Background to housing plan changes

Some further information from Aberdeenshire Council’s planners about the amended plans for the site to the south of Newtonhill:

“The application was submitted on 31 May without significant information relating to transportation and roads issues. This lack of information was insufficient to invalidate the application. This additional information was submitted at the end of July. The additional information is fundamental to the consideration and determination of the application and as such the application has been re-neighbour notified, re-advertised and re-consultation with consultees carried out. This allows third parties the opportunity to make further representation on the application, including relating to the additional information.

“There have been a number of other more minor amendments during the course of the application as is common when assessing an application of this complexity. However these amendments would not be considered to be of a nature significant enough to warrant re-advertising and re-neighbour notification though the revised plans and documents appear on the website so interested parties can keep abreast of the progress of the application.

“The neighbour re-notification letters dated 02 August says the deadline for comment is within 21 days. The application was also re-advertised in the local press on 11 August and all third parties have the opportunity to make representation within three weeks of the appearance of the advert. This is detailed on the council website as by 31 August, which is the final date. Unfortunately the letters are often sent before the advert appears in the weekly press resulting in the conflicting dates. I re-iterate, the final date for submitting letters of representation is 31 August.”

Previously submitted representations are still valid.

Exam results out

Pupils received their exams results today, with half of S4 pupils in Aberdeenshire achieving five or more National 5 qualifications. That is up 2% compared with the previous year.

This is the fourth year students have sat National 3, 4 and 5 exams under the Curriculum for Excellence with S5 and S6 pupils continuing to sit qualifications at Higher and Advanced Higher level.

The percentage of S5 pupils in Aberdeenshire awarded three or more Highers in one sitting is 43%, a 4% increase compared with 2016. Furthermore, the percentage of S6 pupils who gained five or more Highers at the end of S6 is 37% which is a 3% rise in comparison with the previous year.

Students sat exams in both vocational and academic subjects ranging from English and Maths to Fashion and textile technology and Dance, Design and Manufacture as well as Advanced Highers in Music technology.

Pass rates for Levels 4, 5, 6 and 7 all increased compared with 2016. The pass rate for Level 4 and Level 6 both rose by 0.3%; Level 5 increased by more than 1%; Level 7 went up 0.7%.

Community council forum

Just home from an interesting meeting of the Kincardine and Mearns Community Council Forum in Stonehaven.

Three Aberdeenshire Council speakers – on developer obligations, on trees, and on community planning including participatory budgeting. Five council officers, five Aberdeenshire councillors and five community councils were there. Locally, Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council was represented.

Housing plans changed

Changes to the planning appliction for 131 houses and flats south of Newtonhill have been received by Aberdeenshire Council.
There are a number of revised documents, lodged since the original deadline for comments passed, including a revised planning statement on behalf of Barratt North Scotland and Polmuir Properties Ltd.
There is now a new deadline for comments – Thursday 31 August.
Further information can be found on the council’s website at https://upa.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OQUVL9CAH3600. Look under the “Documents” tab. It takes a long time to load up.

Your views sought on council priorities

Please take a few moments to read the new draft priorities of Aberdeenshire Council, and complete the short survey with your feedback.

A new council term began in May and we are now working to develop our new council priorities.

The priorities are split among four themes. Once the priorities are approved, they will form part of the Council Plan.

The time has arrived to start finding out what you think about our draft council priorities. First you've heard of it?…

Posted by Aberdeenshire Council on Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Road closures planned at Burnhead

Road closures are planned at Burnhead next month, but will only if the works on the currently closed C13K Lairhillock to Portlethen road are completed at Rothnick by 6 August. All the work is connected to the building of the Aberdeen bypass.
The first road closure to the north of Burnhead should last a week from 7 August. The closure south of Burnhead should start on 14 August, for six weeks.
Council officers tell me that emergency and pedestrian access is to be maintained.  Vehicular access to affected properties to be maintained whenever possible.

New sports charges come into force

Changes to the fees sports clubs and organisations pay to hire Aberdeenshire Council facilities. In the past week clubs currently letting these facilities have received a letter reminding them of the new charges that will come into effect on 1 August.
This is in line with the new pricing structure for sport and physical activity which was agreed by the council’s communities committee in February this year.
The committee’s decision centred around a move, by 2020, to recover 60% of what it costs to provide sports and physical activities in our facilities. Under previous prices the service was only recovering 45% of costs, which was not sustainable in the long-term.
Aberdeenshire’s prices were also historically lower than other areas in Scotland and by changing the pricing structure, the council’s prices will be brought closer in line with those other areas. Some prices have increased but the council continues to offer a range of discounts for certain people and groups. For example, the council introduced a new 30% discount for all young people aged 18 and under or those under 25 in full-time education. The discount available for those on low incomes and in receipt of certain benefits was increased to 60% off the standard charges.
Clubs received original notification of the future changes at the start of this financial year and in recognition of the changes clubs and users may have to make, it was agreed that the price increase would be phased-in over a three-year period.
Local clubs are encouraged to contact the relevant community leisure officer, who in Kincardine & Mearns is Norman Boal – norman.boal@aberdeenshire.gov.uk