The Banff and Buchan Area Committee met on Tuesday 18 August 2026, approving the naming of a new early years setting and allocating funds for community projects. The committee also agreed to lease land for new community facilities and discussed performance reports from various council services.

Naming of New Early Years Setting at St Andrews Primary School

The committee approved the name Fraserburgh Central ELC for the new registered early years setting located in the refurbished infant building at St Andrews Primary School in Fraserburgh. The name was chosen from a shortlist of five popular suggestions gathered through community and school engagement, with Fraserburgh Central ELC receiving the highest number of votes. Julia Matthews, Quality Improvement Manager, presented the findings, explaining that the name specifically refers to the registered early learning and childcare setting, not the entire school building. Councillor Sutherland expressed surprise that the word infant had not featured in the top names, but Ms Matthews clarified that the term infant is not typically used for registered early years settings, which cater to children aged two to five, and that the name needed to reflect the age range of the children.

Banff and Buchan Crown Estate Coastal Communities Fund 2025-26: Second Tranche Funding Allocations

The committee agreed to allocate the remaining budget from the Banff and Buchan Crown Estate Coastal Communities Fund through a third tranche of funding. A total of £15,520.12 remains available, following the allocation of £23,226.63 to seven projects from the second tranche and the return of a £5,000 allocation by Sandend Harbour Trust. Applications for the third tranche will close on 27 September 2026, with a report on the allocations to be presented to the committee on 27 October 2026. Authority to determine the allocation of these remaining funds was delegated to the Banff and Buchan Area Manager, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Opposition Spokesperson.

Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget 2026-27

The committee agreed to allocate the remaining £6,608.04 from the Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget for 2026-27 through a second tranche of funding. This follows the initial allocation of £11,191.96 to five projects. Applications for the second tranche will close on 27 September 2026, with the Banff and Buchan Area Manager, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Opposition Spokesperson, delegated authority to determine the allocations. A report detailing these allocations will be presented to the committee on 27 October 2026.

Lease of Land at Corn Road, Inverallochy

The committee approved the lease of land at Corn Road, Inverallochy to Invercairn Vision for Empowering Recreation and Sport (Inversport) for a period of 25 years. The lease, at an annual rent of £350 with 5-yearly reviews, will facilitate the development of a new pavilion and community facilities. The new facility will serve local football clubs, Inverallochy Primary School, and the wider community, and will also act as a resilience hub. Councillor Bell and Councillor Sutherland both expressed their full support for the lease, highlighting the positive impact it would have on the community. Councillor Menard also supported the proposal, noting its contribution to local resilience.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Banff and Buchan Area Performance Report Q1 2026-27

Richard Trott, Station Commander, presented the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's performance report for the first quarter of 2026-27. He noted that overall incident numbers remained static, with an increase in outdoor fires, which is typical for the time of year. There was a positive reduction in fire fatalities to zero for the quarter. Deliberate fires had increased, largely due to a significant incident in Rosehearty which required multiple attendances. The service had conducted school talks and a Crash Live event at Banff Academy to address deliberate fire setting and road traffic collisions. Councillor Reynolds raised concerns about wildfires and the potential for arson, as well as vacancy rates within the fire service. Mr. Trott assured the committee that the service has specialist resources and can draw on support from across Scotland if needed, and that efforts are being made to recruit more on-call firefighters. Councillor Sutherland inquired about incidents involving electric bikes and scooters, to which Mr. Trott responded that there had been no increase in workload for the fire service related to these. Councillor Bell asked for the number to call if planning a controlled burn, and was provided with the Dundee control room number: 01382 835804.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for Strategic Delivery Plan 2025/26 - 2028/29

