Minutes of Meeting - 26 October 2021

The minutes of the latest meeting of the Community Council, held on Tuesday 26 October 2021 can now be viewed or download by clicking here.

The next Community Council meeting will, again, be held on Zoom on Tuesday 23 November 2021. Anyone wishing to attend should contact the secretary by email (click here) for access details.

All Welcome

New members needed

The Community Council elections in October returned only six members to the Braeside and Mannofield Community Council.  This is the absolute minimum required to establish the Community Council.

Should any of the current six members withdraw then the Community Council will cease to exist.

The Council has the authority to co-opt two members this year and are seeking volunteers to join them.

The Council meet monthly (except July and December) on the 4th Tuesday of the month and meetings last for up to two hours.  At the moment the meetings are virtual, via Zoom, but with a hope to getting back to face to face meetings in the early part of next year.

The Agenda for discussion has, in the past included issues such as the sale of land at Airyhall, the provision of a bench in Springfield Road, amendments to bus routes, monitoring and action on planning issues and assistance to local schools and scout troops.

If you can spare a couple of hours a month, live within our area and want to help your community or you just want to find out more about being a Community Councillor, then please contact the secretary on bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com 

Drop us an email or come along to the next meeting and see what goes on. We would love to see you.

Defibrillator Scheme

The Community Council was recently approached by St John Ambulance offering to help meet the cost of the provision of a defibrillator in the area.  At their last meeting, members agreed that, with three year elections to form Community Councils, they could not commit to a project that they may not be able to support in the future.  In addition, they noted the need for an electrical feed to the defibrillator housing, and without a premises with an electrical supply, they would have to source the power required.

Although not able to participate, members agreed that this was an excellent initiative and details are published here should any other charity or organisation be interested in following up the St John offer.

"When heart attacks occur, life can be saved by the prompt use of CPR and the immediate availability of a defibrillator.  Anyone of any age, at any time of the day or night may without any warning need emergency interventions.

Is your community prepared? Do you have any defibrillators locally? Are they available 24/7 or in premises closed at night or even in a staff drawer? Are there people locally who know basic CPR?

St John Scotland is a registered Scottish charity dedicated to saving and enhancing life. We can help you with our subsidised schemes to provide such 24/7 defibrillators. Even if you have ones that are not immediately available 24/7 we may be able to help you make them so.

One of the defibrillators we assisted with providing within Aberdeen City was used only a few weeks ago.

If you wish more information this is available on the St John Scotland facebook page (click here) along with how to contact our defibrillator project officer or you can contact the local representative, Clifford Eastmond, OStJ, MD, FRCP, FRCPE, directly by clicking here. Some recent defibrillator projects are on our Facebook pages."

1 Ton Salt Bags

Once again this year, the City Council are offering large bags of salt to communities for use in de-icing pavements and roads when the winter weather sets in.

The salt comes in 1 tonne bags and will be delivered for residents use. Obviously, the bags cannot be dropped in an area of public footway, carriageway or car park as the bag would be susceptible to vandalism, theft or misuse and obstruct the area for pedestrians and vehicles.

In addition, they cannot be dropped on any green areas as the salt would kill the existing vegetation.

If you would like to host a bag for your area, you should email winter@aberdeencity.gov.uk or phone 0300 0200 292.

You will need to be able to give the following details:

· The name of the person who will be responsible for the bag

· Details of a secure location to drop the bag (such as a driveway, locked gate or garage)

and you will need to ensure that the location has 3m width clearance for the delivery lorry and 1.5m2 space to store the bag. 

Requests for a salt bag should be with the council before 1 November, so you don't have long.

Airyhall House Land Sale - Good News

The Community Council have been advised that the sale of the land between Airyhall House and Northcote Lodge has now been completed.

We are delighted to report that we have been advised that it has been purchased by the trustees of Northcote Lodge to protect the setting of Northcote Lodge.  The Trustees plan to leave the land as it is with full public access.

This is the best possible outcome for the community and the environment and the Community Council wishes to thank the Trustees of Northcote House for their consideration and generosity.

As an aside, residents may have noticed a tree having been felled in this plot of land over the past few days.  The tree had been identified as being rotten and was cut down to prevent anyone being injured.

Community Council Meeting - 26 October 2021

The next meeting of the Community Council is at 7pm on Tuesday 26 October 2021 and will, again, be a virtual meeting using the Zoom video programme.  This is the first meeting of the "new" Community Council and anyone who would wish to be co-opted would be made most welcome. 

If you wish to attend please contact the secretary by emailing bandmcommcouncil@gmail.com for the Zoom room identity and password.

The Agenda can be viewed by clicking here.

ALL WELCOME

Local Transport Strategy - Consultation

Aberdeen City Council is starting work on developing its next Local Transport Strategy.

What’s it all about?
The Aberdeen Local Transport Strategy sets out the city’s ambitions for the development of the transport network over a five year period. This includes a vision and objectives for the city’s transport network as well as identifying multiple actions to be completed over the lifespan of the strategy to improve the transport network. It deals with all modes and aspects of transport including walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, freight, taxis, motorcycles, car sharing, car clubs, car and van use, parking and low carbon fuels as well as the relationship between transport and other areas such as land use, placemaking, the economy, development of communities, health and the environment. It also relies on input from members of the public and stakeholders to ensure it reflects the needs of people.

