NMCC 2006-2007 (776-789)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday, 22nd February 2007

 

Members:

 

Mr Fergus Hood                 (Chairman) [FH]     Mr Alexander Buchan                   [AB]

Mr Mike Taylor                   (Secretary)  [MT]     Mr Robert Loughridge                  [RL]

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

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

Mr Gordon Murray                                [GM]

 

In attendance ex officio:  Councillor Dr Martin Ford [CllrF]

 

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

 

Apologies were recorded for: Mr Robert Loughridge

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Inspector Steve Pratt, Grampian Police, Sean Bate, Evening Express.

 

Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting of 1st February 2007 were accepted as a correct record subject to the alteration of Minute 762 (i) 2, line 4 to read ‘...would be two sets of traffic lights...’

 

776.     Aberdeenshire Local Plan: Glebe Field  (See Minutes 629, 642 etc)

FH said he understood that the part of the Glebefield adjacent to Corseduick Road which had been the subject of NMCC’s unsuccessful protest to AC at their failure to contest the Reporter’s decision to overthrow the Local Plan and allow building on the site had now been sold by the Church of Scotland for a sum in excess of the upset price.

 

777.     Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (See Minute 762)

MT reported that he had sent in a letter of objection setting out NMCC’s reservations as detailed in Minute 762.  CllrF remarked that, given the number of objections, he was sure a full public enquiry would have to take –place.  He warned that AC would not have much power to affect the major proposals but he thought that minor and feeder roads affected by the proposals might become amenable to planning procedures.

 

778.     Request from Mrs Cowieson (See Minute 764)

FH said he had seen Mrs Cowieson and advised her to take up the matter of a shelter by direct contact with AC.    However, NMCC wished to be kept informed of the situation.

 

779.     Composting (See Minutes 755 & 768)

FH said he thought a scheme for collecting grass cuttings would be worthwhile and he promised to contact Mr MacNorton who might be willing to take charge of such a venture.

 

780.     Website

(i) The notice warning that NMCC would not respond to anonymous or pseudonymous communications via the website was now on the website itself.

(ii) It was agreed to inform AC that they might put in a link from their website to that of NMCC.

 

781.     Hall Campaign (See Minute 770)

It was agreed that Sean Bate be asked to give what publicity might be possible in the Evening Express to the planned events mentioned in Minute 770.

 

782.     NYPD Project (See Minute 769)

MT reported that remaining building warrant delays had been overcome and the Centre was now almost ready to open.  It was hoped a formal occasion could be arranged.

 

783.     Bus Services (See Minutes 748 & 771)

Nothing further had yet been heard from Bluebird with reference to NMCC’s complaints.

 

784.     Notice Board  (See Minute 772)

FH said that he had not been able to get supplies of silica gel but would continue his efforts.

 

785.     Community Planning  (See Minute 774)

RB suggested that it would be well that community councils reacted to AC’s invitation to nominate a candidate to serve as their representative on the Community Planning Executive.  He suggested that Dr Jim Piggins of Kemnay Community Council would be a suitable person were he willing to accept nomination.  NMCC agreed to nominate Dr Piggins if he agreed.

 

786.     Garioch Forum Matters (See Minute 773)

The Garioch Area Plan would be reviewed by the Forum on 1st March.  RB drew attention to items in the Plan which had direct relevance for Newmachar including the upgrading of New Machar School.  CllrF said it was not yet certain if or when the funding for the School would become available.

 

787.     Aberdeenshire Council Business

(i) CllrF announced that £5.7m from the Scottish Executive had eased some of AC’s budgetary problems but not solved them; social work, new waste disposal arrangements and ever-rising energy costs caused continuing difficulties.  The Council Tax rise was 2.5% -- considerably less than in recent years and putting AC in the middle range of authorities for the level of the tax.  FH said that the smaller increase was welcome but pointed out that Council Tax had gone up some 60% in the previous ten years.

(ii) Further discussion took place on the implications for Newmachar and NMCC of the new Council electoral system.   MT said he had not yet received maps showing ward and community council boundaries.

 

788.     Impending Resignation of Chairman (See Minute 763)

            It was agreed to defer further consideration until the April meeting.

 

 

 

789.     Police Matters  

(i) RB reported that he had attended the briefing meeting in Ellon for Grampian Police’s ‘Total Community’ initiative.  Inspector Pratt then outlined the purposes of the scheme which aimed to ensure that long-established practices of community policing were made more effective by means of police co-operation with other agencies working to improve local conditions.  All this, he pointed out, was an example of the fact that policing was an evolving art.

(ii) Inspector Pratt then commented on policing in relation to Newmachar.  A car crash involving some criminal activity and a certain amount of youth disorder had needed recent attention but generally the situation was not worrying; indeed, there were positive features, not least the youth initiative for a drop-in centre which both NMCC and the Police had supported financially and in other ways.  The Inspector thanked the Chairman for the help and cooperation with the Police which he and the Community Council always gave.

(iii) On more general policing problems and in response to questions, Inspector Pratt explained that fewer police on the beat than used once to be the case was a result of various factors.  These included more and more statutory obligations which forced the Police to spend more time on bureaucratic work.  Increasing numbers of people and therefore cars meant more accidents which required a police presence and could divert personnel from policing the streets.  Grampian Police shared with other forces the new problems of security in the face of possible terrorist activity but also had the additional burden of royal protection in the summer months.

(iv)  FH thanked Inspector Pratt for attending the meeting and for the helpful explanations he had given.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 2115.

 

The next meeting was agreed as Thursday, 22nd March 2007.