I am very pleased that Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) will hold its next meeting in Inverurie, rather than Aberdeen. There is a full and interesting agenda which can be accessed at the link below.
The committee normally meets at the council’s Woodhill House headquarters, but will now convene in the council chamber at Gordon House.
ISC, chaired by councillor Peter Argyle, is a powerful committee which deals with a very wide range of business.
This includes significant planning applications, local regeneration, economic development, waste and recycling services and transportation amongst others.
Amongst the varied items to be dealt with at next week’s meeting are proposed improvements to the area’s harbours, a decision on council policy for the intentional release of chinese lanterns and an application for permission to build 48 houses and a retail unit at Blackdog.
Councillor Argyle said: “The main reason policy committee meetings are held in Aberdeen is geographic – it’s a fairly central point wherever you are in Aberdeenshire.
“Occasionally holding meetings out in the communities we serve can be no bad thing however, giving people a chance to see how we work and how decisions are taken, should they wish.
“Meetings are attended by members of the general public less often than we’d like so we would welcome any increase in participation.”
ISC vice chair Alan S. Buchan said: “Decisions at council meetings are constantly being made by councillors who are elected to make these decisions on behalf our communities.
“Council meetings are public but attendance is often dependent on the contentiousness of the agenda, leaving many people unaware of the decisions being made on their behalf other than those agenda items of interest in the media.
“I think all councillors would be happy to see greater public interest and involvement in decisions which can affect them and the increased scrutiny that would bring.”
Agendas for all of Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and area commitees and associated reports, where available, can be seen on our website. (URL: http://bit.ly/UgMQQZ )