08 07 01

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Minutes of Meeting

 

Tuesday 1 July 2008 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.         Sederunt

 

Community Councillors: Jean Downie (Acting Chairman), Caroline Cruickshank, John Hopkins, David Morrish, Tony Butcher

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

Apologies: Jenny Watson, Ann Ross, Linda Clark

 

 

2. Membership

 

It was noted that Debbie Cameron had resigned, consequent upon her no longer being a resident of the CDDCC area.  This was accepted with regret and an expression of thanks made for all Debbie’s efforts.

 

 

3. Minutes of May 2008

 

The minutes of May 2008 were proposed by David Morrish and seconded by Tony Butcher and accepted as an accurate record.

 

 

4. Matters Arising from Minutes of May 2008 meeting

 

4.1 Drumoak Sewage Treatment Plant

 

John Hopkins reported that an acknowledgement dated 11 June had been received from Aberdeenshire Council of CDDCC’s Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated 6 June.  A subsequent letter had been received dated 27 June, which stated that it had been discovered that the relevant file had been sent to Woodhill House for archiving.

 

Some surprise was expressed that it should take so long (11 to 14 working days) to discover that a file had been sent off-site, as well as that a live file should have been sent to “be archived” (unless this phrase also implied scanning for online access).

 

In view of the continuing delay, CDDCC resolved in future to resort to FoI requests much earlier in the process.

 

4.2  Durris and Crathes Schools - Proposed Car parks

 

Graeme Clark stated that he had recommended to the Chairman of the Woodlands School Board that he attempt to convene a meeting involving McIntoshes, Planning Services and the Estate, in order to move the proposal for a car park forward.

 

To contact both Chris Charnley and Stewart Young and raise the necessary planning applications with plans etc., for both the Crathes School and Durris School car parks (Action: David Morrish)

 

Apparently, Community Councils can obtain a 50% discount on the cost of planning applications.  To take this into account when submitting the above applications (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

4.3 Myrebird Junction

 

John Hopkins had received a reply dated 6 June, stating that a topographical survey was to be carried out.  In addition, the owner of the field to the west of “Cairnview” (the property at the junction) had been contacted, as it was anticipated that, without work in this field, further work in the garden of “Cairnview” would yield no significant improvement in visibility.

 

David Morrish stated that he had recently viewed the topography of the junction and felt that it was by no means the worst local case of limited sightlines at a road junction.

 

John Hopkins cited the cases of the South Deeside Road junction with Park Bridge Road (extremely restricted view to the west when proceeding south along Park Bridge Road and restricted view in the same direction when proceeding north from Stable Brae/Sky Brae) and the junction at Park with the North Deeside Road (restricted view to the west when turning onto North Deeside Road).

 

He noted that Aberdeenshire Council had apparently considered an improvement to the whole bend to the west of the South Deeside Road / Park Bridge Road junction (including modification of the bridge over the burn), but considered it too expensive to undertake.  He felt that this was a prime example of the “best crowding out the good”, since a modest amount of hedging work at the junction, perhaps allied to a minor reduction in drystone wall height, could achieve a useful improvement in visibility at low cost.  It was not clear how best to progress this idea – whether with the Council or with the landowner (presumed now to be CHAP).  To write to Mark Skilling asking how best to proceed (Action: John Hopkins)

 

It was noted that input from a police representative would have been welcome in this connection and that their continuing absence from CDDCC meetings was a matter for concern.  To email the Police, asking for improved attendance (Action: David Morrish).

 

 

5.  Drumoak Youth Project

 

Caroline Cruickshank had made a number of grant applications, unfortunately none of them successful.  She was at a late stage in drafting one to the Big Lottery Fund for fencing of the all-weather pitch.

 

It was noted that the Council had nearly completed the installation of play equipment.

 

Low-level vandalism was still occurring in the area.

 

 

6. Planning and Other Issues

 

6.1  Drumoak and Durris

 

Nothing new to report.

