07 02 06

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

Tuesday 6 February 2007 - Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.         Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: Jean Downie, David Morrish, (Chairman), John Hopkins, Keith Whitehead, Tony Butcher, Jill Gow

Ward Councillors: Sandy Wallace

Community Police Officer: Lorna Heppolette

Member of the Public: Steve Gibb

Apologies: Jenny Watson, Molly Atkinson, Ann Ross

 

 

2. Non-Agenda Items

 

In order to be able to release them early, it was agreed that Steve Gibb and Lorna Heppolette be invited to speak prior to the Agenda items.

 

 

3. Draft Proposal for an Atrium House at Broomfield Cottage, Drumoak

 

Steve Gibbs said that he was hoping to construct an Atrium House in the garden of his present house at Broomfield Cottage.  This would be constructed with low-energy considerations in mind, employing solar gain, wind turbine and subsoil heat.  He passed round an architect’s drawing of the proposed house.  At this stage, he wanted to know the initial thoughts of the Community Council.

 

Sandy Wallace said that energy-saving houses were a praiseworthy development and that a local demonstration of what was possible could be useful to encourage mass-market builders to incorporate similar features.  At the same time, he cautioned against the idea of simply using eco-friendly features as a way of evading restrictions on the construction of new houses in the countryside.

 

John Hopkins said that he believed that the issue was a balance between the extent of the energy-saving and the dis-benefit of allowing additional construction in the countryside.  If the saving were relatively small, then normal policies should apply, which meant that a refusal of planning permission should be expected.  If the saving were large, then he felt that the Community Council could support a planning application, particularly if this was capable of influencing mass-market builders.  In his view, the issue depended critically upon the numbers for energy-saving compared with a conventionally-designed modern house of equivalent accommodation.  Sandy Wallace noted that the relative energy cost of the original installation itself could also be a factor.

 

It was also noted that site context, including the prominence or otherwise of the structure, could also be significant.

 

Steve Gibbs undertook to provide CDDCC with relevant figures in time for a forthcoming meeting.  (Action: Steve Gibbs).

 

 

4. Police Report

 

Lorna Heppolette noted that there had been a recent upturn in local break-ins/thefts, including a large theft of scrap in Drumoak.  There was no obvious pattern to these events and no obvious suspects.

 

She also noted that vehicle speeds had been checked in the area recently.  In response to a question by Sandy Wallace, she said that speeds in Drumoak had been less of a problem than they had expected.

 

It was noted that the flashing 40 mph signs at each end of Drumoak were now apparently non-functional.  Sandy Wallace undertook to remind Mark Skilling about this (Action: Sandy Wallace).

 

Sandy Wallace noted that he had also pursued the question of the road islands in Drumoak with Mark Skilling, who had claimed that he was waiting for a response from CDDCC to his detailed drawings of the proposal.  No-one present recalled receiving any such documents.  In the light of the forthcoming end of budget year, Sandy Wallace encouraged CDDCC to write in support of Mark Skilling’s proposal sight unseen.

 

John Hopkins asked why, if speeds in Drumoak were now acceptable according to the police, more traffic islands were still thought necessary.  The money for these could more usefully be devoted to another cause.

 

David Morrish said that his hope was to achieve speed limits of 30 mph in each of Crathes, Durris and Drumoak.  Lorna Heppolette offered the view that it was unlikely to be possible to achieve a 30 mph limit in Drumoak without further slowing traffic speeds in advance.

 

By a majority, it was agreed that David Morrish should write to Mark Skilling, asking that construction of the road islands proceed (Action: David Morrish).

