October 2009

KEMNAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL - REPORT OF THE MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER 2009 AT 7.30 PM IN KEMNAY VILLAGE HALL

Present:  Chris Hunneyball (Chairman), Bill Blackwood, Margaret Christie, Malcolm Edwards, Annie Ferries, Bob Ingram, Janet Newberry, Eric Pashley, Jim Piggins, Mavis Wainman.

 Attending:  Cllr Hazel Al-Kowarri.

 1       Apologies:   David Evans, John Hern, Ian Murray, Cllr Allison Grant.

 2.      Welcome:   Chris Hunneyball welcomed those present.

 3.     Police matters:  There being no police presence, there was no report.

 4.     The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2009 were approved.

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

 6.     Matters Arising from Minutes:

a)    Place of Origin:  It was suggested that a representative from Greenbelt be invited to attend a Community Council meeting.

b)    Double Yellow Lines:  These will be dealt with, although new lines require a complex process of approval.

 7.    Planning matters and applications:

a)    Planning Reform:  Pre-determination hearings have taken place and appear to be working.

b)    New Applications:  There was nothing controversial.  It was agreed to write in support of the application for the car sales site at Aquithie Road.

c)    Amendments to Planning Applications:  Neighbour notification of these would still be at the discretion of the planning officer.

 8.    Community Planning:

a)    Possible visit by Jill Sowden.  It was agreed to issue an invitation.

 9.     GACCF:

a)    Mini-grill:  Several Community Councillors wished to attend.

 10.  Christmas Lights Sub Committee: It was agreed that the lights should be switched on on 5 December.  Collecting boxes were to be placed in several shops in the village after the poppy day appeal was over.

 11.  Report from Safety Group Representative:  Police are pursuing premises which sell alcohol to young people.  They are also running initiatives with young people in the areas of crime reduction and safe use of fireworks.

 12.  Report from Community Learning and Development Representative:  It is hoped to have the fitness suite at the Academy available by Christmas.  The Youth Cafe failed to get a grant from the Regeneration Fund.  The cost of the Kindergym has increased by 50p a session.  All classes offered at the recent enrolment will take place.

 13.  New Business:

a)    Community Council Budget:  This year's budget will be £777.

b)    ASCC Ballot:  The ballot paper was completed.

c)    Shaping Aberdeenshire:  This event was to be held in Meldrum Academy on 17 November.  Several Community Councillors expressed their intention to attend.

d)   Lowered Kerbing in Fyfe Park:  This was in train

e)   Litter:  It was agreed that, sadly, little could be done about the polystyrene cartons which schoolchildren abandon between fast food outlets and Kemnay Academy.

f)    Allotments:  There was no mechanism for requiring maintenance of allotments

g)   ASCC Local meeting:  Attendance had been poor.  Discussion had centered on planning issues.

h)   Bogbeth Road:  The developers had stated that the road would be complete by the end of November.

i)    Bus Forum:  There was to be another meeting to gather feedback on the new timetable.

j)    Youth Cafe:  There would be a meeting in the Cafe for Kintore residents who were interested in knowing how the Youth Cafe impacted on local residents.

k)   Phone Boxes:  BT plans to remove the phone from the red phone box in Burnett Road.  For £1, ownership could be transferred to local residents who could then use the box for any purpose of their own. If anyone is interested they should contact the KCC Secretary.

 14. Unfinished Business:

a)   KCC - Can we do our business better?:  There was general regret that Community Councils had no powers, but were largely conduits of communication.

b)   Opening Hours of Crèche and Library:  Unless there could be shown to be a number of people wanting these to coincide, the opening hours would not change.

c)   ASCC Membership: It was agreed to opt for scrapping of the block membership.

d)   ASCC Conference:  One member was considering attending.

 15.  Aberdeenshire news: The river path had been washed away in the recent floods.  Repair would be very costly.  SEPA was monitoring closely the working of the rendering plant at Kintore and would not give an operating licence unless the process passed its testing procedures.

 16.  Correspondence:

a)   Flood Warning Scheme:  It was agreed to ask someone to attend the February meeting.

b)   Northern Community Justice Authority Consultation:  No-one wished to attend.

c)   Kemnay Golf Club Licence:  There were no objections.     

d)   The following communications were also received: Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland flyer; Planning Aid flyer; Richard Baker Newsletter; SEPA view; Community Councillor News Sheet; Sports Council Newsletter; OSCR Report.

 17.  AOCB:  It was pointed out that the Bogbeth Park sign at the entrance to the park was lying on the ground.  Aberdeenshire Council was to be informed.