January

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT
FOR THE MEETING HELD IN THE WAINMAN ROOM

ON THURSDAY 25th January 2001 7.30pm

1.Present:- Mr A. Al-Kowarri, Mr D. Caney, Mr A. Davies, Mr D. Evans, Mr P. Findlater, Mr C. Hunneyball, Mrs S. Milton, Mrs J. Newberry, Dr J. Piggins, Mr A. Thomson, Mrs M. Wainman.

Attending:-. Ms P. Alexander, Ms L. Gibb, Mr R. Hutchison, Councillor A. Leitch, Mrs D. McGregor, Ms H. Miller, Councillor G. Saluja.

2. The Minute of meeting held on Thursday 30^th November 2000 was adopted.

Proposed: Mr A. Thomson Seconded: Mrs S. Milton

3. Economic Development Presentation

Mr Reid Hutchison, the Community Development Advisor for Aberdeenshire Council, gave the Community Council an interesting presentation explaining his role. He explained that his job was to look at needs of communities, and try and marry requirements of adjoining settlements so that there was not unnecessary competition for scarce resources and funding. However, it was up to communities to actually identify their needs. He also sought to avoid clashes between events - for instance, it made sense for festivals and other events which might attract tourists not to be held on the same day, and ideally within a timescale that could allow visitors to attend more than one event. He stressed that he was not there to help compose applications for grants, but to act as a conduit to Aberdeenshire Council and to give what advice he could.

Mrs Wainman suggested he might be able to give advice on how to attract companies to set up business in Kemnay, where there was a ready pool of workers with a variety of skills.

4. Police Matters

There was no police representation at the meeting.

5. Matters Arising from Last Minute

a. Building Site Debris It was not known what action had been taken by the contractors, Crombie Developments, to clean up the site behind the Burnett Arms. Councillor Leitch undertook to investigate.

6. Unfinished Business

a. One to One Communications Mast. One 2 One had now made formal application to erect a 10m mast at the quarry.

b. Trees in Bremner Way. Aberdeenshire Council have said that they hope to plant 20-30 trees in Bremner Way to replace those destroyed by storm or other accidents.

c. Late Night Bus Service. Aberdeenshire Council would look at the possibility of subsidising the late night bus service, but pointed out that one of the major problems had been the attacks on the late bus from Inverurie, which had led to that service being withdrawn.

d. Project Grant Allocation. It was hoped to repair the village notice board.

7. Garioch Area Community Council Forum

This had dealt with budget matters.

If the budget allowed, Mr Evans pointed out that the pavement by the Primary School was very narrow, and being on a blind corner heavy lorries came extremely close to pedestrians. This meant that children going to the Primary School had to walk on the opposite side of the road, and if coming from Milton Meadows had to cross three roads rather than one.

Mr Davies asked if it would be possible to provide a youth centre.

Councillor Leitch said that the matter of public toilets being reopened was under review as part of a larger study.

8. New Business

a. 220 Bus Service. Mrs McGregor said that she had recently learned that the 220 Service would terminate in Blackburn from mid February. This was quite unacceptable, particularly for the rush hour buses which were well used, and the change could put people's jobs in jeopardy if they could not travel to Aberdeen reliably. It was agreed to write to Stagecoach Bluebird, with copies to MPs and Councillors. The possibility of a public meeting was also discussed, and Mrs McGregor agreed to talk to commuters about this. It was also suggested that Grampian Midweek be involved. Councillor Leitch totally supported Mrs McGregor's points, but said that the Council did not have the power to intervene.

b. Road from Kemnay to Midmill. It was reported that there was a drainage problem at the bridge spanning the A96. The Roads Department would be informed.

c. Recycling Bins. It was agreed that an additional bin for cardboard should be requested.

d. Tree Planting at Kirkstyle. This had not yet been done, and the Council would be so informed.

e. Graffiti. The garage next to the toilets in the car park was covered in graffiti. Mr Evans volunteered to contact the owner and paint it himself. There was also still graffiti on the pavilion. The Chairman said he would speak to the Chairman of the Parks Committee.

9. Report from Safety Group

There had been concern about the safety of the playground equipment, and this had now been checked as part of an ongoing audit.

Lobbying about the reduction in ambulance control stations was continuing.

There was nothing further to report about the draft action plan.

The Annual Safety Seminar was being held on 31^st March in Inverurie Town Hall.

Ground had been acquired in Kellands Park for the skate board rink.

10. Aberdeenshire News

Councillors Leitch and Saluja gave a report.

11. Planning Applications

Modifications to an approved application to convert the steading at Dalmadilly had been received, as had an application for an extension at 7 Burnett Road. There had also been an application to build a house at the top of Parkhill.

12. Correspondence

Nominations, either organisations or individuals, were required for Safety Awards.

The Census Office had offered to give a talk about the census to interested groups. They were particularly interested in addressing the young, the elderly and ethnic minorities.

13. The next meeting would be held on Thursday 22^nd February 2001 in the Wainman Room, Kemnay Village Hall.