A long day today. Started with a meeting to hear about plans for the employment land north of Hillside, and continued through to late afternoon with the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee. Here are some of the key points affecting the North Kincardine ward. 

–       Chief Inspector Allan Ross gave a quarterly report on Police Scotland’s work in our area. I raised the issue of overtly armed officers on routine duties. He said the force executive is reviewing this policy with “public confidence is what it is all about.” Good. The increase in stop-and-search was also highlighted. I was astonished to see that there have only been three speeding offences in the April/June period in North Kincardine. Chief Insp Ross explained that officers had been doing more to educate drivers about speeding rather than issuing tickets. 

–       The challenges facing Portlethen Primary School until Hillside Primary School opens in August 2016 also came in for discussion. “Capacity will be managed until then,” said the report from education officers. Meanwhile Fishermoss Primary faces a falling school roll. Newtonhill Primary’s roll is also rising and will continue to do so with pupils coming from Chapelton. 

–       A planning appeal to convert a “stable block” at Alhamra, Blairs, into ancillary accommodation has been turned down by Scottish Ministers. The proposal was described as inappropriate development in the green belt. 

–       An appeal against refusal of a new house at Devenick Heights, Ardoe, has been turned down by the local review body as being contrary to the green belt policy. 

–       The new community being built on the South Deeside Road is to be called Riverside of Blairs. Other options were on the table, but the developer’s preferred suggestion of Brig O’ Blairs found no support as there is a property with that name nearby. 

–       There has been a fall in the speed of street light repairs due to staff turnover. Just over75% are fixed within seven days of being reported. 

–       Plans for 10 houses and 10 flats opposite Coull Cars at Hillside were approved subject to a satisfactory consultation response from the education department, given the pressures on Portlethen Primary School. A motion to refuse the application on the grounds of overdevelopment found no seconder. The proposals for affordable homes are from Langstane Housing Association. 

–       A planning application for five five-bedroomed houses at Ceolmara, Findon, was turned down on a 7-3 vote. This proposal caused much controversy in the village. A 2012 application for seven houses on that site – to replace a demolished house called Ceolmara – had also been turned down as overdevelopment and amid concerns about the impact on the landscape. Scottish Ministers turned down a subsequent appeal. The applicant can appeal against today’s decision too. 

–       A six-bedroom house is to be built on the site of a two-bedroomed 70s house at Mid Ardoe. 

Full information about the reports for today’s meeting can be found at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/detail.asp?ref_no=802572870061668E80257C3C005708E8