Minutes of meeting held on 13th May 2009 in Kincorth Community Education Centre

Item No
1 Chair
Members were welcomed to the meeting and thanked for attending on a lovely sunny evening

2 Attendance

Members

Mary Wilson Chair, Shirley Watt Treasurer, Roy Wilson Secretary, Lee Brown, Lynne Brown, Maureen Downie, Glyn Sangster, John Shand, Theresa Wilson, Councillors Cooney and McCaig.

Others

During the meeting there were also in attendance PC Stuart Lawrence, PC Graeme Wilson, George Urquhart resident and Mr Strachan from Nigg Community Council.

3 Apologies
Catherine Cowie, Robert Sangster and Patricia Frazer ACC.

4 Minutes of Previous Meeting
These were approved as a correct record.

5 Business Arising

Item 8.23 - Mary McDonald has contacted Cove Community Council regarding storage of the Christmas lights. They have no facility for storage either. Glyn Sangster suggested a possible solution to this problem could be to buy a shed large enough for the purpose that could be built in her garden. The insurance consideration of this suggestion will need to be examined. It was agreed that we should wait for a decision from the Community Council Forum and that the secretary should contact Steve McHaffie regarding the size of shed that would be needed.
Action Secretary

Item 8 - Kenny Luke will be contacted regarding confirmation of the booking for the grass area needed for the gala day. This booking will have to be confirmed soon.
Action Lee Brown

Item 14 - The computers and other necessary items have been bought and are now in use.

Item 15 - The Treasurer wrote to the post office regarding the proposed move to another address in Gardiner Drive.

Item 16 - Due to not understanding what this item referred to the Secretary had not written. The situation was explained and Dave McIntosh will be sent a letter enquiring on the reason for closing off these steps.
Action Secretary

6 Police Report

At this point the constables recorded in the attendance arrived to provide their report. PC Lawrence informed us that he is in the area for six months. There have been calls for motorcycle disturbance and underage drinking during the last month. Vandalism at schools continues to cause concern with the caretakers reporting that they have difficulties in having repairs done. There are continuing problems in the area of the Spar shop and the police are liasing with the shop security manager. There also problems with youths migrating to other areas and causing trouble there.
One of our members advised that the basement area of the community centre was still closed due to complaints from one local resident.
The police were thanked for attending and left the meeting.

7 Correspondence

7.1 Aberdeen City Council Agenda
Licensing committee 22 April and update received 28/04/09

7.2 Aberdeen City Council
Receipt for cheque in payment of Christmas lights in December. This was passed to the Treasurer
Action Treasurer

7.3 BMA Scotland
A consultation document on General Practice in Scotland: The Way Ahead. Six key areas are identified for urgent action for the future development of general practice.
Comments must be returned by 12 June and may be made at info.thewayahead@bma.org.uk or posted to The Way Ahead, BMA Scotland, 14 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1LL

7.4 Scottish Parliament
Newsletter from Richard Baker MSP

7.5 Aberdeen City Council
Email from Charles Lowe. He has received our annual accounts and commented on the very detailed and well laid out format. He has also commented on the auditor's report and emphasised the importance of having receipts for all expenditure including such things as childcare and subsistence. He is confident that we will take these matters on board for future. He is also suggesting that the spread sheet should be headed "Kincorth/Leggart Community Council - Annual Accounts for year ended 31 December 20??". This will be a help should the accounts become detached from the auditors comments. The Treasurer agreed to take this advice on board.
We are also informed that, due to having a balance in the normal account of more than twice our annual grant we will not be receiving the annual grant of £620.07 per capita grant plus the £500 fixed grant.
Action Treasurer

7.6 Waste Aware Team
They are seeking clarification on what we want from them at our May meeting. I have confirmed that a five/ten minute talk and demonstration would be what we would expect.

7.7 Association of Scottish Community Councils
Intimation of the appointment of Dr Nicola Welsh as its National Development Officer

7.8 Aberdeen City Council
Charles Lowe has sent a reminder of the above association's meeting at Woodhill House on 16 May starting at 10.00. This meeting is open to all community councillors. Mary and Roy Wilson said they may be able to attend.

