06 05 02

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

2nd May 2006 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

1. Sederunt

Community Councillors – Keith Whitehead, Jean Downie, Ann Ross, Molly Atkinson, Tony Butcher, David Morrish (Chairman), Jill Gow, John Hopkins

Ward Councillor – Jenny Watson

Member of the Public – Don Keith, Adam Watson (part-time)

Apologies - none

 

 

2. Minutes of April 2006 meeting

 

Approved (proposed Keith Whitehead, seconded Jean Downie)

 

 

3. Minute Secretary Appointment

 

June – Keith Whitehead

July – Tony Butcher

 

 

4. Drumoak School

 

Don Keith had written to Sandy Wallace noting that an article in Scotland on Sunday had shown that the proportion of education money actually reaching schools was lower for Aberdeenshire than for most other parts of Scotland.  The response from the Education Department was that Scotland on Sunday had made mistakes with their data.  No retraction has yet been printed by Scotland on Sunday.  It remains to be seen whose figures are inaccurate.

 

To write to Aberdeenshire Council drawing attention to the disparity between the facilities afforded at the new Maryculter School and those at Durris (Action: Don Keith)

 

To enquire of Sandy Wallace what further avenues may be pursued in order to get some action on Durris School (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

5. DYP03

 

John Hopkins noted that he had responded to Aberdeenshire Council with comments on the draft Lease for the Teen Shelter.

 

It was felt that member(s) of the “Wednesday Club” might be able to provide the necessary drive to carry the multi-games pitch project forward.  Don Keith spoke separately to Tom Taylor, who undertook to see what might be done.

 

 

6. Deeside Way

 

The official opening of the completed ‘Missing Link’ is planned for June 17th or 24th.

 

Signage at Crathes must apparently await the signage of the whole Park to Milton of Crathes section.  This lack is leading walkers to proceed westwards at Crathes via the Crathes Hall and the (dangerous to pedestrians) North Deeside Road, which has no footpath.

 

The correct route is via the Crathes service road owned by Leys Estate.  Ann Ross reported incidents of air-rifle shooting across the footpath at this point, as well as periodic blocking of the path by a locked chain.  To ask the Community Police Officer to come to a future meeting, to give advice about such matters.  (Action: David Morrish)

 

There has been no progress as regards creating a gap by the gate near Park Smiddy (Action: Molly Atkinson)

 

 

7. Planning Developments

 

7.1 Drumoak

 

7.1.1 Jenny Watson noted that she had received many complaints about the “Tenko” fencing along the new Stewart Milne development.  There was some debate as to whether this was intended as temporary or permanent.  To find out from the Site Manager the status of this fence (Action: Don Keith).

 

7.1.2 It was noted that the new footpath along the North Deeside Road to Mills of Drum was virtually completed.

 

7.1.3 It was realised that there was still no obvious source of information about the Sewage Plant redevelopment.  It was rumoured that the new works would be contained within the existing plant footprint, but this seemed at odds with the removal of all the trees along the northern site boundary.  To approach Scottish Water to attempt to obtain information (Action: Don Keith)

 

7.1.4 It was noted that Deeside Nurseries had submitted a request to Aberdeenshire Planners to remove the conditions placed on the planning permission earlier granted (ref. KM/APP/2004/1366) for the redevelopment of the nursery at Mills of Drum.

 

The conditions related to:-

 

·         a requirement that 75% of the goods retailed should be raised onsite

·         a limitation on sales space in the new building

 

The developer’s agents have stated that they are prepared to accept some limitation on sales space, but appear to have used, as a standard for comparison, the totality of all buildings formerly on-site.  By designating all such space as sales space, it would seem that they are then able to claim that there would be nowhere to raise goods onsite for sale.

 

The sales space increase would then necessitate a more extensive second storey to the building.  It was felt by CDDCC that this would be unduly prominent.

 

It was the view of CDDCC that the original condition on sales space was entirely appropriate to a development on this site.  Permitting an increase to the sales space (particularly given the overall size of the site and the developer’s aspiration for “further development”) would lead to a development of excessive scale for the location.  In this connection, it was noted that the agents were now expressing the desire to compete with the Raemoir and Millers Garden Centres.

 

Although there was some sympathy for a partial relaxation of the requirement to produce 75% of the retail goods onsite, it was felt that this should not permit what had been a proposal for a redeveloped nursery to be turned into a large-scale retail outlet.  If nothing else, it would seem that the Council’s policy on retail operations in the countryside would be contravened.

 

To draft a letter by 9 May – and circulate for comments to CDDCC by email – to be sent on CDDCC’s behalf, stating the case for upholding the planning conditions (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).

