Crathes, Drumoak & Durris Community Council
(CDDCC)
Minutes of 2011 Annual
General Meeting
7 December 2011 at
Kirkton of Durrris Hall from 19.30 hours
1.
Sederunt
Community Councillors:
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 16): Graeme Clark, Wendy Agnew
Aberdeenshire Councillors (Ward 18): Linda Clark
Members of the public: Jean Downie, John Hopkins, Mark Bramwell
Apologies: Don Keith, Howard Scholey, Jenny Watson, Peter Bellarby
2.
Chairman’s
Report.
The report was distributed to those present. David Morrish summarised the main points of his report, reproduced here:-
2011
Community Councillors
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CC Office |
Community Area Represented |
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Crathes |
Drumoak |
Durris |
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Chairman |
David Morrish |
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Vice Chairman |
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John Baillie (Resigned) |
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Vice Chairman |
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Treasurer |
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John Hopkins* |
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Secretary |
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Minute Secretary |
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John Hopkins* |
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Planning |
David Morrish |
Geoffrey
Atkinson |
James Williamson |
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Planning |
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John
Baillie (Resigned) |
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Access |
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Molly
Atkinson* |
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Park
Quarry Liaison |
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Donald
Keith* |
William
Downie* |
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K&M
CC Forum |
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John
Hopkins* |
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Marr
CC Forum |
David
Morrish |
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Website |
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John
Hopkins* |
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General |
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Jenny
Watson |
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General |
Anne
Ross |
Jennifer Milne (Resigned) + |
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General |
Howard Scholey |
Gill Bruce++ |
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General |
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General |
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Total no. councillors |
3 |
3 |
1 |
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7 |
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* non-members +
Co-opted March 2011 ++ Co-opted
May 2011
Resignations: John Ballie (notification received in June)
Jennifer
Milne (notification received in November, prior to the AGM)
Community
Councillors
Following the 2010 AGM the community council had
the constitutional minimum number of councillors and carried forward an
intention to recruit. During 2011, the Community Council welcomed two new
co-opted members but by the end of the year, two resignations returned us to a
merely quorate strength once again.
Road
Safety
2011
has been another year where Road Safety has been a regular and predominant
agenda item. The Crathes Speed limit was introduced and the notorious Myrebird
junction had its sight-lines greatly improved. Notable too was the public
petition to reduce the Kirton of Durris speed limit to 40mph. Following a speed
survey this requested was not supported by Roads Department at this time. At
year-end the community council continue their campaign for the reduction into
2012.
In
general, there is some dismay at the Council’s apparent adherence to
‘standards’ and lack of discretion in the face of common sense requests based
on local knowledge and the apparent ‘different standards’ applied in other
areas where if there are houses, there is a 30mph limit.
Schools
The
Community Council has maintained a watching brief on the funding situation for
the Drumoak primary school which is due for replacement by 2016.
Raising our Profile & Community Planning
Although
a priority for 2011 the Community Council has sadly made almost no progress on
this front, despite a significant amount of discussion. Ideas to kick-off a
community planning exercise failed to find a starting point despite the
resources available to support such an initiative. The problem appeared to be
‘finding a way’ to address the Community Council area which is formed by one
large village and a number of widespread small ‘hamlets’ within a quite remote
and rural landscape, contained by hills and divided by a river. Altogether, the
CDDCC community has some very diverse needs and the CC was unable to come up
with a way into the idea of ‘engaging the community’ in content other that Road
Safety and Local Planning.
Strategic Planning
and Local Development Plan
The most significant aspects of planning in 2011are
twofold. Firstly, we still don’t
have the Local Plan adopted in what appears to be an endless process and
secondly, we end 2011 with a large number of planning events or issues, at least
two of which, would appear to be in stark contrast to the tenet expressed in
the plan (yet to be adopted). These are:
·
Kilcluny Village
·
Brodie
Countryfare
·
Housing in
Crathes
·
Crathes
Crematorium
·
Holiday Chalets
The
SSPCA centre, now in operation, is now potentially exhibiting problems
predicted by the local community at the time of application where proposed
mitigation was avoided through the appeal process.
It
seems clear, that in 2012, the Community Council will require a strong profile
if it is to orchestrate the kind of public engagement necessary to respond to
the emerging rash of applications.
Finally,
the words expressed in last year’s chairman’s report seem perfectly relevant
today:
“the applications that we have dealt with are a constant reminder
that we need to pay close attention, especially to the larger ones. We need to
remember that developers, and their agents, are full time professionals and,
despite the attempt at improving local consultation, are commercial cynics who
are usually good at the ‘game’. In 2010, there are applicants in the CC area
who ‘salami-slice’ their applications revealing the full intent only piece at a
time, even later appealing against conditions imposed. In 2010, we have learned
again that we need to think along the same lines as developers if we are to
make good representations on behalf of the community.”
