June 2024 Minutes

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Buchlyvie Community Council Meeting
Minute of Meeting
13/06/2024
Buchlyvie Village Hall
1. Present: Jessica Langford (Chair)
Margaret Bennie (Vice Chair)
Emily McLennan (Treasurer)
Alison Moffat (Secretary)
Apologies:
PC Matt McCammon (Community Police Officer), Eilidh Weir
(Member), Tricia Cummings, Anne Winther, Margaret Sparks, Colin Mutch
Minutes: Ashleigh Donaldson
Residents:
22 residents attended the meeting including those present for the
AGM
2. Thanks to Emily McLennan, who has resigned as Treasurer. Welcome to Alan Reed
as Co-Opted Member and Treasurer
With Alan in attendance and with five members of the community council here, we can
co-opt Alan Reed as our new member. Jessica asked Alan if he would like to be co-opted
to which he responded yes. A vote was then taken by the Community Council who were
all in agreement.
With Alan now co-opted, he will come on as the new Treasurer. He moved to the village
in September, is semi-retired and currently works as a freelance journalist with the BBC.
Jessica acknowledged Emily for her time as Treasurer. There was a lot of work involved.
3. Recording of Declaration of Interest
None
4. Adoption of Minutes of Meetings
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Community Council held on 25th April 2024
were proposed by Alison Moffat and seconded by Margaret Bennie. The Minutes of the
meeting held on 2nd May 2024 were proposed by Margaret Bennie and adopted by Alison
Moffat. Both were agreed as an accurate record of the proceedings.
5. Matters Arising from Minutes and Actions
i.
ii.
Emily McLennan, Treasurer – With regards to flooding of the main track of multi court – both Stirling Council and the school Head Teacher have been contacted again but
we have not yet had a response.
Alison Moffat, Secretary read out the following Police Scotland Report compiled by
PC Matt McCammon April – May 2024:
Fraud
A fraud has been recorded after a resident received a text message from someone
purporting to be their son asking for financial help in paying an outstanding debt. The
victim made attempts to contact the number, however, the calls went straight to
voicemail. Concerned for their son the victim paid money to the suspect. Fortunetly,
on this occasion the victims bank reimbursed the money.
Road Safety
Report received of a motorcyclist failing to stop and exchange details following a road
traffic collision. Enquires are ongoing to trace the rider.
Report received of dangerous driving on the A811 near Buchlyvie. Unfortunately
there was no trace of the driver or a sufficient description to progress enquiries.
Call received regarding livestock encroaching on the road way. Police attended and
assisted animal back into field.
Incidents of Note
Please keep in mind that there have been a number of house breakings and thefts in
others villages and remember to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
6. Community Council Updates
i.
ii.
iii.
Chair’s Report, Jessica Langford
See details of report in above AGM minutes.
Treasurer’s Report, Emily McLennan
See details of report in above AGM minutes.
Secretary’s Report, Alison Moffat
At our last meeting there were enquiries regarding the piece of land opposite the
school and the vehicles blocking a core path on Station Road. A response from Mairi
McIntosh, Access Officer at Stirling Council indicated the ownership of the land was
and still is unknown and as such, they are unable to move the vehicles.
Emily McLennan stated she had spoken to a neighbour and the land is understood to
be common land. If this is the case, the council should be able to act regarding the
removal of the three vehicles.
Jessica Langford stated that there are two cars and a caravan, both cars belong to
Gwen Downes but that she had no interest in removing them.
7. Community Council Business
i.
Car Park Update - Jim Hillock
A query was raised from Jim regarding the amendment made to the previous set of
minutes with regards to the vote that was had in the community hall. Some confusion
was had around what was being voted for, the finality of the vote and how many
people should be consulted before a decision is made. He noted that in a 2022
survey there were 560 people in the village and asked how many people are required
to before a decision can be made. The chair clarified that no final decision could be
made as the vote did not represent all that community members. It did indicate
however how many spaces the community were in favour of.
Jim also then highlighted that if indeed there were a minimum number of people
required to vote on matters, does that then apply to any other structural thing within
the village.
A discussion was then around the car park with comments from community
members. Jim Hillock confirmed that Stirling Councill own the land and advocated for
taking ownership of the land as a community. It was also confirmed that Stirling
Council couldn’t answer if they had any future plans to build on the land.
The Chair commented that that Stirling Council don’t have money to make a car park
to which Jim Hillock suggested that there should be a negotiation as currently it is
overgrown and unusable. The Chair commented that we need to prove the need for a
car park especially since the pub has closed.
It was suggested that a survey should be conducted, perhaps door to door or using
Buchlyvie Banter.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Buchlyvie Community Hub update – Eilidh Weir
Eilidh Weir was not in attendance but Emily McLennan did attend one of the
meetings. Start Up Stirling will no longer lead on community hub, held on Thursday
lunchtimes. The community needs to decide whether to carry on and what format to
use. We need to find community members to coordinate it, which involves
volunteering. It has been very successful with good turnout, especially during winter.
