NMCC
2007-2008 (902-909)
Thursday,
22nd May 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-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 A Buchan; PC David Calvert
In attendance as visitor(s): Ms Annette Holland (Aberdeenshire Council)
Minutes
The Minutes of the
meeting of 24th April 2008
(taken by PY) were accepted as a correct record.
902. Small Glebe/Hervey Park Development (See Minute 897)
It was reported that the
developers had not favoured ‘
903. Aberdeenshire Council Matters
(i) Consultation over the Structure
Plan will be extended as the Draft Plan is not yet ready.
(ii) Subject to Scottish
government approval, a new medical centre will be set up in Inverurie.
(iii) AB reported that
the area near the bridge north of the
old station on the walkway was strewn with broken glass. CllrMF said that AC tries to maintain the
walkway but cannot easily prevent rubbish dumping. RL commented that some of the fences bordering
the walk way needed mending; it was not clear whose responsibility this
was. CllrMF promised to investigate.
(iv) Overflowing
recycling bins at the Hall were a continuing problem and CllrFH said that
representations had been made. LL
pointed out that the lack of a rubbish
pick-up from Kingseat was one reason for the worsening of the situation.
(v) FD reported that the
new bus stop and shelter near the shop was of limited use since buses could
never pull in to it because of parked cars.
The lack of a shelter at the next bus stop to the south was the result,
it seemed, of the objections of nearby residents.
(vi) The collection
system for redundant Yellow Page directories was recommended for mention in the
Newsletter.
(vii) CllFH reported
some positive developments in AC’s work to provide sports facilities but also
noted that the swimming pools built thirty or forty years ago were now reaching
the ends of their effective lives; replacement was difficult and costly.
*viii) Concern was
expressed at the condition of the drystone wall at the foot of the War Memorial path. CllrFH promised to take up the matter.
904. Community Hall (See Minute 894)
GM reported that the
recent concert had raised £747, that the Golf Day places had all been taken up,
that the Fun Day would be on 17th August and that the sponsored walk
would be on a date to be arranged in September.
Meanwhile, it was now possible for the Committee to begin serious
consultations with architects.
905. Youth Project (see Minute 895)
(i) Ms Annette Holland
said that Community Learning were cooperating with Grampian Police and hoped to
bring ‘Street Sports’ to Newmachar in the near future.
(ii) There was a
continuing problem over whether there existed a liability of the new Drop-in
Centre to pay rates. CllrFH said that as
an educational institution it should receive an 80% discount; he would pursue
this matter whilst CllrMF promised to investigate the problems over planning
permission which were still preventing the Centre from being used. The lack of
volunteer adult helpers was another hindrance to effective use of the Centre;
as it was, said LL, only primary school age pupils had received any benefit
whereas the great need was for older children to utilise the Centre.
906. Scottish Government Working Group on
Community Councils
(i) Two Consultation questionnaires
had been received. The first asked
whether there was a need for a common Scottish framework; if CCs have
sufficient powers; whether they can be ‘accurately representative of the
community’; whether 16 should be the minimum age for standing as a community
councillor or voting in CC elections; how often elections should be held and
when in relation to local authority elections; and whether a simple majority
system or STV should be used in elections. There were further more technical
questions on constitutions for CCs.
Following a brief discussion, NMCC decided to endorse the provisional
responses of the Garioch Area Forum to the effect that there was no need for
elaborate frameworks or rules until community councils were given more
substantial powers. In any case, local
conditions varied. It was also agreed
that community councillors were representatives exercising their judgements; to
expect them to be delegates representing all shades of local interest and
opinion was totally unrealistic. RL
pointed out that it was the practice of NMCC to organise public meetings over
major local issues.
(ii) The second
questionnaire asked whether there should be a national code of conduct for
community councillors; if so, whether it should be adjudicated upon and
sanctions applied nationally or locally; who should decide whether the code has
been breached; who should enforce sanctions; and who should deal with any
appeals. NMCC again accepted the Forum
position that local judgments adjudicated upon by the local authority were to
be preferred.
(ii) RB promised to
report these views to the Forum and ask for them, where necessary, to be
incorporated in the Forum’s formal response to the consultation.
907. Correspondence
(i) Communications from
AC on additional support for learning, from NHS Grampian on its Health and
Transport Plan, from the Council for the Protection of Rural Scotland, from the
War Memorials Trust and from the Aberdeenshire Citizens’ Panel were all
noted. (ii) The Association of Scottish
Community Councils had sent a copy of their proposed new constitution. It was decided to leave comment on this to
the Garioch Area Forum.
908. Notice Board
The continuing problem
of condensation was noted. It was agreed
in principle to buy a de-humidifier but first to try the expedient of drilling
holes at the bottom of the structure.
909. Planning Matters: Pets’ Cemetry
NMCC agreed it had no
objection to the establishment of a pets’ cemetery at the Rosehall/ Goval site
beside the A947.
There
being no further business, the meeting closed at 2030
The next meeting is
scheduled for Thursday 26th June 2008.