08 04 01

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Notes of Inquorate Meeting

 

Tuesday 1st April 2008 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.         Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: Molly Atkinson (Chairman), Jean Downie, Jenny Watson, John Hopkins

Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18):  Graeme Clark

Apologies: Wendy Agnew, David Morrish, Karen Clark, Jill Webster, Linda Clark, Ann Ross, Debbie Cameron, Caroline Cruickshank, Tony Butcher, Peter Bellarby

 

As the meeting was inquorate (the quorum being 5, excluding ex-officio members), a number of items were discussed, but without new definitive decisions being taken on behalf of CDDCC.

 

 

2. Minutes of March 2008 meeting

 

The meeting being inquorate, approval of the previous minutes was held in abeyance.

 

To ask Jenny McHattie to send a further copy of her report (Action: Molly Atkinson).

 

 

3. Matters Arising from March Minutes

 

3.1 Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

 

Graeme Clark reported that – at a recent meeting at Woodhill House – Scottish Water had stated that the hold-up was due to non-receipt of a payment from Stewart Milne Homes.  There was to be a meeting on 1 May 2008 at Viewmount, where the issue would again be addressed.  It was noted that that the payment was supposed to be part of the planning gain for the Drumoak Houses development, not to mention a pre-condition of the occupation of the houses.

 

This farce had been playing since early 2005.  It was hoped that the several parties involved could spin it out for several more years.

 

3.2 Garden Centre at Mains of Drum

 

Graeme Clark reported that this planning application had been passed unopposed at the Infrastructure Services Committee. 

 

3.3 Proposed Used Car Sales business adjacent to Drumoak Farm Shop site

 

The planning application had not yet been scheduled for consideration by the K&M Area Committee.

 

3.4 Woodlands School Proposed Carpark

 

It was noted that Woodlands School hoped to construct a carpark on the other side of the road opposite the school.  CDDCC would need more information, particularly in respect of land drainage and road safety issues, before deciding whether or not to support this proposal.

 

3.5 Myrebird Junction

 

Jenny Watson said that it seemed that little had actually been done to ameliorate the restricted sightlines at this junction.  To write to Mark Skilling re-drawing his attention to this issue (Action: John Hopkins)

 

3.6 Park Bridge 3 tonne MGW Weight Limit

 

It appeared possible that a report would finally be going to the K&M Area Committee on 22 April 2008, recommending that this “urgent” work be implemented.  (This A-listed bridge was built in 1854.  Of all the Dee bridges still in public use, only the Bridge of Dee, 1527, and the Potarch Bridge, 1814, are older).

 

 

4. Planning and Other Issues

 

4.1 Publication of Planning Applications

 

Jenny Watson had further investigated the publication of planning application plans.  It was now apparently the practice to display these at the “Borough Office” in Banchory, since the Banchory Library no longer wished to co-operate in this.

 

4.2  Crathes and Durris

 

Nothing new to report.

 

4.3 Drumoak

 

Nothing new to report, other than an application to alter the frontage of the (listed) Drumoak House.

 

 

5. Correspondence

 

5.1 Data Protection Registration

 

John Hopkins noted that he had circulated a link from the Information Commissioner’s own website, which provided a “Good Practice Note” on “Exemption from Notification for Not-For-Profit Organisations”, that seemed directly relevant to Community Councils.  This may be found at:

 

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/gpn_not_for_profit_v1.0_web_version.pdf

 

Community Councils, on the face of it, might either qualify under this exemption or might choose to order their data processing affairs in future such that they so do.

 

To draft CDDCC’s response on this matter (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

5.2 Parliamentary Area Boundary Changes

 

It was apparently proposed to include Stonehaven with Angus.  To draft a letter drawing to the attention of Aberdeenshire Council, the Boundary Commissioners and local MPs, MEPs and MSPs the fact that this would further exacerbate the anomaly created by the unwarranted grouping of Drumoak and Durris community with Stonehaven at the time of the creation of multi-member wards and to seek a more logical resolution thereof (Action: John Hopkins) (DONE)

 

 

6. Carpark for Proposed Tesco supermarket in Banchory

 

It was generally agreed that the recent Tesco application had good features, but that it would be improved by the addition of trees to the otherwise bare carpark.  It was, however, noted that this site lay outwith the CDDCC area.

 

 

7. Royal Deeside Railway

 

The considerable recent physical progress of station foundations, platform and track was noted with approval.

 

 

8. AOCB

 

8.1 Bicycle Ride

 

To put on the Agenda for the May meeting the subject of a further Deeside Way bicycle ride, possibly to one of the new sections, e.g. Aboyne to Dinnet (Action: Molly Atkinson/Jean Downie)

 

8.2 Presentation prior to AGM

 

Jenny Watson suggested that the next AGM might usefully commence with a presentation from Norman Marr about buildings alongside the former Deeside Railway line.  With appropriate publicity, this might attract a larger audience to the AGM.  To put this subject on the Agenda for the May meeting (Action: Molly Atkinson/Jean Downie)

 

8.3 Chairmanship Arrangements for May and June meetings

 

It was noted that, in the expected absence on holiday of Molly Atkinson, Jean Downie would chair the May meeting.

 

There were potential problems with chairing the June meeting.  These would be addressed at the May meeting.  To put this subject on the Agenda for the May meeting (Action: Molly Atkinson/Jean Downie)

 

 

9. Next Meeting

 

1930 hours, 6 May 2008, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

 

JFH 02/04/08

 

Distribution

Email

Email

Post

Other

CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson)

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Alister Bisset

Jenny Watson

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

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

Leanna MacLarty (Press and Journal)

Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David Humble)

 

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

Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)

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

 

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

By Hand

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

 

Banchory Public Library

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

 

 

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)