November

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTE OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2001

7.30 PM IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

1. Present:- Mr A. Davies, Mr D. Evans, Cdr C. Hunneyball, Mrs J. Newberry, Dr J. Piggins, Mr A. Thomson, Mrs M. Wainman
Attending:- Mr P. Aikenhead, Sgt L. Brown, Mr D. Geddes, Mr F. Milloy, (Inverurie Herald), Mr T. McKay, Councillor A. Leitch, Mr C. Ogilvie, PC J. Redford, Mr C. Simpson
Apologies:- Mr D. Caney, Mr P. Findlater, Mrs M. Michie, Mrs S. Milton, Councillor G. Saluja

2. Police Matters

Dr Piggins welcomed Sgt Brown and PC Redford to the meeting.

Cdr Hunneyball reported that there had so far been 583 signatures on the petition for increased police presence in Kemnay, but that there were more to come. It was agreed that the petition should be sent to Mike Rumbles MSP, who had agreed to pass it on to Mr Wallace, the Justice Minister. A copy would go to Inspector Allen.

Sgt Brown said that Aberdeenshire Council were responsible for lifting the abandoned car out of the Don. The police had been unable to trace the owner.

There was a complaint that the police telephones were often not answered. Sgt Brown explained that if Kemnay Station was unmanned, calls were diverted to Inverurie, but cover was very thin in Aberdeenshire, and often there was only one person to deal with all matters in Inverurie Station. Unanswered calls were then diverted to the call centre in Queen Street. Lack of officers was also the reason why police often took so long to respond to calls. Non urgent matters were now being diverted to Aberdeen, where, if possible, they would be dealt with on the telephone, saving the need for an officer having to call. Sgt Brown also mentioned that if a telephone was left off the hook, it eventually rang the exchange, showing 112. As this was the emergency number on the continent these calls had to be investigated. It was also hoped to reduce the police involvement in witness citations, licensing enquiries and the issue of shotgun licences.

Mr McKay said that Kemnay Academy had a very good relationship with the police and, where necessary, Social Services.

3. Skateboard Rink

Cdr Hunneyball said that no one from Leading Edge had been able to attend this meeting, but they definitely hoped to come in January. He had been asked if he would send a letter of support from the Community Council to strengthen their case when applying for grants, and this he had done.

4. Minute of Meeting held on 25^th October 2001

The Minute of the Meeting held on 25^th October 2001 was approved.

Proposed: Mr A. Davies Seconded: Mr A. Thomson

5. Matters Arising from Last Minute

a. Youth Shelter

Councillor Leitch said that the Council was not keen on the conversion of the toilet to a shelter. Unless someone in Kemnay was interested, departments would be offered it, or it could be sold.

b. Pavilion Graffiti

The exterior of the pavilion was the responsibility of the Council, but only with respect to weather proofing, although it was possible that the Council might provide the paint if the users arranged for its application. There was some doubt as to whether users were paying the correct amount for the use of the pavilion, and Dr Piggins would follow this up. It was possible that the Pavilion Committee was being paid, but that the money had not yet been passed on.

c. Post Office Door

The Post Office had investigated the stiff door to the Post Office, but had said that it could not be adjusted without affecting the stability of the door.

d. 220 Bus Service

Stagecoach had replied to the latest complaint about overcrowding, saying that demand had exceeded expectations on some journeys, and that they had now provided extra resources to meet the demand. Dr Piggins said that usage of the service seemed to be dropping; perhaps because new students were finding alternative ways to commute.

e. Victoria Terrace Flooding

Aberdeenshire is arranging for a thorough check to be made of drains and gulleys to alleviate the flooding by the bowling club bus stop.

f. Aberdeenshire Council Design Awards 2002.

It was agreed that the Church Hall extension, Craigmyle Cottage, Leslie Place and Milton Farm were suitable construction projects for entry to the Aberdeenshire Council Design Awards 2002 competition. Mr Evans undertook to take the necessary photographs.

6. Representation at Association of Scottish Community Councils

Nominations for the ASCC Executive had been invited, but there were no volunteers from Kemnay.

7. Countryside Access Strategy Workshops

Mr Caney had attended a CAS workshop, which discussed the ways of how the information should be promulgated, and how the strategy should be carried forward.

Garioch Area Forum Meetings

A special meeting would be held on 5^th December for a Financial Briefing. Mr Davies and Mrs Wainman will attend. The normal meeting had been rescheduled for the 12^th December.

9. Unfinished Business

a. Victorian Lamp Post

Aberdeenshire Council have been unable to trace the missing granite sections for the base of the lamp post. There is a possibility of a new granite plinth being obtained. Mrs Wainman also noted that the engraving was slightly slanted, which was made obvious when the letters were infilled. The painting had therefore been postponed for the time being.

b. Crombie Court Lighting

Aberdeenshire Council has written to the developers to establish a programme for the installation of lighting at Crombie Court.

10. New Business

a. Pruning of Trees.

Mr Geddes said that Council workmen had recently done a very savage job pruning a tree in Millstone Place, and he felt more attention should be paid to residents' wishes. Councillor Leitch said that the trees were the responsibility of the Council, and he had been assured that the work was done correctly. It was not practicable to consult adjacent homeowners. Mr Geddes was not entirely convinced and would be looking for more judicious pruning in future.

11. Report from Safety Group

Mrs Wainman said that the Safety Group was planning a newsletter. She hoped this could be incorporated in the Kemnay newsletter.

Nominations for Community Safety Awards were invited. A first prize of £200, to be spent on furthering safety issues, was on offer.

12. Aberdeenshire News

Councillor Leitch gave his report. Among other issues, he had been looking at the plans for the skateboard rink, with a view to the Council being involved in the construction thereby saving the VAT.

13. Planning Applications

There were no contentious planning applications.

14. Correspondence

Information from Aberdeenshire Sports Council, the Association of Scottish Community Council Newsletter, and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency Newsletter had been circulated to Community Council Members. Information about the New Opportunities Fund had also been received.

15. A.O.C.B.

Mr Davies said that Kemnay Community Council should have received an administration grant of £377, but was actually sent £620. Unfortunately the balance had to be returned.

16. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 31^st January 2002 at 7.30 pm in the Wainman Room, Kemnay Village Hall.