May

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTE OF THE MEETING

ON THE 25^th May 2006 AT 7.30PM

IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

Present: Chris Hunneyball, Bill Blackwood, Susan Milton, Alexandra Burnett, Jim Piggins, Mavis Wainman, David Evans, Hazel Al-Kowarri, Annie Ferries, Janet Newberry, Ian Wakley, and Paul Smart. .

Attending: Cllr Alastair Leitch, Jack Clark; members of the public A. McArthur, R. McArthur, G. Paterson, J. Booth, and Rose Ann Brodie.

Welcome - Chris welcomed members of the Community Council, and members of the public.

Apologies for absence - Cllr Gurudeo Saluja, Pat Findlater, Eric Pashley, and Neil Johnson.

Jack Clark - From Aberdeenshire Council Waste Management Committee gave a thorough discussion of the new recycling programme which will be instituted in the Garioch area in the next few weeks. This programme is in direct response to an EU directive to reduce landfill usage by 75% from 1995 levels by 2020. The council will be fined for every ton of waste sent to landfill that is over target, and this fine will increase over time. Therefore Aberdeenshire is moving to a waste collection system in which the weekly collections alternate between kerbside pickups of recyclable items and wheelie-bin collections. Communities with more than 300 households will receive the weekly alternating service while rural communities and households will receive one fortnightly pickup for both recyclable and waste materials and a blue bins for paper which will be collected once a month. A second bin may be allocated on a case by case basis to a household if need can be proved. Mr. Clark frankly admitted that this represents a cut in service for rural households. If there are problems or questions people should contact the Garioch Area Waste Office on the Wasteline number.

Police Matters - The Chairman circulated a news release from Cllr Saluja regarding a drive to enhance a community based approach to policing by increasing the number of Community Beat Officers. The news release highlighted the effectiveness of this approach by citing statistics for Inverurie and Kemnay.

Minute of Meeting held on 23rd February 2005 were approved

Adoption Proposed Mavis Seconded Susan

Question Time - Opportunity for Members of Public to speak - .

Concern regarding congestion on High Street created by buses parking to allow their schedule to catch up with them combined with cars parked along the street and lorries unloading goods at the shops were discussed. Ideas presented included rerouting the buses to exclude the High Street, putting an "access only" restriction on lorries, and rerouting school buses Annie and others raised concerns that buses should stop on High Street because some people with mobility difficulties need easy access to the Post Office and the Surgery. The subject was tabled for discussion at the next meeting. Anyone who has opinions on the matter is encouraged to contact members of the community council or email the chairman, whose email address is on the Kemnay web page in the Community Council section.

The landscaping work around the Kemnay Carrier was praised. A letter of thanks has been sent to Bob Rose.

Concern was raised about cars parked along Station Rd creating problems for some with mobility problems to park near High Street. After some discussion the council asked Cllr Leitch to look into the possibility of putting disabled parking spaces along the High Street near the Surgery.

Matters arising from Minute

Mini Motos and small motorcycles in the village-The newsletter had received a letter regarding the discussion in the April meeting.

Police 0845 Number for reporting crimes- Cllr Saluja had reported saying that this number is to allow people from all over Aberdeenshire to call at Local Rates. If people don't want to call it the alternative is the Crimestoppers number.

Swimming Pool-Jim reported that the AGM on 18 May was well attended. A new committee was elected and a full report will be in the Newsletter.

Community Consultations-To try and improve consultation it was agreed that the next newsletter editorial would invite any group who would like to receive minutes and agendas to email Chris. The minutes will indicate subjects which will be brought up at the next meeting.

Aberdeenshire News - Cllr Leitch attended the 25th anniversary of Friends of the International Youth Festival. The Aberdeenshire International Youth Festival will launch 14 June this year.

Planning Applications - None were contentious.

Report from Community Learning and Development Representative - Jim reported that funding for the Youth Café was being assisted by the Aberdeenshire Council, and that 15 or 16 youth from Kemnay took part in the Balmoral Road Race. The Senior Youth Club started on the 19^th May and there is still need for an adult education coordinator.

Bus Forum The bus forum was poorly attended, with Kemnay producing about half those present. Thanks go to Douglas Bain who provided transport to the meeting. Bob Hall was not there but Pat McMullan represented Stagecoach. There are problems with the new timetables, with poor connections and gaps in times of service. There is a new service that takes a roundabout route from Kemnay to the Airport terminal. One complaint was dealt with quite quickly: Chris had commented on the lack of timetables in the village, and next day Somerfield received a supply that was quickly snapped up. The person to contact with complaints is Julie Baker between 0900 and 1700 Monday to Friday. Outside those times it is difficult to communicate problems to Stagecoach.

Unfinished Business -

Christmas Lights-It was agreed to approach local businesses for funds for the Christmas tree lights. Susan will provide the trees, and Ian offered to put them up. The Christmas Lights committee consisting of Chris, Hazel, and Susan was resurrected and Ian agreed to join.

Bogbeth toilets - The Cricket club has a door and is waiting for it to be installed.

AOCB

Calor Gas Awards-Not this year due to lack of time and because little had changed since the last entry.

Aberdeenshire Outdoor Local Access Forum: There will be an exhibition of path plans in Inverurie on 8 June.

The Community Council Forum will meet next Thursday A possible future briefing is to have an induction session for new councillors.

It was suggested that traffic calming measures be put in place in Paradise Rd. Anyone with views is asked to voice them to a community council member, email the Chairman, or attend the next meeting.

Need for doggie bins on Station Road. It appears several large dogs are leaving generous deposits on the pavement. These deposits are drawing large amounts of interest, if not irritation from those who have to walk along that way. It is difficult to miss the messes. (Station Road is becoming a dangerous place to visit, between aerial bombardment from the rooks and land mines from the dogs.) A doggie bin is needed there desperately. Unfortunately experience shows that the dog owners with the messiest dogs are the least likely to clean up after them.

Date of Next Meeting - Thursday 29^th June 2006 Members of the public are welcome to attend