Author: Fiona Bick

Minute of Meeting 1st August 2019 Milne Hall, Kirkton of Skene

Present: Fiona Bick (chair), Steve Gibson, Grant Duguid, Klaus Wahle, George Glennie

Apologies: Ian MacMaster, Nick Pilbeam, Niall MacBeath, Cllr Iris Walker, Cllr Ron McKail, Cllr David Aitchison
Minute of last meeting: Approved.
Police Report: A police report was received and is  attached Police Report Aug 19. No police officer attended. It was noted that behaviour at the Echt Show was better this year than last, but the event was still not entirely trouble-free.
Co-Option of Klaus Wahle to ESCC: A notice was issued on 14th July to all Community Council members of the proposed co-option of Klaus Wahle to the ESCC. The proposal was agreed unanimously by the members present.
ESCC Treasurer: With the resignation of Brian Poppleton from the ESCC the members need to appoint a new Treasurer, but none of the current ESCC members is willing to take on the role at the moment. However, Brian has offered to continue in post as an independent Treasurer until the next AGM. It was unanimously agreed to appoint Brian Poppleton as an independent Treasurer.
Community Resilience Checks: Item deferred until next meeting attended by Nick Pilbeam.
Other Agenda items:
Skene School Crossing Safety: No progress since last meeting on speed survey or road markings/signage.
Forbes Park Landscaping: Item retained on agenda pending autumn planting of new trees.

Kirkton of Skene Playgroup donation: Fiona advised that the playgroup is a registered charity with OSCR. It was therefore agreed to give a donation of £150 from ESCC funds.

New Planning Applications:
• APP/2019/0929 Internal Alterations, installation of rooflights, extract vents and boiler flue – Tower Lodges South, Dunecht AB32 6YJ. No comment.
• APP/2019/1747 Erection of Dwellinghouse – Site at Broomhill Farm, Lyne of Skene. The members noted that it appeared the application was unlikely to comply with planning policy. No comment.

Prior Planning Applications:
• APP/2018/2681 Change of Use of Agricultural Buildings to Livery Stable and Formation of Manege (retrospective) – Millbuie, Skene AB32 6YP GRANTED
• APP/2018/2226 Change of use from Class 6 (Storage) to Class 5 (General Industrial) – South Fornet, Dunecht, Westhill AB32 7BX GRANTED
• APP/2019/0083 Use of Land for Class 5 (General Industrial) and erection of fence – South Fornet, Dunecht AB32 7BX GRANTED

Treasurer’s Report:
Cash in bank £1053.45
Cash in Hand £52.06

£30 has been spent on Scotways subscription and hall rental since the last meeting. Also, £750 was received from the Council for the Lyne of Skene defibrillator and passed on to the project committee.

Correspondence/Upcoming Events:
• NESTRANS Online Consultation (www.nestrans2040.org.uk) -Members advised to make their own submissions.
• David Kerschbaum dissertation research request – Fiona offered to respond
• SSEN Transmission draft Business Plan consultation (12th August Doubletree Hilton, Aberdeen) – Fiona has registered to attend.
• BT Phone Boxes – BT are proposing to remove the Kirkton of Skene and Echt public phone boxes again. The members feel that villages should have a public phone facility and these should therefore be retained. Klaus to respond on behalf of ESCC.
• Community Council Networking Event – Woodhill House 28th September 2019. Steve Gibson will register to attend.
• GACCF – usually occurs on first Wednesday of each calendar quarter. Klaus to write to Alison Cumming and enquire about agenda and venue.

AOCB:
Helimed Crisp Packet Recycling Scheme: Steve Gibson proposed that the ESCC promote this scheme to recycle crisp packets in order to provide funds for the Helimed air ambulance service. He volunteered to drop leaflets with the local schools and deliver any crisp packets collected to the Helimed.

Minute of Annual General Meeting 12th June 2019 Lyne of Skee Hall

Present: Fiona Bick (chair), Nick Pilbeam (vice-Chair), John Foulkes (Secretary), Klaus Wahle, Ian MacMaster, Cllr Iris Walker, Cllr Ron McKail, Cllr Alistair McKelvie, Niall McBeath, Steve Gibson.
Apologies: Mary Gray, Brian Poppleton, Grant Duguid, Cllr David Aitchison

Minute of last A.G.M. – No matters arising therefore minute proposed by Nick Pilbeam, seconded by John Foulkes

Election of Members:
John Foulkes and Brian Poppleton stepped down from the Community Council and did not wish to stand for re-election. In accordance with the new Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils, Fiona Bick and Klaus Wahle each came to the end of their three year tenure. Fiona Bick had nominated herself for re-election and was duly re-elected. Steve Gibson and Niall McBeath had also nominated themselves and were duly elected as new members of the Community Council.

Election of Office Bearers:
Fiona Bick as chairperson, Nick Pilbeam as vice chairperson, Grant Duguid as Treasurer. Klaus Wahle expressed a wish to be co-opted onto the Community Council at the next meeting and agreed to be Secretary.

Treasurer’s Report:

Echt & Skene Community Council Accounts 2017-18

2018-19 Accounts

Acceptance of Accounts:
Proposed by Fiona Bick and seconded by John Foulkes. The accounts were unanimously accepted.

