Today was spent at Woodhill House (yes, in Aberdeen!) at the infrastructure services committee. There were a few local items.
A planning application from Arnold Clark to store up to 830 vehicles on a former temporary pipe storage yard at Duffshill, just west of the A90. As the site is in the greenbelt I argued this would be a significant departure from the Local Development Plan. I lost the argument by 10 votes to 2.
Council officers recommended that a planning application for permission in principle to build six houses on the site of the former Cammies hotel at Cammachmore should be refused, as it is in the greenbelt. I moved that the application be refused – to protect the greenbelt – and won the vote by 8 votes to 5.
The Scottish Government has asked councils for their views of increasing building warrant fees to cover the cost of the service. The government also wants to take more than a third of the fees collected by councils to pay for their 18 civil servants who deal with building standards. Councillors agreed today that we support the increase in fees – the first increase since 2005 – but not handing over part of that income to the Scottish Government. There was cross-party agreement that this could set a precedent. We also agreed that fees should rise in line with inflation so that such a situation does not arise again.
We also agreed with officers’ recommendation that a delivery and administration fee of £25 be levied for the supply of residual waste bins (i.e. for stuff that goes to landfill) to new properties. Recycling bins and food caddies will be supplied free of charge.
Reference was made in reports to a cycleway from Wellington Road to Marywell, as part of an assessment of long distance paths. Slow progress, but it is still on the horizon.
Regarding burial ground, the reports says land issues have delayed expenditure art various sites. Projects including at Maryculter have been delayed until 2017/18.
Ian,
So what will become of the Cammies -An eyesore?
Who knows. Planning permission has already been granted to convert it into flats. Further planning applications could come forward for the building. Maybe someone would want to open it up again … that has happened with other hotels.
“We also agreed with officers’ recommendation that a delivery and administration fee of £25 be levied for the supply of residual waste bins (i.e. for stuff that goes to landfill) to new properties.”
This seems a bit strange, surely such bins are essential since there are waste items that simple aren’t recyclable. What’s the alternative to having a residual waste bin delivered?
The outcome of not having a residual waste bin would be not having residual waste collected!