Tribute was paid tonight to former North Kincardine Rural Community Council chair Hazel Witte who died suddenly this week.

Hazel had also edited the South Deeside View community magazine, among other local commitments. She was still a regular attendee at the community council even though she had stepped down a few years ago.

Technically it was the annual general meeting of the community council however this has been delayed until 21 June on the advice of Aberdeenshire Council because of the pandemic. Tonight’s meeting was held virtually. Current office-bearers continue in post.

The community council is hoping to liaise with the local primary schools to have flat stones painted with poppies laid on Remembrance Sunday (8 November) during services.

Other issues were covered too including planning applications (such as the Scottish Government approval of a new Ury junction on the B797 Netherley Road), reporting potholes to Aberdeenshire Council, applying for a grant to cover extra costs of providing a virtual meeting service, and the need for community resilience in the rural area during the pandemic (the Larder in Cookston Road, Portlethen, is open to rural residents too).