The process is starting with a Main Issues Consultation. As part of this, the Council are looking to get the views of stakeholders as to what is considered to be the main issues for transport in Aberdeen, currently and in the future. This includes investigating

- What people think are the main problems
- What people think are the main opportunities
- What works well
- What doesn’t work well
- What improvements could be suggested
- What is still relevant from the current Local Transport Strategy
- What else we should take account of when planning the transport network.

The consultation launched on Monday 4th October, and will run for 6 weeks until Sunday 14th November.

To take part, please go to https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/planning/aberdeen-lts-main-issues

Is there any more information?

More information can be found here;

https://news.aberdeencity.gov.uk/your-chance-to-help-steer-next-local-transport-strategy/ - Press release

https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/roads-transport-and-parking/local-transport-strategy - Local Transport Strategy information

Aberdeen Local Transport Leaflet_0.pdf (aberdeencity.gov.uk) – This is the link to the summary information leaflet for the consultation, providing a snapshot of what has been achieved over the last 5 years, as well as information on how to get involved with the consultation.

Please tell others

What happens next?
The results of this consultation will then inform the draft version of the next Local Transport Strategy which we are planning to start writing in 2022. This will be consulted on too once ready.

Why now?
In its Delivery Plan 2021/22, the Council included the Policy Statement to “Refresh the Local Transport Strategy” and stated that this would follow the review of the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). As the final RTS is now sitting with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity for consideration, work can now start on developing the next Aberdeen Local Transport Strategy (LTS) as several elements can be undertaken ahead of the RTS being adopted.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions please contact 

Alan Simpson | Senior Planner

Aberdeen City Council | Transport Strategy and Programmes 

Strategic Place Planning

Marischal College

Broad Street

Aberdeen

AB10 1AB

Police Report - September 2021

Our local Community policing team have circulated a report on activities in September 2021.

Community Policing Priorities
Antisocial behaviour, Violence and Disorder:

As a result of several calls over Thursday 2nd September regards males carrying out door step sales in an aggressive manner across this and neighbouring Community Council wards, four males were traced and arrested. Two appeared from custody at Court on Friday 3rd September for assault and pedalling offences with a further two charged to appear at Court at a later date in relation to pedalling offences only.

I am grateful to the members of the public who contacted Police to report the incidents in question, with descriptions and direction of travel. I would urge members of the public to remain vigilant and not to engage with door to door sellers unless they can provide proof of ID and company they are working for. No reputable organisation will force anyone to do anything against their will, or rush you into making a decision, or use intimidation to get their own way. If in doubt politely refuse and close/lock your door, if you remain concerned or persons display any form of aggression contact Police immediately.

Officers continue to patrol areas of reported anti-social behaviour involving our young people, this month we received a call relating to young people ringing doorbells and running off in the Deeside

Gardens area.

Officers are making enquiries into the damage of a lock, on a garage, on Duthie Terrace. This has occurred between Monday 6th and Monday 13th September.

Acquisitive Crime:
In the small hours of Wednesday 1st September some bottled milk was stolen from outside a property on Countesswells Road, no persons have been identified as responsible. This appears very opportunistic. 

Sometime between midnight and 7pm on Thursday 2nd September a newly planted tree has been stolen from a communal area in the Thorngrove Crescent area. No persons have been identified and anyone with information is asked to contact Police quoting incident number 1357 of the 3rd September.

Officers continue to patrol across the area and will investigate any suspicious activity. I continue to urge us all to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity and take simple steps to protect our properties/vehicles/belongings, namely by keeping doors and windows locked and valuables out of sight.

Road Safety & Road Crime:
There have been no incidents of note over the reporting period.

We continue to work with partners in response to specific complaints in terms of road traffic offences. Residents in the areas affected by antisocial driving are encouraged to contact Police on 101 at the time, to report incidents and provide as much description as possible of the vehicle(s)/person(s) in order for us to take positive action.

Community Engagement & Reassurance

As the nights get longer, Police Scotland officers from the Westend and Hazelhead Community Policing Team will be carrying out additional hi-visibility foot patrols across the area during the hours of darkness over the coming months as part of the 'After Dark' initiative. Officers will be looking to engage with residents, particularly of properties they find in darkness to provide basic advice on home security.

It is important we keep our properties secure at all times with appropriate lighting during the hours of darkness. Criminals are largely opportunistic and favour targeting poorly lit/dark/insecure properties. Simple measures such as keeping all windows and doors locked, setting your house alarm (if fitted) and switching on your timer lights can make a difference. Unlit houses are an indication that no one is at home. Don't leave car keys, ID cards or valuables near windows, doors or letterboxes, where thieves can reach through to steal them.' 

Follow us on Twitter @NorthEPolice #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

Contact Us
Please also remember you can communicate with us using any of the following:
🕾 101 – Non emergency;
🖱 Twitter - @NorthEPolice;
🖱 Facebook – www.facebook.com/NorthEastPoliceDivision;
🖱 Web – www.scotland.police.uk;
🕾 999 – Emergency;
🕾 0800 555 111 - Crimestoppers.