Apologies Mark Leigh; Sandy Wallace

Ward Councillor Jenny Watson

Community Police Officer Alan Tennant

The resignation of Hamish Taylor - previously Chairman of CDDCC - as a result of his wish to cut back on his activities in the voluntary sector, was noted with regret.

Don Keith was appointed as interim Chairman. Nominated by John Hopkins; seconded by Jean Downie.

Subject to correction of the date of the forthcoming meeting and the failure to record Apologies for Absence from Jean Downie, the previous meeting minutes were accepted. Proposed by Ron Stark; seconded by David Hirst.

Alan Tennant said that he – as Community Police Officer – had made a point of attending the meeting, in the light of the discussion reported in the previous minutes. He said that the best deterrent was for people to telephone the local police (anonymously, if they wished) at the time that the problem was occurring. In that way, the police could hope to catch the offenders red-handed, which would allow concrete action to be taken against them.

Ron Stark had produced a most thorough report on dust hazards of the proposed Park Quarry extension, which had been submitted to Aberdeenshire Council officials by CDDCC. The Director of Planning and Environmental Services had taken umbrage on one point, where he felt that an earlier statement by him had been taken out of context. The report had been modified to remove this point and then re-submitted. Some response to the many other points made in the report was now keenly awaited.

David Hirst undertook to prepare a new statement of case for CDDCC to consider submitting to Aberdeenshire Council.

David Hirst reported that there appeared to be a substantial opportunity to obtain grants from this fund. It was felt that this fund – and the SAFER ROUTES initiative – would be worth pursuing to fund a long-sought extension of the footpath eastwards from Drumoak to the Drum Station road. David Hirst would progress both initiatives, contacting Jim Craig of the AC Roads Department about SAFER ROUTES.

Although concerned about the possible liability of small-scale landowners for accidents to ramblers on their land, CDDCC decided not to submit comments on the Code, in view of the many comments from elsewhere.

It was particularly noted that the timetable for consultation was not over-generous. When the Kincardine & Mearns Plan was released, CDDCC would need to mobilise quickly to submit comments.

Don Keith advised that he had written on behalf of CDDCC to object on the grounds of road safety with respect to the proposed site entrance, the inconsistency in the adoption of commercial status for this application when neighbouring stables had been restricted to private use only and had also drawn attention to the impact of the proposed diung store on the neighbouring property.

Donald Keith said that he had convened a meeting of potential volunteers to project manage/fundraise for this project. Just 6 people turned up (of the 47 who had previously declared themselves willing). They declared themselves happy with the proposal that CDDCC should handle the funds and assist with (but not run) the DYP03 Project. No-one, however, wished to volunteer as Project Manager.

Don Keith would make one further attempt to elicit a better response (meeting scheduled for 12 May). It was agreed that – without sufficient effort by the Drumoak community itself – the project should not be pursued. If that were the outcome, the already-donated cheque would be returned to BP with thanks and apologies. (NOTE: the meeting on 12 May was well-attended and resulted in actions being allocated to a number of specialised groups).

On a slightly brighter note, the initiative had led to a climbing frame being salvaged by Derek Anderson for re-use at Drumoak. Jenny Watson reminded the meeting that the public liability question needed to be answered before the climbing frame were installed. Don Keith said that he would verify that position.

Jill Gow undertook to contact local agencies such as the Women’s Guild, WRI etc., to see if volunteers might be forthcoming.

John Hopkins reported that he had asked CDDCC’s bankers to set up a deposit account for DYP03 Project funds and also suggested that they might wish to make a donation to the Project. Here, too, there had been no response. If the Project were to go forward, he would progress the matter with the bank.

John Hopkins was asked to respond to SNH on behalf of CDDCC, supporting the above.

Alan Tennant reported that there had been no major crime in the area in the recent past, although there had been thefts from cars in Durris, Strachan and Aboyne. All of these cars had been left unlocked (with the ignition keys in place in at least one case). This re-emphasised the need to lock cars, garages, sheds and other property whenever unattended.

Jenny Watson noted that drystone walls near the Milton of Crathes had recently been vandalised and golf clubs stolen in Banchory.

Don Keith undertook to ask the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator to mention all the above in the forthcoming Church Newsletter.

Because of the problems associated with re-forming CDDCC in November, plus other delays, the accounts for last year had only recently been completed.

John Hopkins (Treasurer) introduced the accounts, stating that they showed the beneficial effect of eliminating the very conservative provision made in the year ending November 2001 against potential liabilities in respect of the construction of the Drumoak Footpath. Despite donating over £900 to local charities during the year, there was an adequate balance of nearly £400 at the year-end.

Adoption of the accounts was proposed by Jill Hendry and seconded by Ron Stark. It was agreed that they be adopted and – accordingly – they were signed by the Interim Chairman.

John Hopkins would submit a copy of the accounts to Aberdeenshire Council, asking that – given the particular circumstances (the delayed re-formation of CDDCC at the end of its financial year) – they be accepted, despite having been adopted at a regular public meeting instead of an AGM.

Although it was recognised that CDDCC’s collective remit was the whole of its area, the recent resignation of Hamish Taylor and impending departure of Edward Arthur meant that no Crathes residents would be members of CDDCC. This was seen as undesirable. Jenny Watson undertook to try to obtain a volunteer (probably from the Crathes School Board), who might be co-opted.

John Hopkins was asked to draft a newspaper advertisement to seek other volunteers.

To improve the flow of local public information, Don Keith would provide 50 copies of the Drumoak & Durris Church Newsletter (circulation within Crathes being funded by CDDCC) to Joan Schumm, Head of Crathes Primary, with the request that they be distributed via schoolchildren.

Brodie Countryfare

The precognition for the Brodie Countryfare Appeal had been prepared and submitted. Banchory traders are now more involved in the issue. The Public Hearing would start on 6 June.