Home

Feughdee West Community Council

Minutes of the Meeting held in Strachan Hall:
Thursday 23rd April 2009 at 8.10p.m.

Present: Community Councillors:

Mr. A Stenhouse, Mrs. N. Loosley, Mr. F. Sheridan, Mrs. D. Hudson, Mr. I. Brockie , Mr. T. Clark,
Mrs. J. Randalls and Mrs. L. Young.

Councillors:

None

Members of the Public:

One

Minute Secretary:

Mrs. S. Stutter

1. Apologies and absences

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. L. Clark and Mr. D.Irvine

2. Welcome New Community Councillors

The Chairman welcomed Mrs. Lesley Young as a new Community Councillor and in her absence, Mrs. J. Davies as a new co-opted Councillor. He thanked Mrs. Loosley for agreeing to be re-elected and Mr. Sheridan for his co-option. Thanks were also extended to Mrs. Proctor for her long service as a Community Councillor and latterly as treasurer.

3. Election of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other members responsibilities

  • Chairman: Mr. A. Stenhouse
  • Secretary: Mrs. N. Loosley
  • Treasurer: Mr. T. Clark
  • Minute Secretary: Mrs. S. Stutter
  • Planning and Environment: Mr. F. Sheridan
  • Education and Youth Mrs. J. Randalls
  • Transport, Roads and Infrastructure: Mrs. D. Hudson
  • Health: Mrs. J. Davies
  • Village Amenities: Mr. I. Brockie
  • Communication/ Website: Mrs. L. Young
  • Website: Mr. A. Stenhouse, Mrs. N. Loosley, Mrs. S. Stutter


4. Police Matters

There was no Police representation at the meeting. The March Crime report for the area had been circulated to Community Councillors prior to the meeting and a copy is attached to these minutes.

The Chairman had written to the Chief Constable for Aberdeen regarding the problem of speeding cars through Strachan and along the A93 through Inchmarlo. No reply had been received at the time of the meeting. The Chairman also agreed to invite Inspector Ednie to the next meeting on June 25th 2009 at Inchmarlo.

Action: AS

5. Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2009 were confirmed as an accurate record.

6. Matters Arising

  • 6.5.1 Footpath between Strachan School and the Village Hall:
    The footpath between Strachan School and the Village Hall had been completed for which the Community Council and local community are grateful.
  • 6.5.2 Eslie Barn/Pond:
    The new Planning Enforcement Officer, Mr. Stuart Ranford had visited the site and the report was awaited.
  • 6.5.3. Knockburn Loch:
    Mrs. Randalls had spoken to the residents who gave evidence of subsequent ground extraction having been made. The retrospective planning approval is to be considered at the end of May 2009.
  • 6.5.4 Strachan Church:
    The agent for the owner of the property had been contacted and as a result safety fencing had been installed around the site.
    The meeting were informed that planning approval had been received and the owner hoped to progress with the conversion. A letter of thanks had been sent.
  • 6.7.1 Beltie Cottages:
    The Reporter refused the appeal.
  • 6.7.2 Knockburn Loch:
    The planning application for a bunkhouse and gym would not be listed for hearing before the end of May 2009. 15 letters of objection to the plans had been received.
  • 6.7.3 Castlewood Chalets:
    Mr. Mark Skilling from Aberdeenshire Council Roads Department thought there was no problem with the passing places on the single track road, despite local residents reporting failure of road users to respect passing places.
    The meeting was informed that the owner had moved his property from one area on the site to another without seeking planning permission.

7. Treasurer’s Report

Funds held in the Bank total £1521.02.. The sum of approximately £52. was outstanding to Strachan School for Netball Bibs plus the fee for the Hire of Strachan Hall for the meeting. In addition enquiries were to be made with Aberdeenshire Council regarding payment of the Administration grant for 2008/09 and reimbursement of the fee paid for Information Communication.

Action NL

The necessary forms were to be ascertained from the bank in order to change the names of the signatories to the account/cheques.

Action TH

8. Planning Issues

Pease see the addendum at the foot of these minutes of the planning applications notified to the Community Council:

Action FS

Discussion took place regarding concern that Community Council views and concerns were not taken into consideration when planning applications were discussed at Planning meetings and decisions were made by the planners without consultation. It was agreed to catalogue the issues of concern in order to meet and discuss those concerns with the Planning Department.

Action FS

The meeting also discussed the issue of intimidation resulting from objections being made to planning applications and whether or not there were circumstances when names and addresses could be withheld. It was agreed that advice be sought from Mairi Stewart in the Planning Department and that the Police should be notified on each occasion.

New Local Plan: The document is due on the 18th May 2009. The secretary advised that any conflict of interest should be registered.

A meeting was arranged for Community Councillors on Thursday 28th May 2009 at 7.30pm at the home of Mrs. Hudson to discuss the implications of the New Plan. A public meeting was also arranged for Thursday 18th June 2009 at 7.30pm at Strachan Hall for members of the public to be made aware of the plan and to discuss its implications for the area. A reporter from the Piper was to be invited together members of Banchory Community Council. The local newsletter would invite comments and views before the meeting on the 18th June.
N.B .In view of the proposal for about 250 houses to be built in Inchmarlo, a public meeting for consultation is planned to be held at Inchmarlo Hall on a date and time to be advised.

9.Website:

Discussion took place regarding communication on the website. It was decided that Strachan today.org would be the main website used. The web manager – Mr. Philip Marno. It was agreed that a separate meeting would be held on a date and time to be arranged in order to discuss the format of the information given. In addition to the website, Mrs. Young agreed to include the area covered by the Feughdee West Community Council in the distribution of the Strachan Newletter. It was proposed that a grant would be awarded to the Strachan newsletter to meet the cost of its production and distribution.

10/11.Current Consultations/Correspondence Received.

A list of the current consultations and correspondence received was emailed to all Council Members prior to the meeting and a copy is filed with these minutes.

12. Any Other Business.

Mr. I. Brockie reported sand on the main road through Strachan for which no-one would take responsibility. The matter was referred to Mrs. Hudson under her responsibility for Transport, Roads and Infrastructure.

Action DH

A request had been received from Inchmarlo Hall for a donation towards the cost of new tables. Discussion took place and it was proposed that a grant be made to all the halls used by the Community Council for meetings to be used to benefit the community.

The sum of £250 to be awarded to Inchmarlo Hall and to Strachan Hall and a contribution of £100 to the WRI towards the upkeep of Knappach Hall. The donations were proposed by M rs. Loosley and seconded by Mr. Sheridan. All in attendance were in agreement with the proposal.

It was noted that a commitment had been made to fund the erection of a fence around the war memorial situated in Strachan but was dependent upon completion of the drive and house on its shared border.

The meeting decided that any e mail or letters sent on behalf of Feughdee West Community Council should be copied to the Secretary for central filing.

ADDENDUM RE: PLANNING