NMCC 2006-2007 (816-829)

 

PARISH OF NEW MACHAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

Minutes of a Meeting of the Council held on

Thursday, 24 May 2007

 

Members:

 

Position vacant                 (Chairman)                 Mr Alexander Buchan                   [AB]

Mr Mike Taylor                   (Secretary)  [MT]     Mr Robert Loughridge                  [RL]

Mrs Fiona Duncan               (Treasurer) [FD]     Mr Martin Morley, JP                   [MM]

Prof Roy Bridges             (Minute Sec.)   [RB]     Mrs Pamela Young                        [PY]

Mr Gordon Murray                                [GM]

 

In attendance ex officio:  Councillors Dr Martin Ford [CllrMF] Fergus Hood [CllrFH] and Nan Cullinane [Cllr NC]

 

Abbreviations: AC = Aberdeenshire Council;  NMCC = Newmachar Community Council

 

Apologies were recorded for: Mrs Fiona Duncan

 

In attendance as visitor(s): Mr Graeme Geddes

 

In accordance with the Constitution, the Chair was taken by the Secretary as the position of Chairman was vacant following the election to Aberdeenshire Council of Councillor Hood.

 

Minutes

            The minutes of the meeting of 26th April 2007 were accepted as a correct record.

 

816.     Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (See Minute 803, 777 & 762))

            MT announced that as Mr Murray was no longer employed on the project, Mr Cliff        Buchan, Assistant managing Agent,  had agreed to attend the planned NMCC           meeting in his place together with Mr Graham Edmond of Transport Scotland.  It was           agreed to ask representatives from other affected community councils.

 

817.     Arrangements for Future Meetings

            It was agreed that:

            (i) Because of holiday absences there would be no meeting in June;

            (ii) A meeting would be held in July if urgent business necessitated one;

            (iii) the August meeting would be taken up mainly with the AWPR/Parkhill Junction     discussion noted in Minute 816.

            (iv) The September meeting would be preceded by the AGM.

           

            Until the September meeting, MT would continue to act as Chairman.  These   arrangements were to be announced in the Summer issue of Newmachar News.

 

818.     The AGM and Subsequent Meetings 2007-8

            (i) It was agreed to place a notice in the Newsletter asking anyone interested in co-           option to the Council to contact the Secretary in time for the September AGM..

            (ii) NMCC agreed that all three AC councillors should be invited to attend its meetings             for a trial period of a year.

819.     Garioch Forum

            NMCC agreed to nominate Lt Cdr Chris Hunneyball as Chair of the Forum for 2007-   8.

 

820.     Aberdeenshire Council Business (See Minute 808)

            (i) CllrF reported that he had raised the question of the disturbance caused to    residents by the warning sounds emitted by the dust lorries but had been informed         that there was trechnically no way of turning off the device.

            (ii) AB noted that the situation at the Hillbrae way junction was worse than it had          been because vehicles coming up Hillbrae way cannot be seen.  There is also a dangerous chicane arrangement which lorries found it very difficult to negotiate.     CllrF responded thst he had learned that the design brief said the road was to be no       wider than 7.3m. while the chicane was designed to prevent speeding.  Mr Rendall            promises to send a letter of explanation.  However, it was agreed that the Secretary should write to express NMCC’s worries about the situation and ask Mr Rendall to             attend a meeting.

            (iii) RB reported that he had been in touch with AC officials over the question of the     collapsed wall of the Monykebbock burial ground – Newmachar’s only identifiable    medieval structure.  He had learned that repair of the collapsed area was impossible    except as part of a rebuilding of the whole wall.  The best expedient seemed to be to             shore up the walls with earth and this option would be pursued.  NMCC accepted        the       situation and asked councillors to keep the matter under review and report progress in due course.

 

821.     Planning Matters (See Minute 813)

            MT announced that he had written to AC objecting on behalf of NMCC to the             planning application relating to the building of seven houses on the Small Glebe        field.  In answer to a comment by CllrFH on the fact that the Reporter had given        permission for only five houses, RL explained that a Reporter in such a situation gave     only an indication of numbers; his suggestion did not imply any enforceable       limitation on what could be built

 

822.     Community Hall Campaign   (See Minute 811)

            Graham Geddes was invited to report progress.  He said that the Casino Night had         been a moderate success raising £500.  The Golf Day had attracted 40 teams each of        which would be paying £170 while preparations were well advanced for the Fun Day on     19th August; 35 or more volunteers had come forward.  Gratifyingly, more local groups such as the Masons, the Bowling Club are beginning to take a direct interest in the     campaign,  Graham Geddes himself was trying to address as many groups as possible.      Finally, he forecast with some confidence that the initial target of £50K will be reached        by the end of the year.

 

823.     Hanging Baskets (See Minute 791)

            No volunteers had come forward to water the baskets.  CllrFH offered to contact           residents living near the baskets to see if they would agree to help if provided with a        hose etc.

 

824.     Youth Drop-in Centre (See Minute 812)

            CllrF confirmed that the Centre would be opened on 2nd June and said that all NMCC             members were welcome to attend.

 

 

 

825.     Bus Services (See Minute 805)

            MT reported that he had again written about overcrowded 305 buses to Stagecoach       who have replied that they have no present plans for expanding the service but will take       the letter under consideration.  MM expressed his strong disappointment at the   Company’s attitude.

 

826.     Post Office Services (See Minute 807)

            MT had written and CllrFH telephoned about the recent closures of the Post Office at   very short notice and at times which put residents to considerable inconvenience.  The   Post Office promised full-day services in future although staff shortages did occur.

            At the suggestion of RL, a further request would be made for a larger postbox.

 

827.     Police Matters (See Minute 809)

            (i) AB reported that he had attended the meeting on the Police Service Centre to which Inspector Pratt had invited community councils and found the presentation interesting       and worthwhile e.g. on questions over how the Police dealt with ‘phone calls and on           new arrangements for dealing with road traffic accidents and consequential road closures.

            (ii) MM reported that empty properties near the Hotel were being vandalised; the           windows needed boarding.  CllrFH agreed to consult the owner informally.

 

828.     Website Matters

            CllrFH said a community web address for NMCC waqs desirable and MT agreed to        discuss this with the Webmaster.

 

829.     Notice Board

            It was agreed that arrangements should be made for MT to have a key to the main           notice board.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was closed at 2140.

 

The next meeting would be held under arrangements as set out in Minute 817 and would be most likely to be on 23rd August 2007.