NMCC 2007-2008 (910-921)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday, 26th June 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 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: Mr Robert Loughridge, Mr Martin Morley, Ms Annette Holland

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Mr Ian Fowell (Garioch Area Manager)

 

Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting of 22nd May 2008 were accepted as a correct record subject to an addition to Minute 905: (iii) Lack of staff means the Centre is not being used at all at present.

 

910.     Christmas Lights

Mr Fowell announced that AC had made a project grant (see Minute 836) of £3040 for the purchase of new lights and recommended bulk orders from a particular company, Blanchere.  CllrFH offered to follow up this matter.  Blackburn might wish to take Newmachar’s old lights.

 

911.     Data Protection Act

Mr Fowell said that the Information Commissioner was still advising that community councils should be registered under the Data Protection Act but doubts remained about the legal status of councils.  NMCC agreed to take no action until specific advice was received from AC.

 

912.     Structure Plan

The Structure Plan is now available on the AC website.  It was agreed to consider the implications for Newmachar, if any, at the August meeting.  The 36,000 houses designated for Aberdeenshire would be mostly in the A96 corridor with some in the Peterhead corridor. Newmachar is in neither but may  be affected in other ways; the derived Local Plan will clarify matters in January 2009.

 

913.     Police Matters

(i) Annette Holland had reported via e-mail that the Police and Youth Workers would be bringing Street Football to Newmachar on the 27th of the month.

(ii) Inspector  Bob Thompson i/c the Garioch Area would be liaising community councils. (See Minute 917 (ii), below)

 

914.     Aberdeenshire Council Matters

(i) The resignation of the Chief Executive and appointment of a new one may lead to big changes said CllrMF.

(ii) The Best Value Audit had presented a generally favourable view of AC’s operations reported CllrMF.

(iii) CllrFH noted that AC’s financial position was very sound with an underspend on the Budget of 1.5% or £8m. £4m would be available for capital expenditure.

(iv) There would be no Post Office closures in the Garioch Area reported CllrFH and he noted that AC will be lobbying the Government not to remove the Card Account business from the Post Office.  CllrNC added that Post Office management policies were likely  to lead to the resignations of several postmasters and postmistresses. The position of facilities to pay the Road Tax were in doubt.

(iv) It was noted that lines needed repainting on the Tennis Courts.

 

915.     Community Hall  (See Minute 904)

(i) GM reported that £5.5K was raised on the Golf day and he hoped for a good yield from the Fun Day on 17th August.  The current total was in the region of £56K.  

(ii) As funding applications began, CllrMF advised consulting Eric Wells about sustainable financial arrangements whilst CllrFH recommended contacting Mr  Taylor.  AB asked whether the Scottish Rural Development Fund might be tapped.  Mr Fowell promised to enquire.

 

916.     Youth Project  (See Minute 905)

(i) Annette Holland had reported by e-mail that the Youth Committee had met and learned that the electricity cables in the Centre were illegally and incorrectly wired to the meter. 

(ii) Cllrs MF and FH said they would try to cooperate with Community learning to get things moving again.  MT said he had given contact details of some possible adult helpers.

 

917.     Garioch Forum

            RB reported on the meeting of 5th June as follows:

            (i)  Chris Hunneyball was re-elected Chairperson.

(ii) Inspector Bob Thompson was intending to set up a team of local representatives who would be ready to co-operate with community councils.

(iii) Community Council meetings minutes can now go on the AC Community Planning website.

(iv) Uncertainty remained about the application of the Data Protection Act to community councils.

(v) AC will try to provide a form which community councils can use to say for what purposes they would like planning gain funds to be used.

(vi) The response to the Scottish Government consultation exercise on community councils by the Forum was agreed and was in line with the views expressed by NMCC.  (See Minute 906.)

(vii) The Forum was sceptical about the proposed new constitution for the Association of Scottish Community Councils which it regarded as essentially undemocratic.

(viii) Most Top-up budget money has been allocated. ( See Minute 910, above.)

(ix) Community Councils would be asked what training sessions would be most useful in the coming year.  NMCC agreed to request current planning arrangements.

(xi) Community councils’ responsibilities for consultation and project groups were the subject of a session at the Forum meeting which RB reported he was not intellectually competent enough to understand.  He thought the message might have been that there should be more consultation; if this was so, he agreed.

 

918.     Planning Matters

(i) Mr Fowell promised to check whether any Planning Gain Funds arising from developments at Newmachar were nearing the point where non-use in the period since they had arisen could lead to their being allocated to other purposes.

(ii) MM had expressed concern about parking arrangements if the three flats were built on the site of the present Chalmers Bakery Shop.  MT would pass on the NMCC concern.

 

919.     Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (See Minutes 830, 858, 870, 898)

It was noted that the Public Inquiry would begin on 9th September this year and that any group or individual which wished to give evidence must submit a ‘Pre-cognition’ or written submission .  AB said that the proposed arrangements for the A947 intersection area created impossible conditions.  It was agreed that it would be desirable to have a representative at the Inquiry to state NMCC’s position.  MT said that it would be impossible for him to write the precognition in time for the deadline of early August.  RB agreed to attempt this if possible.

 

920.     Correspondence

(i)  The Church extension had not been accepted as worthy of a prize for architectural merit. (See Minute 879)

(ii) A chance to contribute to the new Local Development Plan was announced.

(iii) Community Councils could now object to licences for the sale of alcohol; this was noted in respect of a pending application by Somerfield.  However, NMCC decided not to object in this instance.

 

921.     Traffic Concerns

PY expressed worries about speeding on Hillbrae Way.  CllrMF said he would approach Mr Rendall about possible limits.

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2100 hrs

 

 The next meeting is scheduled for 28th August 2008