7.9 Aberdeen City Council
A certificate of indemnity regarding the Small Improvement Fund cheque that has been lost. This has been signed and returned.

7.10 Aberdeen City Council
Email from Charles Lowe with information on a Sustainable Communities Centre being opened by Aberdeen Forward. This centre will be hosting an open day on 30 April from 12 Noon until 7.00p.m. There will be an opportunity to view the space for rent as well as a chance to book space for our own displays and to drop off leaflets.

7.11 Aberdeen City Council
I emailed Charles Lowe advising him that we have spent up to £1000 on the computers and asked if this would make any difference to getting our annual grant. However he has replied that even with this spending we would still have a larger balance than allowed. Also this expenditure would have needed to be committed during 2008.

7.12 Scottish Association of Community Councils
This body has been asked to provide oral evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education committee on the School closure (Scotland) Bill. The association will only provide input on behalf of our councils if they have first canvassed us for our views and experience. The bill can be viewed on the Scottish Parliament website.

7.13 Scottish Association of Community Councils
An email reminder of the meeting on 16 May in Woodhill House. We are advised there is much good news to share.

7.14 Aberdeen City Council
A reply to an email to Charles Lowe asking what we should do with the computer obtained from the City Council. Mr Lowe advises us that the computer now belongs to our council and we should decide what to do with it at a future meeting. We can scrap it if we consider it to be beyond repair but a decision must be made and minuted at our meeting. This machine was passed to Lee Brown who thinks he can access a battery and use it for gala day committee
Action Lee Brown

7.15 Aberdeen Forward
Information on the Sustainable Communities Centre in Poynernook Road. This facility will be open on 30 April from 12 Noon till 7p.m. It is also open each week from 9.00a.m. until 4.30p.m for anyone who want to pop in to see the facilities. More information on this body and its current projects can be found on www.aberdeenforward.org or on telephone at 01224 213736.

7.16 Aberdeen City Council
Patricia Frazer has sent information on lottery funding from the start of this financial year. There is to be a dedicated workshop at Summerhill Centre on Tuesday 12 May from 1.00 to 3.0p.m. A page of further information is also available.

7.17 Aberdeen City Council
Notice of the Boundary Commission provisional proposals for the Scottish Parliamentary Boundaries. This will be published in early May and can be seen on the website www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk If we need to discuss any aspect of this we are invited to contact Martin Allan at the City Council.

7.18 Aberdeen City Council
The Annual Performance Report for 2007/2008 is available.

7.19 Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Local Development Plan. The City Council recognise that they have not consulted as extensively as they should have. In order to address this they have arranged meetings at various venues across the city. Our area will meet on 8 June in Loirston Primary School from 6.30 until 9.00p.m. Each developer will be invited to attend and will be encouraged to set up an information stall for the public to view. Members of the Local Development Plan team will also be at the event to answer any queries regarding the development options process. The team will also be happy to accept invitations to Community Council meetings to discuss any aspect of the local Development Plan process.
A Newsletter explaining the Finalised Aberdeen City and Shire Structure Plan is also available.

7.20 Aberdeen City Council
Intimation that the consultation on the report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland has been postponed. This consultation will now start on 21 May. The revised recommendations will be available from that date on the website www.bcomm-scotland.gov.org

7.21 Information Commissioner's Office
Letter of confirmation of renewal of our registration until 20 April 2010

7.22 Banchory and Leggart Development
We are invited to attend a public consultation on this development on Saturday 16 May from 2.00 until 5.00p.m. This event will be presented by Planning Aid Scotland to ensure that there is a neutral approach to the consultation.

