07 12 12

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

Wednesday 12 December 2007 - Drumoak Church Hall from 20.30 hours

 

1.         Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: David Morrish (acting as Chairman), Jean Downie, Molly Atkinson, John Hopkins, Debbie Cameron, Caroline Cruickshank, Anne Ross

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16):  Linda Clark

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18):  Peter Bellarby, Wendy Agnew, Graeme Clark

Members of the public: Geoffrey Atkinson, Emma Forster, Denis Birnie, Mary Birnie, Janet Dean, Gillian Hare-Scott

Apologies: Rev. Jim Scott, Don Keith, Philip Dean, Keith Whitehead, Karen Clark, Jill Webster, Tony Butcher

 

 

2.  Membership

 

David Morrish noted that CDDCC had grown numerically in 2007.  He asked whether there were any additional volunteers to serve as members of CDDCC.  None was forthcoming at the meeting.

 

There were currently 8 (possibly 9) members.  David Morrish said that this was a fair number, but that a small number of vacancies still existed in each of the three CDDCC localities.  He therefore encouraged members to continue to seek further nominees (Action: All)

 

 

3.  Office-Holders

 

3.1  Chairman

 

David Morrish had already announced his resignation as Chairman, which was accepted with regret by the meeting.  Molly Atkinson (Vice Chairman) was proposed as Chairman by Jenny Watson and seconded by John Hopkins.  She said that she was prepared to accept the post on an interim basis as Acting Chairman.  David Morrish suggested that other candidates should continue to be sought, in case Molly wished to step down in the longer term.

 

3.2  Vice Chairman

 

Jean Downie was proposed as Vice Chairman by Jenny Watson and seconded by Molly Atkinson. 

 

3.3 Treasurer

 

John Hopkins indicated that he was prepared to continue to serve as Treasurer.

 

3.4 Secretary

 

Anne Ross accepted the post of Secretary, on the understanding that David Morrish provide any necessary backup support.

 

3.5 Minute Secretary

 

John Hopkins indicated a desire to relinquish this post.  David Morrish stressed the need for any alternative arrangement to be able to produce minutes to a tight timescale (draft minutes circulated by the Thursday following the Tuesday meeting, with comments to be submitted by the Sunday and final minutes issued on the Monday).

 

It was agreed that the present arrangements would be continued for the next three months, with a view to Debbie Cameron taking over at that time.

 

 

4.                  Priorities for Action in 2008

 

The meeting endorsed the priorities selected for action in 2008 by CDDCC at the November meeting.  To these was added “a greater range of local recycling facilities”

 

The resultant list is:-

 

  • Road safety
  • Affordable Housing
  • Availability of Health Services in Drumoak
  • Youth amenity
  • New School for Drumoak
  • Greater Range of Local Recycling Facilities

 

 

5.      2008 Meetings of CDDCC

Meetings were planned to be on the first Tuesday of each month, other than in January (2nd Tuesday) and July (no meeting), at the Irvine Arms, Drumoak at 19.30 hours.

The resultant dates are:-

 

·        8 January 2008 (second Tuesday)

·        5 February 2008

·        4 March 2008

·        1 April 2008

·        6 May 2008

·        3 June 2008

·        No meeting in July 2008

·        5 August 2008

·        2 September 2008

·        7 October 2008

·        4 November 2008

·        2 December 2008

The possible need to move the meeting day to Wednesdays was discussed.  To review this again at the 8 January meeting (Action: All)

 

 

6. Police Matters

 

To write to Jenny McHattie (Action: John Hopkins), in respect of outstanding actions on:-

 

·        Grampian Police Deeside Areas Community Council Bulletin circulation

·        Identities of up-to-date local Neighbourhood Watch contacts for publication in the local Newsletter

·        Provision to Caroline Cruickshank of email contact for the “Diced Cap” team

 

 

7.                  Myrebird Junction Incident

 

Several members of the public had expressed particular concern at this.  Jenny Watson reported that the Council were now in negotiation with the owner of the trees at the corner site, with a view to improving sightlines.

