07 11 06
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Minutes of Meeting
Tuesday 6 November 2007 - Irvine
Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours
1. Sederunt
Community
Councillors:
Ward 16 Councillor: Linda Clark
Ward 18 Councillors: Peter Bellarby, Wendy
Agnew, Graeme Clark
Apologies: Keith Whitehead, Anne Ross, Tony Butcher, Jill Webster, Karen Clark
Police Representative: Jenny McHattie
Members of the Public:
2. Police Report
Jenny
McHattie tabled a copy of the Grampian Police Deeside Areas Community Council
Bulletin, which gave items of current interest.
To include cddcc@durris.net and don.keith@which.net in the email list for future
copies of this Bulletin (Action: Jenny
McHattie).
Jenny
Watson asked for the erection of a HALT sign, in place of the current
To inform
Linda
Clark asked whether the “Diced Cap” team might be able to offer funds for the
Drumoak Youth Project. To provide
3. Minutes of October 2007 Meeting
These
were proposed by Jenny Watson and seconded by Molly Atkinson, and
accepted as an accurate record.
4. Keithmuir and DYP
It was
also noted that drainage problems with the lower-lying parts of the Park had
been addressed.
Wendy
Agnew asked what items were wanted for the project. The list included astro-turf surfacing,
fencing (possibly lockable, with the key held locally), a retaining lip - or
similar - for the French drains, netball posts, soccer posts (probably without
nets, to avoid maintenance issues) and other landscaping including holly bushes
and/or other thorn-bearing bushes. To
speak further to Iain Thompson to move this forward (Action: Wendy Agnew).
Jean
Downie passed a letter about the Shell Small Grants Scheme to
John
Hopkins raised the possibility of donating the accumulated DYP funds to
Aberdeenshire Council for use as part of the current project, citing the fact
that it would be more tax-efficient for Aberdeenshire Council to employ these
funds, since Aberdeenshire Council is VAT-registered and neither CDDCC nor DYP
is. Jenny Watson advised that CDDCC
should impose conditions on such grant of money, which was generally agreed to
be wise. To be discussed further at the
December meeting (Action: All)
To produce
a briefing note detailing the current status of DYP for (a) the Newsletter
(deadline 22 Nov) and (b) the AGM (c) for info to Leanna MacLarty (P&J
Reporter) at leanna.maclarty@ajl.co.uk (see also 5.1 below) (Action:
To pay
the 1 June invoice for Photocopying at
4. Planning and Other Issues
4.1
Crathes Housing Development
David
Morrish stated that there was no progress to report, but that he understood
that the Dunecht Estate had contacted the Leys Estate to discuss pedestrian
access / walking routes in the local area (ownership of which was divided
between the two Estates).
4.2
Illuminated Speed Warning sign west
of Drumoak
To
on-pass to the appropriate Council official the letter asking that the sign be
moved further to the west (Action: David
Morrish)
4.3
Proposed Used Car Sales business adjacent
to Farm Shop site
It seemed
that either no Planning Application had yet been submitted or it had not yet
been processed onto the website by Aberdeenshire Council. It was agreed that no comment should be made
in advance of the Application being lodged.
4.4 Nursery at Mills of Drum
Graeme
Clark stated that this issue had apparently been, once again, referred to the
Planners to agree a percentage for onsite-grown products.
4.5 Drumoak Kitchens - New Showroom
Molly Atkinson noted that this seemed a sensible proposal.
4.6
Byway Cottage
Molly Atkinson noted that this was a
reapplication, which looked as though it might prove problematic. CDDCC did not need to comment at this stage.
4.7
New House (Land at Drumview - APP 2006/3887)
Molly Atkinson queried why this application had been granted, given that it was apparently against Structure and Area Plans, as well as the recommendations of both CDDCC and Planners. To check Aberdeenshire website for the Report to Area Committee and - if necessary - contact the named Planner to obtain this (Action: Molly Atkinson). Graeme Clark noted that, if this information were not available by other means, a Freedom of Information request might be made.
4.8 Durris
Nothing to report.
4.9
Structure Plan Lobbying
John
Hopkins noted that
Graeme
Clark noted that the Plan seemed to be focussed on 50% of new dwellings to be
within
Jean
Downie drew attention to a letter on the subject that had recently
arrived. To consider the letter and the
website www.acssp.net and draft/circulate an appropriate
comment. (Action: John Hopkins)
5.
Correspondence
5.1 Contact from Press and Journal
Jean
Downie reported a contact from Leanna MacLarty (reporter for the Press and
Journal). The latter wished to attend a
CDDCC meeting for background. She was
particularly interested in reaction to the proposed Used Car Showroom.
