Minutes of meeting held at
Rhynie School
Monday 28th October 2013
Present: Paul Manning (Chairman) James Matthew (Vice Chairman) James Grant David Grant Peter Johnston Alistair Rennie Duncan Connon George Beverly George McIntosh Colin Mumford Kate Hunter (Secretary)
In Attendance: Sergeant Neil Binning, Councillor Joanna Strathdee Councillor John Latham
Apologies: Neil Muiry
Minutes of the Previous Meeting.
Proposed by: James Matthew
Seconded by: Peter Johnston
Matters Arising:
· Blocked gullies between Earlsfield Farm and Kennethmont School Junction. This job has only been partially completed as the workmen have missed two of the drains near Earlsfield Cottage
· Reply from Ralph Singleton Principal Roads Engineer re the missing footpath at Jubilee Cottages:
The creation of the missing section of footway is included in the current
Year’s Capital Works programme and a member of my team has been tasked with the design and initial negotiations with the householders for
the acquisition of the land. It is necessary to acquire land to give sufficient space to form a footway and equivalent roadside parking which the householders currently enjoy.
The intention is to be able to carry out the work in the current financial
Year
Footpath from Edindoll to Bourtree Cottage and from the 30mph sign at Arnopedia
I've had a look on Street View and can appreciate the issue. It isn't as high priority as Jubilee Cotts as there is a verge or untrafficked strip of road where pedestrians can seek refuge when required, unlike Jubilee Cotts. I am happy to consider a footway for a future works programme, but do you have any information about the number of pedestrians involved? All schemes have to be prioritised, and numbers of users is one of the factors
I am still sympathetic towards a proposal for a footway and usage
Information would be very helpful.
· Overgrown hedging between Pinetree Cottage and Roadside of Law. Aberdeenshire Council to send a letter to the property owners asking them to cut back the hedges.
· Kennethmont Pupil Support: Reply from Irene McDermont PA to Maria Walker, Director of Education, Learning and Leisure acknowledging our comments regarding the outcome and resolution of the pupil support at Kennethmont school
· Signs at Rhynie Square and Main Street have been replaced
· A new flag for Rhynie Square has been bought by the community council
· 231 bus service. Several complaints regarding the buses being late or not running have been raised by passengers using the 231 bus service The complaints have been relayed to Susan Watt at Aberdeenshire Council Public Transport and Graeme Leslie Stagecoach Operations Manager
· Letter has been sent to Ralph Singleton supporting Clatt Parent Teacher Council’s request to have the 20mph signs at Clatt Hall moved further back past the entrance to the hall to give an early warning to motorists that children may be crossing the carriageway. The hall and park are frequently used by the pupils and staff
Police Report:
The area traffic warden has been tasked with carrying out the speed analysis in Rhynie. The results are still awaited.
Police Scotland is supporting the Scottish Government’s Ready for winter campaign on winter resilience, which runs from 21 October 2013 until 24 November.
This year's campaign will encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to 'take an hour' - using the extra hour when the clocks change - to get ready for winter. The key message is: take an hour to prepare now…and save yourself a lot of trouble later.
Get Ready for winter has four campaign themes:
· Home (including food, health, heat, power and rapid thaws);
· Travel (equipment, essential travel plans, journey information);
· Community (schools, neighbours);
· Workplace (businesses, employers, suppliers).
Alongside Police Scotland, partners involved include British Red Cross and a range of public, voluntary and private sector bodies. There will be 64 national road shows visiting all local authority areas in Scotland to spread the campaign’s messages.
Presentation by Lizzy Shepherd Marr Area Partnership Development Officer:
Lizzy explained that Marr Area Partnership organises the Marr Community Ward Forums every three months on behalf of the Marr Community Planning Group
Forums are held at various locations in the Ward area
Suggestions for future forums:
Funding and grant applications
Feasibility studies
Finance Report:
Business Account: £5911.96
Legacy Account: £4942.29
Investment Account: £7593.59
Correspondence:
· James Hutton Institute Community Council Study (noted)
· Police Scotland Public Counter Service Provision Huntly office will be open Monday – Friday 9am –5pm
· Annual Engagement on Local Authority Budgets (noted)
· Aberdeenshire Main Issues Report Provisional Dates of Public Meetings 31/10/13 Rhynie Community Hall
· HDT: Letter from Donald Boyd on HDT’s successful grant award from the Scottish Land Fund
· Aberdeenshire Council – Improvement to Service Delivery
www.surveymonkey.com/s/3XVLQ8D to be completed by 11th November 2013
· Draft Passenger Transport Strategy Consultation Exercise - Lumsden Hall 20th November 2013
· Cairnborrow Wind Farm (noted no comment)
· Parliamentary Report from Richard Baker (noted)
· Marr Area Partnership September Newsletter (noted)
· A96 Dualling Inverness to Aberdeen public exhibitions Thursday 21st November 12.00pm – 7.00pm Gordon Arms Huntly
· Dissertation Questionnaire from Victoria Bottomly (Forwarded to members)
· Funding and more information from Lizzy Shepherd (noted)
· Thank you letter from Anne Lyne secretary Rhynie Gala Committee Christmas Lights Appeal
· Request from Sonja Findlay for dates of local events which would be published in the next edition of the Inverurie Community News
· Jericho Hill Wind Turbine: Request from IREC for support for their plan to build a single wind turbine on Jericho hill. After discussion the committee decided that we should support this as people in the Tap O Noth Community Council area could benefit from a new hospital in the area and the income would be used directly for this purpose.
· Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan (noted)
Planning Applications:
Hill of Corskie Wind Farm: The committee decided to object to this planning application
Individual Area Reports
Clatt:
Broken wall at Mill Bridge
Gartly:
Fence and barrier at the bridge and fence at the monitoring station still awaiting repair
Kennethmont:
Potholes at Candy Corner and water crossing the road at Jeldah
Crumbling road surface on the bridge between Leith Hall and Craigton road end
Rhynie:
Trees in the square need trimming.
Blocked drains at West Lodge and Cottown Cottage
Trees between Cottown and East Lodge touching the telephone wires
Flooding on the path at 12A Sims Road
AOCB:
Clashindarroch Benefit Fund: Peter Johnston and James Matthew are attending the meetings with Foundation Scotland and reporting back on the progress.
Youth Representation: Are there any 16 to 18 year olds who would be interested in attending the Community Council meetings? Members should consider approaching young people in their area.
Community Council what are we about?
Armistice Day: Bill Gordon to be asked to lay the wreath at Rhynie on behalf of the Community Council
Next Meeting
Monday 9th December
Clatt Hall
7.30pm