Shona Campbell, Strategy and Transformation Manager, presented the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership's (AHSCP) first quarterly performance report on its Strategic Delivery Plan. The report detailed progress against seven key workstreams, including reviews of community hospitals, care homes, and learning disability day services. Councillor Mair raised concerns about the lack of measurable outcomes from the review of day services and the scrutiny of third-sector providers. Ms. Campbell stated that she would follow up on the specific outcomes for day services and investigate the scrutiny of third-sector providers with commissioning colleagues. Councillor Cassie requested more measurable data in the local performance reports, and Ms. Campbell acknowledged the need to improve this and outlined plans for a new reporting style from November 2026. Councillor Reynolds raised concerns about rural disadvantage and workforce shortages. Ms. Campbell explained the partnership's commitment to addressing rural inequalities and ensuring equal access to services, and detailed ongoing work to manage workforce challenges, including the use of bank and agency staff, and efforts to improve staff retention. Councillor Menard also inquired about staff turnover and retention, and Ms. Campbell agreed to review the data. Councillor Bell asked for an update on the community hospital review, and Ms. Campbell explained that Phase 1 had been completed and Phase 2 was underway, with interdependencies with the Home First and Discharge Without Delay workstreams. Councillor Reynolds further questioned the sustainability of statutory obligations given financial pressures and workforce challenges, and Ms. Campbell acknowledged the difficulties but stated that statutory duties are prioritised. The committee noted the contents of the report and agreed to provide feedback for onward reporting to the Aberdeenshire Integration Joint Board.

Naming the New Registered Early Years Setting at St Andrews Primary School, Fraserburgh

The committee approved the name Fraserburgh Central ELC for the new registered early years setting at St Andrews Primary School, Fraserburgh. This name was the most popular choice from community and school consultations. Julia Matthews, Quality Improvement Manager, explained the naming process and clarified that the name applies specifically to the registered early years provision, not the entire school building.

Banff and Buchan Crown Estate Coastal Communities Fund 2025-26: Second Tranche Funding Allocations

The committee noted that seven out of nine applications received for the second tranche of the Banff and Buchan Crown Estate Coastal Communities Fund had been allocated funding totalling £23,226.63. A remaining budget of £15,520.12 is available, including a £5,000 allocation returned by Sandend Harbour Trust. The committee agreed to a third tranche of funding, with applications closing on 27 September 2026. Authority to determine the allocation of these remaining funds was delegated to the Banff and Buchan Area Manager, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Opposition Spokesperson. A report on the allocations will be presented on 27 October 2026.

Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget 2026-27

The committee noted the initial allocation of £11,191.96 from the Banff and Buchan Area Committee Budget for 2026-27 to five projects. A remaining balance of £6,608.04 was agreed to be allocated through a second tranche of funding, with applications closing on 27 September 2026. Delegation to determine these allocations was given to the Banff and Buchan Area Manager, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Opposition Spokesperson, with a report to follow on 27 October 2026.

Lease of Land, Corn Road, Inverallochy

The committee approved the lease of land at Corn Road, Inverallochy, to Invercairn Vision for Empowering Recreation and Sport (Inversport) for a period of 25 years. The lease, at an annual rent of £350, will enable Inversport to develop a new pavilion and community facilities, which will serve local football clubs, Inverallochy Primary School, and the wider community, and also function as a resilience hub. The decision was met with unanimous support from the councillors present.

Statement of Outstanding Business

The committee agreed to keep items 4 (Street Lighting Columns) and 5 (Landscape Services Work Programme) on the statement of outstanding business, requesting further informal sessions with officers to discuss these matters. Item 7 was dismissed.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Banff and Buchan Area Performance Report for Q1 2026-27

Richard Trott, Station Commander, presented the performance report, highlighting a static incident rate, an increase in outdoor fires, and a reduction in fire fatalities to zero for the quarter. Deliberate fires had increased, partly due to a prolonged incident in Rosehearty. The service had conducted community engagement activities, including a Crash Live event at Banff Academy. Councillors raised concerns about wildfire risks, arson, and fire service staffing levels. Mr. Trott assured the committee of the service's resources and ongoing recruitment efforts.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Performance Report for Strategic Delivery Plan 2025/26 - 2028/29

Shona Campbell, Strategy and Transformation Manager, presented the AHSCP's first quarterly performance report. The report covered progress on key workstreams, including reviews of community hospitals and care homes. Councillors raised questions regarding measurable outcomes for day services, the scrutiny of third-sector providers, rural disadvantage, and workforce challenges. Ms. Campbell committed to providing further information and outlined ongoing efforts to address these issues. The committee noted the report and agreed to provide feedback for onward reporting to the Aberdeenshire Integration Joint Board.