December 2024 Minutes

Item

Action

1. Introduction, Apologies and Meeting Procedures

Loucas George chaired the meeting in the absence of John Kennedy. He welcomed everyone along to the December meeting and gave apologies for John Kennedy, David King, Chiara Fingland and Trossachs and Teith police. 

Recording/Conflict of Interest

The chair advised that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of minute taking only. There were no conflicts of interest declared.

2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting

MM advised that a date change was needed to the header of the previous minutes. Based on this change being made the minutes were proposed by DS and seconded by OW.

3. Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes.

•       Mapping system – no update from Councilor Maxwell, MM will check in Callander Connect  

•       MM to check if the Police Scotland security document has been added to the Facebook page.

•       Update on Primary school on the agenda.

•       MM to chase up JK regarding LPP as he was not present at the

meeting.  

MM to check in

Callander Connect

MM to check if security document has been added to

Facebook

4. Report from Police

Not in attendance. The report had been circulated prior to the meeting and everyone had time to read over it. MM had read a post on Facebook about young people

causing a disturbance in Ancaster Square, but this was not included in the police report.  It is believed the issue is being dealt with by McLaren High school.  

5. Special Items

Presentation on The Woodland Trust - Hanna Rennie

•       The new Estate Ranger at Glenfinglas, Brig of Turk, Hanna Rennie, came along to introduce herself. She started in the role in February 2023. She wanted to find out more information about the bench in the layby opposite the Invertrossachs Road. The Woodland Trust are looking to remove and replace it but they are struggling to find out who is responsible for it.  A member of the public was able to provide Hanna with information regarding ownership. 

•       Hanna also highlighted a project that she is involved in to install a new path on the loch side  of Invertrossachs Road to link this path up with  existing paths  The Woodland Trust hired the fields in this area in 2022 as additional grazing land for cattle and sheep but there are opportunities for recreation and environmental projects, as well as making the area fully accessible for cyclists and walkers. Phase one of the project is to create a path from Gartchonzie Bridge into Little Drum Wood. Hanna      highlighted that this is a big piece of work which is only in the initial stages. Their plan is to enlist a consultant to put together a design survey. Once this has been completed, funding and planning permission would need to be secured before any work starts. Hanna went over the proposed timescale and advised that 2025 will be used as the development stage with work starting in 2026/2027. The area can also provide opportunities for recreational and ecological projects, and these were shown on the map that Hanna provided. There are 3 existing ponds, which are currently overgrown. The history of the ponds is    unknown. The plan is to restore one pond every year. The work on the first one was completed a few weeks ago and work will take place on the others over the next few years. This work will improve wetland habits. There are also plans to expand the current orchard as well as using the field to make hay. MM advised if Hanna wanted any information left in Callander Connect, she would be happy to arrange this. It was also suggested that Hanna contact other community councils including Brig O Turk.  Update on Primary School

•       JK attended the recent meeting about the primary school but was not   present to give an update. LG advised that as far as he is aware the primary school is set to go ahead. There are still issues with access routes to get to the school and it is believed that the footpath and bridge will not be completed until after the school. There is a meeting due to take place with SC tomorrow, to ensure that the school has a safe travel route. MM highlighted that the LPP includes the need for safe access routes. 

•       There has been communication between Councillor Earl and    David Hopper from SC about installing lights on the footbridge by Callander Library. However, SC advised that they currently don’t have the budget available to do the work. They are now reconsidering this and there is a meeting planned for 12^th December. 

MM to leave map of area where path will run in Callander Connect 

    The St Kessog’s report has been delayed, and it will be presented at the next Finance and Economy committee meeting in January. A decision will be taken at this meeting on what is the next step for the building.  

6. Questions from Members of the Public  There were no questions raised. 

7. LPP/Callander Connect

CF wasn’t present at the meeting, but she had submitted a report. The Chair highlighted that the lease for Callander Connect is due to end in January. Therefore, a decision needs to be made primarily by the Development Trust on either extending the current lease or looking at other options. 

8. Reports from Office Bearers

Chair

No report as the chair wasn’t present at the meeting. 

Planning 

JK had submitted a report but wasn’t present at the meeting.  There was only one outstanding item on the report and no questions were raised.

Treasurer

No separate report, but finance was covered in the Secretary’s report.

Secretary

MM went through the main points of her report

•       Ruth gave an update on the caravan. It was moved on 19^th November and has not returned. The bike has also gone. 

