NMCC 2008-2009 (993-1006)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday, 26th March 2009

 

Members:

 

Mr Mike Taylor  ( Chair 2008-9 &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: Mrs Fiona Duncan; Mrs Pam Young; Mr Robert Loughridge; PC David Calvert.

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Mr John Findlay; Mr Graham Geddes; Mr Dave Lee; Mr Allan Buchan.

 

Minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting of 26th February 2009 were accepted as a correct record subject        to the rewriting of the second sentence of Minute 987(i) to read: ‘£1.65m was available to improve the resources of the Department to ease pressures upon it; the opportunity now             arose inter alia to recruit three new  planning officials.’ and 987 (ii) to refer to Mr Ritchie        Johnson.

 

993.     Policy for Development Bids in LDC (See Minute 981)

            MT reminded the meeting that developers outlining their ideas were bidding to be         included in the Local Development Plan, not part of it.  Attention was drawn to the   warning communications received from the Garioch Forum Chairman and Ms Isabel Page    who represented community councils on the AC Community Planning Partnership.              Hence NMCC should simply listen, elicit necessary information but not pass opinions. When the draft LDC appears with its AC preferred options the full picture will have   emerged; this will be the time for detailed comment.  It is expected and hoped that the     draft will have taken into account NMCC’s general comments as expressed in January’s             Minute 975.

 

994.     Finalized Structure Plan

            CllrFH referred to the Plan which seemed to have taken account of some of NMCC       concerns e.g. by noting the need for local services to be developed in parallel with housing   schemes.  Para 3.9 made comments on transport issues but said nothing on the A947 nor   the implications of the AWPR project.  He would write on all these points.

 

995.     Police Matters

            (i) PC David Calvert reported by e-mail that March had been a relatively quiet month with          no more vandalism incidents in the Small Glebe development although some damage to      cars in the area may be related and he asked for any relevant information to be passed on     to him.  David pointed out that he was the only community officer for Invereurie and       Newmachar so it was difficult for him to attend meetings regularly.  He hoped some street          sports might again be organised for Newmachar as the longer hours of daylight came in.

            (ii) CllrFH reported that he had addressed the Police Board on the need for more           community officers.

 

996.     Youth Project (See Minute 982)

            Annette Holland reported that the building remained unusable with a leak in the roof and         the consequent dampness producing mildew.  Whether insurance covered such difficulties          seemed uncertain.  A proper assessment of the condition of the building seemed necessary.             The three councillors agreed to contact the relevant department of AC with the request for            a report on the structure.

 

997.     Community Hall (See Minute 983)

            GM noted the importance of obtaining a sufficient turnout at the AGM of the Hall       Association on 30th March; the last one had been inquorate.

 

998.     Greendams Quarrying (See Minute 984)

            It was noted that operations seemed to have ceased and CllrFH reported that there was no         planning permission for any quarrying nor any current application in the pipeline.

 

999.     NMCC Election (See Minute 986)

            RB reported that nomination forms and guidelines for the election had appeared in        Newmachar News  No 154 and could also be downloaded from the website.   He had         arranged with Mr Fowell that the election itself should take place on Monday 22nd June       2009. Members were urged to ensure that sufficient numbers of nominations were             submitted.  It was agreed to review the situation at the next meeting.

 

1000.   Garioch Forum: Meeting of 5th March 2009

            RB reported as follows.

            The future format of meetings and means of contact with constituent community councils         will be a main topic at the AGM in June.  The Forum asks AC to investigate whether            community councils wish AC to           subscribe for them to belong to the Association of     Scottish Community Councils.  The Chairman was asked to represent Garioch on             a           “Communication Forum” for Community Planning; he will advise CCs of important    issues which emerge.  A vacancy exists for a Community Planning Executive    Committee representative for community councils.  Community Planning projects          include Library services for the housebound, and ‘Spirit of democracy’ initiatives to allow             community councils and young people more input to Aberdeenshire’s planning.  The     Garioch Area Partnership continues to concentrate on youth issues and has organised        successful ‘mini-grill’ sessions for young people to ask questions of councillors and      others. Information was given on Planning Gain and Structure Plan matters.     

 

 

 

1001.   ASCC Meeting 16th May 2009 at Woodhill House

            All community councillors were invited to the above meeting of the Association of Scottish       Community Councils whereat, inter alia, MSPs will answer questions.  MM offered   to be present to represent Newmachar.

 

1002.   Planning Gain

            Details (attached to the principal copy of these minutes) had been made available by AC of         the Planning Gain financial resources available to Newmachar.  These amounted to over      £500k including £148k for community and recreation facilities plus £43k for which the        Community Hall and parking facilities at Kingseat were possible uses.

 

1003.   Future Development Consultations

            MT announced that Ryden Developments would appear at the next NMCC meeting to make presentations in respect of sites G128 and G138. Others might also wish to appear.

 

1004.   Aberdeenshire Council Matters

            It was reported that Aberdeenshire was seeking a site for a crematorium.

 

1005.   Correspondence

            (i) AC’s Local Community Plan had been received; any important items in it would be   considered at a later meeting.

            (ii) A communication had been received from the Scottish Government on changes in the           Planning  system which would also be considered at a later meeting.

 

1006.   Development Bids I

            At 8.30 p.m. Messrs Malcolm Campbell and Garry Purves of Knight Frank appeared to explain the bids             developed by their clients Kirkwood Homes and Mr Russell for the sites             G90 and F160 respectively. It was noted that although F160 concerns the two fields          immediately eastward of the Kingseat development, it was technically outwith            Newmachar and the Garioch Area.  Full details were submitted in printed papers copies of         which are attached to the principal copies of these minutes. Various elucidatory questions             were asked and the two representatives were thanked for their clear exposition of the      schemes.

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2145.

 

The next meeting will be on Thursday 23rd April 2009.