Community Council members agreed that whilst they can seek funding, it is not their
role to run it.
There are 2 grants from Stirling Council available and we can seek to apply for
funding - the community pride fund and community fund which are £800 each – will
seek to apply for funding. Everyone agreed for this funding bid to go ahead.
There was a further discussion around the need for volunteers and potentially using
cafes/restaurants who supply food at a cost, potentially running once a fortnight
instead of weekly or moving forward with a coffee morning perhaps around 11am on
Thursday for an hour or 1.5 hours. It was agreed that this could be trialled during the
summer months.
Funding for Youth Café and Community Hub - Jessica Langford
Funding finished in February 2024 for the Youth Worker and we have had volunteers
running it since. We are now looking for funding for a Youth Worker salary to continue
next term, hopefully from September onwards.
Safety of Lithium Ion Batteries - Margaret Bennie
We received an email from Stephen Bly regarding lithium batteries and fires. We
want to alert people that motorised scooters, electric bikes can all go on fire and
there has been over 1000, nearly 200 injuries and fatalities. It was commented by
Jim Hillock that once lithium batteries are discarded they can still go on fire and so
should be taken to the dump to discard.
Burn Green Update - Margaret Bennie
The eco church group recently had a silver assessment after an inspection at the
Burn Green. which they were subsequently given. When we got grant in spring time,
Benview Garden Centre agreed to give 10% to communities. We have kept 10% for
future planting.
There was some discussion at this point around the use of the Burn Green. Jim
Hillock stated he had been approach by several people that use the Burn Green who
wished to restore it to an open, cut grass area that kids could use during the summer.
Jessica Langford stated that during Covid, a group of us thought it would be lovely as
a meadow and a lot of hard work has gone into it. The grass is due to be cut in
September. Emily McLennan also stated that in its current state as a meadow it can
be used to learn about wild flowers and engage with wildlife there. There are other
grass cut areas in village.
8. AOB
Emily McLennan – SW Stirling Climate Action Network
The SW Stirling Climate Action Network have been meeting for year and a half. It’s a
group of people in surrounding villages who meet to discuss problems that we all face in
our small villages, as we sometimes feel forgotten about by Stirling Council. They are
proposing an unincorporated association. They are going round community councils to
discuss whether they want to become members of that network. I am now asking if
community council want to be part of discussion regarding matters such as retrofitting
home schemes, issues around transport etc. It’s useful for groups to come together to
communicate and campaign for change and for financial support and to seek future
funding. Everyone agreed and voted yes, it would be very useful.
Jim Hillock – Pub Closure
With regards to the closure of the pub - no one knows what’s happened. There is a
possibility that it’s been a bank foreclosure or it has been repossessed. If so, it will come
up for auction. Could we possibly put together a buy out team and make a bid as a
community? This is a big ask of people but we need to address it now as it could come
up for auction and we could lose it. Do we now get together a group who are prepared to
move on it or not?
Emily McLennan – The Community Council cannot be involved in this process. It needs
to be separate group of people to set up limited group. I don’t know enough about it.
Margaret Bennie – It sounds very complicated and would need at least ten people to
form a limited company and then drive forward. It would need to have people who had
experience and knowledge of running a pub and someone who is passionate.
There was further discussion around the buyout and potentially putting together a group.
It was noted by a community member that there were ten people involved in it last time
and they went a long way down the line but were not able to continue as they were not
allowed to have charitable status if they were making money. It was suggested by Jim
Hillock that we speak to Gartmore, who managed it with the Black Bull. Emily McLennan
suggested setting up a village meeting to discuss to which Jessica Langford agreed.
Jim Hillock – Resignation
Jim stated he is stepping down from the community council. Jessica Lanford asked if he
could send in a letter and Margaret thanked Jim for all of his work over the past year.
9. Residents Forum
A resident asked if there had been any word regarding the triangle opposite the school
with the parked cars as it used to be a turning place. Another resident confirmed it used
to belong to the church and that they were in the process of buying the area. This
resident received a letter from Stirling Council regarding ownership of the land. It was
noted that the path should be free to walk through but that the lane has been blocked by
Gwen Downes.
A resident asked if there had been any feedback on the speed limit on Culbowie Road to
which it was confirmed there had not yet been a response.
Jim Hillock raised an issue with the bus stop. When it was established there was no bus
stop writing on ground, it has slowly crept in that nothing can park there except buses but
deliveries should be able to park there. Asif wouldn’t be happy if we extended double
yellow line. Alison Moffat agreed to draft an email regarding this issue.
It was noted that the road from Buchlvyie to Balfron will be closed from 26th-30th June
from 8am-6pm. Margaret Bennie has written to Stirling Council regarding the school
buses being able to pass through.
A resident commented that Balfron Community Council are putting Christmas lights on
streetlights and asked if Buchlyvie could do something similar. Jessica Langford agreed
to put this on the agenda for next time.
10. Date of next meeting – Thursday 22nd August 2024 -------------------
1st August 2024: Minutes for the AGM and following meeting read and approved.
Jessica Langford, Chair,