Praise for out-of-school club
Transport opinions welcome
Rail improvements coming down the track
Shambles over budget cuts
Fees up, but delay over festive lights policy
We took a number of important decisions today at the Aberdeenshire Council infrastructure services committee:
A number of fees and charges will change, including increasing burial charges over two years to reduce the current £585,000 annual subsidy to £180,000 a year. Among other changes are animal licences (up by 50% in 2018, and the same again in 2019 to achieve full cost recovery); dog warden services (increases by up to 40%); and health and safety training (25% to 90% increases). Further information (see item 4) on the council website: http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx…
There was cross-party support for progressing with improvements to the A90 north of Ellon to Toll of Birness and pursuing whether it is feasible to reopen a railway line to Ellon. The recommendations now go the transport partnership Nestrans to discuss with the Scottish Government.
I pressed the case for better cycling route provision between Portlethen and Aberdeen, particularly in the Wellington Road area at Marywell.
The much-publicised report on “festive lights and attachments to street lighting columns” is to be given further consideration. An engagement working group will review the proposals, with a new report coming to the committee on 10 May. In particular, the officers’ proposal to charge communities for electricity did not gain support.
We agreed not to decriminalise parking enforcement in Aberdeenshire. This means there will be no traffic wardens patrolling the streets, and the issuing of parking tickets will remain a police responsibility. The very high set-up costs (£287,000) would have resulted in more pressure on council budgets until it a break-even point in five years, at best.
A review is to be carried out of charges in council-operated car parks. The free tariff introduced three years ago has resulted in a £274,000 drop in income per year. In future meters will not have a credit card option – either cash in the slot or use a mobile phone. Parking meters on streets received little support as a meter machine costs between £4000 and £5000. A working group of councillors and officers will meet to make further recommendations to the committee.
Vandals leave drain uncovered
Yesterday an iron grating over a drainage gully was replaced near the railway bridge in Old Mill Road, Newtonhill. The original cover had been removed by someone and thrown over a wall.
After it had been reported to Aberdeenshire Council a large warning cone was put in place so that no-one would fall down the deep hole. Last Saturday night the cone was thrown over the wall too. A resident put it back.
So not only has the council incurred needless expense, villagers were put in danger.
Spring opening for AWPR?
Boost for our local ambulance
Portlethen Community Ambulance is to receive grants totalling £3000 towards the £24,000 cost of replacing the vehicle. The funding is coming from Portlethen community council. The group has also written to 60 businesses in Badentoy, however so far none has replied.
The “ambulance” – in reality an adapted minibus – is used primarily to take people to and from the medical centre. It is also available for private use and taking pensioners to lunch clubs.
Run Porty Run – which has more than 80 members – was also awarded £600 by the community council.
Other issues discussed tonight included a broken sign in the woodland park; the lack of grit bins; school rolls at Hillside (soaring); Fishermoss (steady, but below capacity) and Portlethen (falling and below capacity); doubts over the gala (only three people at the last committee meeting); litter; Hillside House fire; planning; the splendid Christmas tree, and much more.
Why switching off lights was ruled out
I was asked why doesn’t Aberdeenshire Council switch off street lights in the wee small hours to save money, given the financial squeeze facing local authorities. Good question. I asked council officers about a pilot scheme to do such a thing. Here is the answer: