05 09 13

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

13 September 2005 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

Sederunt

 

Community Councillors – David Morrish (Chairman), Don Keith (part time), John Hopkins, Jean Downie

Ward Councillors – Jenny Watson, Sandy Wallace

Members of the Public – none

Apologies – Molly Atkinson, Tony Butcher, Jill Gow

 

 

1. Minutes of 09 August 2005 meeting

 

Subject to the correction that the balance of the grant for the Drumoak Youth Project from Aberdeenshire Council was circa £2k, rather than circa £9k, the minutes were proposed by David Morrish and seconded by Jean Downie.

 

 

2. Appointment of Minute Secretaries

 

  • Oct 2005– John Hopkins
  • Nov 2005 – Molly Atkinson
  • Dec 2005 – Jean Downie (AGM John Hopkins)

 

 

3. Schools

 

3.1 Drumoak Primary

 

Don Keith noted that there had been little progress to report at the recent Drumoak School Board meeting.  In particular, Aberdeenshire Property Services had not responded to the potential donation of land for an extension to the school playground.  CDDCC deplored the delay in progress in this matter.

 

The question of the mains sewerage connection had been raised with Willie Munro and an answer was awaited.  To draft a follow-up letter to the Director of Education (Action: John Hopkins)

 

See also section 3.2

 

3.2 Crathes Primary

 

A Scottish Executive plan to implement a (part-time?) 20 mph speed limit outside of Crathes, Woodlands and Drumoak Schools had been proposed for implementation by Aberdeenshire Council.  To enquire of Mark Skilling more precisely what is proposed (Action: John Hopkins)

 

3.3 Durris Primary

 

See also section 3.2

 

 

4. Drumoak Youth Project (DYP)

 

John Hopkins (in correcting the statement made at the August meeting) reported that:-

 

  • the DYP Deposit account contained approximately £4,100
  • a further sum of approximately £2,100 was potentially available from Aberdeenshire Council, being the balance of the grant of £15,000

 

He undertook to write to Stewart Robertson to inquire into the size and timing of the relevant part of the planning gain payment from the current Stewart Milne development (Action: John Hopkins)

 

To review next steps (possibly to include lining-out, fencing, kick-boarding), in the light of available funding (Action: All)

 

To attempt to determine the ownership of the vandalised portakabin at Drumoak Public Park (aka Keithmuir Park) (Action: Sandy Wallace)

 

 

5. Park Quarry Liaison Committee

 

To enquire of Douglas Grey the proposed date of the next meeting (Action: Don Keith)

 

 

6. Major Developments

 

6.1 Drumoak Housing

 

It was understood that construction on the southern site would commence during November.

 

It was agreed that the terracing on the northern site had a severe (and unanticipated) adverse visual impact on the local environment.  This was in stark contrast to the harmonious landscaping at the southern end of the Sunnyside drive.  The lack of planning control over the overall height of a development contrasted bizarrely with the micromanagement of horizontal location.

 

The issue was a serious one and must be addressed prior to the proposed Crathes housing development, which was also on an undulating site.  To write to Planning Services, raising this issue (Action: Don Keith)

 

6.2 Proposed Crathes Housing Development

 

David Morrish noted that no Development Brief material had been received from Dunecht Estate.  To pursue this matter with Stewart Young (Action: David Morrish)

 

6.3 Proposed Woodlands of Durris Housing Development

 

Sandy Wallace noted that the Scottish Executive Reporter had reduced the planned number of houses from 25 to 8.  This might have the unfortunate effect of reducing the local infrastructural gain.  It also meant that space for the balance would have to be found elsewhere.

 

To discuss the revised plan for Woodlands of Durris housing etc. with Dunecht Estate (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

7. Drumoak Public Hall

 

Aberdeenshire Council are understood finally to have offered a draft lease to Drumoak Public Hall Committee, although it is felt to be unsatisfactory in a number of respects.

