Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Minutes of 2008 Annual
General Meeting
2
December 2008 at Drumoak Church Hall from 19.30 hours
1.
Sederunt
Retiring
Community Councillors:
Aberdeenshire
Councillors (Ward 16): Linda Clark
Aberdeenshire
Councillors (Ward 18): Graeme Clark
Members
of the public:
Police:
Aberdeenshire Council official: William Munro
Apologies: Rev. Jim Scott, Cllr. Peter Bellarby
2.
Note
As it is now three years since the last CDDCC election, all Community Councillors are required - under the constitution - to retire, although they may offer themselves for re-election.
Nomination papers were made available at
the meeting and
In January, if there are more nominees than posts, an election will be held by secret ballot. If there is the same number, or fewer, those submitting valid nominations will be declared elected.
Retiring Community Councillors will continue to serve until the time of the election or declaration.
At the first meeting of the New Year (which will be 6 January if there is a declaration, although will probably be postponed if there is to be an election), the Community Council will elect its office-bearers.
3.
Police Report
Since attendance at Community Council
meetings by representatives of the Police is subject to unpredictable emergency
calls,
PC Wayne Smart (based in Portlethen) had been appointed community-focussed officer for Drumoak and Durris.
Insp. Gordon said that it would be “a challenge” to cover Drumoak, because of the distances involved, but we should see how the service operates in practice.
Emails, or other forms of police report, would be sent to CDDCC and included on the www.durris.net website.
4.
Chairman’s Report.
The report was distributed to those present. David Morrish summarised the main points of his report, reproduced here:-
Crathes, Drumoak
& Durris Community Council
Chairman’s Report - 2008
2008 Community Councillors
Interim Chairman
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Secretary
Minute Secretary
Planning Geoffrey Atkinson
(Drumoak)*,
Member Tony Butcher (Crathes)
Park
Quarry Liaison Donald Keith*,
William Downie*
K&M
CC Forum
Marr CC
Forum
Website
Resignations
during the year:
CC 2008
Priorities
·
Road safety
·
Affordable Housing
·
Concerns about Health Service Availability
·
Youth amenity
·
New School for Drumoak
Road Safety and Speed Limits
The community council continued
bringing local issues to the attention of the Roads Dept, the Police and
Councillors. In particular, the community looks forward to the 30mph limits
promised for all villages. The Myrebird and Park/SDR
junctions were also highlighted as specific local hotspots. The Roads Dept. are
currently taking action in these areas
Planning
The CC has continued throughout the
year to do its best to make representations on behalf of the community on
planning applications that arise. Although this year there
have been few key applications, there remain significant proposed
development in each of the three community council’s areas. It will continue to
be necessary to maintain a dialogue with planners and developers. In
particular, the Aberdeenshire and City Strategic Plan, having passed the public
consultation phase is now nearing the point where it spills out into the new
Local Plan. Deeside may remain under pressure to absorb significant levels of
further development.
Drumoak
Drumoak continues to attract
significant domestic and commercial development. The Drumoak Housing re
application APP/2003/1562 continues to cause concern with respect to the sewage
treatment capacity which should have been upgraded as part of the development.
This has a significant impact on the School and further approved development.
The Garden Centre at East Mains of Drum gained approval and the CC supported
the Culter Car Showroom once road safety issues were
resolved. The CC continues to make representation re the size and suitability
of such developments in the countryside and draws attention to the associated
road safety issues.
Eco-Village proposed by Chap as an
alternative to reinstating the Park Quarry remains in the background with the
developers putting forward their bid to the Aberdeenshire and City Structure
Plan.
Crathes
APP/2007/0091 – Crathes
45 Houses. Although there has been little activity on this development since
the outline planning application was refused last year, it is noted that the
landowner has made a bid for an adjacent area to be include within the
Structure Plan. Incidentally, an area which has previously
been objected to by the community council.
Durris
A Development Brief has been
completed for the housing at Woodlands of Durris and the outline application
APP/2006/3585 was approved in January of this year.
Drumoak Youth Project
Subject of a separate report
Policing
This year the police presence at CC
meeting has continued allowing a two way exchange of information. The community
has had the opportunity to report concerns in line with the request for support
for the community lead policing approach and vice-versa. The police have
provided regular newsletters raising current issues which is
very helpful. Policing is now divided for the CC area with Marr area providing
for Crathes and K&M for Drumoak and Durris. Police
members from each area will attend CC meetings when available.
Access
One remaining access issue this year
is the padlocked and barb-wired gate that restricts access from the
Other
Activities
The community council has received
interesting presentations, Midhill Wind farm, the Culter Car Showroom with respect to planning applications
as well the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society and The Friends of
Durris Forest.
The CC
cycle ride this year was cancelled due to extremely poor weather
Data Protection
This year saw resignations of Crathes,
Drumoak and Durris Community Councillors (CDDCC) over what is seen as more and
more needless bureaucracy. The final straw was that the Assistant Commissioner
for Data Protection
now requires Community Councils to register under the DP Acts as
he considers them to be statutory bodies and for that reason unable to benefit from
the exemptions.
The Assistant Commissioner
apparently argues that any third party undertaking the processing of personal
data for a Community Council is thereby a “data processor” under the Acts and
this puts the Community Council in the position of being a “data controller”
and hence itself liable to register. It is a shame that these bodies fail to
consider the unintended consequences of their actions.
CDDCC Charitable Donations
Once again the CDDCC, spending
little money on itself, was in a position to consider modest charitable
donations to local bodies from its own funds.
Charitable donations were made to
the
It remains for me to thank each and
every member of the 2008 Community Council and our local councillors who have supported
us this year.
I wish all the best to those in Crathes, Drumaok and Durris for
Acting Chairman for AGM only – Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
5.
DYP Report
She said that she had now handed over to Gail Bleakley and Delane Morrison, whom she introduced to the meeting.
New play equipment had been installed in the park and the football pitch upgraded, with new goalposts scheduled for next year. This work had been undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council.
Meetings with local youth had identified a skate park as the most-desired additional facility, but this had been deemed impractical on safety and other grounds. Subject to confirmation at a further meeting, bike ramps would be installed instead. These would be installed in 2009, on the area previously designed for an all-weather pitch.
6.
Treasurer’s Report
He noted that, whilst there had actually been substantial achievements during the year by DYP, none of its accumulated funds had been spent. These therefore remained available for future use.
There were no questions on either set of accounts.
Both sets of accounts were formally adopted
and signed by
7.
Closure of Meeting
The AGM was then declared closed and
The presentation initiated a lively discussion.
Wine
and cheese were then served.
JFH
6 December 2008
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Distribution |
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Email |
Email |
Post |
Other |
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CDDCC Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson) |
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – |
Jenny Watson |
Website
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) |
Crathes Hall Notice Board (via David
Humble) |
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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) |
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Mr W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Rev. Jim Scott, Durris
Manse, Durris |
Banchory Public Library |
By Hand |
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Mr L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
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Drumoak
Church Hall Notice Board (via Morag Keith) |
Park
Shop (via |
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Drumoak
Post Office (via |