10 02 02
Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Minutes of Meeting
2 February 2010 at
Irvine Arms, Drumoak from 19.30 hours
1. Sederunt
Community Councillors: Ann Ross, Jenny Watson, Diana Robertson, David Morrish (Chairman), Nicola Chambury, Geoffrey Atkinson, Jim Williamson
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18): Graeme Clark, Peter Bellarby
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16): Linda Clark
Member of the public: John Hopkins
For Grampian Police: Wayne
Smart, Vicky Henderson
Apologies: John Baillie, Wendy Agnew
2. Police Matters
PC Wayne Smart introduced Vicky Henderson to the meeting, explaining that she was one of a number of police probationers who were currently working with PCs based at Portlethen. He went on to note that there would be a further Police “Surgery” at the Bowling Club carpark in Drumoak from 1100 to 1300 on 9 February.
Recent crime in the area had been at an agreeably-low level, with the exception of a rise in thefts of diesel and heating oil.
Jenny Watson noted that she had asked the Police to issue guidance to car drivers to defrost windows and remove snow from roofs, before driving. To follow this up (Action: Wayne Smart)
3. Co-option
Jim Williamson – who had attended the January meeting – said that he would be prepared to be co-opted to CDDCC. Co-option was agreed by all present and David Morrish welcomed him to CDDCC on behalf of all members.
4. Notes of Inquorate January 2009 meeting
These were proposed by David Morrish and seconded by Nicola Chambury and accepted as an accurate record of the meeting.
Because of that inquoracy, it had been felt that CDDCC may have strayed beyond its powers by making decisions. For that reason, the actions agreed by the January meeting would be reviewed during the course of the present meeting.
5. Planning
5.1 Culter Car Centre, Drumoak
Geoffrey Atkinson reported that he had supported the new application for Culter Car Centre on behalf of CDDCC, on the grounds that it was an improvement compared with the planning permission already granted.
Ann Ross objected to this action, on grounds of the
inquoracy of the January meeting. To
review the application on the Council’s website and to inform David Morrish of
her considered view by 7 February (Action:
Ann Ross)
5.2 Strathdoune, Crathes
It was noted that the Appeal in respect of Strathdoune had been
allowed. The Reporter had made
criticisms (which Linda Clark considered to be unjust) of the Council’s
Planners for failing to propose to the then Planning Committee a formula which
would have had the effect of creating a binding condition preventing the
subsequent separate disposal of the two dwellings.
5.3 Animal Welfare Centre,
Drumoak
Geoffrey Atkinson declared an interest as a near neighbour of the
proposed site, but drew to the attention of CDDCC a letter received that day
from representatives of the SSPCA. This
letter – a copy of which had also been received by CDDCC – proposed that a
variation of the planning permission would be sought, to remove the requirement
for noise control bunds. It was not
clear whether the cited noise report were any improvement on the unconvincing
one accompanying the original application.
Ann Ross proposed that SSPCA be invited to the next meeting to clarify
the situation.
To ask representatives of SSPCA
to attend a forthcoming meeting of CDDCC to answer questions (Action: Geoffrey Atkinson)
5.4 Proposed House east of
West Park Farm
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).
5.5 Durris
Nothing of note.
To take on the task of monitoring planning applications, etc., in respect
of Durris (Action: Jim Williamson)
5.6 Drumoak Public Hall
Jenny Watson said that, according to the Council Property Department,
the Drumoak Public Hall was “surplus to requirements”. It was, therefore, likely that it would be
proposed for some form of development.
To be alert for any proposal (Action:
CDDCC)
5.7 Local Area Plan
Peter Bellarby noted that Policies for the Local Area Plan had now been
discussed by Area Committees. The Main
Issues Report in respect of Settlements would be discussed by them in due
course, following which it would go to the Infrastructure Services Committee
and then the full Council.
There had been some delay to the Local Plan and it was now generally
felt unclear how and when CDDCC existing questions would be answered and what
was now the timetable for the whole process.
