NMCC 2007-2008 (843-853)
Thursday, 27th September 2007
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: Mr Mike Taylor,Mr Robert Loughridge and Inspector Pratt
In attendance as visitor(s):
Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd August 2007 were accepted as a correct record.
843. Youth Project (See Minute 824)
It was noted that a meeting had been arranged for 4th October as part of an attempt to bring the ‘Cabin’ in to regular use. PY offered to attend and to report.
844. AWPR (See Minute 830)
It was noted that a further public exhibition of the plans would be held at the Newmachar Hotel on 3rd October. The news that there would be no third River Don crossing constructed in the foreseeable future made the need for better arrangements in the Parkhill area than at present existed or were envisaged in the (revised) AWPR proposals even more urgent. It was hoped that NMCC’s dissatisfaction with the AWPR plans could be made apparent when the Public Enquiry procedures were underway.
845. War Memorial (See Minute 838)
It was reported that AC had accepted the recommendations made by NMCC in relation to the immediate surroundings of the Memorial and the steps leading to it but it was not clear whether the surrounding vegetation was to be cut back.
846. Police Matters (See Minute 834)
A report had been received from Inspector Pratt saying that there had been a gratifying lack of vandalism in Newmachar in recent weeks. Inspector pratt also noted that the re0rganisation of the Police areas mentioned at the last meeting had not in fact proceeded very far. NMCC expressed the view that the relationship established with the Inspector and his officers was beneficial to the community and trusted that it could continue.
847. Garioch Forum
RB reported on various matters which had come before the September meeting of the Forum.
(i) AC’s plans to monitor the Local Plan had been explained. These included consultation of community councils. However, Newmachar, as a ‘large rural service centre’ (not a ‘main settlement’), would not be monitored until 2009.
(ii) Reference had been made to the SNP’s manifesto promises of a more important role for community councils. The plans were reported as including measures to make ward and community council boundaries coincide. NMCC expressed itself as opposed to this as a universal measure because it was more important to preserve the integrity of a local community than to serve bureaucratic convenience.
(iii) Community Planning in Aberdeenshire was reported to be proceeding with the principal aim of ensuring that various agencies whose work affected communities worked together effectively. Particular concerns in Aberdeenshire would be youth issues and misuse of alcohol.
(iv) AC’s developing policy of fostering measures to utilise renewable energy sources both for its own operations and for the use of local residents had been outlined. It was agreed that it would be worthwhile asking the director of the campaign to address a later meeting of NMCC.
848. The Core Paths Programme
AC had requested information from NMCC on any local needs for paths beyond the one existing path along the line of the railway. After discussion it was agreed to suggest the following possible projects: the ‘Kingseat Mile’; a path to Beauty Hill; the new Lairshill Woods.
849. The Website
It was reported that after a temporary absence, the website was again available and fully up to date. There was no information as yet on the extent to which the facility for contacting NMCC via the Website had been used.
850. Community Hall (See Minute 841)
The cancellation of the Fun Day as originally planned because of adverse weather had been a setback, it was reported, as had the lack of support for another ‘Casino Night’ which also had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, the organising committee still expected to reach the immediate target of a sufficiently large ‘starter’ fund to justify the search for large subventions in 2008.
851. Aberdeenshire Council Matters (See Minute 839)
(i) Planning Gain. CllrFH reported that AC had a total of about £6m in planning gain accounts. Of this, some £4500 was available for the Hall project in Newmachar while a further £2000 earmarked for sporting purposes could also go to the Hall for indoor sport facilities. In addition some part of the total of £3.5m earmarked for education and leisure purposes might be spent in Newmachar.
(ii) Hillbrae Junction. (See Minute 839 i) It was reported that AC had no plans to modify the layout of the junction because it conformed to national guidelines but efforts would be made to cut back vegetation which reduced visibility. AB and others expressed continuing unhappiness about the junction and the problems it posed for all drivers and those in large lorries in particular.
(iii) CllrFH reported on the latest developments in the formulation of a strategic plan which would form the framework for the later structure and local plans.
(iv) AC’s Garioch Area Committee had sought NMCC’s views on possible measures to make community council and ward boundaries coincide and the desirability of this. It was agreed that the issue hardly arose for NMCC because its eastern boundary and that of the East Garioch Ward already coincided. Even so, NMCC reiterated its view that the integrity of the historic community area was more important than any adjustment to serve electoral needs; ward boundaries were likely to change with political and population developments in any case. NMCC would be prepared to accept a very small increase in its territorial area in the north west so as to tidy the boundary. Further questions on the implications for community council work of the presence of three AC councillors rather than the previous one were met with the response that it was as yet too early to judge the effects. However, convenient arrangements had been made to meet the new situation and these seemed to be acceptable to all concerned. It was noted, even so, that it might prove difficult for the councillors themselves all to attend all NMCC events.
(v) The New Leader Programme. NMCC responded to a questionnaire on the programme stating its preferences among a list of possible desirable developments. The highest priority was given to community facilities, cultural and heritage matters, small- scale renewable energy projects and recreational activities.
(vi) Plants for Communities. It was agreed that plants from AC’s nurseries would not be required for 2008.
852. Planning Applications
It was noted that, despite NMCC’s opposition, the Garioch Area Committee had approved the application for permission for Greenbrae Developments to erect seven houses on the Small Glebe Field on the grounds that this was in accordance with the Local Plan. RB remarked that while this was now technically the case, the response was at least being economical with the truth.
853. Traffic Problems
MM drew attention to the worsening situation on the main road in the vicinity of the shop. The yellow lines had faded and motorists routinely ignored these, the pedestrian crossing restrictions and the needs of local residents for access to their own driveways. It was agreed that the attention of Mr Rendall of AC should be drawn to these problems with a copy of the letter to Inspector Pratt.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 2140.
In view of the difficulties created by the impending school holidays, it was agreed that the ‘October’ Meeting should be postponed for a week to 1st November 2007.