Tap O Noth Community Council
Minutes of meeting held in
The Village Hall Clatt
Monday
16th July 2012
Present: Paul Manning Chairman, Kate Hunter Secretary, James Matthew Vice Chairman, David Grant, James Grant, Alistair Rennie George McIntosh.
Apologies: Councillor Ingleby, Councillor Latham, Councillor Strathdee,
Neil Muiry, Martin Dow, George Beverly, Peter Johnston, Duncan Connon & Elma Shearer
In attendance: Sgt. Neil Binning.
Minutes of Previous Meeting:
Approved by: Alistair Rennie
Seconded by: David Grant
Matters Arising:
Clatt:
Old Mill: Building Standards have visited the site Awaiting report
Picnic Tables at the Suie Hill Car Park: Calum Murray of the Forestry Commission to liaise with Aberdeenshire Council and report back
Broom at Hillhead Clatt Awaiting the council to cut it back
Gartly:
Benches George Beverly to repair one of the benches and an application for a Village Enhancement Grant has been made to help finance the replacement of the other.
Gartly Church: has also been visited by the Building Standards, Awaiting report
Bushes on the Mytice and Burncruinich roads: Aberdeenshire Council have approached the landowners and asked them to cut back the overhanging bushes
Rhynie:
Essie Cemetery Gate: To be inspected and if required will be removed for painting
Kerb at Canmohr: Council to inspect and decide if a warning marker will be required
Bench on Cabrach Road: Application for a Village Enhancement Grant to help towards the cost has been made Next meeting of the Area Committee is 21st August
Grass Cutting of Local Cemeteries:
Reply from landscape Services:
With regards to the grass cutting we are toiling due to the wet weather,
along with the planting of bedding plants and delivering of plants to the
Community Councils this is in the region of 20000 plants.
All the schools have their Sports day at this time of the year and they
require markings laid on the playing fields and this all done within normal
working hours as all overtime has been stopped.
Aberdeenshire Council has never collected grass from any of the sites that
it maintains and you will find that no Local Authority in the country picks
up grass cuttings.
Police Report:
Kennethmont / Wardhouse Crimes
As most of you will probably be aware there have been a number of break-ins in the Kennethmont area since 5 June. They are summarised as follows:
Theft of tools from the Old Railway Station
Theft of tools from Newton of Wardhouse
Theft of domestic items and tools from Newseat of Craighall
Break-in to shed at Hillview, Kennethmont (nothing stolen)
Theft of tools from Mains of Craighall
Theft of computer from Ardmore distillery
While there is nothing to formally link the crimes they are obviously believed to be related.
A male walking with a limp is responsible for the Ardmore theft. He is seen to leave in a small dark coloured car similar to Ford Fiesta or Nissan Micra.
Perhaps coincidentally a tractor and trailer (loaded with copper wire) stolen from Auchterless was recovered in Kennethmont on Monday 25 June.
Young Drivers Road Show – Market Muir, Huntly 7 June 2012
A repeat visit by Grampian Police Road Safety Unit, where officers engage with young drivers in order to pass on safety message and community concerns. Officers use a wide range of techniques to engage with the local young drivers and provide advice, vehicle checks and education. Attendance was over 35 young drivers plus family/friends.
It was well received with some genuine positive feedback received. Attending officers felt that the road show was a great success.
Off Road Driving
Grampian Police are working in partnership with the Forestry Commission Scotland to reduce the instances of off the road illegal driving that occur in our forests.
Chief Inspector Ian Wallace, Head of Road Policing, comments: "The owners and users of 'off road' vehicles often don't realise that many of the laws and regulations which apply to normal road vehicles also apply to them, depending upon where their vehicles are used.
"We are encouraging any members of the public who observe any motorised vehicles being used in any forests or see vans or vehicles with trailers parked up at forest entrances to note the registration numbers and contact Grampian Police on 0845 600 5 700 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if they wish to remain anonymous."
Hill of Corskie Windfarm: Peter Oosterhof came along to outline the Oosterhof family proposal to develop 10 turbines on Corskie Hill near Gartly and to engage with community groups on their ideas for distribution of monies to a Community Benefit Fund. (Proposal Document attached)
Garth Entwistle of Udny Community Windfarm Turbine Project also outlined the benefits of a community turbine one of which has been erected by the Udny Group
Finance Report:
Business Account £5358.27
Correspondence:
· Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill (Forwarded 22/06)
· Burcotewind Renewables: Feedback on Meikleton Windfarm (noted)
· Public Toilet: Agreement for next three years commencing 1st April 2012 and terminating 31st March 2015
· Neil Innes: Ride the North: Alistair to liaise with Clatt Hall Committee members, Phyllis Beverly and Kate Hunter
Planning applications: No Comment
Individual Area Reports:
Clatt:
Alistair and Brian to cut back trees at Clatt
The early morning bus to Insch is not reliable and sometimes doesn’t run. Letter to be sent to Phillips Coaches and Aberdeenshire Council Public Transport asking them to address the problem.
Kennethmont:
Crumbling road surface at Duffschool junction.
Rhynie:
Scottish Water to be asked to explain why there was a shortage of water on Sunday June 24th also to enquire why there is still flooding at 5 The Square, the Phone box and at the Bungalow on Essie Road although Aberdeenshire Council has cleared the drains.
Leaking tap at Rhynie Cemetery this has been reported to the Property Section Aberdeenshire Council
Football Field: Letter to Aberdeenshire Council asking if the water can be drained and their proposed future use of the area and why the grass had not been cut this year.
Tennis Court: George inquired if there was any possibility of resurrecting the tennis court that used to be situated at the Cabrach end of the playing field.
Public Question Time:
Vegetation at the Mill O Noth Bridge and at Central School is causing a hazard to drivers. Report to Aberdeenshire Council
AOCB:
Garden Competition. Judging will take place on Thursday 26th August
Next Meeting
Tin Hut Gartly
Monday 27th August 2012
