North Kincardine Rural Community Council
NKRCC

 

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20 August 2001 at 7.30pm in Maryculter Community Hall.

Agenda
Present
Apologies
Absent
Minutes
Next Meetings

Present

Maryculter

Netherley

Banchory Devenick

Aberdeenshire Councillors
Hazel Witte (Chair)
Fiona Culbert
Avril Tulloch
Bill Fraser
Kevin Park
Rob Winmill (Vice chairman)
Robert Keeler (Secretary)
Philip Smart
Mike Birch
Kate Kleppang
Alan Bisset (Fetteresso)
Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside)

8 members of the public

Apologies

Raymond Cowan (Treasurer)

Absent

 

Minutes

1. MINUTES of the meeting of 18 June 2001 was approved after addition of the words 'published by ' between 'was'and 'Kadet' in paragragh 8.9
2. MATTERS ARISING
  Proposed Wind Generators on Meikle Carewe
Philip showed a photo montage of the revised plan submitted by RES. Four turbines have been removed and the nearest are around 900 metres from two houses. Philip had obtained the Noise report that Angus Council had commissioned and is sending it to Aberdeenshire Council Planning Department as they were unaware of it. Objections can still be made either as a follow up to original objections or as new. Although the Planning department have assured us that original objections will still apply, it is felt that we should encourage new objections in case the impression is given that the RES amendments are acceptable. The Community Council will be objecting. Hazel felt that press coverage was giving the impression that it was a fait-accompli. A leaflet drop will be arranged shortly. We would also be writing to the Mearns leader in response to Mr Van Midden's letter last week, in particular in response to the claim that the Community Council are not representative and that the impression that the amended plan was acceptable to the Community Council.
  Website
Kevin has the website up and running as www.NKRCC.org. More pages will be added.
  Tree screening
Gordon Morris of the Scottish Wildlife Trust will suggest a selection of tree species and costs in September, which we can forward to Transco.
  Community Council Boundary
Hazel explained that both Kincardine and Mearns Council and Stonehaven Community Council used a simplified map indicating boundaries during the recent consultations. We had used the more detailed map which followed polling boundaries as confirmed by the council in September 1996. This explained the discrepancies in the final boundaries and the council have asked both Newtonhill and Stonehaven CCs to agree to this tidying up of details. Alan Bisset anticipated no problems in obtaining agreements.
 

Road sign at Blairs
The new sign for Blairs Chapel on the B9077 to the west of the Batchart road is restricting visibility at this junction. We will write to the council and Sandy Wallace will take it up with Roads Department.
3. Police Report
    There have been a number of minor accidents and careless driving incidents, with one driver reported to the Procurator Fiscal. The Traffic Division continued to monitor speeds on South Deeside Road and Netherley Road. Twenty-five drivers were reported and ten 'educated'
In June a theft occurred at Storybook Glen and towards the end of July a vehicle on commercial premises was broken into and a radio cassette stolen. Neither crime has been solved. This month there has been minor vandalism at one of our schools and a shop at a campsite was broken into.
Two males were reported acting suspiciously in the Banchory-Devenick area, and have not been traced. There have been no break-ins to domestic premises. PC Darren Mills has moved to Inverurie and is replaced by PC Steve Collins from Banchory.
4. PLANNING
  Rob had attended a recent meeting with Green Wedge to discuss the planning developments for Blairs estate. He expressed concern that discussions between planners and developers were 'in camera' and seemed to be influencing the Local Plan without the knowledge of or input from the community council or local councillors. The driving force seems to be that enough income is derived from development to finance the upkeep or redevelopment of the listed buiding. Rob feels that Muir Group have burnt their fingers in purchasing Blairs College and estate, so are trying to recoup their losses. Rob felt that the council are not competent to be able to address all areas of a business plan tied to a development of this nature.
  Objections had been lodged re the Stobhall development. We, together with local home owners had suggested that the 'envelope' be redrawn. The planning officer thought that the council had made a mistake on this but nothing would be changed. Rob will investigate further the application ref Gaia Lodge, Blairs. The developer of a proposed 7 houses at Kirkton of Maryculter has written asking to address the council at our next meeting, but it was agreed to point out planners that this application was not within the current planning envelope, and that we may wish to hear the developer at a later date. George Masson thought that there might be a problem with sewage for this development as the plant had been upgraded several years ago to its maximum.
  Two residential caravans have settled in a Maryculter field and had all utilities connected during the past month, without any planning approval. This has outraged many residents, though the planners became aware early on when the septic tank was installed. It was agreed that we ask the Planning Department to pursue this urgently.
  The potential withdrawal of planning consent when builders deviate from approved plans, was discussed as there are three properties in our area where this has occurred. Builders require a rapid response from the Planning Department when construction problems arise, otherwise costs escalate. There was consensus that reconstruction using current building regulations, and making use of original stones was much preferable to retention of ancient stonework which may cause future problems. In particular we were concerned that planners should show consistency. We will write to the Planning Department with our concerns.
   
