CCC NEWS
SINCE
I last wrote, the most important thing to happen, which will affect our
community, was the Local Government Act that came into force on
Although many people may not realise it, Aberdeen City Council and their partner organisations (now joined by the Federation of Small Businesses, the Harbour Board and the Churches) already have produced a Community Plan - ‘aberdeenfutures’ published in 2001 and which can be seen in the library. It started off in 1998/9 with ‘Imagine Aberdeen - what you would like to see in the City to 2016’. Next the partners produced ‘You said it’ bringing all the responses together. This response from the individuals and communities formed the basis of ‘aberdeenfutures’, which identifies ‘14 Challenges’ where people felt dissatisfied with delivery of services (from the Council, the Health Board, the Police etc.) or felt ignored - “not being listened to”; or “not being told anything”; or “never consulted”.
Once the Aberdeen City Community Plan was approved, the partners reorganised themselves into The Aberdeen Alliance to work on and to meet the targets set by the challenges. As well as working together (‘joined up working’) the partners have to combine their resources/ finances on common tasks/projects (‘community budgeting’) so there is no duplication of effort or wasted money- or more can be done for the same money.
At the same time, it was agreed that one way of communicating with the public (‘listening and informing’) would be through the Community Councils and Communities of interest (e.g. Senior
Citizens’ Forum, Young People’s Forum, Ethnic Minority Groups etc.) These were brought together as the Civic Forum and its first meeting was held in May 2002. Already it has discussed the challenges on Homes, Safety, Transport and Local Democracy with the people working on them and passed on constructive criticism and community ideas and wishes.
One of the 14 challenges is the Neighbourhood (or Locality) Challenge - answering people’s needs at a very local level. Out of this, the City Council Chief Executive and the City Council decided to divide the city into 3 neighbourhoods (north, central and south). We, in Culter, are in Neighbourhood South.
It has now reached the point
where the Director of Neighbourhood South and his staff are drawing the
boundaries of the various localities within this neighbourhood and are using the
voting wards as the starting point. This is easily done for Culter since our
ward contains the whole village and the countryside round it out to the boundary
with Aberdeenshire. Culter Community Council (CCC) felt it would want to
prioritise our own needs and wants for the village. On the other hand, Murtle
contains Milltimber and two-thirds of Bieldside while Cults ward contains the
remainder plus Cults. The Community Council there voted to combine the two wards
and have a ‘Cults, Bieldside, Milltimber’ locality for delivery of services.
I’m sure it will be even more tricky within the city proper to work out the
localities. These boundaries have to be finalised and reported back to the
The next stage will be to consult us, within each locality, to find out what we want to see happening. This may take some time but we should start thinking now. CCC will keep you up to date and you should let us have your ideas.
CCC learned about the shortage
of space in
LAVINA C MASSIE Chairperson
PLANNING
THE members of Culter Community Council (CCC) were frankly astonished at this application to convert a substantial single storey shed/workshop into a two storey house. It would appear that at some time the feu of the flat at 176 NDR had been split but in a most unusual fashion. The narrow passage, which gives access to the only entrance to the flat (and to the shed/workshop occupying most of the garden behind it) is not owned by the owner of the flat. It is part of the ground feu, which goes with the ‘shed’ - or the house if planning permission is given.
The shed/workshop already ‘steals’ a lot of light from the flat at 176 and, if converted to a two-storey house, will make matters worse and also steal light from the flat above (174 NDR). The proposed house also would have no garden, only two small borders.
Overall the members of CCC considered the proposed house would be a gross over-development of the site and intrusive on its neighbours.
The owners are asking for outline planning permission to build a house in part of their large garden and grounds. The members of CCC were concerned that if the feu was split it was done in such a way that both houses would have garden ground appropriate to each of them. We asked that any new house should not involve tree felling and was low in height as it would be on an existing raised lawn. A tall house as outlined would not ‘fit well’ on the site as it could steal some light from several of the flats in Brighton Grange.
LAVINA C MASSIE Planning Liaison Officer
TOP BRASS
ON 17 April our Chair, Lavina C Massie,
was commissioned by the Lord
Lieutenant of the City of
Margaret Smith (who was also the Lord
Provost) to be a Depute Commissioner.
The Lord Lieutenant is the Queen’s representative in his/her local area and carries out duties on her behalf (such as making a 100th birthday presentation, an opening ceremony or presenting a medal) or is in attendance when the Queen, or other members of the Royal Family, pay a visit to that area. When the Lord Lieutenant cannot manage to carry out the duty then one of the nine deputy lieutenants is asked to step in.
This honour is given to people
who have contributed in the voluntary field or to community work. Lavina’s
involvement in the community at all levels has been suitably acknowledged. She
is chairperson of many committees and groups, which are working to enhance the
lifestyle, health and safety of the people of
I don’t know how she manages
to fit in so many meetings. And the number of letters she has to write - she
requires a private
For the ceremony at the Town House - followed by lunch - Lavina was allowed three guests so she invited her daughter, Louise, and son-in-law, Bruce, and me. I felt greatly honoured to be part of this celebration, which was informal but very moving. The Lord Provost presented Lavina with the framed certificate of her commission as Depute Lieutenant but it was pointed out to her that she will not
be obliged to raise a team of militia. This was something the first recipients were required to do back in the 16th century!
We, the residents of Culter, should be really proud of this ‘Culter Quine’. She has worked extremely hard on our behalf and when I hear her chairing high-profile meetings (or smaller ones!), I feel great pride that she is one of us. Good luck with your future duties, Lavina.
M J SKINNER