 

 

8. Deeside Way

 

To raise with Aberdeenshire Council an objection to the seven-strand barbed wire fence erected on a path leading to the Deeside Way.  (Action: David Morrish).

 

 

9. Planning Applications

 

None of major significance.

 

 

10. Development of Wind Farm at Mid-Hill

 

To enquire of Aberdeenshire Council (Action: Sandy Wallace) :-

 

  • who made the decision on the proposed division of the £50K/annum amongst the 4 groups
  • what was the logic behind the proposed division

 

 

12. Plants for Environmental Beautification

 

A letter had been received from Aberdeenshire Council offering, as in previous years, free provision of flowering plants.  To respond in the affirmative (Action: Don Keith)

 

 

13.     CDDCC Charitable Donations

 

Because of its economical operation, CDDCC spends little money on itself.  Hence it is once again in a position to consider modest charitable donations to local bodies from its own funds.

 

Equally, it was important to raise the representational profile of CDDCC, which suffers – like many other CCs – from limited participation.  This could argue for spending more on publicity.

 

To discuss both issues and agree any such donations at the October meeting (Action: All)

 

 

14.     Ward Boundary Review

 

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has made provisional proposals (based on their consultation with Aberdeenshire Council) for redesigned wards suitable for returning 3 or 4 members by STV (Single Transferable Vote).  These proposals would involve the grouping of the Drumoak and Durris wards with Portlethen and Stonehaven, with Crathes being grouped with Banchory.

 

CDDCC felt that the whole of its area (Crathes, Drumoak and Durris) should be grouped with Banchory for reasons including the following:-

 

  • Culture - the CDDCC area shares many characteristics with Banchory (being inland and substantially rural) and few with Stonehaven (being coastal and substantially suburban)
  • Education - secondary-age children from the whole area attend Banchory Academy
  • Physical Geography - the CDDCC area and Banchory share common interests in the River Dee, the Deeside Way etc., the road system
  • Ecology – the CDDCC area and Banchory share an ecological niche
  • Communication/Transport - Banchory is physically closer than is Stonehaven, particularly taking into account transport corridors and - more particularly - public transport corridors
  • History – the CDDCC area is historically linked to Banchory and not to Stonehaven
  • Land Ownership/Estates – the pattern of land-ownership spans the CDDCC area and Banchory, but not Stonehaven

 

The three parts of CDDCC are a single community, should be recognised as such and linked with their natural focus, which is Banchory.  Drumoak and Durris should not arbitrarily be coerced into an unnatural amalgamation simply for reasons of arithmetic convenience, which appears to be the principal basis of the Boundary Commission proposals .

 

To contact Mike Rumbles as a matter of urgency to register these points.  (Action: David Morrish).

 

To write to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (the closing date for comments being 22 September) in terms of the above.  (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

15. Forthcoming AGM

 

It was agreed, in respect of the forthcoming AGM that:-

 

·         it would be held in December, immediately prior to the December monthly meeting

·         either Drumoak School Hall or Drumoak Community Hall would to be used for the meeting

·         more action was required to increase public turn-out

·         the possibility of complimentary cheese and wine at the AGM would be considered

·         a newspaper advert and/or advertorial in the Piper would be sought

·         a door-to-door mailshot would be considered (with Sandy Wallace offering to do half of Drumoak, if someone would do the other half)

·         to produce the agenda for - and minutes of - the AGM (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

15. Next Meeting

 

Tuesday 4 October 2005, Irvine Arms (19.30 hours)

 

 

JFH

14 September 2005

 

 

Distribution

email

post

by hand

other

CDDCC Councillors

 

Councillor Jenny Watson

Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sarah Hopkins)

Website www.durris.net (also for previous minutes)

Councillor Sandy Wallace

Crathes Hall Notice Board

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – new appointee not known

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Banchory Public Library

 

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

 

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

 

Community Police Officer (Drumoak/Durris), c/o Banchory Police Office

 

 

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris