January

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL REPORT OF THE MEETING IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

ON THE 31st JANUARY 2008 AT 7:30PM

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

Attending:
Cllr Hazel Al-Kowarri, Cllr Allison Grant, 11 members of the public.

1. Apologies:
Neil Johnson, Paul Smart, Cllr Sheena Lonchay.

2. Welcome:
Chris Hunneyball welcomed those present, and in particular the large public attendance.

3. Police Matters:
There being no police presence due to reorganisation, there was no report.

4. The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 November 2007
were approved.

5. Question Time:
All the members of the public were present to discuss the conservation area.

6. Matters Arising from the Minutes:
a) Christmas Trees: - One act of vandalism had occurred to the tree near the War Memorial. Thanks were due to Graeme MacDonald, of Bon Accord Landscapes who had felled and erected the trees without charge, and to the Forestry Commission. The Chairman, who had arranged the whole operation, was also thanked.

b) Goal Posts: - There was still no progress. Cllr. Al-Kowarri agreed to pursue the matter.

c) Waste Container Collection: - It was agreed to pursue this no further.

7. Aberdeenshire News:
Cllr. Al-Kowarri stated that the football pitch on Bremner way was being drained. There might be money available for Christmas lights at the end of the financial year, but it would have to be applied for.

8. Planning Matters and Applications:
a) Current Applications: - There were no contentious applications.
There was some discussion about the application to install a soft play area in the basement of Sidelines, but it was agreed that any Health and Safety concerns would be addressed by Aberdeenshire Council.

b) Impact of Bogbeth Road Development: - There was some discussion of the impact of the Bogbeth Road development on schools and the GP practice. It was agreed to apply under the Freedom of Information Act for information about the use of the planning gain. Cllrs Al-Kowarri and Grant were also to try to obtain more information.

9. Community Planning:
The Chairman had attended the Area meeting. He reported that the criteria for the Shell awards were less stringent than we had thought. The Police force was undergoing reorganisation.

10. Christmas Lights Sub-Committee:
There had been no meeting, but donations of £5 from a pensioner and £300 from the TRAK bingo sessions were reported. It was agreed to apply for a grant should such be available.

11. Report from Safety Group representative:
There having been no meeting, there was no report.

12. Report from Community Learning and Development Representative:
There having been no meeting, there was no report.

13. New Business:
There was no new business.

14. Unfinished Business:
a) Conservation Area: - There was a considerable amount of discussion on this topic, during which the reasons for considering applying for conservation area status were aired and several objections considered. The possibility of a public meeting was proposed; but finally it was agreed that the opposition to the scheme was such that the Community Council would not pursue the idea of applying for Conservation Area status.

b) Handrail at Boat Croft: - The developer had refused to finance the handrail. Cllr. Al-Kowarri was to establish whether a grant might be available

15. Correspondence:
a) Budget Briefings: - These had been received from Aberdeenshire Council, but contained little new information.

b) Community-owned shops and post offices: - The council considered this not relevant to Kemnay.

c) Induction Training: - Five members of the Community Council agreed to undertake induction training.

d) Area Forum Minute of 1 November 2007: - This had been discussed at the November meeting.

e) Parliamentary Report: - The contents were noted.

f) The Network: - The contents were noted.

g) Aberdeenshire Design Awards: - It was agreed to make an application for an award for the Place of Origin.

h) Aberdeenshire Local Access Forum: - This had been previously circulated, since applications to become a member of the forum had to be submitted in January.

i) Annual Public Performance Report: - There was some discussion of the disappointing waste recycling and composting figures contained in the report.

16. AOCB:
Reference was made to the high cost of vandalism in schools.

It was pointed out that vandalism in Kemnay had been decreasing. A seminar on ‘Strengthening Scotland's Communities' was to be held in Aberdeen in March. Three members of the council agreed in principle to attend.

Date of Next Meeting:
28 February 2008 at 7.30 pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend