Minute of meeting of the Turriff District Community Council held on Monday 5th October, 2015 in Turriff Town House, Municipal Building, High Street, Turriff at 7pm.
Present: Rose Logan (Chair) (RL); Mike Rawlins (Vice Chair) (MR); David Salmon (Secretary) (DS); John Smith (Treasurer) (JS); Sandra Gray (SG); Ian Garden (IG) and Mr Dennis Capel (DC).
In attendance: N Prise-Porter (Press); Cllr A Norrie; Cllr A Robertson; Cllr A Duncan (apologies noted); PC J Riddell; PC L Mackie and Angela Mackay, Minute Secretary (AM).
Visitors: Carol Allan (Tesco Community Champion)
1. Welcome
The Chair welcomed all to the meeting.
b) Apologies
Apologies had been received from Cllr A Duncan, A Stephen and D Park.
2. Police Report
Local Interest Information
There have been 18 crimes reported in the Turriff area since the September meeting. 50% of these were detected crimes and of community interest there were two drugs crimes, one vandalism crime and one theft case from a licensed property with the details of this case still ongoing.
Officers advised that they had carried out an operation around the town centre and the wider area with an unmarked vehicle focusing on traffic and anti-social driving offences. Officers confirmed that two drivers received Anti-Social Driving Orders. These Orders stay with a vehicle and the driver for 12 months and should a repeat of the offence occur within this time the driver risks the car being seized and points added to their license.
PC Mackie confirmed that a driver who has had their driving license for less than two years and who gets six penalty points will have their license revoked. Once a license is revoked the person will be required to apply and pay for new provisional license and pass both theory and practical parts of the driving and riding tests to gain their full license.
Officers were advised that there have been reports of speeding along Victoria Terrace and cars meeting on the car park at the junction of Victoria Terrace and Crown Street.
The Police encouraged members of the public who witness antisocial driving around Turriff and District to contact Police Scotland on 101. If possible please provide the make and registration of the vehicle(s) involved and this information will be investigated further.
In update to the points raised by Cllr Norrie from previous meetings:-
Parking issues at the junction of Market Street/Beaconsfield Street and Baden Powell Road:- PC Mackie advised that officers had visited this area at various times of the day and they had not witnessed any illegal parking or obstructions. PC Mackie confirmed that the Police had met with the Headmistress of Markethill Primary School and she agreed that although no issues had been reported by school in regards to this situation, the school would put a notice in the next newsletter to ask parents/carers to consider parking.
No parking at the Romania Shop – following on from last meeting PC Mackie informed that the Police had monitored the area. They found two vehicles had been parked on the slabbed area in question and the owners contacted by the Police. It was advised that although vehicles are permitted to unload and load to the business properties, dangerous parking affecting the safety of pedestrians was of high importance and that the area would continue to be monitored.
PC Mackie notified the Committee that although no formal complaints had been received by the Police, should members of the public have any concerns please contact 101 or in an emergency 999. Cllr Norrie thanked the Police.
3. Visitors – Presentation by Aberdeenshire Planning
Darren Ross, Team Manager and Alan Davidson, Senior Planner gave A ‘whistle stop tour presentation to the Committee. The presentation was put together to outline the Role of a Planner and how a Community Council interacts.
The presentation briefly covered what planning was, what a Planner does not do, the role of a DM Planner and how a Community Council can interact with Planners. Darren Ross expanded on the general planning applications process for the committee and advised that almost 10% of all annual planning applications are submitted to Area Committee/Committee process for consideration. In addition, any objections felt to be made by a Community Council should be lodged within the 7 day requirement. Darren Ross explained that in 2013/2014 there had been 1000 enquiries to Planning with this figure increasing to 1171 for the same period in 2014/2015.
Cllr Robertson advised that in the past an outcome email had been sent to all interested consultees on a planning application decision. Instead now the application is updated online and no updates are emailed to individual parties. This is of particular interest if a site visit is arranged as not all parties may be aware of the new system structure and would not be notified of such visit. MR asked if it was at all possible for a report or a notification to be sent to a Community Council should they be registered as a consultee? This would be of particular assistance as the 7 day objection timescale doesn’t always give a Community Council time to consult the public. Darren Ross will investigate this and report back to MR appropriately.
Darren Ross encouraged a Community Council to contact Planning with any concerns. It was important that Planning and a Community Council work together as it helps flag up any potential community issues relating to planning applications.
Cllr Norrie advised there is a “drop in planning surgery which takes place on the first Wednesday of the month at Towie House, Turriff. Appointments can be made by calling the planning office in Ellon on 01358 726429.
RL thanked Darren Ross and Alan Davidson for their presentation and for attending the meeting.
4. Approval of Minutes of 14th September June 2015
Minutes from the previous meeting had been circulated and taken to be an accurate record of the proceedings. Raised by JS and seconded by IG.
5. Matters Arising
4g) Fence top of Den (Arch along Victoria Terrace) DS wrote to Brian Shand to ask that the remaining section of the fence was removed.
9a) Turriff Cemetery –.
Recent photographs of the cemetery had been forwarded to Landscape Services by MR. . DS advised that Landscape services were looking into this. A letter of response had been received from Aberdeenshire Council stating that this was a ‘shire’ wide problem which is currently in review; a formal outcome response will follow.
9b) Haughs/Den: RL confirmed that the steering group meeting has been arranged for 10th November, 2015 at 3pm at Turriff Academy. This follows on from the Haugh’s Summit meeting, chaired by Formartine Area Project Manager, Mark Mitchell, held on 8th September.
