Formartine Area Committee nearly set a new record for its length today — 9.45 am to 4.30pm with 30 minutes for lunch.   29 planning applications - and for 3 we decided to visit the site, so we are not finished with them yet.

We had a good discussion on the Draft Structure Plan with a high degree of concensus including the need to align the development of employment and housing in parallel.  Nonetheless, we still approved building housing on two site allocated for employment - and unless not just “talk the talk” but “walk the walk”, we will continue to lose employment land and make it harder for small businesses to setup and expand: not everyone wants ot needs to be in industrial sites.

I did my first Freecycle today.  I advertised my old ladies road bike (basically good but in need of TLC) at lunchtime, got an email at teatime and have just dropped the bike off to its new owner.  She is delighted.  I’m happy my bike is going to be used rather than cluttering up my garage.  Try it for all those bits and bobs that lurk in your garages and attics.

I spent a lot of time making preparations fot the Trump PLI last night - there is a pile of work to be done, made all the more difficult by the fact that despite the fact that Aberdeenshire perfectly properly took the planning decision to refuse on 29th December, Aberdeenshire Council is not providing the customary officer and legal support to the councillors who will be presenting the ISC refusal case at the PLI.

Full Council on Thursday has an item that seeks to confirm this very dubious state of affairs. Wasn’t it MiniTrue in Orwell’s 1984 that was responsible for re-writing history? Here we do it twice!

A public recycling point has been installed at Arnage Primary School, Auchnagatt.  This recycling point will accept glass bottles & jars, food & drinks cans, paper & thin card, and plastic bottles.   Another step to zero waste!

Tony Capstick and Lloyd George

Set out in the snow this morning to Aberlour to compete in the first of a series of three kayak Marathon events on the Spey, the Ness and the Dee. Thanks to the gritters on the A90, A96 and A920 we got there just a little late and joined a group of other hardy souls.

The sun came out, the river was beautiful and very, very cold and we were awarded first prize in the double sea kayak category coming in fifth overall in the field. But it was getting out paddling in glorious surroundings and good company that was so rewarding.

I was talking to my father this morning about the horses he had been allocated in the Grand National sweepstake and, looking at the names of all the runners, I picked out Comply and Die. I handed my father £1 and said I’ll take a 10-1 bet with you on that. He agreed. I then said if Comply and Die won, then Trump would lose.

Comply and Die won … so I’m now £10 better off!

Getting real public interest in Structure Plans is hard … but this is the policy document that drives the Local Plans that in turn determine planning policy. So if you have ever thought “Why did they build that there?“, you should be interested.

It is a draft at this stage - so now is a good time to respond with what you think is good, what bad and what else should be done.

It’s been a bit difficult to find where the draft document is published but I’ve found this copy on the web. Sorry it’s taken so long.

The plan consist of a Vision, a Spatial Strategy which involves Ellon as part of a major new growth pole running from Aberdeen to Peterhead, and six Objectives.

What is this?

You’ll hear more about it over the next few months but this is a Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum and Scottish Enterprise Grampian initiative to create a 30-mile “corridor” between Aberdeen and Peterhead to attract dynamic organisations that would stimulate synergies, innovation, research and development, and create a showcase for the energy industry.

There was a consultation with some “stakeholders” in Ellon at last Friday which I wasn’t able to attend (family funeral) but I saw a presentation of some of the outcomes today. It’s looking promising - building on our high quaity of life, wonderful environment, the amazing resource of Peterhead harbour and last but not least the talents of people here.

I look forward to seeing the report and if, what was presented today can be done, I’ll be playing my part to help it happen.  We could lead the way in sustainable industries and sustainable living and that is a prize worth going for.

A complaint about me conduct in regard to the Trump application was made and, while such investigation are supposed to be confidential, details of this were leaked by someone to the press last week and published in the Press and Journal on Saturday.

However on Saturday, I also received a letter and report from the Standards Commission, clearing me completely of any improper conduct. The Commission said that there is “no evidence of improper or prejudicial comment suggestive of bias” in my actions.

The initial basis of the complaint was information I published at www.ellonfocus.org.uk. As well as links to the application itself on Aberdeenshire Council website, I drew attention to a discussion forum and other information at two other websites written by local residents and to the Trump Organisation’s own website. The inventigation also covered my entire involvement with the Trump application from a private meeting with Trump representatives in December 2005 all through to me voting to refuse the application in November 2007 - very through.

The investigation report said ‘I have found no evidence of improper or prejudicial comment suggestive of bias’ and while noting that Debra Storr contributed actively to the debate in respect of the applciation that Debra Storr “posed relevant and pertinent questions” and said there was “no evidence of her expressing bias or prejudice towards the application”

I am glad this has been cleared up. I try to provide you with as much information on what is happenning as possible and use every channel available to me. Complaints to the Standards Commission seem now to be a hazard of being a councillor but thankfully relatively few are upheld. I strongly believe councillors have a duty to keep constituents informed and to provide channels to exchange information with constituents - hence this blog which is now open for comment.