Chairman’s Report:
This last year has seen a number of facility improvements taking place in our villages.
We’re grateful to the Council for taking steps last summer to improve the flood relief drain at Carpenter’s Croft in Kirkton of Skene and very much hope this will see an end to the flooding problems experienced by households previously. We’re also grateful to the Council for the new tarmac footpath they installed at Garlogie, which has improved safety and connectivity for pedestrians in the village.
The new bus shelter project here at Lyne of Skene Hall was completed by village residents in July last year and has been providing welcome respite from the weather for children awaiting school transport.
Unfortunately, the project to replace the Echt public convenience with a smaller community-run facility was unable to proceed due to a lack of support from local residents. The existing toilets are now closed. But on the plus side, we were able to allocate the remaining funds previously set aside for it to other community projects. The funds will be used to support new defibrillators at Dunecht Golf Club and Lyne of Skene, trace heating for Garlogie Hall’s water supply and improvements at the Milne Hall in Kirkton of Skene.
On planning policy the Community Council has been active in representing the views of residents and submitted comments on the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan Main Issues Report consultation in April. We were satisfied that the planning policy team took note of the majority of our concerns expressed last year regarding the bid sites, but we continue to have concerns about other policy aspects of the proposed Plan.
This year sadly we say goodbye to our long-standing Secretary, John Foulkes, and our Treasurer, Brian Poppleton, who have both decided not to stand for re-election. John has served on the ESCC for 33 years and his experience and wisdom will be sorely missed but we wish him and Shirley well as they spend more time away in their campervan visiting family and friends. Brian has served more than 10 years and we will also miss his forthright contributions to our discussions.
However, I’m very pleased to welcome two new members– Steve and Niall, both from Lyne of Skene. There are still vacancies to be filled and if there are others in the community who would like to get involved then we would be pleased to welcome them.

A.O.C.B None

Minute of Meeting 12th June 2019 Lyne of Skene Hall

Present: Fiona Bick (chair), John Foulkes, Nick Pilbeam, Klaus Wahle, Ian MacMaster, Steve Gibson, Niall Macbeath, Cllr Ron McKail, Cllr Iris Walker, Cllr Alistair McKelvie

Apologies: Mary Gray, Grant Duguid, Cllr David Aitchison

Minute of last meeting: Approved.

Police Report: No Police report received since the January meeting. (Post meeting note – a report was received after the meeting and is attached for information.) It was reported by Ron McKail that speed checks were carried out by the police in Lyne of Skene and near Mason Lodge the previous week and 17 speeding tickets were issued.

Other Agenda items:
Skene School Crossing Safety: No progress since last meeting on speed survey or road markings/signage. The Quality Improvement Officer has met with the Head Teacher to look at options to enlarge the school car park but there is limited scope.

Garlogie Dog Fouling: The dog fouling nuisance in the village has ceased following the intervention of the Council dog warden. CLOSED
Forbes Park Landscaping: John followed up tree planting issue with Alan Rae of Kirkwood Homes, who said they would attend to it in the autumn.

Garlogie Cottages Refuse Collection: The residents had received letters from the Waste Department regarding difficulties for bin lorry access due to a parked car. The owner of the car has now been informed of the issue and is parking elsewhere. CLOSED

New Planning Applications:
• APP/2019/1138 Installation of Oil Tank and Fence – Echt Parish Church. No comment.
• APP/2019/1139 Installation of Oil Tank and Fence – Echt Parish Church. No comment.
• APP/2019/1082 Erection of Cattle Court Building – Southbank, Skene (Prior notification approved) No comment.
• APP/2019/0914 Change of use of agricultural land to domestic curtilage and erection of garage – Little Acre, Lyne of Skene. No comment.

Prior Planning Applications:
• APP/2019/0083 Use of Land for Class 5 (General Industrial) and erection of fence – South Fornet, Dunecht AB32 7BX. PENDING
• APP/2018/2226 Change of use from Class 6 (Storage) to Class 5 (General Industrial) – South Fornet, Dunecht, Westhill AB32 7BX PENDING
• APP/2018/2681 Change of Use of Agricultural Buildings to Livery Stable and Formation of Manege (retrospective) – Millbuie, Skene AB32 6YP. PENDING

Treasurer’s Report:
Cash in bank £1133.45
Cash in Hand £2.06

£300 has been donated to the fund for the defibrillator for Lyne of Skene since the last meeting.

Correspondence/Upcoming Events:
• Dunecht Housing Development – the ESCC was asked to comment on the developer’s proposed street names – Cowdray Meadows for the affordable houses fronting the main road and Corskie Crescent for the houses behind. The members felt that it was divisive to give the affordable houses a different address and felt that a single street name should be used for all the houses. Corskie Park or Cowdray Circle were suggested alternatives.
• Echt Primary School Football Festival is to take place on 22nd June 10-2.30pm
• Garioch Area Bus Forum was postponed to 20th June

AOCB:
Littering in Echt – Echt School have advised they do two litter picks each year (usually in March and October). It was noted that the Council have responsibility to ensure roadsides are clear of litter and a request can be logged on the council website.

GACCF – Recycling was the main topic at the June meeting. Paint cannot be left at any Shire Recycling Centre but Aberdeen City Council will take it. Charities can ask for re-usable items to be put aside for them but not members of the public.

Kirkton of Skene Playgroup has asked for a donation to assist them in creating a new outdoor play area. It was agreed to give them £150 subject to confirmation that they are a charity/non-profit organisation.

Lyne of Skene Defibrillator – is nearly fully funded now. The cabinet location is to be agreed with the Council and must be fitted by a Council electrician.

Lyne of Skene Broadband – BT has now installed fibre broadband to a cabinet at the crossroads so speeds up to 60 MBS are now available in the village.

John Foulkes Presentation – John Foulkes was presented with a framed certificate from Aberdeenshire Council to thank him for his 33 years’ service as a Community Councillor for Echt & Skene.