A report going before councillors shows that exam results for pupils at Portlethen Academy have improved in 2016 compared to 2015. There was a dramatic nine percentage points increase to 45% for S5 pupils attaining 3+ awards at level 6. That puts Portlethen at sixth position out of the 17 secondaries in Aberdeenshire.
The full report goes to the education committee on 25 August (item 7 on the agenda: http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx…)
I have been assured this evening by Jim Savege, the council’s chief executive, that the named person scheme has not been rolled out in Aberdeenshire. Given the Supreme Court ruling I would have surprised if it had.
He told me: “No that is not the case, we have not implemented this, and will not be doing so until required to nationally. We have been keeping staff briefed on the progress of the initiative including the recent legal judgements.”
The claim had been made by the No2NP campaign which alleged that various council had started implementing the Scottish Government’s policy even though the Supreme Court had ruled it illegal in various respects.
The travellers’ encampments at three sites on the South Deeside Road were the focus at tonight’s North Kincardine Rural Community Council meeting in Lairhillock primary school.
The travellers first set up camp in the car park of the Mill Inn, then moved to the nearby caravan site, and when facing legal eviction moved to the current site at Riverside of Blairs. More than 20 members of the public heard Sgt Neil Grant set out the legal position from a police point of view.
He also emphasised that the main threat to property locally was from young people from Aberdeen stealing cars from rural properties.
If travellers do settle on someone’s land, then the owner should call the police who would visit the camp, and tell the council. However removing the encampment requires civil court action by the landowner. Meanwhile police would aim to visit the site once a day.
On other matters Sgt Grant said there were 41 crime reports in the North Kincardine area policed from Portlethen, but few related to the rural area. Five drivers have been reported for using their mobiles while driving on the A90.
The other main issues tonight were roads related, especially the construction of the Aberdeen bypass. AWPR officers will be at the next meeting, on 19 September. A contract should be awarded next month to repairs all AWPR-related problems with potholes, verges and suchlike. There were also complaints about drivers ignoring the 30mph speed limit at Riverside of Blairs. Concerns were expressed about the foundations and bank of the Maryculter Bridge on the south side of the river. Apparently the bridge os the responsibility of Aberdeen City Council.
Finally the community council agreed to make a £500 contribution towards the provision of fitness equipment outside Maryculter church, in memory of local teenager Bailey Gwynne. Maryculter Youth Cafe plans to install a cross trainer and other equipment in the playing field, at a total cost of £5997.60.
Tonight I received official confirmation about a delay in opening the household waste recycling centre at Portlethen. The target date is now Thursday 8 December.
The delay, I was told, is because the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) requires a four or even five month period to consider a site operating licence application. The council lodged the application in June.
The delay also allows time for the recruitment and training of staff and to ensure that the site is provided with all the necessary equipment. I am assured that “the temporary service that has been in place for some time at ASDA Portlethen on Saturday mornings, will continue until then alongside the seasonal garden waste collection point at Newtonhill on Saturday mornings. As you know, this service is currently also augmented by the existing full time HWRC site available at Stonehaven.”
The new site is in the Badentoy industrial estate.
A fascinating presentation about Aberdeen Airport today from managing director Carol Benzie. She told the Nestrans board (the North East transport partnership) about the challenges facing the airport.
It is the fifth busiest by aircraft movement airport in the UK, Monday to Friday. Although 3.5 million people go through Dyce a year, some 300,000 people from the AB area are using Glasgow or Edinburgh airports.
Currently the airport is undergoing a £20m expansion with the first phase due to open in May.
Good news is that 15% and rising of passengers are using public transport to get to/from the airport. Stagecoach’s 727 bus link into the city centre is becoming more and more popular.
Of course all this is against the backdrop of the downturn in the energy industry – some 61% of travellers are business-related – however the leisure demand remains strong. The opening of the Aberdeen western peripheral route should also make the airport more easily accessibly for people to the south of Aberdeen. More passengers are expected to be attracted to Aberdeen from Angus in particular.
The number of students at Scottish colleges has fallen dramatically, according to a new report. A review of the country’s colleges sector by Audit Scotland has revealed the overall number of students attending has dropped by 41% in just eight years.
There was an even greater decrease in those studying part time, with numbers falling by nearly half. The biggest reductions have been seen amongst women and mature students.
Not good.
