DRAFT PARISH LIAISON GROUP Record of Meeting held at 7.30 pm Wednesday 13 June 2006 in Hall, hosted by Finzean Community Council Present: Charles (representing FCC); John Forster (representing BCT); Robin Callander (for items 3.3 and 4.1 only) Apologies : Kevin Strachan (FCA); Rick Paul (BACA)

1 Record of previous meeting held on 22 February 2006 (Previously circulated) The record was agreed.

2 Matters from individual community councils and associations 2.1 Graveyard proposals in Finzean and Birse CI reported that progress was being maintained and that Finzean Community Council had prepared a report for the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency on the environmental conditions and further discussions would be held with Council about the Council’s role in graveyard management. No up-date was available about Birse. 2.2 Road safety in Marywell – progress with 30mph limit No report available.

3 Matters of parish wide interest 3.1 Waste KS had reported via e-mail that, following agreement from Birse Community Trust (the leasees) and Finzean Estate (the owners) Aberdeenshire Council will be putting recycling units similar to those in Strachan (but with a larger bin for plastic bottles) in the Finzean hall car park. The Council will monitor use before deciding on a permanent site. 3.2 Seatbelts on school buses RP reported by e-mail that no progress had been made . 3.3 New Ward boundaries CI said that with the introduction of proportional representation and multi- member wards for local Council elections, the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) had proposed that Birse should form part of the new ward. In e-mails, KS and R P had reported that local feeling was that inclusion to be included with , not would be preferred to Banchory. CI said that this was also the view of FCC. RC said that if Birse communities wanted the this change to the LGBC recommendations proposals overturned , they would need jointly to make their case to the Scottish Executive by the deadline of 22 June and that he was prepared if asked to lobby act as agent for them in this . CI agreed that it would be very helpful for RC to do this. RC said Birse and Ballogie Community Council would be meeting on15 June to consider the matter and that if they also agreed that RC ask him to should represent act for them , also, he would produce a paper and covering letter that he would take round to get the signatures o for signing by the Chairs of f the Community Councils, Community Associations and BCT. community bodies.

4 Matters arising from Birse Community Trust: 4.1 Purchase of Slewdrum Forest RC reported that within the next month the Forestry Commission would decide whether BCT could purchase Slewdrum. He also said that all the funding needed for purchase was available except had been secured from the Land Fund and SNH, but that from while Scottish Enterprise which had agreed funding in principal , they bu t might not have a budget allocated. JF reported that BCT had held a meeting for the community on 26 April to explain the current position and get views on future management. He said that further consultation with the community about management proposals would be held in due course. 4.2 Update on consultation on Core Paths . JF said that BCT would shortly be initiating a consultation and questionnaire on core paths in the parish

5 Date and place of next meeting This was not discussed; a proposal will be circulated.