 

7.2 Durris

 

Jean Downie had sent a letter to Aberdeenshire Planners about the proposed 3 houses at Durris Cottage.  This was now 6 weeks ago, but there has still been no acknowledgement.

 

7.3 Crathes

 

John Hopkins noted that, not only had copies of the draft Planning Brief for Crathes Housing been received via various unofficial routes, but a copy had formally been sent to CDDCC by Rydens (the landowner’s planning consultant), requesting comments by 24 May.

 

David Morrish noted the unfairness of the 13 months to produce the draft - with the community rigorously excluded - and the 4 weeks permitted for comment.  He had asked for an extension of this and had received an indication that 6 weeks might be available.

 

Keith Whitehead’s agent was of the opinion that the draft contained meaningless generalities and “motherhood” statements.  David Morrish said that, notwithstanding this, it was important that the community should comment in detail, for fear of apparently-innocuous statements later being deemed “cast in stone”.

 

Jenny Watson said that it had been agreed by the Marr Area Planners that David Morrish - plus one other - could come into their offices to discuss the draft.  To provide Jenny Watson with suitable dates in the near future (Action: David Morrish).

 

It was agreed to:-

 

·         convene a group of interested Crathes residents (CDDCC Crathes members plus others as available) to meet around the weekend of 6/7 May to discuss the draft in details (Action: David Morrish)

·         produce a brief summary of the community’s comments by 12 May (Action: David Morrish)

·         circulate the summary within the community for further comment and validation (Action: David Morrish)

·         send a copy of the summary to Jenny Watson (Action: David Morrish)

·         target the 19 May for finalisation of the summary of comments, such that the 24 May deadline might be met (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

8. Community Planning in Marr

 

John Hopkins reported on his attendance at the inaugural meeting of the Local Community Planning Group for Marr.  Among the significant points were:-

 

·         about 41 people were present, of whom about 6 appeared to be Community Council members

·         the original remit from the Scottish Executive specified only agencies (Police, Fire and Rescue, NHS, Council Planners etc.) as Community Planners

·         local consultation in Aberdeenshire had subsequently resulted in the addition of Community Councils, Marr Area Partnership and K&D Voice to the Planning Group

·         the focus of the Planning Group would appear to be more on the Strategic since, according to Leslie Allen (Marr Area Manager), it would not get involved with development control and planning applications

·         the relationship between the Planning Group and the Aberdeenshire Local Plan would - again according to Leslie Allen - “only (be) in terms of how consultation is managed”

·         this would seem to rule out the Local Community Planning Group as a forum fro considering major developments, such as the Crathes Housing

·         the Group would meet 4 times per year

·         the Group would aim to “get and use community views and deliver services that are appropriate, needed and wanted”

·         the Group would have “more than 1, but far fewer than 16 (the number of CCs in Marr), Community Council representatives” - Leslie Allen would contact CCs to decide on this

·         the Marr Area Partnership, which has representatives of “most” CCs on it, would be represented on the Planning Group

 

The meeting featured two breakout teamwork exercises.  One was on where each stakeholder saw itself as fitting into the process.  The other involved each team discussing one or other of the ten “National Standards for Community Engagement” handed down by the Scottish Executive.

 

It emerged that the phrase “Community Engagement” is now to be used, because the phrase “Consulting the Community” is widely seen as the label for a thoroughly-flawed and cynical process.

 

To produce an email with further detail on the above (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

9. AOB

 

9.1 Fly-tipping

 

Jean Downie noted that there had been a spate of bags of congealed fat (presumably commercial kitchen waste) being dumped at speed on roads in the area.

 

Don Keith noted that a quantity of tarmac had been dumped on the footpath near the Glebe.

 

Both incidents had been reported.  It was important to keep on reporting fly-tipping incidents, since otherwise little or nothing would be done about them.

 

9.2 Public Disorder at the Glebe

 

Don Keith reported that gangs of youths had been driving fast turns on the grass and soccer pitch at the Glebe, severely cutting the turf.  They had also been lighting bonfires and partying overnight.  The previous night (1 May) picnic benches at the Glebe had been burned.  It was important to note the numbers of any cars involved in such activities and to report them to the Police.

 

To draw the attention of the Community Police Officer to these incidents in writing (Action: David Morrish)

 

9.3 Minute of Agreement with Mid Hill Wind Limited

 

This was signed on behalf of CDDCC by David Morrish and Jill Gow.  To return this to Mid Hill’s lawyers (Action: John Hopkins - DONE)

 

 

10. Next Meeting

 

6 June, 19.30, Irvine Arms

 

JFH/3 May 06

 

 

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 (via David Humble)

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/Crathes), c/o Banchory Police Office

 

 

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Drumoak Public Hall (via Ian Pirie)

 

 

 

Drumoak Church Hall (via Morag Keith)