February 2024 Minutes

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.

1. Welcome and Apologies

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.

2. Approval of OGM Minutes

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).

3. Keyholder Appointment

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.

4. Cardross Bridge

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

2024. Members noted that once again ACC had not been notified of things happening

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. Arnprior Canopy / Planning

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.

6. Roads

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]

7. ‘Big Conversation’ Stirling Council Budget 2024/5. Public Services including

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.

8. 8. Arnprior Community Storage Project

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]

10. Police Report

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]

11. Councillor’s Report

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]

12. Finance Report

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. AOCB

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.