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Feughdee West Community Council

Minutes of the Meeting held in Knappach Hall:
Thursday 19th February 2009 at 7.30p.m.

Present: Community Councillors:

Mr. A Stenhouse (Chairman), Mrs A Proctor (Treasurer), Mr. F. Sheridan, Mrs. D. Hudson, Mr. I. Brockie , Mr. T. Clark, Mrs. J. Randalls and Mrs N Loosley.

Councillors :

Cllr. J Webster

Members of the Public:

Two

Minute Secretary:

Mrs. N. Loosley

1. Apologies and absences

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. K. Clark, Mrs S Stutter and Mr D Irvine.

2. Police Matters

There was no Police representation at the meeting. The February Crime report for the area had been circulated to Community Councillors prior to the meeting. A discussion took place about police presence on the streets and the insufficient number of police officers available to attend incidents when help was requested by the public. Reference was made to a case in Aboyne reported in the Deeside Piper where police were allegedly not available to assist a terrified elderly couple when hooligans attacked their property and overturned their car. It was agreed that the Community Council express its concern to Grampian Police over the lack of police presence in the area.

Action: AS

Cllr Jill Webster advised the meeting that there were ongoing discussions with the police about mobile CCTV cameras for ‘hot spot’ areas.

3. Website

Mr Andrew Douglas from Feughside attended the meeting to talk about a website that had originally been created for Birse Parish church but which was being expanded to include local community information. Discussions took place on whether this website could be a vehicle for disseminating information by FWCC. Mr Douglas offered space on this website and assistance in managing information.

It was agreed that discussions should take place over the next couple of weeks and should cover the information that FWCC wished to see on a website and who would be responsible for co-ordination. It was recognised that the CC still needed to reach Inchmarlo, Auchattie and Tilquhillie communities as well as Strachan.

It was noted that Mr Roger Eames had withdrawn from production of the Newsletter in Strachan and that Ms Lesley Young had offered to continue.

4.Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 4th December 2008 were confirmed as an accurate record.

5. Matters Arising

  • 5.1 Footpath between Strachan School and the Village Hall:
    A discussion took place about the speed limit in Strachan. It was agreed that Inspector Stuart Ednie be copied with the statistics that Mr Stenhouse had received from Mr M Skilling.
    Action: AS
  • 5.2 Eslie Barn:
    It was agreed that the new Planning Enforcement Officer be contacted with a view to arranging a site visit.
    Action: JR/NL
  • 5.3 Knockburn Loch:
    No retrospective Planning Permission for extractions had been noted. There was, however, no evidence that sand and ballast extraction was continuing. Mrs J Randalls agreed to contact the residents who had made the original observations.
    Action: JR
  • 5.4 Strachan Church:
    It was reported that no action to tidy the area had been taken. It was suggested that photos of the site be taken and sent to the owner’s agent with a repeat request for action. It was suggested that this area may be considered as an unenclosed building site and therefore be a Health and Safety issue.
    Action: DH

6.Treasurer’s Report

Funds held in the Bank total £1540.64. A discussion took place on how the funds could be allocated and the need to take action to communicate with appropriate potential recipients was recognised.

Action: All

7.Planning Issues

  • 7.1 Beltie Cottages:
    Mr F Sheriden advised that he had attended the site visit by the Reporter. This inspector had visited to familiarise himself with the site and did not wish to talk to people. He had suggested that a result could be anticipated fairly quickly.
  • 7.2 Knockburn Loch:
    A letter of objection on behalf of the Community Council had been sent. There had been no other objections from statutory consultees other than a requirement by SEPA to check on waste from the old lime kiln. A discussion took place on the number of objections that had been submitted.
  • 7.3 Castlewood Chalets:
    The meeting was informed that approval had been given. Cllr J Webster outlined the reasons for the granting of approval. Mr F Sheriden was in receipt of a letter from a local resident which expressed the frustration of local residents over the single track road and the failure of users to respect passing places, perhaps due to a lack of signalling of these passing places. Cllr J Webster suggested that these comments be passed on to the Roads Department.
    Action: FS
  • 7.4 Inchmarlo/Glassel:
    Cllr. J Webster advised that there had been no justification for building a house in the countryside.
  • 7.5 New Local Plan:
    Cllr. J Webster advised that a new document wasimminent.
  • 7.6 Auchattie:
    Mr F Sheriden expressed concern that Mr P Blaxter was considering Auchattie as being part of Banchory South for consultation purposes whereas Auchattie was part of Feughdee West and should be considered as such. Cllr. J Webster responded that this was not important insofar as the consultation was concerned.

8.Correspondence Received.

A list of the current correspondence was emailed to all Council Members prior to the meeting and a copy is filed with these minutes. Mrs N Loosley mentioned the difficulty of passing on certain relevant information to the local community.

9.Any Other Business.

  • 9.1
    During the discussion of planning issues, there were several references to the recording of objections on the planning website. It was suggested that objections could be numbered and it was agreed that a letter be sent to the Planning Department to propose this.
    Action: DH


    In addition, Community Councillors who had noticed any anomalies were requested to identify these in order that a letter could be sent to the Planning Department.
  • 9.2
    It had been noted that there was sand in the drains on a section of the Strachan Road and that this had resulted in flooding. It was agreed that his would be reported to the Council.
    Action: FS
  • 9.3
    Mr S Stenhouse requested that thanks to BDI for arranging the Banchory Initiative event. be recorded.
  • 9.4
    A list of items required by Inchmarlo Hall had been received and a value was to be put on these in order that funding by FWCC could be considered.
  • 9.5
    The mobile Post Office provision planned for Strachan is not working out due to lack of facilities. Mrs N Loosley to write to Sir Robert Smith regarding alternative arrangements.
    Action: NL

10.Date of next meeting:

Strachan Hall on Thursday 23rd April, to follow the AGM, at 7.30pm.