Ythan Community Council
Minutes of Meeting
Monday11 May 2015 at 7:30pm
Ellon Academy
Present
Andy Clubb (Chair)
Chris Hall (Secretary)
Sandy Milne (Treasurer)
Charles Coulson
Hamish Garland
Elaine Jones
Councillor Isobel Davidson
Councillor Richard Thomson
Apologies
David Baker
Charles Wolrige Gordon
Chairman’s Opening Remarks
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending. He then handed the Chair to Councillor Thomson for the Annual General Meeting to take place. That meeting is minuted separately.
Following the Annual General Meeting, the ordinary meeting reconvened, and, in the absence of the new Chairman, Andy Clubb remained in the Chair.
Minutes of previous meeting – 9 March 2015
Charles Coulson proposed that the minutes be adopted and this was seconded by Sandy Milne.
Matters arising
The secretary was requested to write to Police Scotland and remind them of the point made at the meeting on 9 March regarding the accident history of the Waulkmill bend on the B9005.
Action - Secretary
Charles Coulson wished to record his congratulations to Sandy Milne for his work on the fish tanks for Arnage, Methlick and Udny Green Primary Schools and Haddo House.
Charles Coulson reported that he had met with James Jamieson regarding Crossstone Quarry, and that it was intended to reopen a small part of the quarry for sand extraction.
Charles Coulson asked the Councillors present to explain the procedure for certain planning applications to be decided under delegated powers. Councillor Davidson indicated that, if an application was in policy, and no representations had been received, then it would be decided under delegated powers, although Councillors could call it in for discussion if necessary. If the application was in policy and up to five representations had been received from different households, then the application would be referred to Councillors. If two or more Councillors felt it necessary, the application could go to the Planning Committee.
Following this explanation, Councillor Davidson was asked to let the Secretary have a summary of the procedure in writing to circulate to all members.
Action – Councillor Davidson
The Chairman took this opportunity to ask a delegation from Ythanbank who were in attendance to address the meeting with their concerns about a planning application at a site South of The Neuk, Ythanbank.
The delegation presented their comments with regard to the application, from which a number of planning concerns emerged. These related to site access, shared ownership of the access road, a lack of clarity in what was being proposed, the possibility that the application provided a precedent for further development, the possibility that the application would exceed the expansion foreseen in the Local Development Plan and the adverse effect on a local tourism related business. Charles Coulson was asked to prepare a suitable comment on behalf of the Ythan Community Council.
Action – Charles Coulson
Police Scotland Report
Attached.
Chairman’s report
None
Secretary’s report
None
Treasurer’s report
The Treasurer reported that the Council’s funds now stood at £7,334.44.
Councillors’ reports
Councillor Davidson informed the meeting that the new Chief Executive for Aberdeenshire Council had visited the area and been shown around by the four Councillors, and that Christine Gore, a senior officer of the Council, had resigned to take up a position with Oxfordshire Council. This resulted in a reorganisation, which reduced the number of senior officers by one. Councillor Davidson also informed the meeting that £2.2 million had now been allocated to the funds available for affordable housing including Council Houses in Aberdeenshire.
Following discussion, Councillor Davidson was asked to circulate details of the rules attaching to the sale and resale of affordable houses.
Action – Councillor Davidson
Cooperation with Ellon Community Council
Chris Hall and Charles Coulson outlined the discussions they had held with members of Ellon Community Council regarding closer cooperation in planning and other community matters.
Other Competent Business
Hamish Garland noted the funds available to the Community Council and suggested that suggestions should be sought from the residents of the area as to worthy projects which might be funded or assisted from the funds. The secretary was asked to publicise this in the press.
Action - Secretary
Chris Hall suggested that Sandy Milne should be put forward for a long service award under the Aberdeenshire scheme. This was agreed by the meeting.
Action - Secretary
Next Meeting –6 July 2015 at 7.30 pm.
Please indicate to the secretary at your earliest convenience whether you will be able to attend either or both of these meetings. This is to enable the date to be changed if it looks as though the meeting might fail to be quorate.
Chris Hall
Secretary
Ythan Community Council
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING ON
Monday 11 May 2015
- LOCAL INTEREST INFORMATION
For the period 11 April 2015 to 11 May 2015, the following crimes and offences were reported in the Ellon area:-
BREACH OF THE PEACE
There were two persons reported for incidents of 38 Criminal Justice Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 or Breach of the Peace. Both incidents occurred in public and were dealt with by way of anti-social fixed penalty notices.
ASSAULT
Three assaults were reported. Two are detected enquiries continue into the third.
VANDALISM
There were two reports of vandalism and enquiries continue into these. One of the reports relates to vandalism to playequipment at Auchterellon Park.
THEFT
There were two thefts reported. A male has been reported for one of the thefts and enquiries continue regarding the second theft.
HOUSEBREAKING
There were two house breakings reported within Ellon, one to a shed and t
the other at Ellon Community Centre. Both are undetected.
ROAD TRAFFIC ISSUES
Two people have been reported for driving with no insurance
Thre people have been reported for careless driving
One person has been reported for failing to stop after an accident.
Castle road continues to get attention from Road Policing and Divisional Officers.
Roads Policing are also giving attention to the A948.
A recent initiative in the Ellon area resulted in 57 motor vehicles being stopped at excessive speed. Fourteen drivers were charged and the remaining 43 were given advice regarding their driving.
Three additional Divisional officers have been trained to use speed detection equipment within the Formartine Community Policing area
A further temporary portable speed sign has been purchased. The sign can be moved about the Formartine area and are designed to reinforce to motorists the speed limit in the area they are driving.
DRUGS
Three people have been reported in relation to possession of class A and class B drug.
MISCELLANEOUS
A male has been reported for possession of a knife.
Police Scotland continues to emphasise the importance of security both in respect of commercial and domestic properties as well as vehicles as the region continues to see instances of theft. Members of the public are encouraged to report any instances of suspicious behaviour or activity.