It looks as if there will be no fireworks display in Newtonhill this year.

Newtonhill Village Association’s annual general meeting heard tonight that a public entertainment licence may be required – relatively recent legislation. This only came to the attention of the NVA in the last few days. However applications need to be made to the local authority at least eight weeks before an event, and we are too close to Bonfire Night to meet that deadline. The NVA will check with Aberdeenshire Council to see if there is any leeway.

There is still no opening date for the AWPR. At a meeting tonight with the managing agent and contractor representatives I was told that the completion date will be early 2018.

We heard that much of the main route is at the stage of coming to a conclusion. The contractors can lay 1 kilometre (what’s wrong with miles?) of tar per day – and there are 58 kms of the main road in total. Some has already been completed. There are also 18 kms of new footpaths and cycle paths (though not parallel to the AWPR).

This morning I was pleased to support two applications for grants from the council’s Kincardine and Mearns area committee budget.

Portlethen and District Community Council will receive £4000, half the cost of purchasing and refurbishing a derelict lock-up in the town. It will be used to store the town’s Christmas lights, a gazebo and so on.

Portlethen & District Men’s Shed will also receive £1836 towards the cost of refurbishing the former toilet block in the town. Much of the work is now complete, but a new doorway, a disabled toilet and a concrete ramp remain to be installed. The group received £2000 from the Co-op earlier this year and today’s grant will be used to match that.

The roundabout coming off the A90 by the flyover (at the junction with Muirend Road) in Portlethen is not so bonny at the moment, with the grass uncut and kerbstones lying randomly at the north verge.

I am told by council officers that Aberdeenshire Council is in discussion with a civil engineering consultant acting on behalf of a client at Badentoy. As part of their approval they have to make amendments to this approach/exit to the roundabout. Various options are being considered including widening on the north and/or south as you approach the roundabout from the east. Until such time that this proposal is agreed/implemented, it was felt that any interim repairs to the kerbing would be counter-productive.

A reminder that there will be a consultation workshop on Aberdeenshire Council’s strategic priorities and Local Development Planning in Portlethen Community Campus on Thursday 5 October from 6.45 – 9pm.

All residents, community groups and organisations are welcome, but please tell Kincardineshire Development Partnership if you plan to attend, for catering and logistical purposes. Email them at officesupport@kincardineshiredp.org.

Owing to emergency drainage works Aberdeenshire Council will close the U67K country road east of Stobhall for three days from Monday 2 October.

According to the Herald, the Scottish Government has stepped back from plans to drastically reduce the influence of councils over the running of schools through the introduction of “regional collaboratives”.

The paper says that deputy first minister John Swinney has held discussions with COSLA to agree a compromise which would ensure local government retains a significant stake in his improvement agenda, although the new arrangement will demand councils are able to demonstrate schools are benefitting and headteachers are being adequately supported.

If this proves to be the case, then the change of mind by the government is welcome. Aberdeenshire Council already liaises with other local authorities where appropriate through the Northern Alliance.

Well that was a lively meeting. There were fireworks at the Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum with accusations and complaints as Stagecoach and council officers heard strongly-held views about local bus services.

More than 40 people, including three Aberdeenshire councillors, attended the public meeting in Mackie Academy. If you would like to be there the next meeting will be in March.

Many of the complaints centred on Stonehaven and the Mearns, but Portlethen and Newtonhill featured as well. Here are some points that caught my attention.

– Stagecoach is to look at why the 7B sits for up to 10 minutes at Marywell when heading to Aberdeen.

– The bus company is to reconsider the routing of services around Berrymuir Road in Portlethen as buses to Aberdeen and Stonehaven head in the same direction around the road, which confuses residents. It would be better if Aberdeen-bound buses and Stonehaven-bound services were on opposite sides of the road.

– Complaints were made about the two-hour gap in afternoon services returning from Aberdeen to Newtonhill.

– We heard about a Muchalls resident who was travelling home from Stonehaven during the evening but was dropped off one evening at Bridge of Muchalls because of road resurfacing on the A90. The next night he was dropped off at Portlethen and had to walk back. The bus driver said that there was no provision for the bus to stop safely. Stagecoach will investigate.

– Stagecoach were asked what plans they have for a service to Chapelton. The meeting was told there are no specific plans at the moment. Currently just over 100 homes are occupied and a request shuttle service to the park and choose at the Newtonhill flyover is available.

– The Muchalls to the park and choose now has a two day a week service (Tuesdays and Thursdays), reduced from three days a week.

– The 103 Cookney / Netherley / Banchory Devenick / Bridge of Dee service (leaves Cookney at 7.20am and returns from Asda at 5.45pm) has been reprieved for now, but it still at risk due to low passenger numbers. The Monday to Friday service is subsidised by the council, costing £19,530 a year.

– There was a complaint that Downies, Old Portlethen and Findon do not have a bus service, but this was refuted by council officers who pointed out there is a dial-a-bus service. Seats must be pre-booked by calling 01467 535 333. The line is open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The service runs on a Thursday during the day from the three villages to Asda, calling at Downies at 10.25am, Old Portlethen at 10.30 and Findon at 10.35. It leaves Asda at 12.30 returning to the villages (Findon at 12.45, Old Portlethen at 12.50, and Downies at 12.55, then going back to Asda at 13.10. The service also calls at Netherley, Cookney and Cammachmore on Thursdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays it connects Muchalls with Asda.

– Complaints were voiced about the long-distance buses not stopping anywhere in Kincardine and Mearns, meaning passengers have to travel into Aberdeen. Suggestions were made about halting at the proposed park and ride at Findon, the current AWPR site at Stonehaven, and the planned interchange at Laurencekirk.

– More complaints too about the bus station in Aberdeen. Not fit for purpose.

Today Aberdeenshire Council approved a new scheme of establishment for community councils. This might seem none too interesting but it is important as community councils can be the voice of our villages, towns and rural areas.

It is has taken a lot of consultation and discussion to agree on the new constitutions for community councils – it was rightly described today at full council as a long and tortuous process.

The changes include membership numbers, junior members, co-option of members, assets, elections etc. It comes into force on 1 April next year, with six months for implementation.