North Kincardine Rural Community Council
NKRCC

 

Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 15 October 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)
Raymond Cowan (Treasurer)
Avril Tulloch
Bill Fraser
Kevin Park
Rob Winmill (Vice chairman)
Robert Keeler (Secretary)
Kate Kleppang
Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside)

6 members of the public

Apologies

Mike Birch

Absent

Fiona Culbert
Alan Bisset

Minutes

1. MINUTES of the meeting of 17 September 2001 was approved with the following amendment. Tree screening of the B. P. pumping station belongs to Mr Thomson of Nether Muirskie. stop. He has been informed of the availability of young trees to replace those which have died.
2. MATTERS ARISING
 

Proposed Wind Generators on Meikle Carewe
Rob has replied to two Council queries re letters of objection. The confusion had arisen out of the fact that we are both consultees and objectors, this has now been clarified. Philip mentioned that following a press release by the developer NKRCC had investigated the claims that Air Traffic issues had been solved and after contact with the officials concerned had established that the situation was far from fully resolved. Agreements actually related only to funding of development work and a complete technical solution was not guaranteed. Testing and modifications would have to be undertaken once the turbines were up and the prospect of even blanking out the section of the radar screen over this area was one option that was mentioned as a "last resort". This was not considered a satisfactory solution. Air traffic issues had not formed part of NKRCC's objection thus the NKRCC position of objection to the development based on both the unreasonably large size of the turbines, sited far too close to houses and the fact that the development breached planning guidelines on landscape impact and many other issues. The developer would have to pay NATS for the investigation and any work necessary, this could run into sixfigures, which goes to show how much profit the developer stands to make It was confirmed that the independent report detailing a list of faults in the methodology used by the developer to claim levels of noise impact had been passed to Aberdeenshire Council. On the same basis it is thought that the noise levels predicted, for the larger turbines now proposed, could be underestimates. Philip commented on the latest PR issued by the developer. The campaigns make misleading assertions about who the community members here are and further misrepresent what they think. This negative approach by the developer seeking to divide the community was deplored.

 

Website
Kevin have was now a member of the Hall committee and would arrange to have details of the Hall on the website.
 

Tree screening
Mr Thomson of Nether Muirskie has been ill and we will contact him later. Mr Morris of the Scottish Wildlife Trust at Drum Castle had given us a price list of trees available. Robert will contact Transco to see if they will now purchase and plant trees around the site.
  Community Council Boundary
No new progress.
  South Deeside View
should be out within the next two weeks.
  Police report
No police personnel were available but their report stated that there had been a small number of motorist reported for speeding and other traffic related matters on the South Deeside Road and the Netherley road. There had been no confirmed reports of housebreakings within the area. There was a theft at Ardoe House Hotel where a member of staff had a bag stolen containing a small amount of cash, also theft of petrol in the Blairs area
of about three pounds worth of petrol siphoned from the car overnight. The police stopped a vehicle containing three known criminals in the Banchory-Devenick area, this is a reminder that people should report suspicious persons or vehicles within the community area. concern was expressed that the road works on the A90 would cause increased traffic on roads in our area and we would be asking the Police to increase their visibility for the duration. Robert stated that we had received the Grampian police second update of policing plan 2001 Bill 2002 and that the annual Community consultation seminar would be held at the Hillside Hotel on 6 November, Robert will attend.
3. PLANNING
    Comment was made regarding properties being given planning consent for conversion, subsequently being demolished hand and a new property built. Bill was concerned that those people who are played planning rules were penalised, whereas others may be playing the system. Sandy said he is keeping a close eye on the use planning matters.
Rob has said that the owners of the proposed organic farm had put in a retrospective request for permission to site to caravans. Hazel mentioned that she had listed objection is together with several other people and was concerned that utilities could be installed even though no planning permission was granted, Kevin mentioned that the water authority had installed and agricultural water supply only. Robert will be writing to the Council planning officer.
Rob has received 17 letters re the infrastructure meeting on the 29th November regarding the Blairs development. Mr Knox - Goldcrest will attend a later meeting to discuss his plans for a site at Kirkton of Maryculter. Hazel asked that the date be well publicised.
   
