the Force’s drink/drive campaign for the
Christmas period.
960. Community Hall (See
Minute 949)
(i) GM reported that the sum raised now stood at
£65K.
(ii)
Some revision of the architectural plans was required because in order to
qualify for certain grants, the Hall project must include a café or other area for socialising which could be adapted for other uses. Whether facilities for those with special
needs through disabilities should
be arranged was another issue.
(iii)
Negotiations were underway on the question of detailed uses for Planning Gain money; the issues would be resolved in
January 2009.
961. Youth Project
(See Minute 950)
Annette
Holland reported by e-mail that Scottish and Southern Energy required £411.70 prepaid before a meter for electricity
could be installed and she was arranging to pay this from the youths’ own account.
Annette was also arranging for a qualified contractor to carry out the work.
962. Newmachar Residents Survey
It was reported that this was part of a survey by AC of Council House tenants in the Garioch Area to aid with the provision of planning and waste collection services.
963. Garioch Forum
(i)
RB reported on the Forum meeting of 4th December that attendance
had been very poor and questions were
raised about the place of the Forum in view of there being little prospect of increased powers and influence and
also in view of the emergence of Community
Planning structures. John Sangster was
elected as Vice-chair of the Forum. An interesting presentation by Irene
Reid on the SACRO mediation service was received; community councillors might wish to note the availability of the
service if they came to know of
disputes between neighbours. Roy Bridges
paid a tribute to Bob Kinghorn of Fintray
CC who had died in October.
(ii) RB’s Report on the
Aberdeenshire Budget Briefing meeting for Community Councillors held on the 10th December noted (a) that the
AC Director of Finance held that
AC was fundamentally sound financially and thus likely to be able to withstand
the Credit Crunch; (b) that the
Garioch and Formartine Area managers had explained how developments in their areas, including the Trump scheme,
were being managed and promised
more support for community councils and more information on the use of Planning Gain monies; (c) that the new
Director of Planning, Christine Gore, had referred to efforts being made to recycle more waste but concentrated on
explaining how the Local Development
Plan would emerge in 2011 from the current consultations on the Structure Plan which would include opportunities
for community councils to recommend precisely where
developments should take place; (d) that, finally, Alan Campbell had reflected
on his years as Chief Executive and
Cllr Ann Robertson had promised continued success for AC.
964. Notice Board (See Minute 951)
PY reported that the problem of damp remained
because water seeped down the wall. It
was agreed to employ Craig Cook to install a suitable waterproof backing.
965. Election
Arrangements (See
Minute 934iii as amended on 30 October)
MT said there was still
no response from the Area Manager but he would try to make contact again.
966. Aberdeenshire
Council Matters
(i) CllrFH provided a
detailed timetable for the transition to the Local Development Plan:
Early 2009 Final Structure Plan
May 2009 Report on Local Development Plan and consultations
begin
December 2009 Draft LDP
Summer 2010 Public Local inquiry on draft Plan
2010/2011 Adoption of Plan
He added that AC believed enough land was available for
all the development contemplated.
(ii) In connection
with the LDP process 600 bids for development had been received for the Garioch
Area; those involving Newmachar could be seen on the website. A particular problem was affordable housing:
350 units per annum were needed yet only 174 had been built last year. The Scottish Government had made £20m
available for affordable housing for the needy including migrant workers. The existing stock of Council houses would be
upgraded and not henceforward be made available for purchase by tenants.
(iii) CllrFH said the footpath from Kingseat is being
completed.
(iv) CllrFH had pursued the matter of the name for the
development on the former small glebe field and said the issue would go to the
Area Commmittee if the developer and AC disagreed.
(v) AC staff had received a 3% pay rise costing £875k but
the existence of 240 vacancies meant a saving which accommodated this cost.
(vi) CllrFH scotched rumours that
(vii) He promised to follow up complaints about lack of
gritting of pavements on frosty days.
967. Consultation
on the Local Development Plan
(i) Expressions of
interest by landowners and developers had been received but these would not be
considered until community councils had had the chance to say which land in
their areas could or should be developed.
Information had to be submitted to AC by 19th January
2009. It was not necessary, as yet, to
comment on developers’ submissions although these could be viewed on the
website.
(ii) It was agreed that NMCC should meet in time to make
a submission. Some preliminary views were expressed including the feeling that
Kingseat was enough development for the area; that a recreational area was
needed to the west of the village; and that more local employment opportunities
were needed.
968. AWPR (See Minute 948)
NMCC had been invited to make a closing submission to the
PLI but decided that it was not necessary or appropriate to do so.
There being no further
business, the meeting closed at 2100
The next meeting will be on Thursday 15th January
2009.