Planning applications received since last meeting
S010501PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Dwellinghouse and Domestic Garage at Nether Ashentilly, Maryculter
S010502HA Full Planning Permission for Alterations and Extensions to Dwellinghouse at 1 Burnside Cottages, South Deeside Road, Blairs
S010514PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Storage Building (for vintage vehicles) at Nether Ashentilly, Maryculter
S010517PF Full Planning Permission for Siting of Temporary Office Accommodation, Change of Use of Steading to form Science Workshop and Store and Associated Car Parking Facilities at Gaia Lodge, Blairs
S010548HA Full Planning Permission for Alterations and Extension to Dwellinghouse and Erection of Domestic Garage at Batchart Farmhouse, Blairs
S010561HA Full Planning Permission for Erection of Domestic Garage at The Steading, Ardoe Heights, Banchory-Devenick
S010565PP Outline Planning Permission for Erection of 7 Detached Dwellinghouses and Associated Access Roads at The Haven (land west of), Kirkton of Maryculter
S010566PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Detached Dwellinghouse and Formation of New Access at Sunnyside, Crossroads, Banchory-Devenick
S010579PF Full Planning Permission for Provision of Additional Caravan Stances and Tent Pitches at Lower Deeside Holiday Park, South Deeside Road, Maryculter
S010581HA Full Planning Permission for Extension to Dwellinghouse (porch) at Dunvegan, Crossroads, Banchory-Devenick
S010630HA Full Planning Permission for Extension to Dwellinghouse at Whinhill, Crossroads, Banchory-Devenick
S010649PF Full Planning Permission for Alterations and Extension to Disused Storage Shed (mink farm) (including change of use) to form Dwellinghouse and Associated Domestic Curtilage at Burnside Wood, Maryculter
S010041AN Agricultural Notification for Erection of Cattle Court at Brucewells, Netherley
S010043AN Agricultural Notification for Extension to Agricultural Building (store) at Woodend Farm, Netherley
S010718HA Full Planning Permission for Extension to Dwellinghouse (conservatory) at 1 Batchart Steading, Blairs
5. FINANCE
 

200 Club Draw July winners

  • £5, no. 53 Carolyn Ripley
  • £10 no.151 K Dodds
  • £15 no.153 Liz Grainger
  200 Club Draw August winners
  • £5 no. 17 Fiona van den Vossen
  • £10 no. 29 Marlene Connon
  • £25 no. 311 Alistair Stewart

Apologies to June winners whose cheques have not yet been sent due to an error.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
    The Green Diary which we receive monthly have requested a contribution of £6 towards their production
costs. It was felt that we should ask them to cease mailing us as copies are available in libraries.
   
