The following dates and venues have been received from Cluny, Midmar & Monymusk Community Council for their meetings in 2017.
Meetings will start at 7pm, except for those held in Cluny Church Hall, which will start at 7:15pm.
26 January Midmar Hall
16 March Cluny Church Hall
20 April Monymusk Hall
1 June Midmar Hall
20 July Cluny Church Hall
31 August Monymusk Hall
12 October Midmar Hall
23 November (AGM) Monymusk Hall
Due to essential maintenance, Westhill Swimming Pool will be closed on Tuesday 10th January 2017 from 0900-1200 hrs. It is anticipated the pool will re-open from 12 noon as normal.
I have received the following information from the AWPR team following enquiries about cycling provision on the A944 during and after completion of this section of the project. Please ignore the link in the letter. I have copied the relevant map below.
Each year, Aberdeenshire Council carries out a consultation on budget plans.
It is an essential part of local democracy, ensuring that the voice of communities comes through in any and all budget setting decisions.
This year, we have launched a brand new approach, in order to try to simplify and illustrate the challenges faced.
In place of traditional surveys and written text, the team have developed a suite of infographics, each of which paints a different picture of a different part of council budget setting. For example, there is a section on the pressures that councils are under, one which focuses on council tax, and one which lays out some of the future opportunities.
Attached to each infographic is a short set of questions, in some cases just two questions, to give people the opportunity to make their voices heard.
The engagement process is open now and will close at the start of January, giving enough time for the results to be passed to councillors who, in turn, will use them to inform their decision making for the coming financial year.
Highlights:
The new approach has been taken to allow people have their views on as many topics as they feel passionate about. So views on all seven areas are being sought, however those with a particularly strong opinion on a particular subject can ensure that they get that message across loud and clear.
The infographics themselves are also being issued for use in community forums and discussions right across Aberdeenshire, to make sure everyone gets the chance to participate.
Council Co-leader Cllr Richard Thomson said: “It is important for us to embark upon our budget setting discussions with our eyes open. To get a feel for what people in our communities want and need from us, and to make sure they feel empowered to know what they can do for themselves. We want to maintain high quality public services while at the same time making sure we are as efficient as possible. We also want to minimise the impact any reductions have on residents and service-users.
“The views you share will help us as we come together as a council to debate how to make the best use of the funding available to us, and we value the feedback.”
Co-leader Cllr Alison Evison said: “Aberdeenshire Council is embarking upon a year of change and challenge. Local elections coming up will change not only priorities but faces around the chamber. Some significant projects will be delivered this year and others will be progressed. Ensuring we have had robust and extensive consultation will play a part in everything that we do.
“I encourage people across Aberdeenshire to let us know what their views are and look forward to getting the results.”
All the infographics and attached questions can be found at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/budgetengagement
A consultation which will ask members of the public for their views on the concept of a charitable trust delivering sport and cultural services on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council will take place in December following discussions by councillors today.
At the meeting of Full Council, Aberdeenshire councillors were asked to consider a series of options for the future delivery of those services, including:
Outsourcing the delivery of the services to a private company;
Councillors agreed that the creation of a trust is their preferred option for further consideration and that public consultation on the principle of a trust delivering the services should take place next month as part of the council’s budget engagement process.
The results of the consultation will inform a further decision by councillors in January as to whether a detailed business case for a charitable trust should be developed.
Co-Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, Cllr Alison Evison, said: “Today we have agreed that officers should continue to explore the idea of a charitable trust to deliver sports and cultural services in Aberdeenshire and come back to us with more information on how it might operate.
“The quality of the debate we have had so far gives me confidence that we are now on the right path, a path which could open up huge opportunities to sustain jobs and services.
“This path must include discussions with staff as well as public consultation and I’m pleased to see both happening.”
Co-Leader, Cllr Richard Thomson, said: “We know that alternative ways of delivering services have worked successfully elsewhere and it is time for us to consider why we aren’t doing it as well.
“The public consultation will help inform us when we meet again in January to decide whether to proceed to a more detailed, full business case for the creation of a charitable trust.
“We’ll be looking for views from sports and community groups, as well as individual residents who have both used and have never used our sports and cultural services.
“Our budget engagement will begin next month and will be promoted across Aberdeenshire so that is your chance to have your say.”
Here are the Minutes from the last Garioch Area Bus Forum held in September.The next meeting will be held in Westhill in the spring.
Inspiring Aberdeenshire is a celebration of the outstanding achievements and hard work of young people, staff and members of communities across Aberdeenshire.
Nominations are now open so put forward an inspirational resident or group today!
Now in its fifth year, Inspiring Aberdeenshire promises to be bigger and better than ever and will take place on Friday, 23 June 2017 at Haddo House.
The deadline for nominations is midday on Wednesday, 1 February 2017.
Nominate now!
surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IAbsh2017
or print off a nomination form here – inspiring-aberdeenshire-nomination-form
You may recall that NHS Grampian has been consulting with the patients of six GP practices who currently get, or who are eligible to get, dispensed medicines from their GP practice.
A Review Group will be analysing all the responses to the consultation and will make recommendations to the Board of NHS Grampian.
The Review Group would like to invite any group or individual in the communities affected by the consultation – Skene being the only one in Westhill and District – to make representations or presentations to the members of the Group.
The Review Group will be in attendance at Westhill Community Church on Thursday 24th November 2016 from 9am-12.30pm.
If you would like to make a representation or presentation to the Review Group please email nhsg.involve@nhs.net or write to Freepost, NHS Grampian by Friday 11th November.
There is a consultation open from today on proposed new speed limits in the interest of road safety due to increased development in Cluny. The consultation closes on 11th November. The order can be viewed here.
Please note that due to CARRIAGEWAY REPAIRS to be carried out by Aberdeenshire Council it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic.
CLOSURE
ON THE B993
FROM MILLBANK TO MAINS OF SHIELS
Commencing 24 October 2016 for 2 weeks.
Site notices will be erected in due course indicating the temporary restriction to traffic and the alternative routes where applicable.
The alternative route is via A944 to Dunecht, B977 to Echt, B9119 as per map below: