Body Zorbing comes to Westhill!

Aberdeenshire Council are offering a new fun activity for the “summer” holidays!

Body Zorbing lets you bounce around, crash into your friends and even land on your head, all while safely cocooned in a giant, transparent inflatable ball.

The sessions, which cost £4, will take place at venues across Aberdeenshire from July 16 to August 19. There is no need to book, just turn up and have a go.

The activity is suitable for children aged 3 to 16, and adults, subject to sizing restrictions. Council staff will supervise the sessions, but children need to be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Body Zorbing is being offered as part of the Active Aberdeenshire campaign, aimed at encouraging people to take part in and enjoy regular sport and exercise.

The Body Zorbing balls are also available to hire for a party, group or event. Contact sports.events@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 01467 625088 to book.

Body Zorbing comes to Westhill on Tuesday 16th July 2012 at Westhill Primary School from 10.30-12.30.

I want to have a go; pity I have to go to work – it looks like great fun!

Prohibition of Waiting around Echt from 14th July-15 July 2012

Please note that due to the annual Echt Agricultural Show on Saturday 14th July, the following roads will have a prohibition of waiting placed on them between 0500 hours on Saturday 14th July and 0500 hours on Sunday 15th July 2012.

B977 Dunecht to Echt

B977 Echt to Banchory

B9119 Garlogie to Echt

B9119 Echt to Tarland

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/roads/traffic/pdf/echtshow140712.pdf

Echt & Skene Community Council

It was lovely to be back in the Garlogie Hall for a lively community council meeting! Local planning applications were discussed along with reports from representatives from Echt, Kirkton of Skene and Garlogie on local issues. Chairman, John Foulkes encouraged local youth representatives to come forward to join the group and the community council would be very willing to endorse anyone working towards the Duke of Edinburgh community service award. Grampian Police officers reminded residents to be vigilant and to lock up their vehicles at night after a spate of thefts from cars in the Echt and Skene areas. Crime statistics for the period 7th May-1st July include 4 vandalism incidents, 3 road traffic offences, 4 thefts, 2 anti-social/breach of peace, 2 assaults and 2 fraud enquiries.

Housing issues – a good news story and a not so good one!

With new social rented housing provision being thwarted, the private rental sector (PRS) looks increasingly likely to play a larger part in meeting housing need in Scotland. Local authority landlord registration schemes can play a huge part in ensuring tenants get a fair deal. A much-welcomed consultation by the Scottish Government is due to end on July 10th which aims to improve the quality of the PRS.

The latest good news story for tenants is the recent launch of the Tenants’ Deposit Scheme. Under the scheme landlords must now hand over deposits to an independent third party. It is hoped the initiative which is free for landlords and letting agents will prevent agents holding on to money on false grounds. One scheme is run by SafeDeposits Scotland, a not-for-profit partnership between landlords, agents and tenants, including student body NUS Scotland.

With more than 270,000 households renting from private landlords, about £75m is expected to be transferred to the bodies. Landlords and letting agents have until next May to lodge all deposits, but can start doing so now.

Previously tenants had to take legal action to try to recover deposit money but the regulations give them access to an independent dispute resolution service if the return of a deposit cannot be agreed.

SafeDeposits Scotland chairman Sir Andrew Cubie said: “Too often the actions of a minority of landlords give rise to a negative view of the private rented sector. This is a great day for tenants and good for landlords. We’ve worked for many years to get better protection for tenants in private flats and houses, including of course the tens of thousands of students who live in the private rented sector”.

With new legislation on homelessness coming in to play at the end of 2012, there have been many stories in the media in recent weeks and months regarding homeless statistics. I am always dismayed to see that newspaper pictures are still portraying the homeless as lone, unkempt bundles lying on a pavement. The homeless picture is much bigger than this. This stereotyping ignores the families, couples and single people who are sofa-surfing, staying with friends, staying in temporary accommodation or have no decent affordable place they can call home. With less affordable housing being built, changes to the welfare system which could drive more young people into homelessness and the new legislation whereby all unintentional homeless applicants are obliged to be housed, there are huge challenges ahead.

