Kingswells Community Council

Minutes of Kingswells Community Council Meeting

Date:

Monday 12^th November, 2007

Time:

8 pm

Venue:

Kingswells Community Centre

Chair:

Barrie Buchan (Chair)

Participants

Ian Cox (Secretary), Stan McEwan,  Meg Sands, Alex Carnie, David Meiklejohn (Treasurer), Alan Stott

Apologies:

David Lawson, Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Tom Straiton, John Gerrie

Representatives
/ Observers:

Elaine form ACC

Ray Beard ACC

Councillor Wendy Stuart, Councillor Jaffray

Raymond Munro of the Police & Colleague

Item

Action

1

Introduction by Chair

1a

Sederunt

2

Police Report

Police report was presented by email and is available on the kwells.org website. Raymond confirmed it would be acceptable to post on the web.

A request was made to remove the "Restricted" from the report which is for public viewing.

Raymond

Barrie advised Raymond that she had received his email regarding the newsletter article, and that KCC was in the process of responding, but would have to agree a form of words.

KCC

The police report showed that Kingswells had been relatively quiet.

Members of the public are advised that there is a free service available to provide Crime Prevention advice.

Alan reported that vandalism near Wellside Wynde had been reported to Richard, and asked that a newsletter article be prepared by the Police to advise on parking on pavements.

Raymond

Raymond pointed out that bins were often left strewn across pavements by ACC when the bins are emptied. KCC thought that as this was a city wide issue the police should take this issue up directly with ACC.

Raymond

There are also parking issues around the school on an ongoing basis. Alan asked if Richard could attend regularly to educate the public on this issue. Raymond advised that this was done on an ongoing basis.

ACC to enforce the use of yellow lines around the school. Elaine to arrange a visit by wardens.

Elaine

Cars are still using the one-way system at the shops in the wrong direction. The sign at the exit to the chemist / Chinese car park should be made more visible by cutting back trees.

Ray Beard

Raymond was asked if there was any point reporting bad drivers? Although no prosecution could result from a single resident reporting such an incident, Richard would often follow up such incidents with a home visit.

The Public
Richard

Speed on the bypass road is checked as regularly as possible.

3

Attendees and Apologies

As Above

4

Approval of Minutes

The minutes for September and October were approved.

5

Questions to the Chair from Public Attendees

N/A

6

Matters Arising (not covered below)

The CCTV system is progressing after the October holiday, and a site visit will take place imminently. Stan to provide updates when available.

Stan

The Broaddykes Residents association will be seeking legal advice regarding the current situation with ACC and the maintenance agreement. David to provide updates when available.

David

7

Elaine's Update

Ray Beard (Environment Manager North), and Elaine presented a paper providing an update to environmental issues identified to them. A copy of the paper is available on the kwells.org website.

• It is ACC policy to do a litter pick before grass cutting. If this is not followed the matter should be reported

• There is a core team assigned to Kingswells. The team is supplemented by part time workers, and this can give the impression that work is not done in a consistent manner..

• A list of play areas maintained by ACC was provided
  • Kingswood Road No. 1, 2 and 3
  • Coldstone Avenue
  • Clova Park
  • Callum Park No 1 & 2
  • Corse Avenue
  • Bethlin Mews No 1 & 2
  • Wellside Wynd

• Grass cutting of verges between the road and footpath should be done by ACC

Ray

• Concerns over the Pizza shop's disposal and storage of waste are ongoing.

• Concerns over the disposal and storage of waste by the Flats near the Pizza shop to be investigated by the Waste Aware Team, with a view to providing a solution.

Elaine

• The issues with pond at the school need to be addressed by the school.

School

• A series of maps were provided showing areas maintained by ACC. This is a working document and comments will be considered.

KCC

• Lamp posts by the Community Centre have been painted. KCC offered thanks for quick response.

• Drainage issues have been referred to another officer.

ACC

• The new handrail at the steps at the side of the community centre is currently being priced.

• No update on the Kingswells to Westhill cycle path was available.

Elaine

• The proposed cycle path Kingswells to Bucksburn was backed by cycle group, Bucksburn residents, and Sheddocksley residents. £30,000 study will take place ASAP. The route has not been decided. There was no news on the proposed workshop.

Alan thanked Ray and Elaine on behalf of KCC for very positive assistance provided by ACC.

8

Councillor Wendy Stuart.

Councillor Stuart and Councillor Jaffray reported on Gypsy Liaison Meeting

• Cllr. Stuart stated that all the attendees of the meeting including ACC officials, the police and Gypsy Liaison Officer were extremely angry with KCC and the newsletter article produced in the recent Kingswells News. She claimed it had libellous and racist content and had directly resulted in ‘death threats' being made by e mail. These e mails are currently part of a police investigation.          
  KCC stated that it neither condoned nor supported any racist or threatening behaviour.

KCC strenuously denied any libel or racist content was    expressed in the newsletter and claimed that the newsletter was a well balanced summary of events which could not, and should not be connected in any way with the activity described above.           

Note: News articles following the meeting confirmed that the death threats were fully investigated by the police and no charges will be made.

• Cllr. Stuart was concerned that her contact details had been highlighted in the Kingswells News in an unfair manner and that of all the contact details only she had her mobile number identified and highlighted in bold.

KCC stated that all the contact information had been directly quoted from the ACC website.

After checking whether Wendy's details were emboldened, it can be confirmed that none of the details were in bold type.

• A discussion took place on the proposed gypsy halting sites.  The councillors' initial views were that KCC was very negative. KCC assured the councillors that they have been working with ACC officials, and will continue working closely with them, to find a solution that is acceptable to both the settled and travelling communities.

• KCC asked that the councillors take this positive message back to ACC and the committees they represent.

Councillors Stuart and Jaffray.

9

Treasurers Report

Current balance is £2,684.20

The planned CCTV has £3,000 ring fenced, and the 2007 project has £3,000 assigned. This is likely to be a new sign for Kingswells. John to provide sketches and cost estimates for the next meeting

10

AOCB

Stan asked for volunteers for the Christmas tree. The tree will be sponsored by the Kingswells News and will be erected on the first Saturday of December.

Kingswells News

KCC

11

Date of Next meeting:

Next meeting will be on 10th December, 2007 in coffee shop of Kingswells