NMCC 2007-2008 (882-891)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday,20th March 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]

[One vacant position]

 

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: Councillor Hood, Mr Loughridge and Inspector Pratt.

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Police Constable David Calvert; Ms Annette Holland (Community learning); Ms Catherine Shanks of the Evening Express.

 

Minutes

            The Minutes of the Meeting of 24th January 2008 were accepted as a correct record         except for the designation of the Visitor Annette Holland. Her correct attachment is Aberdeenshire Council Community Learning.

 

882      Christmas Tree (See Minute 877)

            Discussions on the possible location for a tree in 2008 and subsequently wqere still       proceeding with AC.

 

883.     Police Matters

            (i)The Report from Inspector Pratt for January’s meeting which had been overlooked      had referred to some relatively minor incidents which had been cleared up.  The         Inspector had also drawn attention to the fact that the reorganisation of Police areas     was to go ahead.  Hence, Newmachar would in the relatively near future become the             responsibility of the Inverurie Office.

            (ii) Later reports indicated that the vandalism at the Hall had now declined and that       youths from Aberdeen had been charged with theft from property in Newmachar.

            (iii) NMCC welcomed PC David Calvert as the new Community Officer.  He     announced plans to bring in the special Police van to help provide facilities for    youngsters. He hoped to get 5-a-side football organised.

 

884.     Aberdeenshire Council Matters

            (i) It is noted that Aberdeenshire Council have responded to the Community                 Council’s recommendations in respect of the War Memorial and that very                 welcome repairs, renovations and tidying operations have taken place.

            (ii) CllrMF reported on the excellent report Education provision in Aberdeenshire had   received from the Inspectorate.  There was no verdict below ‘good’ and one ‘very   good’.

 

885.     Community Hall  (See Minute 875)

            (i)GM reported that the AGM had been held on the 28th February and that 39   people attended which was encouraging.

            (ii) PY suggested that some of the comparatively large sum in NMCC’s second    account, generated largely by the Newsletter might be used to get the Hall campaign         to its initial target of £50K.    GM responded by saying that the target would be             reached this year anyway and it might be sensible to put the money into an         Equipment Fund ready for the day when the building was ready.  The Hall            Committee was asked to consider these suggestions.

 

886.     Youth Project (See Minute 876)

            Annette Holland reported that one volunteer adult helper had now come forward          while MT had identified two older pupils who might prove suitable as supervisors.     The project needs to be seen to be underway before it can gain momentum, it was        agreed.

 

887.     Garioch Forum

            RB reported on the meeting of the Forum of 6th March. The summary printed as an       addendum to the Agenda is attached to the principal copy of these minutes.

 

888.     Planning Matters

            There was as yet no definite submission for the rumoured plan to build flats on the        site of the existing bakery.

 

889.     AWPR

            (i) A meeting on ‘Access to Aberdeen from the North’ seems not to have paid much       attention to problems with the A947/ AWPR relationship.  However, plans for trams         to run from Dyce to Aberdeen had been mentioned as well as the desirability of a link         between Dyce station and the airport.

            (ii) It remained uncertain when the AWPR Enquiry would take place; it could be as       early as June or as late as September.

 

890.     Correspondence

            Communications relating to  Aberdeenshire Sports Council, the Old Meldrum ‘Dial a   Bus’ service and the Garioch Area Bus Forum were noted.

 

891.     Garage Rental

            The Hon Treasurer, FD, reported that AC garage rental charge had risen to £27.50 per   month.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 2010.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 24th April 2008.