10a) Turriff Market
RL advised that there will be no market this month. The Turriff Business Association met on 30th September, 2015 to discuss the way forward for the market and to encourage the stallholders to return to Turriff. It is proposed that for the October market potential stallholders could use the Town House which will hopefully encourage to return.
11a) Smell – Wellfields Crescent/Westbrae: No further development following the last meeting. Committee to monitor the situation.
12f) Car park – Following from last meeting point raised regarding the signage in carpark for charges and the 2 hours free parking protocol.
Cllr Norrie supplied a photograph of the sign in place within the carpark. This clearly shows that a £60 fine is payable should users stay for longer than the allocated 2 hour period. Parking enforcement was applicable from 8am – 6pm. JS questioned the font size of the wording and suggested that the sign be redesigned to highlight the parking charges.
Discussions took place around the two hour period, was it possible to use two hours of free parking, leave the carpark and return again within the day? Cllr Norrie to investigate and reply at the next meeting.
13a) Defibrillator
DS was pleased to advise that he has started the application for a defibrillator. He is currently obtaining locations of other equipment within the Turriff District for the application but was struggling to obtain a response from the Ambulance Service. MR provided DS with a pamphlet from Macduff which showed their local information regarding defibrillators which may be of use to our application. In addition MR advised that it was possible to purchase the local telephone box to store the defibrillator which would ensure the safety of the equipment whilst providing 24 hour access.
13b) Land – Meadowbank/Meadowview
Cllr Norrie advised DS that she had asked the Community Payback Team to tidy up the area in question.
6. Treasurers Report
JS circulated the financial report for this month. JS advised that the Christmas Lights Coffee Morning raised £865 and thanked those that attended.
7. Correspondence
RL advised that all correspondence has been covered.
8. Planning & Infrastructure
MR confirmed that all correspondence had already been circulated with relation to planning applications.
9. Christmas Light Committee
AS advised that the Christmas Lights Coffee Morning took place on 19th September, this event raised £865. AS thanked everyone who supported, volunteered and donated to the event.
It is now confirmed that the switch on will take place on 26th November, 2015 starting at 6pm at The Square. Turriff.
The next Christmas Light Committee Meeting will take place on 29th October, 2015 to finalise details for the event.
9. Local Issues
9a) Turriff Care Home:
Cllr Robertson advised that following the Formartine & Community Area Committee Meeting on 22nd September, 2015 it was agreed that Adam Coldwell should be contacted to arrange to meet Chief Officers to discuss the needs following closure of the care homes.
A date of 28th October was put forward for the Care Home Committee to meet at the BP Centre at 7p.m.new
10. Public Events
a) Table top sale Town House 17 October 2015 10a.m. -2p.m.
11. Corporate Communications
The Community Council have been contacted regarding double parking at Bowling Green Road. It appears that cars are inconsiderately parking on verge on the left hand side causing obstruction to road users which in turn is making access to the surrounding roads difficult. This information will be forwarded to Police for their action.
12. Any Other Competent Business
IG advised the Committee that a concern has been raised regarding Delgaty Lane and Delgaty Crescent. It appears that a residential garden wall is crumbling and barriers have been erected to minimize pedestrian access on the lane. IG asked if Councillors could please investigate the situation.
SG informed the Committee that a complaint has been received regarding Beaconsfield Lane leading to St Ninian’s Church. This is a no car access but is a heavily used pedestrian walkway for mums with children and buggies. The lane is heavily potholed and appears damaged from water run off. SG asked if this could be looked at for potential resurface work.
Cllr Norrie updated the Committee on the remedial works taking place at A947 Hatton Castle. She advised that tests results were out with tolerances and work had commenced today with 70% of overall area being resurfaced. The remaining 30% of road would look to be resurfaced in 2016. Traffic lights would be in use from 9am and these would stop just after 5pm to allow for cooling. Cllr Norrie apologized for the short notice for these important works.
Cllr Robertson was delighted to update the Committee on the recent Primary 5 Students from Markethill Primary School who attended the last Area Committee Meeting. The students did a presentation which focused on what local residents in the community liked and disliked about Turriff. The main reason for people choosing to live in Turriff was the nice people in the community. Cllr Robertson praised the students.
RL advised that the Skate Park meeting took place, 2 parents and 3 younger members attended. The focus is to have the park repaired and in use as soon as possible with a steering committee a prime focus. Gateway Centre is backing the opening of the park and the next meeting will take place on 29th October, 2015 at 7pm at the Gateway Centre, Turriff.
Cllr Norrie reported that the Turriff Advertiser had run an article on the newly formed Turriff Mens Shed. A Coffee Morning will be held on 5th December, 2015 to raise funds and promote the venture. RL confirmed that the Turriff Mens Shed will be visitors at the TDCC November Meeting.
19. Dates of future meetings
It was agreed that the next meeting would take place on:
Monday 2nd November, 2015, Turriff Town House (Municipal Building) at 7pm.
Subsequent meetings are to be held on
- Monday 7th December, 2015
- Monday 11th January, 2016
- Monday 1st February, 2016
- Monday 7th March, 2016
- Monday 4th April, 2016
- Monday 9th May, 2016
- Monday 6th June, 2016 (AGM)
Meeting closed at 20:52
You can download a PDF of the minutes using the link below.
20151005_TDCC_Minutes of Turriff and District Community Council meeting 5 OctoberMinute(1)
