NMCC 2007-2008 (873-881)
Thursday, 24th January 2008
Members:
Mr Mike Taylor ( Chair 2007-8 &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 Lin Lockhart (co-opted) [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: Mr Loughridge, Prof Bridges, Lin Lockhart and Inspector Pratt
In attendance as visitor(s): Annette Holland of the Evening Express
Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting of 22nd November 2007 were accepted as a correct record.
873. Police Matters (See Minute 866)
As the Minutes Secretary was absent, no Police report was available and it was decided to request a summary in future from Inspector Pratt. Mention was made about continued vandalism to the Hall with the notice board and the windows again being targeted. A complaint had been made to the Police but the treatment received was far from satisfactory. It was also stated that the Church had been subject to minor vandalism recently.
874. Aberdeenshire Council Matters (See Minute 867)
(i) The road at Cothall has been repaired and re-opened.
(ii) The Council budget was set on Feb 14.
(iii) The matter of the gritting of the roads at the Kingseat development had been raised with the Council. Until the development was completed the roads would not be adopted and therefore were not the Council’s responsibility. Enquiries had been made into a possible solution but no reply had been received as yet.
875. Community Hall Project (SeeMinute 868)
GM reported that there had been a substantial £3,000 donation to the Hall fund from RB Ross.
876. Youth Project (See Minute 869)
The project still has no staff. The project was open for business on the 29th of October and for seven consecutive Mondays thereafter with not a single visitor. The possibility of employing 16/17 year olds as supervisors was discussed and MT offered to try and identify suitable candidates from the senior year(s) at Dyce Academy.
877. Christmas Tree (See Minute 864)
It was agreed to speak to Paul Reid regarding the siting of the proposed tree.
878. Planning Applications
Although no actual planning applications were received, there were two members of the public present who raised concerns over the Bakery conversion plan. Concern was noted over access to the new flats and specifically that a parking space was proposed on the existing pavement outside the bakers. Additionally the Lay by across the road, currently used for short term halts was also proposed as overspill parking for the development. It was agreed by the council that a letter of concern would be sent to AC as this proposal presented a safety hazard within the village.
879. Design Awards
There was general agreement that the Church extension should be put forward for a possible design award, the details of which were received by the Secretary.
880. Newsletter Business
The new quote for the Newmachar News has been received. The cost is now £890.00 per issue run.
881. Garioch Forum
A Report was received of the Budget briefing of 26th November 2007 as follows:
The Chief Executive reviewed the changes wrought by the election of a new Council and an SNP government. The Director of Finance reported an increase in the grant of 2.2% which had to be set against a rise in the retail price index of 4.2%. Aberdeenshire’s grant per capita remains 10.5% below the Scottish average. It is difficult to find more efficiency savings. Therefore if Council Tax is frozen, services will be cut. The Area Manager reported great population and therefore housing pressures in Garioch Area with difficulties posed by an aging infrastructure. The Director of Education reviewed the range of his responsibilities e.g. for 152 primary and 17 secondary schools, 36 libraries, the Archives and Museums. Challenges included teacher recruitment, education for Polish-speaking incomers and the biggest difficulty, asset management.
There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 2037.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 28th February 2008.