Today was the final meeting of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee before May’s elections. Here are a few headlines.

SPEEDING – The number of people being injured or being killed on our roads has been falling steadily. Police Scotland will continue to monitor speeding as this is a factor.

MORE TREES – Councillors agreed a report should come to a future meeting about how the council could plant more trees, particularly in light of the widespread damage caused by recent storms. The provision of a grant fund to support communities planting trees is also to be looked at.

LOCAL PLAN – Disappointingly, it will be May at the earliest before Scottish Reporters deliver their verdict on Aberdeenshire’s proposed local development plan. It sets out where development should and should not take place. The draft was submitted last March. Officers predict it could be August before the new plan is adopted.

NUISANCE GULLS – An action plan to deal with urban gulls was approved today. It is a complex situation as gulls are a protected species. The plan includes how to limit the availability of food (e.g. through littering from food outlets and the public feeding the birds), egg and nest removal, and treatment of buildings to prevent nesting and landing. There is no quick fix.

CHARGES – The North East Biological Records Centre is to increase its charges to commercial users by 10%. Councillors also agreed that charges will be introduced for exclusive activity sessions which the ranger service can provide for commercial organisations. This will be fixed at £30 per hour.

BUSINESS DISTRICTS – The committee agreed to support the continuation of business improvement districts in Inverurie and Peterhead. A ballot is to take place among businesses to confirm they wish to continue the arrangement.

PAVEMENT PARKING – Comments are to be submitted to a Scottish Government consultation on proposed regulations to introduce a ban on pavement parking. Councils will have discretion to identify exemptions from such prohibitions. An Act was approved in 2019 to ban pavement parking, but has not yet been brought into force by the Scottish Government.

ROADS POLICIES – Policies were approved covering street naming and numbering, signing of tourist facilities, enforcement of roads and traffic authority powers, electric vehicle charging, road markings and vehicle activated signs. The issue of electric vehicle charging caused most discussion, particularly the challenge for residents who do not off-road parking at their homes. Officers are to continue to look for a solution but a cable trailing across a pavement is not supported.

LITTERING – Aberdeenshire is to trial a sample of litter bins which have sensors which alert the council when it requires emptying.

TRANSPORT – Disappointment was expressed at the Scottish Government’s strategic transport proposals for dualling of the A96, the lack of support for a rail link towards Peterhead, and no direct commitment for more local stations including Newtonhill. Feedback will be passed to Transport Scotland.

WANT MORE? – All the reports can be found at https://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=495&meetid=19814