May

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT
FOR THE MEETING HELD

ON THURSDAY 26th May 2005

Present:
Chris Hunneyball, A Davies, Jim Piggins, Mavis Wainman, Pat Findlater, Susan Milton, Roger Dunham, David Evans, Janet Newberry, Bill Blackwood, Neil Johnson

Apologies:
Hazel Al-Kowarri, Cllr Leitch & Cllr Saluja, tendered apologies.

Question Time:
No questions were raised from the floor

Police News:
Insp. Allan apologised for his poor attendance at recent meetings, but hoped that changes in shift patterns would make it possible for him to attend more meetings in the future. He outlined a variety of new initiatives and improvements to policing in the Kemnay area, including:

• The police station in the village is now being manned on 4 out of 5 shifts. The assignment of a probationer would see this increase still further in the future.
• The post of Community Police Officer would be filled by the autumn, with Community officers no longer being drawn away from local policing for response work. This should see a big increase in police presence around the village with key targets of reducing youth crime, vandalism and the reduction in traffic accidents.
• Local crime statistics were outlined and Kemnay's place near the bottom of these crime figures was well received.
• Changes in the way Special Constables were recruited and the payment of Specials has lead to an increase in recruitment. There are now several Specials around the village and this would also lead to an increase in ‘visible policing'.

Alan Davies asked about the role played by alcohol in youth crime within the village. Insp. Allan explained that the problem was no worse in Kemnay than anywhere else - and was in fact better than many other areas. He outlined a trial initiative being run in Inverurie by Barnardos to reduce alcohol-related crime and would report back on the outcome in the future.

Jim Piggins asked about the policing of parking in the village - in particular on the High Street. Insp. Allan replied that the role of Traffic Wardens had been the subject of review within the force and that they were now under the control of local inspectors. It was therefore likely that they would be visiting areas such as Kemnay more often in the future.

Chris Hunneyball asked about the system for the provision of speed limits on rural roads. Some seemed illogical (the length of the 40mph limit on the Kemnay-Kintore road was cited as an example). Insp. Allan responded that this was a matter for local authority and the Executive rather than the Police. Pat Findlater reported that Garioch and North Man Community Safety Group were writing to the Executive requesting a reduction in the national speed limit for rural single-carriageway roads without a centre marking.

Aberdeenshire News:
Ian Fowell outlined the changes that would take place to council wards from 2007. Ward sizes would increase with multiple councilors responsible for these larger wards. Kemnay would be within a large ward reaching as far as Echt and would have 4 councillors under the new system.

Planning applications:
4 applications for extensions were discussed. 2 had already been agreed and one which produced no dissent.

1 application for a house adjacent to ‘Tyrone' Aquithie Road provoked considerable discussion. Neil Johnson tabled a letter he had received from neighbouring residents, citing 8 reasons why the residents felt that this development should be opposed. The Community Council have voiced concerns for some time about houses being ‘shoe-horned' into very small plots, often in gardens, to the detriment of the majority of the residents of Kemnay. David Evans reported that permission for development at this site had been refused in the past and that each time the plans had been revised. Although there did not appear to be immediate grounds for objection it was agreed that an objection in principal would be lodged to this development.

Chris Hunneyball spoke about the forthcoming appeal on the application by Barratt to build on land adjacent to Bogbeth Road. This was due to be heard in the village on 15th June and was expected to last for 3 days. Jim Piggins complained that the burden of providing multiple copies of the precognitions fell to the objector and that the requirement for a summary of the precognition to be provided suggested that the whole document might receive cursory inspection.

AOCB:
Janet Newberry outlined the initial plans for the upgrading of Kemnay Academy she obtained after attending the 21st Century Schools Improvement Programme.

Jim Piggins raised the continued lack of a street sign for the Glebe - Ian Fowell will follow this up.

Pat Findlater reported on the activities of the Garioch & North Man Community Safety group - RoSPA booklets are now being distributed at schools in Kemnay and the first responder scheme was now operational in Westhill and Newmachar The possibility of Christmas lights was discussed and the getting help from Aberdeenshire Council was discussed further. Arrangements in other areas are varied and Chris Hunneyball will discuss this with Kintore Community Council.

Date of next meeting:
Thursday 30^th June 2005

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO COME ALONG TO THESE MEETINGS - 7:3Opm