Festive Greetings

 

Braeside and Mannofield Community Council wish everyone, seasons greetings and a healthy, safe and prosperous 2016.

Councillor's Email Newsletter

Ian Yuill, the councillor for Mannofield, Airyhall, Braeside, Broomhill, Garthdee, Kaimhill and Ruthrieston has started circulating, by email, a regular newsletter with news and information about our area.

You can sign up to receive the e-mail newsletters at http://bit.ly/1mfSArP

First Bus Route Changes

A few months before the reformation of the Community Council, First Bus announced the amalgamation of their number 5 and 15 routes through Craigiebuckler and Mannofield and Braeside.

The changes caused a great deal of annoyance and frustration in the area and in response to this, Councillor Ross Thomson, Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross wards called a public meeting to air and exchange views and concerns with First Bus Management.

Ross has recently published on the community social web site www.streetlife.com the following update and it is printed in full for information:

                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iam writing to you to provide you with an update following the public meeting that I organised on 21st of October with First Bus regarding the changes to the No:15 route and the removal of the no: 5.

I am pleased to report that the public meeting was very successful with a massive turnout of around 600 people. The feeling of the meeting was overwhelming; it was great to see real people power in action. I know that the high turnout was a huge surprise to First Bus and in my view served as a real reality check.

The momentum from the meeting needs to continue and not fizzle out and we need to ensure that the commitments made by First at the meeting and the suggestions put forward by residents are taken forward.

First made a number of commitments at the meeting including committing to review the changes that they made to the No:15.for Hazlehead/Ashley/Queens Cross

I again met with First Bus Managing Director David Phillips and Commercial Director Daniel Laird on Monday to check in with them on the progress they are making with these commitments. They are looking at a number of things including a mini-bus to serve the community on top of the existing service. They are also continuing to follow up on the commitments they made at the public meeting. There will be another public meeting in the new year and further to this First Bus will be making themselves available during the day at Airyhall Library to discuss any issues or concerns. I will report back on dates and times when it is confirmed.

I am continuing to work with senior Council officers to seriously and realistically look at where the Council can give support to a local service; this is something I am 100% committed to doing. I have met with the Chief Executive, Angela Scott, the Director of Corporate Governance and the Head of Finance to look at the options for supporting,/ funding a service in the community. This work is progressing and I hope to be able to report back at the next public meeting.

I will be organising another public meeting in the New Year, this will allow First Bus to present to residents the findings of their reviews and any changes they have made to the services so that residents can give their comments and feedback. It also ensures that we keep up the pressure on First Bus to address the problem.

I am also pleased that First Bus has now agreed to start attending the local Craigiebuckler and Seafield Community Council and the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council on a quarterly basis. It was wrong that First introduced their service changes without any community consultation, now that they will attend community council meetings means we can prevent this from happening again.

I will continue to campaign and fight hard on this very important issue. I hope that you find my letter helpful. If you have any queries or if I can be of any help to you and your neighbours please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Kind Regards,

Ross
Councillor
01224 346618
07876754618
Rossthomson@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Local Policing Report

Inspector Ian McKinnon of the West End Local Policing Team has forwarded a report on the November police statistics for our area. The highlights are:
Quality of life calls have remained the same.
There was 1 Housebreaking
Vandalisms decreased by 1
Thefts of or from vehicles have remained the same
Overall reported crimes were down by 1

The local policing team are based at Whinhill and request that if any suspicious activity is seen they are contacted, either as an emergency on 999 or on the Police Scotland Service Centre at 101.

Follow the Local Policing Team on Twitter @AberdeenSPolice   #WestEndCPT

Also available are the three following contact email addresses for the West End:

AiryhallBroomhillGarthdeeCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk
HazleheadAshleyQueensCrossCPT@Scotland.pnn.police.uk
TorryFerryhillCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Click here to download Inspector McKinnons report

Having a safe Christmas

Police Scotland have issued an advice leaflet aimed at keeping us safe over this Christmas period.  The leaflet gives tips on keeping you and your family safe when shopping, when online, in your home and when partying.  Becoming a victim at anytime can be traumatic, more so during the festive period.  The brouchure is full of useful crime prevention tips that could stop us becoming a victim. You can download the pamphlet by clicking on this link.  Police Scotland Christmas Advice.

Disappearing Trees

The Community Council discussed the recent removal and replacement of roadside trees and noted there seemed to be different replacement criteria in different streets.  We have written to Aberdeen City Council asking for clarification as to the current policy and encouraging replacement rather than removal where there is no danger to street users.

