10 01 05

Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council (CDDCC)

Notes of Inquorate Meeting

 

5 January 2010 at Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours

 

1.      Sederunt

Community Councillors: David Morrish, Nicola Chambury, John Baillie, Geoffrey Atkinson

Members of the public: Molly Atkinson, John Hopkins, Jean Downie, Jim Williamson

For Culter Car Centre: Hamish McDonald, Paul Whitford

Apologies: Ann Ross, Jenny Watson, Diana Robertson, Linda Clark, Graeme Clark

 

 

2.      Culter Car Centre

Paul Whitford presented the revised plans for the Culter Car Centre development.  The revisions involved changes to site layout, reducing the developed area to 1.7 hectares of the 3 hectare site and concentrating this near the road.  The changes had been volunteered to Council officials by the applicant, although it was clear from the examination of the plans and the ensuing discussion that physical site constraints (protective anode location, gas pipeline, drainage) had played a significant role.

 

The plans were the basis of an amendment to the existing planning permission and were currently being considered by Council officials.  The existing planning permission was subject to a number of planning conditions, including those related to landscaping and shape/size/format of the building(s).  Both of these had been discussed with Council officials.

 

In response to a question, Hamish McDonald said that the remaining part of the site would remain undeveloped.

 

David Morrish thanked the presenters, who then left the meeting.

 

In the subsequent discussion, it was agreed that the plans were an improvement on the existing permission.  On this basis, to write supporting the new application (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)

 

 

3.      Minutes of December 2009 meeting

As the present meeting was inquorate, it was decided to defer the consideration of the accuracy of the previous meeting’s minutes to February, although the incorrect spelling of Peter Bellarby’s surname in section 10 was noted and apologised for.

 

 

4.      Police Matters

David Morrish read aloud the recent report from PC Wayne Smart, which covers the Drumoak and Durris areas.  To put this on the website (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

5.      Drumoak Public Hall

Geoffrey Atkinson reported that he had spoken to Tony Hilton (Chairman of the Drumoak Public Hall Committee), who said that the Committee had recently decided to give up the uneven struggle and had formally handed the Hall back to the Council.

 

To ask the Council what they now propose to do with the Hall (Action: David Morrish)

 

To check whether the Hall is a Listed Building (Action: John Bailie)

 

 

6.      Planning (Local)

6.1  Crathes

David Morrish said that an application had been made for 4 flats at the site of the Old School House at Raemoir Road.  A conversion would not be unwelcome, although it was believed that the application might fall foul of the Traffic Department rules over access to the main road.

 

To check whether this was a conversion of the existing building or a new construction (Action: David Morrish).

 

To check whether the Strathdoune site visit took place (Action: David Morrish) 

 

6.2  Drumoak

Geoffrey Atkinson noted that there were rumours that the Animal Welfare Centre application had run into problems over drainage.  A reversion to an earlier plan – to site the Centre north of the North Deeside Road – might eventuate.  To investigate this issue further (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)

 

To review the proposal for a house to the east of West Park Farm (itself adjacent to the Myrebird Junction) and comment if necessary (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).

 

6.3  Durris

Nothing to report.

 

 

7.      Road Safety

7.1 Myrebird Junction

There had been no apparent progress.  To be reviewed at the February meeting (Action: CDDCC)

 

7.2 Bus Stop in Drumoak

Geoffrey Atkinson had spoken to Neil Stewart about the siting of this stop and had been referred to Martin Hill.  The latter said that the siting did not appear to contravene any codes of practice, but that he would investigate further.

 

7.3 Flood debris on Roads

This had been dealt with, rendering unnecessary the sending of an email.

 

7.4  Floodlight in Carpark at Garden Centre at Mains of Drum

This floodlight was temporary and had now been removed.

 

7.5  Thirty m.p.h. Speed Limits in Villages

To draft and circulate to CDDCC for comment an email asking the Council for a 30 mph limit forthwith in Crathes and for the proposed 30 mph zone in Drumoak to be extended to cover Park (Action: David Morrish)

 

 

8        Drumoak School

To email to John Baillie, this week, information about the historical background to the potential Keithmuir Park site (Action: John Hopkins)

 

 

9        Barrier near Park Bridge

To view the site before deciding whether to send an email on behalf of CDDCC (Action: David Morrish and John Baillie)

 

 

10    Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future (ACSEF)

To draft a letter to Christine Gore asking about this and any similar bodies attended by Councillors or Council Officers, in particular what is their remit and why is there apparently no democratic input (Action: David Morrish and Nicola Chambury).

 

To forward to David Morrish and Nicola Chambury a relevant email recently received (Action: John Baillie)

 

 

11     Robbie Ross’s Loch

Geoffrey Atkinson had spoken to Tony Hilton.  Cordiners were well aware of the issue, but did not wish to encourage the public to visit the Loch.  They might, however, be prepared to improve the path along the south side of the site.

 

To discuss the issue further with Diana Robertson (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson).

 

 

12    Administration Grant

John Hopkins noted that – following his submission of the 2008/9 accounts for CDDCC - the 2009/10 Administration Grant had been received from Aberdeenshire Council, together with a grant of £35 towards the cost of maintaining a Data Protection Act registration.   To inform Aberdeenshire Council that CDDCC continued to believe it inappropriate to register under the said Act and, accordingly, to return the sum of £35 (Action: John Hopkins).

 

 

13    Advertising Signs in the Countryside

It was noted that, even where signs were mounted on wheels, planning permission was necessary if the sign were to remain in place for an extended period.  To ask the Council to get the Tulloch Homes sign removed (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)

 

 

14    Crathes Fly

Nicola Chambury said that Crathes Hall were organising a “Crathes Fly”, from 10 till 12 on the first Saturday of each month.  This was a coffee morning to which all were welcome.

 

In coming months, Crathes Hall would be hosting two plays.  The plays (Laurel & Hardy and Women Behaving Madly) would be staged by North East Arts Touring (NEAT) (http://www.neatshows.org.uk/ )

 

 

15    Drumoak Youth Project Closure

John Hopkins reported that, as agreed at the CDDCC AGM in December, the remaining funds of DYP  (£145.39) had been transferred to CDDCC.  It was noted that this amount was less that the amount donated to DYP by CDDCC over the years.

 

John Hopkins produced final Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheets for DYP for the stub year 13/11/09 to 31/12/09, showing the effect of this.  This was signed on behalf of CDDCC.

 

 

16    Next Meeting

7.30 p.m. on 2 February at the Irvine Arms

 

 

JFH

6 January 2010

 

 

 

Distribution

Email

Email

Email

Post

Other

CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson)

Danny Law (Deeside Piper)

Insp. Andrew Todd

Jenny Watson

Website http://www.durris.net/ (also for previous minutes)

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

Leanna MacLarty (Press and Journal)

Insp. Jim Gordon

Drumoak Public Hall Notice Board (via Ian Pirie)

 

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

Kirkton of Durris Hall Notice Board (via Sheila Watt)

PC Wayne Smart

Banchory Public Library

By Hand

Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns

Rev. Jim Scott, Durris Manse, Durris

Crathes Hall Notice Board (via Nicola Chambury)

Drumoak Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith)

Park Shop (via John Hopkins)

Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – Alister Bisset

Local Newsletter Editor (Don Keith)

 

Drumoak Post Office (via John Hopkins)