7.23 Charles Lowe Aberdeen City Council
A replacement cheque for £3000 in payment of the Small Improvement Fund. This has been acknowledged to Mr Lowe. The cheque was passed to the Treasurer
Action Treasurer

7.24 Association of Scottish Community Councils
The invitation to renew registration with the Information Commissioner's Office has evidently lead some community councils to contact this association regarding their being subject to the Freedom of Information Act. This message confirms that this does not affect community councils in Scotland.

7.25 Aberdeen City Council
Informal Consultation on the Learning Strategy including the Learning (Schools) Estate. This consultation will run from 6 May until 19 June. Key questions to which they seek answers are included in the letter. A meeting will be held to discuss this in Kincorth Academy on 15 June from 7.00 until 9.00p.m. Further information is available on the Council website. Parents present said they have received this information through the schools.
Councillor Cooney informed members that this could be a very important meeting since there are thoughts of merging Kincorth and Torry Academies.

7.26 Aberdeen Forward
A newsletter from this body that has opened premises on Poynernook Road

7.27 Association of Scottish Community Councils
A reminder about the meeting at Woodhill House on 16 May from 10.00 until sometime after 1.00. Lunch will be provided and this event is free.

7.28 Catherine Cowie
Apologies for absence from the meeting. Questions regarding a Funeral Home that has opened up on Abbotswell Crescent. To her knowledge no one has been informed about the change of status. The last the neighbours heard was that it was going back to residential accommodation. Catherine is asking who she can complain to at the Council regarding the lack of information. It was agreed that the Secretary should write to the director of Planning regarding this item and inform Catherine of this decision.
Action Secretary

7 Proposal to Adopt Loirston as Stadium Site
At this point Mr Strachan, Chair of Nigg Community Council unexpectedly joined our meeting seeking support for the rejection of the proposal to build a stadium at Loirston. Unfortunately Mr Strachan passed out a paper he had copied that indicated that our council was already committed to supporting rejection of this proposal. Members were advised that the Secretary had contacted Mr Strachan regarding what the Nigg CC has said against the proposal. At no time had the Secretary nor the Chair given any commitment regarding this since it had not yet been discussed at our meeting. The Secretary apologised for Mr Strachan 'jumping the gun, and assuming his enquiry indicated support.
Mr Urquhart, a local resident, spoke to the meeting also seeking the support of our council for retaining the Loirston area in its present state. He explained why this area was made a recreation area and what problems are likely to be caused with massive development of a stadium and 2000 houses
After considerable discussion it was unanimously agreed that our council should make representation against developing the area. Since he was to be out of town the next day, the Secretary agreed to write that evening expressing our concerns.
Mr Urquhart thanked the meeting for listening to him, agreeing to support him in his efforts to retain the area for recreation purposes and he left the meeting.
Action Secretary

9 Treasurer's Report
The balance in the ordinary account is £1531.22 and the Small Improvement Fund at £3038 with the addition of the cheque recorded in correspondence. A current balance sheet is attached to this minute.

10 Council Website
Lee Brown circulated a paper with details of costs for setting up a website for our council. Bucksburn Community Council had been contacted requesting details of their server. After some discussion it was agreed that Lee should start the process of setting up the site and expenditure of £110.12 less 5% for paying two years in advance was agreed
Action Lee Brown

11 Reports

Civic Forum
Lynne Brown said she might be able to attend these meetings along with Mary McDonald

Planning
Lynne Brown checked on previous planning applications for any intimation of change of use of the previous doctor's surgery to that of a funeral parlour. However she could not find any information on this matter.

Community Council Forum
The Forum was to arrange a meeting with the Chief Executive before the next scheduled meeting to discuss the City Council's lack of consultation on matters affecting their areas. However this has not as yet been organised. Mary McDonald indicated that she might be able to attend Forum meetings.

Gala Day
The availability of gazebos for this event was discussed. It was agreed that expenditure up to £700 would be allocated for the purchase of three quality gazebos, a petrol generator and a jerry can for fuel. The Secretary was asked to enquire if the games used last year would still be available.
Action Gala Committee and Secretary

12 A.O.C.B
There was no further business.

These minutes will be up for approval at the next meeting