 

 

5.  Minutes of AGM 2006 and December 2006 and January 2007 Meetings

 

 Proposed:  David Morrish                    Seconded:  Tony Butcher

 

 

6.      Correspondence

 

A large volume of correspondence was considered.  Actions arising were as follows:-

 

·        To further consider to what extent the work of Stonehaven and District CC in redrafting their Strategy may usefully be adopted by CDDCC (Action: All)

·        To respond to the email from Jill Sowden requesting information about CDDCC relationships to the Community Planning process (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

·        To attend K&M Area Community Council Forum meetings (Action: John Hopkins)

·        To consider attending Marr Area Community Council Forum meetings, when 2007 dates known (Action: David Morrish or Keith Whitehead)

·        To relay CDDCC’s nomination for a Community Planning Executive representative (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

·        To contact the Drumoak Three and to promote the idea of a Tenants and Residents Association, as espoused by Jill Sowden, and thereby attempt to progress DYP (Action: Sandy Wallace)

·        To apply for funds from the B&Q Award Scheme. (Action: Sandy Wallace)

·        To write noting CDDCC’s objection (by a majority) to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

·        To advise Scottish Water that CDDCC wishes to accept their offer of a presentation about the forthcoming water main replacement adjacent to the North Deeside Road (Action: Jill Gow)

 

It was also noted that there would be a further Strategic Land Use Plan meeting in Feb/Mar, to which CDDCC would be amongst those invited.

 

7.      Major Developments

 

7.1  Woodlands of Durris Housing

 

Sandy Wallace reported that Aberdeenshire Council were at a late stage in drafting a Development Brief for Woodlands and that he expected this to go to the Area Committee before May (election time).  Meanwhile, the existing Planning Application had been held in abeyance, awaiting the availability of the Development Brief.  If the Application were not consistent (perhaps after modification) with the Development Brief, he felt that it would be recommended for rejection.

 

The Public Meeting in respect of the existing Planning Application, being organised by the Durris School Board, would occur this month (date not yet known).

 

To offer to Durris School Board, the assistance of CDDCC in conducting the Public Meeting, should they so require (Action: David Morrish).

 

7.2  Crathes Housing

 

David Morrish stated that the Planning Application in respect of new Crathes housing and, more particularly, the implications of the “Supporting Statement” that had only recently come to hand - were of substantial concern.

 

A Public Meeting had been arranged for 7.30 on 12 February at the Crathes Public Hall.  This would be conducted by David Morrish, who would also draft and send the response on behalf of CDDCC and the Crathes community to the existing Planning Application (Action: David Morrish)

 

It has become very apparent that there is a stark contrast between the practices in the Marr Area and those in the K&M Area in respect of the relative precedence of Local Plans, Development Briefs and Planning Applications.  It remains to be seen whether either approach will permit true consultation.  It is already clear that if one set of practices is right, the other must be wrong.

 

To consider inviting Linda Clark and Jean Henratty to the Public Meeting, in view of the likelihood that their views will be of significance following the May elections (Action: David Morrish)

 

Sandy Wallace drew attention to the possible significance of particular Standing Orders of Aberdeenshire Council, which he felt were not universally known.  These provided that any decision of Area Committee on a proposal could be referred to Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) by dissenting Councillors, provided that one-third of those present and voting so desired.  In an exactly-similar way, decisions of ISC could be referred upwards to the full Council.

 

7.3  Drumoak

 

It was noted that Planning Permission for the construction of a new Irvine Arms had been granted, following an expression of view by the Roads Department that suitable access to a new school site was not prevented by such construction.

 

 

8. Planning Applications

 

Nothing to report.

 

 

9.      Aberdeen Core Paths Plan

 

Item held over, in the light of the absence of Molly Atkinson.

 

 

10.  Park Quarry Liaison Meeting

 

Item held over.

 

 

11.  Meeting with Christine Gore

 

To finalise a date for the meeting of CDDCC representatives with the Director of Planning & Environmental Services (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

12.  AOB

 

12.1  Jean Downie asked at what height planning permission became necessary for the erection of a fence.  Sandy Wallace said he was not sure, but believed that anything less than 2 metres did not require planning permission.

12.2  John Hopkins noted that he had sent a chase-up message in respect of the letter to Mr I Gabriel on the Future of Street and other Public Lighting.

 

 

13.  Community Cycle Ride

 

It was agreed that the date for the Community Cycle Ride would be 26 May 2007. To so inform Tom Taylor (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE).

 

To devise a low-traffic (and not too hilly!) route linking Crathes, Durris and Drumoak and utilising the Deeside Way (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

14.  Next Meeting

 

19.30 hours on 6th March at Irvine Arms

 

JFH 07/02/07

 

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 Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

 

 

David O’Donnell (Woodlands)

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

 

 

 

Jill Gow