Minute of the meeting held on Monday 19 March 2007 at Maryculter Community Hall.

    PRESENT

Maryculter	Cookney / Netherley	Banchory-Devenick	Aberdeenshire Councillors
Bill Fraser Avril Tulloch Kevin Park	Rob Winmill (Vice Chairman) Robert Keeler (Secretary) Bob McKinney.	Mike Birch (Chairman) Keith Johnston Duncan Petrie	Mike Sullivan (Stonehaven North & Fetteresso) Carl Nelson (Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore)

6 Members of the Public  

APOLOGIES – Sylvia Pike, Philip Smart and Sandy Wallace (Lower Deeside)

Police Call Centre  - Karen McMillan, Service Centre Manager , gave a presentation on the role of the centre in policing, in response to comments made at our last meeting passed on by PC Wendy Cook. The 0845 600 700 number was set up in 2003 in response to concerns that non-urgent calls to the police were not being answered efficiently (about 20% not answered – since reduced to 9%).  Police should be out, not in Police Stations or answering calls. The Centre is staffed by 80 civilians who tend stay in the job longer whereas police staff are frequently transferred. Since 2003 1.8 million calls have been answered of which 50% were crime or crime prevention related. Some time wasters - for example a report of a ferret in a wheelie bin. When crimes are reported, staff have access to the Police computer to record all details, but an officer will not necessarily attend depending on seriousness of report, the decision is made by the operator who can also assist in detection by connecting previous crimes. The 0845 number is charged at local call rate. The concerns regarding calls ringing out after 2 minutes are being addressed, although it has been found that callers rarely hold for longer than 20 seconds.

Most calls were received between 11am and noon then between 1500 and 1800. Very few calls when key football matches are televised. There will be a facility to leave a message in the future, although operators prefer to speak to callers in order to obtain maximum details. There is a hard of hearing line and hopefully a text message facility soon. Karen distributed cards with the number and other details, the 0845 number will be put on our  website. She also mentioned that the public are encouraged to visit the centre at Bucksburn.

Mike thanked Karen for her presentation.

MINUTES of the meeting of 19 February were approved.

1.             MATTERS ARISING

New Lairhillock School –  Several members visited the new school before the meeting and were impressed with the facilities. Suggestion that we donate trees for each pupil to plant – wait until we see what the Council is doing. There is a ‘Tree Council’ that could supply trees free for community projects.

Web site – will be up to date shortly.

Roads – Mike had not managed to contact Mark Skilling. Mike will invite him to one of our meetings. He raised the matter of under-funding at the Community Council Forum, funding was in line with previous years. We will obtain a copy. Duncan commented on continued high speed of cars through Banchory-Devenick crossroads ( 270 in one hour at average of 50 mph). Robert will write to Chief Constable to obtain details of vehicles and obtain Road Conditions Survey from Malcolm Christie.

Western Peripheral Route – 8,000 objections had been received .  Robert to send copy of our objection to all NE MSP’s.

2.         PLANNING

Blairs – New Application (with affordable housing) is still awaiting a new environmental impact statement. The original application (281houses) will now go to appeal. Muir Group have asked for a public inquiry. We have submitted detailed objection to the Reporter.

15 Affordable Houses Westside Maryculter – The application comes before the Area Committee on Tuesday.

Meikle Carewe –  Nothing new.

Maryculter Organic Farm   - Sandy’s reasons for supporting the application over the years were read out in his absence. The application for lifting the agricultural occupancy restriction was refused.

Banchory-Devenick  Cemetery  – Duncan will arrange a meeting with Mike and the Minister.

Proposed  Tourist Lodge (16 Bedroom) and House, site adjacent to Lairhillock Inn Netherley. Frank Budd, the applicant, discussed his application explaining that there was a chronic shortage of accommodation in the area. He felt that the Lairhillock would benefit from additional trade created by the lodge. Mrs Budd said the building would be a traditional steading design. The house would also be used as staff accommodation. Rob pointed out the various planning reasons for objections. Mike asked Mr Budd what he felt the Community Council should do. Mr Budd would like us to reconsider our position now that we have both sides of the argument. Bill proposed that we reconsider our objection, this was agreed.

Jameston Application – Rob would investigate this application and report back.

3.         FINANCE

2007 200 Club 270 tickets have been sold and therefore an additional eight £15 prizes will again be drawn.

Prizes              January                      February                    March

£5        216 G Hoyle               16  J Haigh                 181 J Murison

£10      165 H Badiel               189 I Mackie               203 P Grainger

£15        82  J Bruce                                                    92  M Alpine 

£25                                          280 C Park              £50 75  R Wood

4. CORRESPONDENCE

5. AOCB

Community Council Forum – Notes of K&M Community Council Forum Meeting – 22 February 2007

Inspector Gordon explained the current level of resourcing (too low for significant presence anywhere) and impact of specialist roles on “front –line” policing. Mike had raised the issue of policing of the B979 and was advised that we should write to the Chief Constable requesting information on the number of accidents and prosecutions for excessive speed.                     

Planning Gain - Expect to issue report to community councils on planning gain achieved from recent planning applications. Advised each community council should let the Planning Gain Coordinator know of any specific issues requiring attention.

 K&D Voice – presentation on the work of this community support organisation. There was some heated debate on whether the K&D Voice group should be more active in lobbying for reduced bureaucracy. Could be worth adding to our links as they have information on grants, etc. available to local community groups. Also the Tree Council may give grant towards cost of planting trees in local community – Lairhillock School?

Community Planning Grants available for community activities – Suggest we check that the Maryculter Hall committee are aware.

Planning  - Willie Munro to investigate concerns raised regarding requests to withdraw objections in order not delay planning process. Suggestion made that community council objections should be in the public domain unlike those of local residents

Roads – Mike requested confirmation of the level of funding for roads maintenance and was advised that it was at the level of previous years. Need to write to Malcolm Christie requesting copy of Road Condition Survey.

Wind-farms – Mike confirmed our interest in participating in a joint meeting with other community councils on this subject

South Deeside View – 800 copies have been printed and are being distributed. Adverts raise £300 p.a. Duncan asked that 200 club results are included.

Plant Sale – To be held on 21 May at 6:30pm. Contact Hazel or Rob if you have plants to donate.

Community Council Members – One still required for Maryculter

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

16 April 2007 at 7:30pm

21 May 2007 at 7:30pm

Visit our Website – www.nkrcc.org.uk