Planning applications received since last meeting
S010824PF Full Planning Permission for Siting of Residential Caravan (retrospective) and Ancillary Store/Office
at Maryculter Organic Farm, Maryculter
S010825PF Full Planning Permission for Installation of Additional Colinear Antenna at Blue Hill, Banchory-Devenick
S010840PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Dwellinghouse (to replace existing to be demolished) at
Jockston Farm, Banchory-Devenick
S010844PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Dwellinghouse, Domestic Garage and Formation of Vehicular Access (change of house type) at Plot 3, Stobhall, Maryculter
S010848PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Dwellinghouse (to replace existing to be demolished) at Craigiecatt, Netherley
S010850PF Full Planning Permission for Alterations, Extension and Change of Use of Steading to Form Dwellinghouse and Erection of Domestic Garage at Polston, Maryculter
S010853HA Full Planning Permission for Alterations and Extensions to Dwellinghouse at Tollohill Cottage, Banchory-Devenick
S010052AN Agricultural Notification for Erection of General Purpose Agricultural Building at Jockston Farm, Ardoe, Banchory-Devenick
S010875HA Full Planning Permission for Extension to Dwellinghouse at Sauchenshaw Cottage, Netherley
S010910PF Full Planning Permission for Erection of Replacement Dwelling, Including Conversion, Extension and Change of Use of Steading,Rebuilding Farmhouse and Erection of Garage (retrospective) at Polston, Maryculter.
5. FINANCE
 

Tracy Stewart from Blairs gave a presentation on her proposed trip to Thailand with 26 other pupils from Cults Academy in July 2002. Whilst in Thailand the pupils will be teaching English to local children and helping to repair buildings. Hazel Witte congratulated her on her presentation and it was agreed to give £50 each to Tracy and Elisha Baxter towards the amount of £2,500 required for the trip.
 

200 Club Draw October winners

  • £5, no. 102 S Black
  • £10 no.193 D Scott
  • £50 no.136 J Edwards

Tickets for next year are available now.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
    The proposed change of Polling Station for Maryculter, to the Community Hall at Corbie Park was welcomed.
Hazel Witte tendered her resignation as Chair and from the Council as she and her huusband were moving to Italy. Rob Winmill thanked her for her contribution over the years and a unanimous vote of thanks was given.
   
Sep 22 Joint Community Care Plan 2001-2004
Sep 22 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 14 September 2001
Sep 24 Aberdeenshire Council - Cancellation of Community Council Forum
Sep 27 Scottish Executive - Consultation Paper - removing special protection of Prime Agricultural Land
Sep 29 Aberdeenshire Council - Naming Development at Checkbar Aberdeen
Sep 29 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 21 September 2001
Oct 2 North of Scotland Water Authority - Advice of publication of Annual Report
Oct 2 Aberdeenshire Council - Best Use of Council Resources.
Oct 2 Aberdeenshire Council - Change of polling place - Maryculter.
Oct 5 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 28 September 2001
Oct 6 Grampian Police - Second update policing Plan 2001-2002
Oct 6 Kincardine & Mearns Area - Delegated Planning Applications 24 August to 21 September 2001
Oct 6 Scottish Executive - European Protected Species - Development sites and the planning system
Oct 9 SEPA View Autumn
Oct 10 Letter to APRS re Windfarm
Oct 10 Aberdeenshire Council - Planning Service questionnaire
Oct 11 South Aberdeenshire Crime Bulletin w/e 5 October 2001
Oct 15 Aberdeenshire Council - Acknowledgement of CALP modified objections
Oct 15 Letter of resignation from Hazel Witte
7. AOCB
  The vacancy for a councillor at Maryculter was filled by co-opting Kevin Park to the position.
  Community Council Forum on September 27 - was cancelled.
  Conference for Community Councillors at RGU - Robert attended on September 29 together with by about 60 people representing 28 City and Aberdeenshire Community Councils. The two speakers discussed their experiences of a study into Community Councils in Edinburgh which appeared to have little relevance to our areas.
However the panel discussions were more relevant and mainly focused on planning matters which seemed to be the concern of most of the delegates. There were suggestions that Community Councils should have more involvement in planning matters, that Planners and Developers appear to have things 'sewn up' before anyone is aware of the application. The CCs should have more power and be trained with perhaps the Local Councillors training scheme being adapted. Also they should be represented on Council Committees.

Next Two Meetings

November 19th 2001
December 10th 2001