Echt & Skene Community Council

Echt & Skene Community Council meet on Thursday 12 June, 2014 at Milne Hall, Kirkton of Skene at 7.30. Items on the agenda are:

 

Echt & Skene Community Council Agenda

12th June 2014 in Milne Hall, Kirkton of Skene at 7.30 pm

Present:

Cllrs:

Apologies:

Minute of last meeting:

Police Report:

Agenda items:

Braigiewell Wood Log Storage & Processing Yard:

Echt footpath:

Garlogie footpath:

Allotments:

Waste Bins Carnie Roundabout:

Echt layby – line of sight issue:

Kirkton of Skene Developer Contributions:

Kirkton of Skene Cemetery Parking:

Garioch Ward Forum 4th June Feedback:

Prior Planning Applications Status:

APP/2013/1090 Castle Fraser Moss Inert Waste Recycling REFUSED

APP/2013/3585 East Lochside Steading – conversion and extension to steading to form offices PENDING

APP/2014/0177 Red Star Inn – erection of 4 flats and associated parking REFUSED

APP/2014/0320 South Fornet – Change of use from agricultural building to industrial Class 6 (Storage and distribution) APPROVED

New Planning Applications:

APP/2014/1907 Cosworth Cottage – alterations and extension

APP/2014/1761 Amulree – alterations and extension

Treasurer’s Report:

Correspondence/Upcoming Events:

Community Engagement Event (Community Planning) – 3rd July, Westhill Episcopal Church

Community Renewable Energy Workshop – 19th September, Inverness

Grow Your Group Funders Fair – 1st October, Kintore Arms Hotel, Inverurie

Scottish Rural Parliament – 6-8th November, Oban

 

AOCB:

Westhill & Elrick Community Council round-up

 

Westhill Logo

Last Thursday, the Westhill & Elrick Community Council meeting was well attended. Residents voiced concerns about a planning application to extend the Holiday Inn in Westhill to form 43 additional rooms. Concerns were also raised by a resident about the lack of supermarket/retail choice in the town. The Community Council also unveiled their new logo, which you can see above. The Elrick part of town remains under-represented and the group are keen to attract new members from Elrick/Broadshade areas.

Events planned to help support Community Councils

Recognising the hard work and role that Community Councillors undertake for their communities, a series of events have been organised to support and inform them.

The events have been scheduled throughout the coming year and these will provide opportunities to network, learn and exchange best practice. There are four events scheduled for 2014 across Aberdeenshire which will run from 10am throughout the day, dates and locations are as follows:

March 22                     MACBI Centre, Station Road, Mintlaw
June 7                         Woodend Barn, Banchory

September 13              Linden Centre, Huntly (TBC)

November 1                 Village Hall, Kemnay

The first event will deal with community resilience, community asset transfer and will provide training for community councillors and office bearers.   A number of partner agencies and council services will be in attendance providing information and advice.

All community councillors are welcome to any of the events and we would be delighted to see Community Councils developing links across the council areas.

There is no requirement for community councillors to stay for the whole day or indeed to attend all the training, attendance is flexible and will offer many opportunities for you to get and share ideas with other community councillors. 

In order to effectively plan for the upcoming events we would be grateful if you could start discussing attendance at these events within your Community Councils and consider numbers wishing to attend.

Bookings are now being accepted for the Mintlaw event, but only until 14 March 2014.  More detailed information and booking forms for the other events will be circulated to Community Councils in due course.   For further information please contact Maureen Stephen on 01771 613666 e-mail Maureen.stephen@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Cluny, Midmar & Monymusk Community Council round up

Last Thursday saw the first meeting of 2014 for Cluny, Midmar & Monymusk Community Council.

The group agreed to finalise their response to the Main Issues Report before the deadline of 1st February 2014. It was emphasised that it was equally important for individuals to submit their comments as well.

I was able to give an update on the issue of having the partial switch-off of street lights reviewed. Infrastructure Services will be in touch via the community council to facilitate a further consultation then the comments and options will go before the Garioch Area Committee over the coming months.

Police Scotland officers were in attendance and gave the following report:

Crime figures remain low in the area with only two offences being reported since the last meeting, both of which are RTOs.

As stated in the last report, the darker nights can lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour type calls; however there have been less calls of this nature than in previous years. Police Scotland secured funding over the festive period (as is normal) which meant an increase in the number of patrol units within the Garioch area during relevant times.

The main reason for these patrols were to carry out checks on all licenced premises and engage with members of the public who are out after dark.

Operation Collinsville targeting driving standards within the area was implemented by Police Sergeant Sawers. As part of the Operation large visible posters have been placed in various locations where offences have been identified in the past.  These posters will be moved periodically in order to target a larger number of motorists during this campaign. We have received positive comments from the community.

Police Scotland continues to emphasise the importance of security both in respect of commercial and domestic properties as well as vehicles as the region continues to see instances of theft. Members of the public are encouraged to report any instances of suspicious behaviour or activity.

Though not specifically within the Westhill and Elrick areas, Persons are gaining entry to properties through insecure doors or windows or by using the true key.  The most common items stolen include scrap metal, jewellery, electronics, bank cards, money and vehicles. Departments within the Police Service of Scotland along with divisional officers have traced several of the people responsible for these thefts and reported them for their crimes.

Licensing officers have entered most licensed premises within the Garioch area over the festive period with a small number of offenses being discovered.  Local officers will continue to monitor all licenced premises in the area.

Police Sergeant Andy Sawers is to leave the Garioch (Westhill) area at the end of January 2014 and take up his new posting in the Huntly area. The Supervisor replacing PS Sawers has not been confirmed.”

Various local planning applications were also discussed at the meeting.

Next meeting in Midmar Hall on Thursday 20th February, 2014.