CULTS BIELDSIDE AND MILLTIMBER

COMMUNITY COUNCIL

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COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING

23rd October 2014 – 7.00 pm

Deeside Christian Fellowship Office
MINUTES
Chair / Guus Glass (GG)
Community Councillors present / Christine McKay (CM), David Anstee (DA), Guus Glass (GG), Colin Caldow (CC), Graham Payne (GP), Peter Roberts (PR), Margaret Stewart (MS), Nigel Williams (NW)
Apologies / Tracey Davidson (TD), Eleanor Brennan (EB), Cllr Malik (TM), Cllr Boulton (MB), Elmer Rojas (ER), Yvonne Black (YB)
Minutes Secretary / Christine McKay (CM)
In attendance for
all or part of the meeting / Robert Hamilton (RH), Ian Talboys (IT), Niall Smith (NS), Cllr Malone (AM), Matthew Dickie (MD), Terhi Geider (TG), Kathleen Robertson (KR), Alan Knox (AK)
Item / Topic / Action
1.0 / Welcome, introductions and apologies
GG welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.0 / Grampian Police
No attendees, no report or apologies received.
3.0 / City Wardens
No attendees, no report or apologies received.
4.0 / Minutes of the last CBMCC Meeting
The minutes of the September 2014 meeting were approved (DA/PR) pending 3 noted updates.
5.0 / Matters Arising from the last CBMCC meeting (and not on the agenda)
The following matters were reviewed and remain open:
  • Speak to Scott the Youth pastor at Hillview community church to engage volunteers for gardening
  • Draft MBC News article on Himalayan Balsam before 07.01.15
  • Automated External Defibrillators in the community – where are these located? DA agreed to ask the golf club if they are aware of this. Could an online map be produced? Also an article for MBCNews.
  • Meeting room booking by CultsSport has been chaotic in recent times. MB agreed to follow up if CM sends the email trail
  • Bieldside play park vandalism - MB agreed to follow up if CM sends the email trail
The following matters were reviewed and are now closed:
  • DR has the form for applying for a Common good fund grant for Christmas lighting, for submitted early next year
  • All CC members have have been sent instructions on how to access to the CC email
  • Relevant administration is underway for co-opting Yvonne Black to one of the youth positions on CBMCC
/ GP
GG
DA
MB
MB
6.0 / Deer Management in Aberdeen
Ian Talboys, ACC Countryside Officer, presented an overview of the current status:
Land managers are required to manage deer in a responsible way, according to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. There is a code of practice on the Scottish National Heritage (SNH) website. Absence of management by a land owner can result in legal action and follow up monitoring.
The recommended deer density is 4 to 8 animals per 100 hectares maximum in order for tree growth to be sustainable. Above 12 animals per 100 hectares no young trees survive. Thermal imaging at night is effective for counting the number of deer. NESBReC collates, manages and provides biological information for the North East of Scotland. Car insurance companies often pass information about deer collisions to SNH. If you encounter an injured deer and want to arrange treatment phone 101 or the RSPCA.
Deer no longer have a natural predator in Scotland so numbers would become unmanageable without intervention. ACC’s chosen method for control of deer on its land is culling via shooting. Other options that have been rejected are:
  • installing 2m high fencing – too expensive to install and maintain
  • relocation - not practical
  • contraceptive options – not viable, darting is not currently legal
  • introduce predators – difficult planning issue
  • deterrent spray - often washed off by rainfall
Shooting of deer must only be done by a competent person, using the correct type of firearm and ammunition. ACC has an employee that carries this out. A register is kept of the deer culled. In 2012 and 2013 approximately 40 deer were shot in ACC woodland planted areas. The average roe deer weight was found to be in the range 12-25 kg.
Deer displacement is being caused by new large developments, e.g. Countesswells. ACC survey for signs of deer in advance of such development and arrange for their eviction if necessary. Deer are increasingly being seen in the built up areas, e.g. Den of Cults. This is becoming an increasing issue in the MBC area as the deer carry ticks and these can spread Lymes disease. Local resident Alan Knox showed photographs and described the issues he is having with the presence of deer on his property.
ACC is currently defining a city wide deer management strategy and is engaging with other bodies, e.g. SEPA to do this. ACC is a member of Lowland Deer Network Scotland.
It was agreed that an article would be written for the MBC News asking residents to report local deer sightings.
Also that CBMCC would ask ACC for a plan to manage deer in MBC built up areas. / PR
GG
7.0 / More Blooms in Cults, Bieldside, Milltimber
Plug plants have been potted on and are ready for planting. New compost and moisture retaining gel will be put in the tubs. 12 new tubs will be ordered. 2,000 bulbs have been ordered from ACC.
8.0 / Reports
Treasurer (GP)
-Nothing to report
Planning Officer (PR)
-Friarsfield phase 2 - Cala still in negotiation with ACC
-267 North Deeside Road application approved
-Oldfold Farm – negotiation over affordable housing ongoing
-Countesswells – approved at full council meeting
-Marcliffe Hotel – remaining open until March 2015 now
City Councillors
Cllr Aileen Malone
-Trees seen lying in the Cults burn have been cut down due to Dutch Elm disease. They will be removed to reduce risk of flooding. Some drain clearing has also been going on with the same aim
-Florence Court have requested that a bench in their area is moved to be beside the tubs now on North Deeside Road
-Cults bowling club have requested a new island be put in place on North Deeside Road to assist with pedestrians crossing in the vicinity of the club
-The grass edges have been cut on the Old railway line
-On Friarsfield Road the drop kerb is to be moved away from the drain on request
-The ACC preferred site for travellers will no longer be Howes Road. Under consideration is the Rob Roy caravan site
-The River Dee Trust have received funding for dealing with Himalayan Balsam as part of AWPR reparation
Civic Forum
No meetings held in the last month.
ACCF
No meetings attended in the last month.
MBC News – Latest edition has gone to print.
9.0 / General Correspondence
  • Learning Partnership meeting in Cults Community Wing on 8th Oct – postpone for discussion at CBMCC November meeting
  • Request from journalist Niall Smith in support of his studies (in attendance)
  • Invitation to comment on long term forest plan for woodland on Kingcausie estate – by 25th Oct – no plan to respond
  • Invitation to attend Christmas lights switch on 23rd Nov – no attendees planned
  • Invitation to join Remembrance Sunday event 9th Nov – CM and MS agreed to attend
  • Youth and criminal justice survey - postpone for discussion at CBMCC November meeting
/ CM, MS
10.0 / AOCB
None.
11.0 / The meeting was closed.
Next meeting: Thursday 27th November 2014 at Cults Community Centre (beside Cults Academy), at 7.00pm

Christine McKay: Secretary, CBMCC

01224 867479 

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