September

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT OF THE MEETING IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

ON THE 27th SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 7.30PM

Present:
Chris Hunneyball (Chairman), Bill Blackwood, Margaret Christie, David Evans, Annie Ferries, Neil Johnson, Susan Milton, Jim Piggins, Paul Smart, Alex Thomas, Mavis Wainman.

Attending:
Three members of the public.

1. Apologies:
Hazel Al-Kowarri, Allison Grant, Janet Newberry, Eric Pashley.

2. Welcome:
Chris Hunneyball welcomed those present, and announced the resignation of Ian Wakely, who is moving from Kemnay.

3. Police matters:
There was no member of the Police Force present, and no report.

4. The minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2007 were approved.

5. Question Time:
The matter of representation at Planning meetings was raised. The Chairman indicated that the rules had been changed so that Community Councils could be represented at such meetings.

6. Matters Arising from the minutes:
a) Litter: - New litter bins had been installed in the village. It was pointed out that the bins were emptied but not cleaned. It was agreed to write to the Council on the matter.

b) Goal Posts: - There had been no response from the Council about the installation of the Goal Posts offered by the Police. They were to be contacted again.

7. Aberdeenshire news:
Hazel Al-Kowarri had drawn attention to graffiti at the Skatepark, but had said that she would deal with the matter at Council level.

8. Planning matters and applications:
a) Aquithie Road appeal by Barratts (Lawrence's old site): - The appeal had lasted 2½ days. The chairman proposed and Margaret Christie seconded a vote of thanks to David Evans for all the work he had done on the Community Council's submission.

b) Kirkstyle: - There was an application to build 54 houses where 20 houses had been approved. A letter of objection had been written.

c) New Applications: - There appeared to be nothing contentious.

9. Community Planning:
A report was tabled. It was pointed out that more information was required from the community on, for example, transport problems, access difficulties, youth development and so on. It was suggested that the website, or an extension of it, might help with this.

10. Garioch Area Community Council Forum:
A report on the most recent meeting was tabled. Delegates were sought for the ASCC meeting in Aberdeen in October. There had been a call for the involvement of youth in Community Councils and local issues, but the point was made that it was difficult to involve young people if all their requests were turned down. Jim Piggins mentioned that 6 young people from the Youth Café had participated in an Ocean Youth Trust voyage.

11. Youth Café Sub Committee:
Charitable status had now been granted for this. It was agreed that this was no longer a sub-committee of the Community Council, but a committee in its own right.

12. Christmas Lights Sub Committee:
Kellas have given a donation. Storage is available. New members were sought for the sub-committee.

13. Report from Safety Group Representative:
There was no report, but a new Safety Group representative was sought.

14. Report from Community Learning and Development Representative:
Attendance at Community Learning classes is to be monitored following the increase in fees. The adult education co-ordinator is not to be replaced.

15. New Business:
a) Bus Forum: - A report on the most recent meeting was tabled.

b) Plants for Community Projects: - Mavis Wainman had agreed to deal with the Council's offer of plants for community projects.

c) Community Council Boundaries: - It was agreed to request that the boundaries remain unchanged.

d) Induction Session: - It was agreed that this was unnecessary.

e) ASCC AGM: - No-one volunteered to attend this.

16. Unfinished Business: - There was no unfinished business.

17. Correspondence: - Various publications had been received from Aberdeenshire Council. A letter had been received from Oran regarding operations at their Kintore facility.

18. AOCB
a) Conservation Area: - There was a suggestion that this should be extended to include both sides of Kendal Road. Questions were asked about Clinkstone Cottage at Parkhill.

b) Notice Board: - The Community Notice Board at the Post Office had been vandalised, but would be repaired.

c) Paradise Road: - Speed restriction notices had been installed only on the one-way section. It was agreed to write asking for the restrictions to be extended to the whole of Paradise Road.

d) Flood risk: - Neil Johnston asked if it was possible to get someone from Aberdeenshire Council to speak to the Community Council about modelling of the Don for flooding.

e) River verge: - This had recently been savagely "tidied up" removing wildlife habitats. It was agreed to write to the Council asking why this had been done.

f) Trees: - Some of the trees in the Bremner Way/Kembhill Park area are very close to houses. It was agreed to write to the Council to enquire about their policy about the proximity of trees to houses.

g) Birley Bush: - There was comment about the activities at Birley Bush involving noisy machinery. Enquiries were to be made of the council as to what was happening.

Date of Next Meeting:
Thursday 25th October 2007 at 7.30 pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend