February

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT
FOR THE MEETING HELD

ON THURSDAY 24TH FEBRAURY 2005

Present
Alan Davies, Billy Ridler, Jim Piggins, Mavis Wainman, Pat Findlater, Susan Milton, Sheila Taylor, Roger Durham, David Evans, Janet Newberry.

Apologies
Chris Hunneyball, Hazel Al-Kowarri, Bill Blackwood, and Cllr Leitch tendered their apologies.

Attending
Neil Johnson, Alan Lyon.

Introduction
Alan Davies (Vice Chair) opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

Question Time
An opportunity for members of the public to address the Community Council

Mr Lyon raised the ongoing issue of the skatepark in Bogbeth Park. Including:a large quantity of spoil which had been left in a field near Leschangie and not covered over.

The soakaway had still not been constructed and he had heard from Ian Fowell (Garioch Area Manager) that Aberdeenshire Council was intending to take over construction of this.

He had contacted the Office of the Charity Regulator and that they (the regulator) had asked for accounts to be lodged with them within 21 days.

He was concerned about an invoice submitted to Aberdeenshire Council for £22,000 3 months after the project appeared to have been completed.

That the area around Kemnay House woods was being used as part litter bin, part public toilet and this were posing a health and safety issue.

Alan Davies sympathized with Mr Lyon and recognized that he was genuinely concerned about how the skate park project had affected them. He pointed out that there was very little the Community Council could do to help him - although he suggested that Mr Lyon should come to the next meeting at which Mr Fowell would be present and to raise matters with him.

Mr Davies showed Mr Lyon that accounts had now been received by the Community Council for the skatepark project, and he asked members of the council to look at them for the next meeting.

Janet Newberry asked Mr Lyon to forward copies of all the paperwork he had in relation to the matter to Aberdeenshire Council.

Bus Forum Meeting (2nd March)
Mavis Wainman raised this issue and complained that notification came too late for the last Newsletter issue and the meeting would have taken place before the next issue was circulated. A free bus would be available and details were on the village notice boards.

Roads
Mavis Wainman raised the issue of the new roundabout at the Dunecht/Kintore crossroads. The exit road when travelling towards Kemnay has been built at far too tight an angle for large vehicles and they had clearly been forced to cut across the verge a number of times already. Jim Piggins asked whether there was any plan to the sudden proliferation of roundabouts. David Evans explained that many of these issues had been raised by the Community Council over the course of a number of consultations and their concerns had been ignored.

Mavis Wainman commended Aberdeenshire Council on the big improvement to the gritting and ploughing around the village this year.

Planning applications
2 applications were discussed. A request to build in the rear garden of a property on Kendal Park caused some debate relating to both access, via a small lane at the back, and the desirability of squeezing houses into very small plots. David Evans reported that the development was in line with Council policy and that we did not have grounds to appeal on the basis of access.

The request for permission to build on land adjacent to Bogbeth Road has been appealed by the developer, and although the Community Council had been an objector, they had not received notice of this appeal. Both Mr Lyon and Dr Piggins stated that they had received such notice. Neil Johnson will write to the Scottish Executive requesting clarification.

Unfinished Business
Pavilion Toilets - this was raised again in light of developments around the skate park and will be discussed with Ian Fowell at the next meeting

Trees on the Village Green - these were now in place and their positioning was agreed to be suitable.

Report from the Safety Group
In the absence of a representative, Pat Findlater reported on the Garioch and North Marr Safety Group Meeting. Of particular interest was a scheme called Pass Plus to improve the skills of drivers who had recently passed their driving test. This scheme was currently being pursued by 2 pupils at the Academy.

AOCB
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Thursday 31st March 2005

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO COME ALONG TO THESE MEETINGS