Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=484&MId=3475&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

We the undersigned petition Aberdeen City Council as follows:-

1.            To immediately halt all planned deer culling in the city, at the very least until new population measurements can be taken.  The SNH recent count shows a very low number of animals.  We do not believe that having the small population which SNH guidelines recommend is viable for a healthy herd, we cite the previous larger number of animals on Tullos Hill (for instance) which existed for decades.

2.            To explain how the SNH guidelines that are being used on Tullos, allowing for only 4-6 animals to be allowed to live on the hill, will result in a healthy herd and healthy gene pool.   We remind the city that the SNH guidelines regarding deer are just that - guidelines, and there is no legal reason to follow them to the letter.  The number of animals city wide, where possible by location, should be shared with the public.

3.            To actively work with Police Scotland to detect and deter further illegal poaching, as happened on Tullos Hill in January of this year.

4.            To erect deer crossing warning signs to motorists in strategic spots.  The city seems to claim deer were indicated in 30 vehicle accidents recently, but no signs give motorists any warning of potential hot spots.  Such signs are used to good effect elsewhere in the UK and throughout Europe.  The city has indicated 'people ignore signs' - we feel that is not an acceptable way to try and prevent accidents.  We note the city uses numerous signs directing motorists which are heeded.

5.            To fully disclose all expenses the city has incurred in the last 8 years with regard to deer culling, tree planting, related consultants, fencing, herbicides, monies paid to the SNH, the Forestry Commission - any and all costs which planting during all phases of A Tree For Every Citizen scheme.  The city is also to disclose any and all risk matrices created for the herbicides used (and indicate what chemicals were used) and the deer culling - or indicate whether such risk assessments were carried out.

The city was made aware of thousands of objections to the deer cull on Tullos Hill, which was carried out several years ago to aid the 'Tree For Every Citizen' scheme and to implement non-binding SNH guidelines.  The city not only proceeded, but it insisted that the methodology it pursued was good value for money. Disclosing the requested information and carrying out the requested actions will determine the facts.”

The Committee had before it the following petition which had been submitted by Ms Suzanne Kelly:-

“A Tree For Every Citizen / Deer Cull Disclosure Request

We the undersigned petition Aberdeen City Council as follows:-

1.         To immediately halt all planned deer culling in the city, at the very least until new population measurements can be taken.  The SNH recent count shows a very low number of animals.  We do not believe that having the small population which SNH guidelines recommend is viable for a healthy herd, we cite the previous larger number of animals on Tullos Hill (for instance) which existed for decades;

2.         To explain how the SNH guidelines that are being used on Tullos, allowing for only 4-6 animals to be allowed to live on the hill, will result in a healthy herd and healthy gene pool.  We remind the city that the SNH guidelines regarding deer are just that - guidelines, and there is no legal reason to follow them to the letter.  The number of animals city wide, where possible by location, should be shared with the public;

3.         To actively work with Police Scotland to detect and deter further illegal poaching, as happened on Tullos Hill in January of this year;

4.         To erect deer crossing warning signs to motorists in strategic spots.  The city seems to claim deer were indicated in 30 vehicle accidents recently, but no signs give motorists any warning of potential hot spots.  Such signs are used to good effect elsewhere in the UK and throughout Europe.  The city has indicated 'people ignore signs' - we feel that is not an acceptable way to try and prevent accidents.  We note the city uses numerous signs directing motorists which are heeded; and

5.         To fully disclose all expenses the city has incurred in the last 8 years with regard to deer culling, tree planting, related consultants, fencing, herbicides, monies paid to the SNH, the Forestry Commission - any and all costs which planting during all phases of A Tree For Every Citizen scheme.  The city is also to disclose any and all risk matrices created for the herbicides used (and indicate what chemicals were used) and the deer culling - or indicate whether such risk assessments were carried out.

The city was made aware of thousands of objections to the deer cull on Tullos Hill, which was carried out several years ago to aid the 'Tree For Every Citizen' scheme and to implement non-binding SNH guidelines.  The city not only proceeded, but it insisted that the methodology it pursued was good value for money.  Disclosing the requested information and carrying out the requested actions will determine the facts.”

