The latest Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee meeting was held on Tuesday 25th March at Viewmount. The agenda and supporting reports are available here, along with the recording of the public part of the meeting.
The three main reports presented and discussed were
· Speed limit orders for implementing the national 20mph strategy
· K & M Area Committee budget 2025/26
· Evidence Report for the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2029
Councillors were asked to give approval to the commencement of the statutory procedures required to implement the national 20mph strategy. (The Bellman previously covered this issue in February 2020, see here). The strategy was approved at an Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) meeting in November 2020, and funding was recently offered by the Scottish Government to cover the costs of local implementation by the end of 2025. The first steps to implementation are a 28-day consultation period with interested parties, followed by a 21-day public consultation. The proposed 20mph limits, for communities across K&M, are shown here in Appendix 2. Councillors queried several of the limits, particularly on the Slug Road (between Mackie Academy and Farrochie Road), Broomhill Road (between the A90/92 flyover and Fetteresso Cemetery), and Green Den road (not specified in appendix map). It was confirmed that if any errors or omissions were identified they would be corrected before the public consultation.
After the discussion councillors agreed to accept the recommendation to start the consultation process, and details of how residents can comment on the proposals will be available shortly. If there are any unresolved, valid objections they will be reported back to the Area committee.
The second report, on the allocation of the area budget of £35,600, detailed how the budget for 24/25 had been spent, and suggested criteria for awards for 25/26. It was also proposed that £1,000 should be “ring fenced” until the end of 2025, to allow communities to apply for funding to complete their local Place Plans. There was discussion around the challenges faced by small groups applying for small grants, but the Area Manager reassured the committee that groups are supported through the process. The criteria and £1,000 reserve were both agreed by the committee.
The final report discussed in public was the Evidence report, which will inform the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan 2029. Councillors received a presentation on how the evidence was gathered, the framework in which it was presented, and how it will be taken forward. The report is topic based, with the themes of sustainable places, livable places and productive places. It was acknowledged that if topics are taken in isolation then they can appear contradictory, and there needs to be a balance between evidence and policy.
Councillors made comments, as requested, including corrections and updates, and the report will now go to the Infrastructure Services Committee in May, before going to the full council in June.
The final items were discussed in private, as they involved the 25/26 annual procurement plans for the directorates of Business Services, Environment and Infrastructure Services and Education and Children’s Services.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 29th April.