•       Ganga Bhandari, new manager of Ashlea Care Home attended the last CC meeting. MM followed up with Balhousie, who have had an application approved a few years ago to build a care home in the space behind the GP practice, plans were imminent however due to an increase in building cost and National Insurance etc, the plans have been deferred, but work is expected go ahead at some point.   Treasurer

•       Bank of Scotland has announced the closure of all Treasurers’ accounts, changing them to community accounts which will involve a monthly charge. EW advised that other CC are moving to Virgin, who offer free banking for Community Councils, and all transactions can be done online. 

•       The Stirling Council admin grant of £955.47 has been paid, however it doesn’t fully cover expenses. Repairs to play equipment in the Meadows have now been completed by Stirling Council, enabling the last invoice regarding painting to be closed out in compliance with the grant conditions for Camp Place playpark project. This invoice couldn’t be paid beforehand awaiting Stirling Council’s repairs. 

•       There have been 2 microgrant payments made from the B of D account. Since then, 2 applications have been approved by Foundation Scotland, one for Callander Meanders for the cost of a specialist 3-day First Aid course

and the second was for Callander Primary school for outdoor equipment not covered by the Education department. 

•       A query was raised on responsibility for the bench by the river as it requires repair. It was highlighted that it has been caged therefore SC are aware of it.  It was agreed that an email will be sent to Stephen Bly.  

Roads 

RMCL gave an update. There is a burst pipe in Main Street that is being repaired and issues with a drain at the Riverside. This has been reported to Scottish Water.  

Stirling Council

•       Full council meeting on 12^th December.

•       Out to consultation for tourist tax, Edinburgh has done a lot of work they have suggested a rate of 5 %. However, it will take some time before the tax is introduced.

•       The Big Conversation, online submission has now closed. The information from this will be gathered and there will be a public consultation with council staff to discuss the forthcoming budget. However, there is likely to be a large budget deficient. 

•       Stirling had a community carol concert as part of the Stirling 900 celebration, it was mainly attended by local children and volunteer organisations. 

•       EW advised that her title has now changed, and she will be known as Lord Provost and whoever proceeds her in the role will continue to take this title which is an honour for the city of Stirling. 

•       CAB received funding from SC, looking at work in rural communities. The information booklet for older people has been a success and the Rural Health and Social Care Partnership and now aiming to put together a booklet for carers which will signpost them to relevant help and assistance. The booklet will be aimed at carers as well as the looked after person.

•       Next project, 900 pipes and drums and musicians coming out of Stirling Castle, 29^th March 2025, ex-army staff will provide support to organise the event. The bands will march through the city, over Stirling bridge into the rugby club. They hope to beat the Guinness world record for the largest number of pipers playing the same tune together.  National Park

•       Several items on-going to benefit Callander. SEPA has carried out classification of water bodies and a number have been classified as poor. A NP officer has had discussions with SEPA to get more information on the classification system that is being used, LG asked for clarification and RJ advised that water bodies can be classified as poor due to industrial, agricultural pollution, flooding etc.  

•       Trossachs Explorer shuttle bus. The NP has employed an external consultant to go over the data that was collected during the three-month trial of the service and a report is due next month. Things are looking positive, and it is hoped that the service will run again next summer. Other communities also want to replicate the idea.  

Email to be sent to Stephen Bly re bench status.  MM to write 

•       Preparing corporate plan that covers the work of the NP over the next 5 years.  RJ is encouraging the NP to get communities more involved to find out how well they are being served by the NP.   

•       An assessment has been carried out of the 2024 visitor session and how visitors were managed by the NP. The results showed that visitor number are down on previous years which the NP feel may be due to the poor weather. RJ has suggested to the park that they make Callander weather resilient with more indoor attractions, including promoting the local landscape and how it is formed by the climate.  

•       Management of West Highland way, a trust called SCALE has been established to manage it. It is made up of several agencies and landowners and is seen as a successful way of managing major footpaths.  

•       Nature Restoration Fund, NP believe the funding will be reinstated next year,  

•       Primary school had its planning application reviewed last month by the whole of NP board; the planning application was approved with conditions.  

•       The convenor of the NP, Heather Reid, would be glad to attend any events in Callander.  

•       RJ has been elected by the board as Deputy chair of the Planning and Access committee.  

Hanna asked RJ if he knew how much of the Nature Restoration Fund would be restored next year. He advised at the moment he doesn’t know numbers but hopes that most of the projects the NP were doing last year can be restarted.

9. AOCB 

Nothing raised 

10. Date of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Monday 17^th February 2025 at CYP at 7pm.