Today, The Formartine Area Committee convened at the Baden Powell Centre in Turriff.

The meeting began with a discussion with Piers Blaxter on the Draft Development Plan Scheme 2018.  Mr Blaxter is currently working his way around the Community Councils for their input into the important document.

We then discussed several planning applications, which resulted as follows (Mid Formartine applications in Bold):

APP/2017/1841 – Planning Permission in Principle for Erection of Dwellinghouse at site adjacent to Beech Lodge, Turriff – Delegated Grant (stipulated permission for special reasons) (after a vote 7-3 in favour)

APP/2017/1817 – Planning Permission in Principle for Erection of Dwellinghouse at Site Adjacent to Boghead, Cross of Jackston – deferred for a Site Visit

APP/2017/1860 – Full Planning Permission for Erection of Fence, and 3 Sheds at Balmedie Congregational Church, Rowan Drive, Balmedie – Delegated Grant (acceptable height of fence)
[Please note both myself and Cllr Johnston left the room during the deliberation and discussion of this application due to declarations of interest]

APP/2017/1945 – Full Planning Permission for Erection of Replacement Shed to House Biomass Boiler and Repair Workshop for Agricultural Tools & Vehicles for Own Use at Millfield House, Garmond – Delegated Grant

APP/2017/0869 – Full Planning Permission for Erection of 2 Wind Turbines, 50m Hub Height and 74m to Blade Tip and Associated Infrastructure at Land West of North Haddo, Fyvie – deferred for further information

APP/2017/1830 – Full Planning Permission for partial Change of Use from Forestry/Agriculture Buildings and External Storage Area to Storage and Districution (Class 6) (Retrospective) at Land at Brunstone Farm, St Katherines – Delegated Grant (traffic management condition)

APP/2017/0489 – Full Planning Permission for Erection of 25 Residential Units and Associated Open Space, Parking and Infrastructure at Site to North of Duncan Terrace, Udny Station – Refuse (on grounds of Layout, Siting and Design)

APP/2017/1968 – Full Planning Permission for Alterations and Extension to Farmhouse, including change of use of field portion to Domestic Garden Ground at Hill of Braiklay, Tarves – Grant (following slight change to the materials to satisfy the Community Council objection)

We moved on to discuss the Infrastructure Services Quarter 1 2017-18 performance report and service plan update which was largely positive.  Discussion was had on members frustration over the lack of progress on the A(47 Route Improvement Strategy.

The Education and Children’s Service Quarterly Performance Exception Reporting April-June 2017 was the next document on the agenda – it was noted as there was very little information in it to deliberate or pass comment on.

Then came a very interesting paper on the Historic Asset Management Project.  There is some very good work going on in this, including recent works to remove ivy from Auchterless Old Parish Church, which surprisingly uncovered an original DUtch Bell dating to 1644.

We commented on the Draft Roads Inspection Policy and left the officer with comments to take back to his service on issues such as how is “low usage” determined and the frequency of inspection.

The Festive Lights and Attachments to Street-lighting columns policy was then deliberated.
We agreed to support a working group of officers and members to develop a working group to follow a community engagement exercise but also intimated our preference that the policy comes back to Area Committee prior to dicussion at Infrastructure Services Committee.

We then moved on to discuss so exempt items in private.

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