 

6.2  Crathes

 

A planning application for a church (close to the western boundary of CDDCC) had been lodged.  To review this application (Action: David Morrish)

 

6.3 Draft Housing Land Audit

 

David Morrish reported that this appeared to be no more than a tabulation of areas for which housing construction was earmarked by the Council.  Of interest, though, was that the Crathes housing dates had been deferred to “2016 or later”

 

 

7. Correspondence

 

7.1 Huntley Cottage

 

A communication had been received from the owners of Huntley Cottage asking for support for a proposal to extend the 30 mph speed limit from Woodlands of Durris to cover their property.   This request divided CDDCC, with some minded to approve the idea and others against the principle that 30 mph limits should be introduced for isolated houses in the countryside.  To respond to the owners of Huntley Cottage indicating that they should approach Mark Skilling for a ruling on this issue (Action: David Morrish).

 

Graeme Clark noted that the introduction of the policy of 30 mph speed limits for all villages was proceeding, although Kirkton of Durris represented one particular area of difficulty.

 

To bring to the next meeting his interpretation of what the above policy would mean to villages “on the ground” in the CDDCC area (Action: David Morrish)

 

7.2 Draft Structure Plan

 

Copies had been received.  To draft comments to be considered at the August meeting (Action: David Morrish and John Hopkins)

 

7.3 Data Protection Registration

 

John Hopkins recounted the items of correspondence on this subject that had been circulated.  The most powerful single argument that had surfaced was the non sequitur of the Information Commission’s view that because Community Councils had a statutory right (of being consulted) that made them statutory bodies and hence ineligible for the exemptions in the DP Acts.

 

It was noted that many bodies - and indeed individuals - had statutory rights (for example protection under the various Police Acts), but that did not of itself make them statutory bodies.

 

To follow-up the correspondence with the local MP and MSP on this matter (Action: John Hopkins).

 

John Hopkins further noted that, in response to his email asking that CDDCC be dissociated from ASCC membership, Willie Munro had asked for confirmation that this was the collective view of CDDCC.

 

CDDCC confirmed that it was.  CDDCC went on to query on what basis Aberdeenshire Council had decided to include it in such membership in the first place.  No record existed of any request to CDDCC as to whether this would be acceptable.  To write to Willie Munro on this matter (Action: John Hopkins).

 

The consensus of the meeting was that the requirement to register should simply be ignored.

 

7.4 New Irvine Arms Licence Application

 

A letter had been received from the local Licensing Board, relating to a premises licence for the new Irvine Arms and asking for comments by 22 July.

 

To ask the local Licensing Board for elucidation of the statement in the letter that “it is not proposed to make any substantial change in the size or capacity of the premises . . . . “, given that the application clearly relates to premises which do not yet exist (Action: John Hopkins)

 

Given the substantially-greater size of the new premises (bar 122 persons, dining area 106 persons, lounge 89 persons, function room 156 persons) by comparison with the existing Irvine Arms, plus the provisions inter alia for “recorded music, live performances (and) outdoor drinking”, to consult local residents to determine their views (Action: Caroline Cruickshank) prior to deciding if CDDCC should lodge any objection.

 

7.5 Renewed complaint about litter near bus shelter

 

It was noted that the problem of litter near the bus shelter had improved for a period of two weeks, but then worsened again.  To write again to Aberdeen Journals (Action: John Hopkins)

 

7.6 Local Development Plan

 

As a precursor to the above, the Council was seeking input on the extent to which existing planning policies had succeeded in achieving their aims.  To respond to this letter (Action: Tony Butcher)

 

 

8. AOCB

 

8.1 Misuse of the Glebe

 

Jean Downie noted that she had, three weeks ago, received a complaint about an organised overnight party at the Glebe.  This had involved some 16 cars, forcible removal of the padlock on the gate, an open fire (apparently fuelled by small trees cut down using a chain saw) and broken glass.  She had reported this to both the Police and the Council, neither of whom wished to take any action.  She also took photographs of the damage.

 

To speak to the Council Clerk of Works about getting the padlock replaced (Action: Caroline Cruickshank).

 

8.2 Royal Bank of Scotland

 

John Hopkins reported that he had received a letter from the local branch of RBS, confirming that CDDCC’s status as a voluntary body meant that its accounts were exempt from service charges and apologising for the erroneous sending of the letter about fees for business users.

 

 

9. Next Meeting

 

1930 hours, 5 August 2008, Irvine Arms, Drumoak

 

JFH 02/07/08

 

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)