November

KEMNAY COMMUMTY COUNCIL
REPORT FOR MEETING HELD

ON THURSDAY 24th November 2005

Present:
Chris Hunneyball, Jim Piggins, May15 Wainman, Pat Findlater, David Evans, Janet Newberry, Bill Blackwood, Neil Johnson, Hazel Al Kowarri, Apologies - Alan Davies, Susan Milton, Cllr Leitch.

Question Time:
No members of the public were in attendance.

Police News:
No police presence.

Aberdeenshire News:
No representative from Aberdeenshire Council, Hazel Al-Kowarri passed on a message from Cllr Leitch that the Community Network Group was in a position to bid for a variety of funding for education projects in the village.

Planning Applications:
David Evans outlined 2 applications within the village. Both are extensions and raised no issues to which the Community Council would have any objection.

The siting of a ‘temporary' marquee in the garden of a house on Bremner way was discussed. The term temporary implied that its use would be limited to less than 28 days. It had however been in place since April. The planning department would be consulted to ascertain how this matter should be dealt with.

Community Council Nominations:
Nomination forms have been produced and will be available from the Post Office. Date for return of completed applications is 26th February and this would be publicized via the newsletter,

Christmas Lights:
Help had been requested in the last newsletter, but only two volunteers had made contact and neither would be likely to be able to make a large commitment of time. There had been no response from anyone who would be able to offer technical support e.g. electricians, builders etc., or who could provide storage facilities. In view of this lack of enthusiasm, ~ sadly it was felt that it was pointless to continue with the project.

Public Transport:
The next Garioch Area Bus Forum will now be in February, despite attempts to get this date brought forward given the large number of complaints which had been made about the Kemnay service.

Roads:
The poor level of gritting on the roads was raised by Jim Piggins. Although the extreme weather had been forecast, little or nothing had been done within the village by the time the meeting had commenced, indeed the poor state of the roads may well account for the low attendance this evening. Mavis Wainman raised the more positive state of the pavements, which as usual, are cleared and gritted to a high standard from a very early hour. It was felt that because this is done at a local level, the commitment to maintaining a high standard was greater. Neil Johnson will write Aberdeenshire Council to raise the issue and investigate whether a gritter can be ‘earmarked' for this area.

Safety Group
Pat Findlater reported on recent events in the safety group: Children's wrist-bands have been circulated to all primary pupils to reinforce the safety message.

The Housing Anti-social Behaviour Officer is coming to the next meeting.

Rural development small awards had been made towards water safety equipment, RoSPA booklets to schools and Pass Plus driving safety info to schools.

Neil Johnson reported on the excellent "Safe Drive Stay Alive" event which had taken place at the Thainstone Centre last month - aimed to improve road safety in school pupils in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire who are about to become eligible to learn.

Litter Bins
A suitable map was presented and sites of current and future waste and dog-waste bins would be indicated. A request would then be made to install the additional bins

AOCB
Community Learning and Development were seeking additional members for the Youth Café steering group Mavis Wainman was volunteered' Road calming measures in St Brydes Road have been amended in line with previous requests although it was still felt that the opportunity to make the road safer for pedestrians was being missed and further changes would be suggested.

Swimming Pool - last meeting had 8 attendees and the poor response to the questionnaire was disappointing.

Fireworks - Janet Newberry was thanked for arranging another superb show. She reported that she may have found someone else to accept the mantle for the future.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 26th January 2005