November

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
REPORT OF MEETING IN THE VILLAGE HALL

27th NOVEMBER 2003

PRESENT:
Cdr C. Hunneyball, Miss S. Taylor, Mrs S. Milton, Ms H. Al-Kowarri, Mrs M. Wainman, Mr A. Davies, Dr R. Dunham, Mr D. Evans, Mr A. Thomson, Dr J. Piggins and J. Newberry

ATTENDING:
Inspector D. Allan, Mr John Sorrie (Inverurie Herald), Mr J. Whittal and Ms K. Rigby

APOLOGIES:
Mr P. Findlater, Mr B. Blackwood, Mr A. Hinton, Mr T. McKay, Cllr G. Saluja and Cllr A. Leitch.

1. POLICE MATTERS
Inspector Allan gave us a very interesting presentation on the recorded crime statistics for 2002/2003 to date. The recorded crime to date for November was at it lowest for 2 years at 8 reported and whilst we had 26 in October we only had 11 in September. It is encouraging to know that these are the figures for Kemnay and it is low compared to other communities in the area but we should not be complacent. There has been some recent vandalism at the Church Centre and investigations are on going as to why this continues to happen and what can be done to resolve this.

2. PRESENTATION BY JOHN WHITTAL FROM FETTERNEAR ESTATE
Mr Whittal came along to update us on the progress on the Estate and the plans for the future. They have applied for different funding for the estate and have been successful in getting funding to help with conservation of the building and landscape and are working on an access and audience plan. They also received funding to allow them to produce some literature on a brief history of the estate and on the birds that can be found there and these will be put on sale to visitors.

3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTE FROM 30/10/03
Proposed by Dr J. Piggins
Seconded by Mrs S. Milton.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTE
a.) Induction Day for Community Council Members on Planning Process
held on 18th November - Very informative event.

b) Website Update - Some information still to be received,

c.) Rubbish at the end of Aquithie Road - Ongoing investigation,

d.) Wood Gardens/ Kendall Road - Damaged Wall - The Community Council has applied for a grant to get this repaired

e.) Aberdeenshire Design Awards - Still to work on nominations due to the timescale for when the work had to be completed by.

f.) Proposal of Community Council Updated Constitution - Approved by all members.

g.) Trees cut down on Aquithie Road in car park - No  response  from Aberdeenshire Council as to who is responsible for this.

h.) Stop Sign at Midmill junction being ignored - Awaiting reply from Aberdeenshire Council on the road layout.

i.) Light Pollution from driving range - The lights are switched off at 9pm and do not cause a problem to car users so this was dropped as an issue.

5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a.) Youth Cafe plans/update
On hold until January as waiting on some more quotes for the work required.

b.) Glebe Obstruction
Still there almost a year on. Aberdeenshire Council are dealing with this matter.

c.) Aberdeenshire Local Plan
New date received for Community Council to put across their objections has now been confirmed as 11th of May.

d.) Toilet Facilities for Bogbeth Park
Nothing  further  to  report  from Aberdeenshire Council at this time.

e.) Kemnay Village Sports Day 2004
No date for this event confirmed yet but Kemnay Park and Pavilion Committee have expressed their interest to help with the event.

6. NEW BUSINESS
a.) Agenda Format
It was suggested as a result of the training events that we improve our agenda. Also to allow a slot for questions for the general public who are welcome to attend our meetings to speak. New agenda proposed and accepted for our next meeting.

b.) Budget Briefing on 9th of December
KCC to be represented by Mrs Wainman and Cdr Hunneyball.

7. REPORT FROM THE SAFETY GROUP
As Mr Findlater could not be here Ms Rigby gave the report. They have again several very good and interesting projects ongoing one of which is community wardens, it will have a pilot scheme in the northeast before being introduced to other areas. Funding was also given to Kemnay Academy to help with the cost of a Driving Ambition Day, which is run in conjunction with Grampian Police and Lawrence of Kemnay to 6th year pupils. There is also a new scheme from the Driving Safety Agency called 'Arrive Alive' on road safety.

8. PRESS REPORTS
Several items. The Broadband target has been set at 500 and at this time they have 424 names so a drive is on to get the 500.

9. ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL NEWS
No Councillors were able to be present to update us on any matters on this.

10. PLANNING APPLICATIONS - No objections as nothing contentious.

11. CORRESPONDENCE - All in circulation to members.

12. A.O.C.B
Thanks expressed to Janet Newberry for the wonderful firework display once again this year and all her hard work to organise this. Leading Edge have almost got the whole £60,000 they wanted to raise to get the skatepark underway so are looking to start building this in the new year.

No buses turned up on Monday morning. This has been reported to the bus company but we would urge bus users to always put their comments in writing as this is logged with the bus company.

The path along the riverside is in a very bad state and is very slippery. A letter is to be sent to Aberdeenshire Council to ask that something be done to repair this as soon as possible.

13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
29th OF JANUARY 2004 - ALL WELCOME