February

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT OF THE MEETING IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

ON THE 28TH FEBRUARY 2008 AT 7.30PM

Present:
Chris Hunneyball (Chairman), Bill Blackwood, Margaret Christie, David Evans, Annie Ferries, Pat Findlater, Neil Johnson, Janet Newberry, Eric Pashley, Jim Piggins, Mavis Wainman.

Attending:
Cllr Hazel Al-Kowarri.

1. Apologies:
Susan Milton, Paul Smart, Alex Thomas, PC Alex Allan.

2. Welcome:
Chris Hunneyball welcomed those present.

3. Police Matters:
A report on vandalism in Kemnay was tabled.

4. The Minutes of the Meeting held on 31 January 2008
were approved.

5. Question Time:
There were no members of the public present.

6. Matters Arising from the Minutes:
a) Details of the planning gain were being finalised but would be released shortly.

b) The induction training had been most successful.

c) No progress appeared to have been made on the goal posts. We are awaiting a reply from Aberdeenshire Council about their position on the Green.

d) The application for the design awards competition had been acknowledged.

e) Stagecoach have been reminded that school buses should not use the High Street - if any are observed doing so their registration numbers should be noted.

7. Aberdeenshire News:
Some trees on the Green and in Kembhill Park have been deemed unsafe and have been replaced.  There is general concern about lack of infrastructure for the large number of new houses throughout the Garioch.  A working party has been set up to consider the possibility of building council houses.

8. Planning Matters and Applications:
Neither the new practice area at the Golf Course nor the various applications for extensions caused concern.  It was noted that Stewart Milne had now taken over about half of the Bogbeth Road development from Barratts.

9. Community Planning:
A briefing note of the meeting of Aberdeenshire Community Planning Executive was considered.

10. Christmas Lights Sub-Committee:
It was believed that the Council might be willing to match funds which had already been raised and it was agreed to pursue this.

11. Report from Safety Group representative:
The Safety group had agreed to contribute towards a Street Sports Event in Kemnay and Blackburn in March.
It was noted that carbon monoxide detectors were getting more publicity, and it was agreed to consider the risk of CO poisoning to elderly people and to investigate costs.
The Annual Seminar was to take place on 12 April 2008 in Kemnay Church Centre.  Alex Salmond had been suggested as guest speaker.

12. Report from Community Learning and Development Representative:
The number of evening classes has reduced, perhaps because there is no longer a development worker.  Trampolining and Gymnastic classes no longer come under the aegis of Community Development.
There is to be an upholstery training day on 15 March 2008.
The crèches at Alehousewells and Kintore are losing money.
A dishwasher is to be installed in the Youth Café, which will then be able to serve lunches.
The consultation on a revised mini-bus test has been delayed.

13. New Business:
Residents in Milton Meadows are concerned that an old wooden structure underneath the Don Bridge may trap branches being swept down the river, and thus exacerbate flooding.  Cllr Al-Kowarri was to establish if the Council would remove the wooden structure.

14. Unfinished Business:
There was no unfinished business.

15. Correspondence:
a) A letter had been received from the RAF offering a talk on the necessity for low-flying exercises.  It was not thought this was relevant to Kemnay.

b) A letter had been received from the Council about consultation on Post Office Closures.  It was agreed that these were unlikely to affect Kemnay, but that the Community Council should be aware of what was being considered.

c) It was considered that Kemnay Academy might be willing to have pupils enter Kemnay in the Scottish Calor Village of the Year competition.

16. AOCB:
a) The matter of the superabundance of street furniture at the entrance to Grove Road was raised, as was the matter of the Kembhill Park sign which had been badly damaged.  It was agreed to write to Aberdeenshire Council on both matters.

b) The matter of bad visibility at the junction of the Craigearn Road with the B993 was raised.  It was agreed that this should be brought to the attention of Aberdeenshire Council.

c) It was agreed to apply for a grant to provide a handrail by the steps at Boat Croft.

d) It was agreed to write to Aberdeenshire Council, bringing to their attention the poor condition of the pavement across the Don Bridge, and requesting an extension of this to the entrance to Fetternear Estate.

Date of Next Meeting:
Thursday 27th  March 2008 at 7.30 pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend