Formartine Area Committee met this morning for our March meeting at Kirk Centre, Ellon.

We began the meeting with some Planning Applications.
Firstly, we deliberated Full Planning Permission for Mineral Extraction (Sand and Gravel) and Associated Infrastructure at Muirtack near Ellon (APP/2017/2425).
As this site is in the Buchan Area, we were asked to give comments as a consultee to the Buchan Area Committee – and also had a site visit earlier in the month.
After much discussion, our comments were: there is a requirement to prove the need for the development, that the application does not meet Policy P1, we would seek a condition on lighting, there will be an impact on residents, assessment of road safety would be required – and to highlight the intensified corner beside the football pitch.

The second application – for Full Planning Permission for Erection of 800kW Wind Turbine and Associated Infrastructure at Land to South West of Blairfowl Farm, Fyvie (APP/2017/2258), again following a site visit, was approved.

We then discussed the outcome of a Planning Appeal to the Scottish Government on APP/2017/0489 – the Erection of 25 Residential Units and Associated Open Space, Parking and Infrastructure at Udny Station (an application we refused 11 Councillor votes to 0).
This appeal was dismissed – so the Planning refusal was upheld.
The reporter’s summary made interesting reading.  The reporter stated the allocated site would need a masterplan.
He states that the requirement to integrate employment land into the design is not met by the “enclosed nature” of this housing layout – therefore insufficient evidence this will be met.
He noted there was a lack of connection to the core path network to the north, and insufficient provision of open space.
The development would appear to be of a higher density than desired.

We were then joined by Council Officers to discuss the Landscape Services Revenue and Capital Work Programme for the coming financial year.
Among the highlights for Mid Formartine:
* £9,000 for Structural aintenance of Headstones and Memorials
* £2,000 for Hard Landscape Maintenance of Burial Grounds
* £500 for Cemetery Tree Works
* £500 for Cemetery Furniture Repairs
* £2,000 for Levelling sunken lairs
* £2,000 for Burial Ground Reactive works
* £3,000 for Repair of paths and walls in Potterton Park
* £3,000 for Bins and bench replacements on Riverside Walk, Blackdog
* £2,500 for Bins and Bench replacements in Potterton, Belhelvie and Pitmedden Parks
* £39,000 for Formartine Community Bedding Plants
* £2,000 for Formartine Volunteers materials
* £6,000 for Landscape Services Bedding Plants
* £8,000 for Additional pruning and Landscape of shrub beds in Pitmedden, Potterton and Balmedie
* £5,000 for Play Area Maintenance
* £3,000 for Tree Works
* £8,000 for Spiking and sand slitting of Sportsfields
* £2,000 for Repairs to Street and Park Furniture
* £7,000 for Weed Control on the Formartine and Buchan Line Way
* £10,000 for Balmedie Beach Cleansing
* £30,250 for various maintenance activities at Balmedie Country Park
* £58,250 for various maintenance activites at Haddo Country Park
* £16,000 for replacement swings at Tolquhoun Avenue in Tarves and Whitehead at Pitmedden
* £58,500 for surface dressing on Haddo Country Park roads

We were then joined by Council Officers to discuss the Road Maintenance Programme 2018-19.
Among the highlights for Mid Formartine:
Resurfacing and Reconstruction works at:
* A920/B9000 Junction at Formartine United FC
* B9000 Logierieve
* U247C Distillery Road/King Street Junction in Oldmeldrum

Surface Dressing Works at:
* A920 Corner at North Mains, Pitmedden (Prep only)
* B9170 Letheny to Barra (High Stress Dressing)
* Mackie Avenue, Tarves (High Stress Dressing)
* Stuart Crescent, Tarves (High Stress Dressing)
* Tormentil Crescent, Balmedie (High Stress Dressing)
* Keir Heights, Balmedie (High Stress Dressing)
* Cowgate, Oldmeldrum (High Stress Dressing)
* Barraview, Oldmeldrum (High Stress Dressing)
* Meadowsvale Road, Oldmeldrum (High Stress Dressing)
* Albert Terrace, Oldmeldrum (High Stress Dressing)
* Provost Drive, Oldmeldrum (High Stress Dressing)

Footway Works at:
* Eigie Road, Balmedie (Slurry Seal)
* Cromlet Place, Oldmeldrum (Slurry Seal)
* South Road, Oldmeldrum (Slurry Seal Prep)
* Tarves Road, Pitmedden (Slurry Seal Prep)
* Duthie Road, Tarves (Slurry Seal)

Drainage Works at:
* A947 Plaidy
* B999/C43C South Ythsie Junction
* B999 Tillyeve

We then discussed the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness Dualling Position Statement
It is no secret, we have welcomed Option Q being back on the list of possibilities – particularly as it opens opportunities for Oldmeldrum.
I asked the officer to fine tune the reference to Oldmeldrum in the statement to make absolutely clear that the local Community Council’s view is to accept the road and the significant growth it could lead to for the town.

We moved on to discuss the Area Committee Budget 2018-19.  We have allocated £19,000 to Improving Towns and Villages with £12,500 earmarked for the Tidy Village Grants Scheme, £4,000 for Towns and Villages Enhancement Grant, £1,500 for Formartine In Bloom and £1,000 for Beginning to Blossom – continuing our support for the work of the Formartine Partnership.
The remaining £61,000 is allocated to a Community Projects Fund – with a maximum of £10,000 ringfenced for Christmas Lights Projects (grants to be capped at £2,000), and a maximum of £10,000 for Community Resillience.

The first grants from the Community Fund were then awarded:
£1,367 to Tarves Development Trust towards the purchase of a Mountfield Manor-95h 2 wheeled Tractor with snow blade and brush.
£5,000 to Ellon Castle Gardens towards professional support to make a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.