To include
Leanna MacLarty in the circulation lists for minutes and “Local Updates” (Action: John Hopkins).
5.2 Community Planning Partnership priorities
Correspondence
had arrived via a number of routes, relating to Community Council input to the
process of ranking priorities chosen by the Community Planning Board for the
period to 2010. The first of these was a
letter forwarded on behalf of
John
Hopkins felt that this represented only tokenistic consultation, for two
principal reasons. Firstly, representatives
of the public (80+ Community Councils feeding into a single representative) were
far outweighed on the Corporate Planning Board by an oligarchy of corporate organisations. Secondly, receipt of a request on 25 October
for input by 1 November on a document which had originated on 19 September
meant 37 days of waiting to ask for input and then just 6 days to provide it.
David
Morrish enquired as to the identity of the top three priorities (since the rest
were clearly of less interest, in practice).
It was not clear at the meeting which these were. Since then, it has become apparent that they
were:-
·
Involvement
of Community Councils in Community Planning
·
Implement
Youth Engagement Strategy
·
Reducing
re-offending (link to Northern Community Justice Authority)
It
remains to be seen which will be the priorities after the voting of the infrastructure
organisations (including NESTRANS, Aberdeenshire Council, NHS Grampian,
Grampian Police, Grampian Fire and Rescue, Scottish Enterprise Grampian,
Communities Scotland). This will
apparently not occur until 28 November.
To add
this issue to the Agenda for the December meeting (Action: David Morrish)
5.3 LEADER Funding for Rural Development
This
would not appear to be directly relevant to particular local circumstances in
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris. More
pertinently, the consultation meetings were in early October.
5.4 Bus Stops
To
circulate information about local bus stop up-rating (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)
6. Donations
After
discussion, it was agreed to make donations of surplus CDDCC funds as follows:-
·
Drumoak
& Durris Newsletter (£150)
·
Forget
Me Not Club (£100)
Home-Start
would receive favourable consideration in 2008.
To effect
the donations (Action: John Hopkins)
7. Access Issues
7.1 Dalmaik
Farm (7-strand barbed wire fence)
Molly
Atkinson noted that the wire had been wrapped to form a means of access, which
was clearly in use.
8.
Arrangements for AGM and December meeting
Jenny Watson proposed that David Welsh, the
noted naturalist, be invited to give a short presentation on local wild flowers. This could usefully be an adjunct of the
AGM. To arrange this presentation (Action: Jenny Watson)
The proposed running order would be 1930 hours AGM, followed at around 2000 hours by wine and cheese and the presentation by David Welsh, followed by December meeting (from around 2015 hours).
To book the Drumoak Church Hall for 12 December (1930 hours onwards) (Action: David Morrish).
To provide wine and cheese (Action: Jean Downie) - budget of up to £40 authorised.
To prepare Chairman’s Report (Action: David Morrish)
To prepare accounts for CDDCC and DYP and a brief Treasurer’s Report (Action: John Hopkins)
To provide an updated situation report for
DYP (Action:
To write to Deeside Piper in mid-November, with a request for a non-paid editorial mention of the forthcoming AGM (Action: David Morrish).
To publicise AGM via the website (Action: John Hopkins)
It was noted, with regret, that David Morrish would - as announced a year ago - not be standing as Chairman of CDDCC after the AGM. Tony Butcher had hoped to take on the position but, sadly, his present state of health prevents this. To identify possible candidates for Chairman (Action: All)
9.
AOB
9.1 Special Constables
Linda Clark asked that an appeal for
volunteers as Special Constables go into the Newsletter. To provide
9.2
Priorities for CDDCC in 2008
David Morrish suggested that CDDCC concentrate on specific priorities in 2008. These could include:-
10. Next Meeting
AGM and December meeting, Drumoak Church Hall, 12 December (1930 hours onwards) - other details as in 8. above
JFH 07/11/07
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Distribution |
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Email |
Post |
by hand |
other |
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CDDCC Councillors (excl.
Jenny Watson) |
Jenny Watson |
Park
Shop (via John Hopkins) |
Website
www.durris.net (also for previous
minutes) |
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Cllrs. Linda Clark, Karen
Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16) |
Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David Humble) |
Drumoak
Post Office (via John Hopkins) |
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Cllrs. Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward
18) |
Banchory
Public Library |
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Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Community Police Officer (Drumoak/Durris/Crathes), c/o Banchory Police
Office |
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Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie) |
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Rev.
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Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith) |
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Durris
Hall Notice Board (via |
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Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinator – |
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Leanna
MacLarty (Press and Journal) |
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