NMCC 2009-2010 (1071-1081)
Thursday, 28 January
2010
Members:
Mr
Mike Taylor (Chair &Sec) [MT] Mr
Alexander Buchan (Planning) [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]
Mr
Graham Geddes [GrG]
Clerk to the
Community Council: Mrs Linda Rendall
In
attendance ex officio: Councillors Dr Martin
Ford [CllrMF]; Nan Cullinane [CllrNC] and Fergus Hood [CllrFH]
Abbreviations: AC = Aberdeenshire
Council; NMCC = Newmachar Community Council
Apologies
were recorded for: Mike Taylor
In
attendance as visitor(s): PC Ian Robison, Moira Lee,
Claire Taylor (Kingseat), Lisa Hanmer (Kingseat), Louise Bugden (Kingseat).
The
chair was taken by Roy Bridges in the absence of the elected Chairman. Linda Rendall was welcomed as clerk to the
community council on a trial period of three months.
Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting on 26
November 2009 were accepted as a correct record subject to the amendment of
Minute 1067 line 1 so that it reads ‘An indication has been received from AC’s
Property Department promising …’.
1071 Police Matters
(i) PC Robison confirmed that PC Calvert has
now moved on to the CID and that PC Lawson or PC
Robison would attend NMCC meetings in future.
It was agreed that a letter be sent to PC Calvert from NMCC expressing
gratitude and appreciation, copied to Inspector R Thomson (LR to action).
(ii) PC Robison confirmed that the monthly
surgery has now started and reported that one person had attended the first
surgery. He confirmed that the surgery
will continue for a trial period of three months which may be extended if it
proves to be of value. PC Robison will
display posters in the village two weeks before the next surgery.
(iii) PC Robison reported there had been very
little crime recorded since the previous meeting. The only thing of note was
the crime series where several cars and garages were broken into. The youths
involved have subsequently been caught.
Speeding in the village continues to be a problem, together with the
issue of careless or inconsiderate parking outside the school.
1072 Traffic Matters
Western Peripheral Route – RB reported
receipt of a report of the public enquiry with the Scottish ministers’ decision
on the report. In general the report
recommends acceptance of the scheme in total, with minor modifications. On the section dealing with the northern leg
of the WPR, on which NMCC commented, no direct comment was made but no major
changes to the plan have been recommended.
It was agreed that NMCC record regret that the opportunity will not be
taken to improve the traffic flow in the Parkhill area,
and to consult MT before writing to MSPs.
1073 Community Hall
GrG sought support for the AGM which will
take place on 3 March 2010. GrG provided an update on the latest developments. There could be an opportunity for further
planning gain money from any new development in Newmachar as a result of the Local Area Plan which is
to be reviewed in March, with a decision in June. The deadline for submission for the Capital
Grants scheme award of £50,000 is
30 April 2010 and to this end a business plan
is being worked on. AC is encouraged by progress made to date and are committed
to providing support wherever practical.
1074 After
School Club (see
Minute 1068)
In view of the lengthy delay experienced in
getting the portacabin back to a reasonable state of repair, NMCC agreed that a
letter be sent to the Area Manager expressing concern at the lack of progress
(LR to action).
1075 Garioch
Forum
RB and GrG reported on the ‘mini grill’ on 3
December which they had attended. Both
found it a very interesting and worthwhile exercise, though nothing concrete
came from it. It provided an opportunity
to hear of the problems and issues faced by other communities. It was noted that where there is a planning
application listed on the website due for consideration before the NMCC is due
to meet, AC should be approached with a view to
delaying a decision on that submission.
1076 Aberdeenshire
Council Matters
(i) It was reported that the budget will be
set on 11 February 2010. There is likely
to be a cut of £8.3m (£5.8m from revenue budget, £2.5m from capital budget),
representing a 1.5% reduction overall.
(ii) It was noted that flood gates and vent
covers are now available for sale to the public at cost price - £215 and £30
respectively.
(iii) Tenders for dealing with waste for the
next 15 years have now been received and a decision will be made within the
next few months. The target for 2020 is
to recycle 70% of household waste (current recycling stands at 35%). It was confirmed that the Kingseat
development now receives a recycling collection
and a brief explanation was given as to the difference between recycling
collections in
(iv) It was reported that large pieces of
infrastructure have been adversely affected by the recent bad weather and that
the helpline should be used to report large potholes. It was noted that there are significant
potholes on the Kingseat development but that these are the responsibility of
the developer as the roads have not yet been adopted by AC.
1077 Planning Issues
(i) AB reported a submission for a housing
and business unit at Kingseat and a new cattery building at Lairshillock.
(ii) The difficulties posed by lorries
unloading at the Co-operative on the main road were highlighted. The large containers situated up the side of
the store (in contradiction of planning permission) prevent the lorries from
being able to park off the main road and congestion is caused. This results in parking difficulties and is
also a safety hazard for pedestrians and motorists. It was agreed that the NMCC should write to
the Co-operative Head Office expressing concern, also mentioning the long
queues within the shop (LR to action).
(iii) It was noted that one of the planning
applications was to change a business unit at Kingseat to a nursery.
1078 Correspondence
Correspondence was noted as follows:
(i) New regulations on how community councils
can make representation on licensing applications. It was too late to submit any comments but
noted that NMCC is a statutory consultee.
(ii) Copy of Aberdeen City/Aberdeenshire
Structure Plan – to be circulated.
(iii) Request for help from AC’s ‘Review of
Planning Information Systems’ project – it was agreed to refer the request to
the Garioch Forum (LR to action).
(iv) Letter and newsletter from Northern
Community Justice Authority – for information (→MM).
(v) NHS Grampian Key Priorities booklet – too
late to respond.
(vi) Scottish Health Council.
(vii) Aberdeenshire Sports Awards 2009 –
request for nominations.
(viii) Association for the Protection of
Rural Scotland (→ FD).
(ix) Digital TV switchover – PY to display on
village noticeboard, to provide information for Newsletter and to leave in
library.
1079 Newmachar News
PY advised the NMCC that the cost for the
coming year to print the Newmachar News has been increased from £941.50 for
1750 copies to £995 for 1800 copies, amounting to a 2.5% increase. Should an increase in the number printed be
required, then a minimum of 25 copies would cost 53p per copy. The profit made for 2009 was £1623.25. The printing of the winter edition costs
extra in view of the colour on the outside covers. Printing costs were approved by the NMCC and
thanks given to the editorial team for their hard work on behalf of the
community. PY requested that any
problems with deliveries of the Newsletter within the Kingseat development
should be referred to the editor.
1080 Village
Spring Clean
Building on the success of last year’s
village spring clean by members of the Church,
Moira Lee announced her intention to arrange a spring clean this year with a
date still to be confirmed. The NMCC
agreed to support the proposal and suggested that the spring clean be
advertised in the Newmachar News in an attempt to attract more volunteers.
1081 AOCB
(i) It was agreed
that credit should go to all those from AC involved
in clearing the snow within the village during the recent inclement weather.
(ii) A complaint had been received that there
is no street lighting in Canmore Place/Canmore Gardens on the Kingseat
development and that there seems to be uncertainty surrounding who is
responsible. CllrFH agreed to contact
Betts in an attempt to resolve the situation.
(iii) GrG announced a fundraiser for the new
community hall will take place on 20 February which
will be a Race Night.
Next
Meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday
25 February 2010.