08 11 04
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Notes of Inquorate
Meeting
Tuesday
4 November 2008 – Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours
1.
Sederunt
Community
Councillors:
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16): Linda Clark
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18): Graeme Clark, Wendy Agnew
Members
of Public:
Apologies:
2.
Minutes of September and October 2008
Approval
of these minutes was again deferred – to December - since the present meeting
was inquorate.
3. Culter Car Showroom
David
Morrish read out the statement that he had drafted on behalf of CDDCC, which
supports the proposal in itself, but without prejudice to CDDCC’s support for
the principles of the Strategic Plan and other Council policies. He agreed to include a further comment to the
effect that the styling of the buildings should be made sympathetic to the
Scottish vernacular, rather than being, as proposed, more suited to an urban
setting. To circulate the revised draft
for agreement, prior to submission. (Action:
David Morrish)
4.
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes
4.1 Crathes Schools - Proposed Car park
Linda Clark has not yet received a response from
4.2
Myrebird Junction and other Roads Issues
Graeme Clark had spoken to Mark Skilling, who had
stated that the new policy to apply a 30mph speed limit to all villages was a “rolling
programme”. Actions dates for Drumoak,
Kirkton of Durris and Crathes could not therefore be specified. Graeme Clark proposed that CDDCC invite Mark
Skilling to a forthcoming meeting, so that the latter could clarify the status
of the 30mph limits and of the Myrebird junction.
A new edition of the Grampian Police Newsletter had
been received, by email this time. To
circulate to CDDCC (Action: David
Morrish). To put the Newsletter on
the www.durris.net website (Action:
4.3
Community Planning
To accept the invitation of Jacqui
5. Drumoak Youth Project
To contact Gail Bleakley, Karen Anderson and Delaine
Morrison-Wallace, to invite them to the AGM (Action:
6. Planning and Other Issues
6.1 Crathes
A
planning application for two full-size and two half-size rugby pitches, in
front of Woodend Barn, had been submitted.
Even though this lays just outwith the CDDCC boundaries, the proposal
was welcomed by CDDCC. The cumulating
developments in this area (the Barn itself, the allotments, the church and the
rugby pitches) were a growing and welcome benefit to the community.
6.2 Drumoak
With the
exception of the proposed Culter Car Showroom, there was nothing that required
comment.
6.3 Durris
Nothing
to report.
7. Access Issues
Although
outwith the CDDCC area, the current proposal for the extension of the
8. Data Protection Registration
An
article has been drafted for the Deeside Piper, which is planned for publication
if the Data Protection payment is made by CDDCC and once the full extent of related
resignations is known.
A
discussion ensued, of practicalities related to the conduct of an AGM, given that
the total number of members of CDDCC would now be down to the minimum quorum of
5 and that
David Morrish
noted that Ann Ross, who had recently resigned (for reasons unrelated to Data
Protection), might be persuaded to withdraw her resignation.
Several
speakers expressed continuing doubts as to the appropriateness and relevance of
Date Protection registration, in particular for voluntary bodies.
David
Morrish observed that an unintended consequence of a demise of CDDCC might be
the formation of a Crathes-only Community Council. This would, of course, resolve the issue of
the Community Council’s divided allegiance to both Marr and Kincardine &
Mearns Areas, but not necessarily for the better. Community Councils have little power, but
smaller Community Councils have less.
Jenny
Watson asked that the Councillors make clear, to the Marr and Kincardine &
Mearns Area Managers, CDDCC’s displeasure over the Data Protection situation and
draw to their attention the deleterious effect that it was having on voluntary
bodies (Action: Linda Clark, Graeme
Clark, Wendy Agnew)
Jenny
Watson said that she would approach Sir
9. Arrangements for forthcoming AGM
These
are:-
·
to
advertise the AGM as the final CDDCC meeting unless more support is forthcoming (Action: David Morrish). Advertisement to be by free editorial
mention in Deeside Piper plus the Church Newsletter. A minimum of 7 days public notice of the AGM
is required by the constitution, which the Newsletter alone would not
provide, given its production schedule.
·
to
conduct the AGM, but not implying any desire to be Chairman, Secretary or other
office (Action: David Morrish)
·
to
contact Andy Coutts forthwith to arrange the use of Drumoak Church Hall as a
venue (Action: David Morrish)
·
Date of AGM to be 3 December (provided venue available).
·
to
provide wine and cheese (Action:
·
to
produce the Profit and Loss and Balance Sheets for CDDCC and DYP for
consideration at the AGM (Action:
Note that
the whole of CDDCC must stand for re-election in December 2008 (subsequent to
the AGM).
10. Registration of
CDDCC as a Charity
In the light of the precarious situation of
CDDCC, action on this would be deferred.
11. Royal Bank of
In the light of the precarious situation of
CDDCC, action on this would be deferred.
12. CHAP’s Proposed Eco-Village
It was
understood that CHAP’s aspiration now extended to some 2,000 homes, in the 249
acre site, implying a high-density development including flats. The proposal was believed to be inconsistent
with the draft Structure Plan, which emphasises housing development in the
Transport Corridor from Laurencekirk northwards towards the
To
include an article in the Newsletter (Action:
It was
noted that a further eco-village was being proposed in the Banchory-Devenick area.
David
Morrish pointed out that – of the fifteen eco-village sites originally nominated
in
13. Japanese Knotweed
To write
to Environmental Health (Arthur Ingram) about the infestation (Action:
It was
noted that co-ordinated action (in the shape of direct introduction of systemic
weedkiller) would be necessary to eliminate Japanese Knotweed.
Note: Ragwort is noxious to horses and is an
injurious weed under the Weeds Act 1959 and Ragwort Control Act 200. An Order may be served on the occupier of any
infested land to prevent the weed from spreading. In the absence of an Order, there is no
compulsion on landowners to eliminate Ragwort.
To bring an Order, the first step would be to contact the Council.
14. Post
Meeting
Members
of CDDCC expressed regret at
15. Next Monthly Meeting
Following the AGM (tentatively 3 December 2008, at Drumoak Church Hall).
JFH 5/11/08
|
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) |
Kirkton
of Durris Hall Notice Board (via |
Drumoak
Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie) |
|
|
Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Rev. Jim Scott, Durris
Manse, Durris |
Banchory Public Library |
By Hand |
|
Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
Insp.
Jim Gordon |
Drumoak
Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith) |
Park
Shop (via John Hopkins) |
|
Insp.
Stuart Ednie |
|
|
Drumoak
Post Office (via John Hopkins) |