 

 

8.  Keithmuir and DYP

 

Caroline Cruickshank reported that she, Debbie Cameron and Wendy Agnew had met Iain Thomson and agreed a list of actions to be implemented by March 2008.

 

An application to the Shell Small Grants Scheme was in hand.  To follow this up (Action: Caroline Cruickshank)

 

Caroline Cruickshank also noted that she was discussing the cost of goal posts for the all-weather ballcourt and other items with Iain Thomson.  It now appeared that the logic of donating accumulated DYP funds to Aberdeenshire Council for use as part of the current project, because of greater VAT efficiency, was generally accepted.  To advise John Hopkins when this process should take place (Action: Caroline Cruickshank)

 

To draft a letter, inviting Aberdeenshire Council to accept an appropriate condition on the use of such grant of money (Action: John Hopkins)

 

To make formal authorisation of any such grant (Action: CDDCC)

 

 

9. Planning and Other Issues

 

9.1  Crathes Housing Development

 

Site apparently now sold, but no further information yet available.

 

9.2  Illuminated Speed Warning signs at Drumoak

 

To inform Mark Skilling that the eastern sign was currently non-functional.  (Action: Graeme Clark)

 

9.3  Proposed Used Car Sales business adjacent to Farm Shop site

 

No Application had yet been lodged.

 

9.4 Nursery at Mains of Drum (incorrectly reported in November minutes as “Mills” of Drum)

 

Graeme Clark reported that Councillors on the Infrastructure Services Committee (yes, the one that took the Donald Trump decision) had completely conceded the argument about percentage of onsite-grown products at this site.  The minimum would be 0%.  Considerable scepticism about the eventual nature of this development was expressed by the meeting.

 

9.5 New House (Land at Drumview - APP 2006/3887)

 

To check Aberdeenshire website for the Report to Area Committee and - if necessary - contact the named Planner to obtain this (Action: Molly Atkinson).

 

9.6  Structure Plan Lobbying

 

A comment on the draft Structure Plan had been agreed and submitted.  An acknowledgement thereof had been received from Piers Blaxter.

 

9.7  Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

 

CDDCC expressed its strong support for the campaign in the local Newsletter to expose the failures of the planning consent and planning gain systems which have occurred in respect of the new Drumoak houses and the extension of the Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

 

 

10.              Correspondence

 

10.1  Community Planning Partnership priorities

 

To add a review of the Aberdeenshire-wide Community Planning Partnership priorities to the Agenda for the January meeting (Action: Molly Atkinson)

 

10.2 Bus Stops

 

Caroline Cruickshank reported that Neil Stewart would be undertaking a survey of usage etc. at the bus stops at Potarch Bridge.

 

10.3 Proposal to Share Primary School Head Teachers amongst 3 Schools

 

Jean Downie reported that she had been contacted by the Press and Journal, seeking a CDDCC reaction to the above.  She did not give one, given that she was then unaware of any such proposal.  It transpired that no-one present at the meeting – including Aberdeenshire Councillors – was aware of such proposal, either.

 

The meeting strongly deprecated any such move, feeling that the dedication and characters of local head teachers had been instrumental in sustaining the strength of those schools.

 

To write to the Director of Education expressing CDDCC’s view of any such proposal (Action: John Hopkins)

 

David Morrish noted that – as a result of turnover in personnel – the links between CDDCC and what were now called Parent Councils had become attenuated.  To approach local school Parent Councils, with a view to their nominating members of CDDCC (Action: All)

 

 

11. Next Meeting

 

1930 hours, 8 January 2008, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

 

JFH 12/12/07

 

Distribution

Email

Post

by hand

other

CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson)

Jenny Watson

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

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

Cllrs. Linda Clark, Karen Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16)

Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David Humble)

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)

 

Cllrs. Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward 18)

Banchory Public Library

 

 

 

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

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

 

 

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

 

 

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

 

 

Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)

 

 

 

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Alister Bisset

 

 

 

Leanna MacLarty (Press and Journal)