The Convener explained the process and invited the lead petitioner to present her case to the Committee.

Ms Kelly, the lead petitioner, spoke to the petition, by way of presentation, and advised that over 250 residents called for the following action: (a) the immediate cessation of the arbitrary deer culling in Aberdeen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

“We the undersigned appeal Aberdeen City Council to install a pelican crossing on Greenbrae Drive, Aberdeen to ensure the safety of our children.”

It has been brought to the attention of Greenbrae School Parent Council that the current road traffic system at the top of Greenbrae Drive (where the road meets Dubford Road) is dangerous for children.

The road layout was changed in 2014 and traffic travelling down Greenbrae Drive now have to give way for traffic proceeding up the drive.

Despite this change to the road layout, cars still travel on the drive at some speed and it is also causing confusion for children crossing the road.

They system leads children into a false sense of security as when they come to cross the road they see that the traffic in one direction is stopping and they often presume that the other side is going to do the same, this is not always the case.

We strongly feel that a pelican crossing should be installed at this point of Greeenbrae Drive to make it safer for children crossing from the Greenbrae estate (where Greenbrae Primary is situated).

Greenbrae Drive is a very busy road at present with many commuters using it to access the nearby industrial estate and to join the A90 travelling northbound of the city.

With the new housing developments at Dubford and Sheilhill creating additional traffic in the area (Greenbrae is the zoned school for development) the amount of vehicles on the road is only going to continue to increase.

We appeal Aberdeen City Council to install a pelican crossing on Greenbrae Drive to ensure the safety of our children.

The Committee had before it the following petition which had been submitted by Ms Louise Ellis on behalf of Greenbrae Parent Council:-

“We the undersigned appeal Aberdeen City Council to install a pelican crossing on Greenbrae Drive, Aberdeen to ensure the safety of our children”.

The Convener explained the process and invited the lead petitioner to present their case to the Committee.

Mrs Gill Bruce, spoke to the petition on behalf of Greenbrae Parent Council and advised that it had been brought to their attention that the current road traffic system at the top of Greenbrae Drive (at the junction with Dubford Road) was dangerous for children.

She explained that the road layout was changed in 2014 and this meant that traffic travelling down Greenbrae Drive now had to give way to traffic from the opposite direction.  Despite this change to the road layout, cars still travelled on the road at some speed and it was also causing confusion for children crossing the road.  The present system led children into a false sense of security as when they came to cross the road they saw that the traffic in one direction was stopping and they often presumed that the other side was going to do the same and this was not always the case.

She advised that Greenbrae Parent Council felt strongly that a pelican crossing should be installed at that location on Greenbrae Drive to make it safer for children crossing from the Greenbrae estate (where Greenbrae Primary was situated).  She also highlighted that the new housing developments at Dubford and Shielhill were creating additional traffic in the area and therefore it was expected that the amount of vehicles on the road was only going to continue to increase.

Officers provided a detailed background to the design of the current traffic management system on Greenbrae Drive and the rationale for this.

The Committee resolved:-

 (i)        to request officers to report on the terms of the petition, as well as on all traffic management options at the location on Greenbrae Drive, Aberdeen to a future meeting of the Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee; and

(ii)        to thank the petitioner for her attendance and presentation.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 24 April 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as an accurate record.

With reference to article 3 of the minute of its meeting of 24 April 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Acting Director of Corporate Governance which proposed ways of involving young people (those under 18) in the Council’s petitions process.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree that petitions submitted by young people be accepted under the petitions process where they have a minimum of five signatories which have been verified either by the school to which the pupils belong or the Youth Council;

(b)       agree that Education and Children’s Services, pupil councils and the Youth Council be asked to support and promote the petitions process; and

(c)        recommend to Council that it establish a small sub committee of five members which could visit schools to hear petitions to avoid the need for schools to arrange visits during the school day to present petitions to this Committee at the Town House .

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

- COUNCILLOR ALAN DONNELLY, Convener.