To ask these questions of Piers Blaxter (Action: David Morrish)
6. Raemoir Garden Centre
Nicola Chambury noted that there had been numerous complaints from
shopkeepers in Banchory about competition from the expanded Raemoir Garden
Centre, which had increased its range of sales goods well beyond garden-related
products. Linda Clark said that she,
too, had received many such complaints, but had been told that prices in
Raemoir Garden Centre were dearer than in Banchory High Street: that was the
effect of market forces and people had to make a choice. It had to be accepted that there were no
effective limits on what goods “specialist” retailers could decide to sell.
The case of the Mains of Drum Garden Centre was cited, where attempts by
planners to ensure that its operation related – at least in modest degree – to its
forerunner business, which was a Plant Nursery, had been overturned at Appeal.
John Hopkins noted that there was a parallel to the case of Strathdoune,
where the ineffectiveness of attempts by planners to apply planning conditions had
led to the loss of any resultant control.
Ann Ross said that it meant that any new planning applications had to be
considered in terms of what they might develop into, rather than what was their
stated purpose. John Hopkins said that
there were practical – and possibly legal – difficulties with so doing, but
that repeated failures of planning conditions made a mockery of attempts at
planning.
7. Road Safety
7.1 Myrebird Junction
A Servitude Agreement had now been signed with the owner of the house at
this corner and action on reducing vegetation height was expected in the near
future.
It was noted that a further trial of the “transponder” system was
planned at this location for later this year.
7.2 Bus Stop in Drumoak
Geoffrey Atkinson reported that Martin Hill had concluded that the cost
of doing anything about the location of the stop was not justified.
8 Correspondence
To send up-to-date details of CDDCC Office Bearers (name, office borne,
postal address, email address) to Willie Munro and Les Allen (Action: Diana Robertson)
9
Youth Amenity
Nothing to report.
10 Barrier near Park Bridge
David Morrish and John Baillie had inspected the site and had agreed that action was required. To write to the Council (Action: David Morrish)
11 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).
12 Robbie Ross’s Loch
To discuss the issue further with Tony Hilton (Action: Diana Robertson).
13 Administration Grant
To inform Aberdeenshire Council that CDDCC continued to believe it
inappropriate to register under the Data Protection Act and, accordingly, to
return the sum of £35 (Action: John
Hopkins).
14 Advertising Signs in the
Countryside
It was noted, with pleasure, that the Tulloch Homes sign had been removed.
15 Crathes Fly
Nicola Chambury noted that the next Crathes Fly would be at Crathes Hall
on 6 February from 10 till 12 – and subsequently on the first Saturday of each
month. Linda Clark said that she
proposed to attend and asked whether it would be acceptable for her, in future,
to advertise her presence as being one of her constituency “surgeries”. Nicola Chambury confirmed that there would be
no objection to this.
Ann Ross suggested that Community Councillors should also attend, with
the objective of getting the Community Council better publicised. This was agreed to be well worthwhile. To attend Crathes Fly when possible (Action: CDDCC)
16 Drumoak School
A map showing the proposed location for the new Drumoak School was
produced by Graeme Clark, who had just received it from the Council’s planners
via the School Council. It was noted,
however, that the map was dated April 2009 and that it continued to feature the
non-central location adjacent to the electricity sub-station, to which the
School Council objected.
To ask the Drumoak School Council what action they wished CDDCC to take
on this matter (Action: John Baillie)
17 Crathes School
Linda Clark noted that the new Head Teacher had been appointed at Crathes
School and that the subsequent Ofsted Inspection Report had been good.
18 Next Meeting
7.30 p.m. on 2 March at the Irvine Arms.
JFH
9 February 2010
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Distribution |
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Email |
Email |
Email |
Post |
Other |
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CDDCC
Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson) |
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Insp.
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Jenny
Watson |
Website
http://www.durris.net/ (also for
previous minutes) |
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Cllrs.
Linda Clark, Karen Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16) |
Leanna
MacLarty (Press and Journal) |
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Banchory Public
Library |
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Cllrs.
Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward 18) |
Kirkton
of Durris Hall Notice Board (via |
PC
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Drumoak
Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith) |
By
Hand |
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Mr
W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Rev.
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Crathes
Hall Notice Board (via Nicola Chambury) |
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Park
Shop (via |
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Mr
L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
Neighbourhood
Watch Co-ordinator – |
Local
Newsletter Editor (Don Keith) |
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Drumoak
Post Office (via |