Jun 20 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 15 June 2001
Jun 27 Scottish Rights of Way Society Newsletter
Jun 28 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 22 June 2001
Jun 29 Aberdeenshire Council - Draft Contaminated Land Strategy
Jun 29 Netherley School - June Newsletter
Jun 30 Green Diary - July
Jul 3 SEPA View Summer 2001
Jul 4 Grampian Police - Policing Plan 2001-2002 1st quarter update
Jul 9 Kincardine & Mearns Area - Delegated Planning Applications 23 April to 21 May 2001
Jul 9 Kincardine & Mearns Area - Delegated Planning Applications 22 May 2001 to 19 June 2001
Jul 9 Scottish Executive - Development Plan Progress
Jul 10 Aberdeenshire Council - Notice of progress of Aberdeenshire Consolidated Local Plan
Jul 11 Letter to Aberdeenshire Council re withdrawal of free school transport.
Jul 12 Aberdeenshire Council - 2002 Local holidays
Jul 14 Scottish Executive - Review of Woodland Grant Scheme
Jul 16 Aberdeenshire Council - Notification for Telecommunications Mast
Jul 16 RES notification of presentation to specific households re amendments to planning application
Jul 18 Aberdeenshire Council - Reply to our letter on free school transport
Jul 18 Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee papers for 24 July 2001
Jul 23 Scottish Executive - NPPG 19 Radio Telecommunications
Jul 28 Kincardine & Mearns Area - Delegated Planning Applications 20 June 2001 to 18 July 2001
Jul 30 Aberdeenshire Council - NKRCC Boundary
Jul 30 Scottish Executive - Circular 5/2001 Telecommunications Code
Jul 30 Scottish Executive - PAN 61 Urban Drainage Systems
Jul 30 Scottish Executive - NPPG 19 Radio Telecommunications
Aug 1 Scottish Executive - Rural Community Transport Policy
Aug 2 To Aberdeenshire Council - NKRCC boundary
Aug 3 Aberdeenshire Council - RES revised planning permission
Aug 4 The Green Diary - August
Aug 14 Robert Gordon University - Conference for Community Councillors on September 29
Aug 15 Aberdeenshire Council - NKRCC boundary
Aug 18 Aberdeenshire Council - Development Services Area Focus
Aug 18 Aberdeenshire Council - Revised Constitution
Aug 20 Scottish Executive - Scottish Rural Partnership Fund
Aug 21 Copy letter to K and M Council from Peter Smart about unauthorised caravans near Westside Croft
7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS
  Responsibilities were devolved as follows, with the first of a pair taking the lead:-
 
Chair - Hazel Witte
Vice-chair - Rob Winmill
Secretary - Robert Keeler
Treasurer - Raymond Cowan
Planning, roads and traffic - Rob Winmill and Philip Smart
Local Authority liaison - Kate Kleppang and one office bearer
Environment and Rights of Way - Bill Fraser and Kevin Park
Health and social services - Fiona Culbert and Avril Tulloch
Education and training - Avril Tulloch
Water, sewage and waste - Mike Birch
Finance and grants - Raymond Cowan
Publicity - Hazel Witte and
Web site - Kevin Park
8. AOCB
  South Deeside View
requires items by 20 September (send email to Trish Peck or send email to Carolyn Morrison). Hazel is drawing up a map of areas where people have agreed to make deliveries.
  Notice boards
three have been treated with Cetol and the Banchory-Devenick one will be done soon. The additional one at ASDA, Portlethen will be erected soon.
Asssociation of Scottish Community Councils - Robert will arrange circulation of their newsletter to each member on a trial basis. If this is not satisfactory a short report of relevant contents can be given at future meetings.
  Community Council Forum on September 27
Kate and Robert will attend.
  Conference for Community Councillors at RGU on September 29 morning
Robert will circulate details when these arrive.
  National Cycle Network
The small blue and white sign bearing a bicycle and the number 1 indicate the route of the National Cycle Network and the North Sea Cycle Route through our area. (See www.northsea-cycle.com for further details).
  The Queen's Golden Jubilee
There will be a national holiday on Tuesday June 4 2002, and the queen will be in Scotland from May 23 - 29. Voluntary organisations can apply for grants for jubilee-related projects which benefit good causes
  Hazel gave advance warning of her resignation effective after the October meeting as she will be moving to Italy.

Next Two Meetings

September 17 2001 - Presentation by Fire Brigade (click here to see agenda: Agenda 09_01)
October 15 2001