Policing
This
year the main subject involving discussions with the police were some youth
issues in Drumoak causing a certain amount of anxiety. In this instance, the
Community Council consulted with the relevant agencies with a view to
clarifying what the community could do to ensure that any incidents were
properly recorded and thereby brought to the attention of those who could
address the problem. Some support was made available in the form of visits from
youth workers, an effort likely to yield results in proportion to input also
from local volunteers.
The
police have continued to issue monthly newsletters. These raise current issues
which is very helpful. Police members have continued to attend CC meetings when
available which is very much appreciated.
It
remains for me to thank each and every member of the 2011 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 Christmas and the
New Year.
David
Morrish
CDDCC
Chairman 2011
3.
Treasurer’s
Report
There were no other questions on the accounts. The accounts were proposed by John Hopkins, seconded by David Morrish and formally adopted and signed.
To submit the accounts to Aberdeenshire Council, with a request for the 2011/12 Administration Grant (Action: John Hopkins)
4.
Urgent
Planning Issues
4.1 Kincluny Village (formerly Park
Eco-village)
David Morrish noted that, whilst the democratic process
whereby this proposal had been rejected from the Local Development Plan was
understood, it was not clear what democratic process validated the continued
re-presentation of the proposal. To
organise a public meeting, in the New Year, of the Community Council, local
Councillors, the Planning Unit and the general public to discuss this issue (Action: David Morrish)
Wendy Agnew strongly recommended that Piers Blaxter be invited to the meeting.
4.2 Brodie Countyfare
It would appear that the Brodie Countryfare proposal has
been resubmitted, for the same site as before.
To invite the proposer to speak to CDDCC about the proposal, how it
differs from the previously-rejected proposal and the significance of it not
being in the Local Development Plan (Action:
David Morrish)
4.3 Housing at Crathes
There has been no further planning application as yet, so there is nothing to which to react, although it is apparent that proposal are being developed.
4.4 Crathes
Crematorium
This has reached the stage of an enquiry about potential sites. The Leys Estate has reportedly indicated that the wooded site north-west of the Crathes crossroads might be feasible.
4.5 Holiday Chalets
in Drumoak
There was a general feeling that this proposal was not financially viable and that it might be no more than a device to sidestep controls on new housing in the countryside. Despite this, it was agreed that CDDCC should neither support nor oppose the application.
5.
Nominations
for CDDCC Membership
As Returning Officer, John Hopkins declared that a total of 7 valid nomination forms had been received for membership of CDDCC from December 2011 onwards. As this number was less than the number of vacancies, he declared that the following were appointed to the (reconstituted) CDDCC:-
The next election would be in 2014. In the interim, vacancies should be dealt with by co-option.
David Morrish proposed that election of office-bearers be addressed at the January 2011 meeting.
6.
Meeting
Dates for 2012
Meetings for 2012 would be on the first Wednesday of each month (excepting July) at 7.30 p.m. at Crathes Hall. The hope was expressed that CDDCC would be able to arrange a Bike Ride in July (there had been none in 2011).
The AGM was then
declared closed.
Wine and cheese were
then served.
JFH
9 December 2011
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DISTRIBUTION |
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EMAIL |
EMAIL |
EMAIL |
EMAIL |
WEBSITE |
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CDDCC
Councillors (excl. Jenny Watson) |
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Insp. |
Diane Collinson (KMAP) |
http://www.durris.net/
(also for previous minutes) |
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Cllrs.
Linda Clark, Karen Clark, Jill Webster (Ward 16) |
Gary Cruden (STV) |
Insp. Steve Golightly |
Alison Ritchie, Community
Learning |
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Cllrs.
Peter Bellarby, Graeme Clark, Mike Sullivan, Wendy Agnew (Ward 18) |
Graeme Scott (Press and Journal) |
PC |
BY POST Jenny Watson Banchory Public Library Drumoak
Church Hall Notice Board |
BY
HAND Park
Shop Drumoak
Post Office Irvine
Arms |
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Mr
W Munro, Area Manager, Kincardine & Mearns |
Kirkton of Durris Hall Notice Board (via |
Crathes Hall Notice Board (via Nicola Chambury) |
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Mr
L Allen, Area Manager, Marr |
Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – |
Local Newsletter Editor (Marion Nixon) |
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