A busy night in the academy at Portlethen Community Council. And six members of the public (including well-behaved youngsters), two police officers, three Aberdeenshire councillors, and three developers. But no press. Here’s some of the highlights:

• The community council agreed in principle to take over the running of the Portlethen Gala in August from Befriend a Child. It will depend on the level of support from residents.
   
• Youngsters have again been seen inside the listed Hillside House which is slowly crumbling.
   
• Seven or eight sheep have been killed, possibly by a dog, in the fields between the church and Old Portlethen. The farmer would be within his rights to shoot a dog worrying sheep.
   
• Issues about local bus services are to be raised at the Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum on Thursday 3 April in the council chamber at Viewmount in Stonehaven. Residents are welcome to attend and put their points to Stagecoach bosses.
   
• Plans for a commercial waste recycling centre at Duffshill were unveiled. Concerns that Aberdeen City Council wanted to build an incinerator on the site were dispelled. The site will not be expanded until the link road (part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) from the Findon underpass goes ahead.
   
• A traffic survey is to be carried out by Aberdeenshire Council following concerns over congestion at the two primary schools.
   
• Police are to continue to pay attention to parking particularly at PortlethenPrimary School. Although traffic wardens are being removed by Police Scotland, police officers will still enforce parking laws. The meeting heard that on one day in Huntly 36 parking tickets were issued.
• Local officers are also keeping an eye on local properties after reports of suspicious characters. Residents are again reminded not to leave front doors and back doors unlocked. Sneak thieves can be looking for car keys.
• More graffiti has appeared locally. Police appealed for any information.
   
• The news of £60,000 from the Scottish Government for the Jubilee Hall was welcomed. There are hopes that the government can be persuaded to help finance the building of an underpass at Bourtreebush earlier than planned by Chapelton of Elsick developers.