Here is the response I received today about the two Co-op shops in Portlethen which are due to be taken over in November by McColl’s, best known as a newsagent’s chain.
“Thank you for your e-mail regarding McColl’s acquiring The Green and Rowanbank Road Co-Op stores.
“We are delighted to say that we have entered into an agreement with the Co-op to acquire 298 Co-op convenience stores and 38 Post Offices throughout the UK. The agreement is subject to CMA and shareholder approval. Our plan is to invest in these stores and successfully trade both the shops and Post Offices.
“Please see quote from Jonathan Miller, McColl’s Retail Group Chief Executive, which demonstrates McColl’s commitment to these new stores.
” ‘I am delighted to announce the acquisition of 298 quality convenience stores in a transformational deal for McColl’s. This opportunity substantially accelerates our growth strategy and expands our neighbourhood presence for the benefit of our customers.
” ‘These stores are profitable, well invested, and the perfect size for our operating model.
” ‘I look forward to welcoming all of our new colleagues to the business.’
“By the end of the year we will have over 1,000 convenience stores throughout the UK. McColl’s is a leading neighbourhood retailer in the managed sector running 1,366 convenience and newsagent stores. We operate 933 McColl’s branded UK convenience stores as well as 433 newsagents branded Martin’s, except in Scotland where we operate under our heritage brand, RS McColl. We have more than doubled our number of convenience stores over the last eight years, which now accounts for over half of the estate. In addition we are also the largest operator of Post Offices in the UK.”
A fair range of topics tonight at Portlethen and District Community Council’s meeting tonight in the academy, which was attended by one member of the public and three Aberdeenshire councillors. Here are some of the issues that caught my attention:
– Police officers were unable to attend as they were dealing with an incident. However a general report was provided.
– The meeting heard how a carved wooden dog has been stolen from the community woodland park after being repaired and repainted after a previous attack.
The dog had been returned to the park last Thursday night. It had gone by Friday morning.
Community councillor Paul Melling – who had carried out the repairs – said the theft had been reported to the police. It was an insult to the community, he said. Many people were horrified.
– Progress is being made with developing a community council website. A new logo was chosen from a number of suggestions designed by a local resident.
– Cllr Nelson said that the household waste recycling centre at Badentoy will not now open until November. He had been told by a worker at the site. It was not known why there was a delay. (I have now asked council officers for an explanation.)
– The Portlethen gala takes place in the academy grounds on 13 August. More volunteers are required.
I told the meeting that this morning the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee approved a £2000 grant to the community council towards the cost of various items for the gala.
– The resurfacing of Bruntland Road was a topic of discussion, with concerns expressed about the remaining loose chips on the surface. (I contacted roads officers about this and this morning [Wednesday] I was assured by the area roads manager that he would arrange for another sweep of the area). The junctions will be asphalted later this year.
– The Kincardine and Mearns Bus Forum will take place in the council offices at Viewmount, Stonehaven, on 25 August. Any member of the public with concerns or suggestions can put these directly to Stagecoach managers.
Former Liberal Democrat councillor Mairi Nash has died. She represented Portlethen, after having moved to Downies from Newtonhill.
Here is the notice from the Press and Journal:
NASH (Stonehaven) Peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2016, Mairi Ralston Nash (Councillor Nash), aged 71 years, dearly loved mum of Vicky, Pippa and Amelia. All friends and family are respectfully invited to attend a funeral service at Dunnottar Parish Church, Stonehaven on Tuesday, July 26, at 1.30am followed by a committal at Baldarroch Crematorium, Crathes. Family flowers only please but donations, in lieu, may be made at the church door for Alzheimer’s Scotland, who have been a constant support.
I would expect that the service will actually be at 1.30pm on Tuesday.
A former nurse, one of Mairi’s patients was Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
A welcome pledge from the Scottish Government that drivers are to be banned from parking on pavements and dropped kerbs. A spokesman for Transport Scotland said a full review into the legislation would be complete by March 2017, and added that a ban had cross-party support.
The Footway Parking and Double Parking (Scotland) Bill was put forward by the SNP MSP Sandra White in the last parliament, and was approved at the first stage in March, after powers to legislate on parking were devolved to Holyrood. However the May election meant that all Bill fell.
The first attempt to legislate on this was some years ago by the then Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie.
The plans will help people who struggle with prams and wheelchairs and – according to a report today in the Sunday Times Scotland – encourage more motorists to walk and cycle.