Minute of the meeting held on Monday 15 August 2005 at Maryculter Community Hall.
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Maryculter |
Cookney / Netherley |
Banchory-Devenick |
Aberdeenshire Councillors |
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Avril Tulloch Bill Fraser Kevin Park |
Philip Smart (Chairman) Robert Keeler (Secretary) Bob McKinney |
Duncan Petrie Mike Birch
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Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside
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4 Members of the Public
1. Apologies – Rob Winmill(Vice Chairman), Kate Kleppang and Michael Sullivan (Stonehaven North & Fetteresso) Absent Raymond Cowan (Treasurer), Jill Greenlees
2. Minutes of the meeting of 20 June were approved
3. Matters Arising
New Lairhillock School – Work still supposed to start by August – no other news. Reported that Transco had been on site checking domestic gas pipe location. Reported ongoing negotiations with the contractor. Aberdeenshire Council had confirmed they do now own the site. NKRCC to write requesting work schedule.
Web site – Complaints regarding Local plan are being logged.
Roads – B979 closure – Mike suggested a letter of appreciation that the diversion had excluded HGVs. Duncan asked again when warning lights at Banchory-Devenick crossroads would be installed, Also the road from the cross roads to the A90 had repairs carried out which did not go far enough. Road closures notified : the Durris road and the Netherley School road which would be closed for 3 weeks from 8 August. We had written to Aberdeenshire to ask that the Netherley school road be completed before the children returned but poor planning had made this impossible. We were informed that the road would only be fully closed for 2 days between 0900 and 1300 and 1400 and 1700.
The proliferation of Saltires on power/telecom poles was attributed to “Scottish Patriots”.
Bill commented on the bushes being overgrown at Invercrynoch corner.
Western Peripheral Route – Nothing to report.
4. PLANNING
ALP - Public Inquiry – A full report was made on the recommendations affecting NKRCC’s submissions: extract:
The Reporter advised Aberdeenshire:
- against 20 houses at Stobhall
- that Netherley should not be regarded as a settlement despite Aberdeenshire asking at the last minute for it to be so.
-on Maryculter West to be a settlement – Aberdeenshire had asked for it to be in, then out, then in again. Reporter recommended it not to be a major development. accepted 6 houses to the north but rejecting 15 to the east –
-Ardoe, Sunnyside, and Maryculter East all not to be Settlements.
-Aberdeenshire’s proposal for Blairs, and last minute bid for Banchory-Devenick were rejected.
George asked how many houses would be allowed to be built –. Sandy thought that 280 or even 80 houses was unlikely.
Given that the Local Plan must conform with the Structural Plan we had made significant progress on the policy issues we had raised. We will wait and see which recommendations Aberdeenshire accept.
Blairs – Given the above that it may not be classed as a Settlement does not mean there will be no development but means that the application has to be considered only as one of “enabling development”.
Maryculter Organic Farm – Planning application for house was approved, with section 75 restriction, the use of which was questioned. Mike asked if farm was Organic, Answer: believed it is now but it is not relevant matter to the planners.
Sandy felt that the Council Planning policy was ‘woolly’ but he felt that we were in more danger from large developers than from small developments. The general opinion of public present was that the principles involved in this and other applications were not consistent and that the planning department was ‘nit picking’ in many cases where residents were attempting to follow the planning guidance, but in other cases apparently bending over backwards where flouting the processes were being apparently “flouted”. Observed that there was also now a significant amount of retrospective permission being granted.
After complaints from the other Community Councils, Plans will again be displayed at local libraries.
5. FINANCE
200 Club –
July £5 no:3 N Ricci - £10 no: 221 D Petrie - £20 no: 272 A Thomson
August £5 no:46 P Reid - £10 no: 281 A Stewart £20 no: 2 K Miller
£50 no: 318 C Mollard
A request for funds to assist in the purchase of Pop Lacrosse equipment for Banchory-Devenick School – it was agreed to grant £150.
Our Annual grant is due, but will not be sent until minutes of our AGM are submitted.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
Police Report – No official report - 3rd August, Thurcraft House, near Ardoe was broken into. On this occasion a quantity of jewellery was stolen, some of which was recovered near by. 1st or 2nd August, a break in occurred to an isolated home at Nether, near Durris On this occasion entry was gained, however nothing was stolen. The was a breakin in Banchory Devenick area last week.
Forestry Commission review of strategy – Bill will report.
Community Boundary changes – Representations required by 23 September. Comments from councillors required before our next meeting, general feeling is that we wish to retain our Rural status. Moved that the entire Area should be kept as a rural block and it was felt this was best done though association with Stonehaven
Stobhall residents are concerned that the area of trees and shrubs that the developer (Chap) had promised to reinstate and maintain has been sold off to the house owners. This is against the planning conditions and the planning department should enforce the original conditions.
7. AOCB
Notice Board at Hall – Nothing to report
Bill reported that a barometer had disappeared from outside his house soon after someone describing themselves as a Polish student had visited trying to sell paintings. He notified the Police, who informed him that they were concerned that a ‘Gangmaster’ could be involved. Any visits should be notified to the police.
19 September 2005 at 7:30pm
17 October 2005 at 7:30pm
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