Seeking a Secretary

The Community Council is seeking a volunteer to take on the role of Secretary. The role includes acting as the communication hub for the Community Council, briefing the Council members on current issues and dealing with the reciept and response to the correspondence of the Community Council. The posting of agenda and keeping the minutes of meetings are not included in the responsibilities as these will fall to the Minute Secretary.  The holder of the post can choose to be ex-officio or can be co-opted as a Community Councillor provided they meet the criteria for becoming a Community Councillor in Braeside and Mannofield area. If you are interested or would like more information please drop us an email. Click here to Email us

Youth Representation

To become a Community Councillor an individual has to be over 18 years of age, on the electoral roll and live within the Community Council area.  There is, however, provision for youth members to sit on the Council.  The youth members should be aged between 16 and 17 and, once again, live within the Community Council boundaries.

At our meeting on 24 November, members were keen to recruit two youth members to the Community Council to represent the views and interests of younger residents. 

Whilst we are writing to Hazlehead and Harlaw Academies about generating interest, if you know of anyone, or if YOU are, interested in filling one of the two vacancies, please contact us on our email bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com

Schooling Proposal

Aberdeen City Council have issued a consultation document about their plans for primary and secondary schooling in the area following the development of housing in Countesswells. 

The document lays out the Council's proposals for re-zoning school catchment areas with the future development of the Countesswells area.  Aberdeen City Council are encouraging the views of the residents in the area and the document details how that feedback can be given.

The Community Council will be reviewing the document and making comments where appropriate.  Feel free to leave comments for our attention by clicking the "Comments" button below.

The full document can be downloaded from the archive on the right or by clicking this link.  Countesswells Schooling Proposal

The proposal alludes to the re-opening of Braeside Infant School as an interim measure until a new school is built in the Countesswells and there have been concerns that pupils from Airyhall Primary will be moved there.  The Community Council has been assured that no Airyhall pupils will be moved.  It is the intention to use Braeside as an interim location for the children who will be attending the new Countesswells School.

Minutes of meeting of 4 November 2015.

The minutes of the Commuity Council meeting of 4 November can be accessed through the link in the Document Archive on the right or by clicking this link Minutes of the 4 November 2015.

Community Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Community Council will be on Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 7pm. The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Airyhall Primary School, Countesswells Road. The Agenda for the meeting can be found in the Document Archive on the right or by clicking this link Agenda for Meeting on 24 November 2015.

All Welcome.

Planning Issue

The Community Council have been asked to consider objecting to a planning application to convert a garage at 155 Duthie Terrace to an ancillary building. 
We are seeking views and comments. The matter will be discussed at the next Community Council meeting. 
Details of the planning application can be viewed at
http://planning.aberdeencity.gov.uk/docs/planningdocuments.asp?appnumber=151421

Please let us have your comments below,

Updated Member List

Given the co-option of two new members, the full list of Community Councillors is now

• Denis Anderson
• Audrey Harvey
• Liam Kerr - Vice Chair
• Charles Lowe - Minute Secretary
• Seumus Macinnes
• Naomi Mandel - Chair
• Euan McConnach - Licensing and Planning Officer
• Keith Pirie - Treasurer
• Patricia Reid

First meeting

The first meeting of the council was held on 4 November and was attended by 4 members, 2 city councillors, the local authority liaison officer and one community member.  Two new members were co-opted onto the Council - Liam Kerr and Dennis Anderson.
Naomi Mandel was appointed Chair with Liam Kerr acting as her Deputy.  Keith Pirie will take on the Treasurers role. Euan McConnach will act as the Planning and Licensing Officer. The post of secretary will be filled at the next meeting.  Minutes of the meeting will be posted in the document archive in due course.

4 November 2015 - Agenda

The Agenda for the next meeting of the Community Council has been added to the Document Archive on the right.  To view the document click on the title or click on this link Meeting Agenda for 4 November 2015.

First Meeting - Date and Time

The first meeting of the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council will be held in the Community Room at the Airyhall Primary School at 7pm on Wednesday 4 November 2015.  All welcome

Braeside and Mannofield Community Council re-formed

On 29 October 2015 the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council was reformed after a number of years in abeyance.  The Council can have a maximum of 12 members.  If you have the interest and the time, please come to a meeting and let us know.  We would be delighted to co-opt new members.

Members of the Community Council are:-

• Audrey Harvey
• Charles Lowe
• Seumus Macinnes
• Naomi Mandel 
• Euan McConnach
• Keith Pirie
• Patricia Reid