In March 2011 the number of households on the council waiting list in Aberdeenshire was 6,2o2 but only 847 new lets were available in 2010/11. This means it would take more than 7 years to clear the current waiting list without the pressures mentioned above. I would be interested to hear about any local housing issues whether in the social or private rented sector. Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Full council, Fairtrade and funding

Full council met last week to discuss a range of issues.

Provost Jill Webster opened the meeting by reflecting on some of the successes celebrated by the council this year. This included the council being named as Scottish Transport Authority of the Year for the third time and a Lifetime Contribution award to the council’s former director of infrastructure services, Iain Gabriel, in recognition of 38 years of public service. Good wishes were offered to all Aberdeenshire Olympic hopefuls, in particular Garioch swimmer Hannah Miley as she competes in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Aberdeenshire is also looking forward to welcoming the Olympic team from Camaroon ahead of the games, with the first warm-up match against Northern Ireland Women’s team in Turriff on July 8th.

Formal business included a discussion about the use of Fairtrade products in Aberdeenshire Council. Aberdeenshire Council already supports Fairtrade and it was agreed to include a selection of ethical products including Fairtrade in all council offices.

Head of Finance Alan Wood presented the council’s financial results for the year to 31st March 2012. He advised that the unaudited accounts showed an underspend of £20 million, generated through the consistent and proactive management of budgets across all services. Cllr Kitts-Hayes, Deputy Leader, agreed that members welcomed the report and that it showed the council was operating more effectively and efficiently. Councillors agreed to use the savings in three ways; to top up reserves, to enable services to complete projects started last year and to invest in key priority areas. The six key areas are:

Invest in our towns and villages creating better places to live and work;

Provide assistance to small and medium sized businesses helping our economy to flourish;

Boost the tourism and hospitality industries, attracting visitors and inward investment;

Increase pre-school and nursery provision improving the life chances of all children;

Increase care at home services for older people;

Accelerate plans to improve roads, provide affordable housing and replace schools and care homes.

Sir Malcolm Bruce

A rather belated but nevertheless heartfelt congratulations to Sir Malcolm Bruce!

Veteran Liberal Democrat Malcolm is being knighted for public and political services. The MP for Gordon is the party’s Scottish president and is involved with charities for deaf people.

Mr Bruce, whose daughter Caroline was born profoundly deaf, said: “I’d like to think the knighthood is not just for political longevity but for the work with charities.

“I got into that because of my daughter and hopefully it’s of benefit to them.

“I’ve been an MP here since 1983, so I do owe a lot of this to the constituents.”

Nick Clegg says of Malcolm: “I want to know what Malcolm’s diet is because he clearly eats or drinks something that keeps him forever young. He is one of the most energetic MPs in the House of Commons today much as he was when he entered the Commons 25 years ago. It is amazing to see him run circles around MPs half his age in his tireless dedication to his constituents. He really is an institution in his own right in his own constituency but also in Westminster, as a chairman of a very important select committee. He is widely respected across party boundaries. I wonder whether his constituents realise how lucky they are to have someone who is not just a good constituency MP but someone who is really respected in Westminster. Westminster is a rough and rowdy place. There are not that many MPs – and Malcolm can count himself amongst them – who are listened to respectfully by all parties.”

Do you know your local councillors and how multi-member wards work?

One of the most important changes to the way local government operates was the introduction, in May 2007, of multi-member wards.

There are 19 wards in Aberdeenshire, each with either three or four elected members, replacing the smaller, single-member wards which had existed.

Each of these members has an equal responsibility for the whole ward. To make this work effectively, ward members have to work together in a collaborative way – sharing duties, information and knowledge.

This may mean not all councillors attend a meeting in their area, instead arranging to share attendance with their local colleagues.

Councillors can be contacted in many ways – by simply speaking to them in the street, phoning or emailing them, writing a letter, or attending a local surgery.

Details of your four Westhill & District (Ward 13) councillors can be found here:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/councillors/contact/ward_13.asp

Road Closure in Midmar

Due to new pumping sewer works to be carried out, it will be necessary in the interests of public safety to apply the following restriction to traffic:

Closure on C142C Midmar from Glenwood Park to Glenwood Cottages for 5 days commencing 30th July 2012.

Access for pedestrians and to adjacent properties will be maintained at all times. The alternative route is via C142c to U146c, C143c to Tillybirloch.