Arnprior Community Council
Minutes of the Ordinary General Meeting held on
Tuesday 20th February 2024 at Arnprior Nursery
Present: Morag Sheppard (Secretary), Margaret Pitkeathly, Duncan McEwen,
Wendy Weir.
In Attendance: Councillor Paul Henke (Scottish Conservative and Unionist); Esther Lim
(Minute Taker)
Apologies: Iain Breakenridge (Chair) Sheena Adam (Treasurer)
Residents: 2 residents were in attendance.
In the absence of the Chair, the meeting was chaired by Wendy Weir (WW). WW
welcomed the attendees to the meeting and gave the apologies.
1.1 Declaration of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
The unconfirmed minutes of the OGM held on 5th December 2023 were approved
having been proposed by Morag Sheppard (MS) and seconded by Duncan McEwan
(DM).
Following training, MS is now key holder for the nursery. She was informed that
Arnprior Community Council (ACC) need to appoint a fire warden to supervise
evacuation of the premises in event of a fire. Margaret Pitkeathly (MP) was duly
nominated as fire warden.
A copy of the risk assessment is located in the kitchen and can be viewed by CC
members as required.
Update received is that Listed Building approval has been granted by the Local
Planning authority for works to be carried out. Members were made aware by a
member of the public that the bridge is to be closed for repairs for 8 months from May
in the area when other CCs had been notified. In his absence, Iain Breakenridge (IB)
was nominated to contact SC to ask for an update on the bridge. [Action: Iain
Breakenridge]
5.1 Canopy
The private objection to the proposed canopy has been acknowledged.
Stirling Council (SC) are awaiting building warrant signoff, which is expected
shortly. The contract of works has been awarded to McGregor Building
Services.
5.2 Planning
No matters of concern.
Councillor Henke drew attention to the bad potholes in the area which have been
worsened by the heavy frost. These have been raised with SC numerous times.
Members expressed concern at speeding in the village and asked if they could request
the results of recent speed monitoring in the village so they can be compared with
previous monitoring. They agreed to send an enquiry to Councillor Paul Henke (PH)
who will take this forward. [Action: Morag Sheppard and Councillor Henke]
Members also raised the issue of dangerous overtaking and expressed frustration that
nothing will be done until there is a fatality. Councillor Henke urged ACC to keep
raising the issue. Members agreed to contact Chivas Kilmalid to request the
management to ask their drivers to slow down in the village. [Action: Morag
Sheppard]
Public Transport etc.
Following a meeting on 18th January, the questions were reviewed and the impact
statements prepared. A joint CC meeting for Wards 1 and 2 is scheduled for 20th
February. IB has requested a debrief of this meeting and will share this with members.
[Action: Iain Breakenridge]
A member queried why SC council were spending more money regenerating Riverside
when essential services were facing cuts. PH explained that the land in question
belongs to the MOD and it will be made available to a film studio who intend to shoot
films and TV programmes there. This is expected to generate employment and money
for the Stirling area. Some work is still to be done to decontaminate the land of radon.
Part of the site will also be used for housebuilding.
Members noted that the SC Budget meeting will be broadcast online on 29th February
at 10 am so it can be watched by members if interested.
Sheena Adam (SA) has been discussing with IB. The placement of a shipping
container on site using local plant will not be possible and a prefabricated option is
being pursued. SA has provided contact details of someone who can do this. Iain
Breakenridge will follow up. [Action: Iain Breakenridge]
9.
Charitable Trust Update
MS has been in discussion with Pamela Barnes, who would be happy to attend a
meeting with ACC to brief other members. She has provided MS with information
which she will share with members. [Action: Morag Sheppard]
PH suggested ACC have a face-to-face meeting with Ms Barnes and formally invite
the councillors to attend. [Action: Morag Sheppard]
WW received a police report prior to the meeting which was forwarded to members.
There were no reports of antisocial behaviour during the period. There was one report
of a driver driving erratically on the A811 and a smell of cannabis. The vehicle remains
untraced. The police also shared information on scams, phishing and gaming safety.
MP will link this information to the facebook site. [Action: Margaret Pitkeathly]
Councillor Henke drew members’ attention to the CSET (Central Scotland
Environmental Trust) grants. The Trust offers funding to projects through the Scottish
Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF) and supports applications across areas such as
land reclamation, community recycling, public amenities, parks, biodiversity and
historic building. CCs can apply. PH agreed to give WW a list of successful projects.
[Action: Councillor Henke]
Members agreed to make this an agenda item for the next meeting. [Action: Morag
Sheppard]
Members suggested funding could be used for flower planting, replacing the benches
or community operated speed cameras. Margaret Pitkeathly will ask the community for
project ideas via facebook. [Action: Margaret Pitkeathly]
There was no finance report as the Treasurer was not present.
The balance on No. 1 account is £4,613.20
The balance on No. 2 account is £7,932.60
WW pointed out that some of this money is earmarked to pay for the storage container
and path signage but that ACC is financially in reasonable health.
13.1 Community Ownership Roadshow
Members have been invited to attend a Community Ownership Roadshow in
Stirling on Tuesday 27th February. MS plans to attend.
13.2 Framed Portrait of King Charles III
CCs are invited to apply for a free framed portrait of King Charles III. MS
asked members if they have any objections, other than the issue that ACC
has no premises of its own and so the portrait would hang in the Nursery.
13.3 Bus Shelter Update
MP has observed some activity in the 2 cottages recently and asked
members if there was any update on what is happening to the bus shelter.
Members had no further update. The houses and plot have been purchased
by the property developers, FFT Brave Property Investments who have
submitted plans to SC planning department.
13.4 ACC Table
MP noted that this table is still being stored in the bus shelter and will need to
be moved to the new storage container in due course.
13.5 Contact Details for Councillor Henke
PH requested that members’ names, roles and email addresses be forwarded
to him. [Action: Morag Sheppard]
14 Date of next OGM
The next OGM will take place on from 19:30 to 21:15 on Tuesday 16th April 2024. It is
intended to take place at Arnprior Nursery.