June 2024 Minutes

Item

Action

PART 1: WELCOME AND PROCEDURES

Introduction, Apologies and Meeting Procedures

JK welcomed everyone to the June business meeting. Apologies were received from Robert MacLean and Chiara Fingland. 

Recording/Conflict of Interest

JK stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purposes of minutes taking and asked if there were likely to be any conflict of interest. None were declared.   

2. Minutes of the previous meeting

Copies of the May minutes were circulated prior to the meeting and were proposed by DM and seconded by DS. JK read out the amendments to the April minutes requested by RJ. RJ had not had a chance to check the changes yet. OW stated that the resignation letter from TC had not yet been attached to the minutes and was assured that this would be discussed later in the meeting.

3. Matters Arising from the previous minutes.

MM went through the mattes arising from the May minutes:

•      MM had circulated the letter of resignation from Tim Crone

•      JK had hoped to raise issues with Police Scotland but no representative was present at the meeting.

•      There were several actions from the May minutes outstanding that MM had still to chase up. 

•      MM had sent LG’s letter to Stirling Council regarding St. Kessog’s 

•      MM and DS were planning to do a ‘ walk around ‘ on Ancaster Road to look at the issues there.

RB to email

information to

OW

•      OW/RB to summarise the different transport options available locally. RB will email information  to OW.

•      Councillor Maxwell will ask SC  for clarity around licensing laws if they were not being followed by local businesses and who is responsible for this.

Councillor Maxwell to raise issues with SC. 

4. Report from Police

There was no representative present from Police Scotland. JK read out the report. There were no questions raised.  

5. Special Items

Resignation of Associate Member

JK advised that he had sought guidance from Stephen Bly, Stirling Council and Tim Crone’s resignation had been accepted. JK wished to thank TC for the work he had done as part of the St. Kessog’s sub group. 

There was a discussion on how the issues surrounding his resignation had been handled and what CCC could learn from this. It was agreed that any complaints against CCC or any of its members should be handled initially by the whole of CCC, with all correspondence being shared amongst all community councillors. If CCC was unable to deal with an issue, it should then consult SC for support. 

Councillor Maxwell highlighted that any Associate Member of the CC is solely a volunteer. 

It was agreed that JK and MM would meet and put together a procedure on how to handle any issues in the future, prior to the next CC meeting. 

JK/MM to write procedure on how to handle requests

6. Callander Flood Group

Ian McCourt, Chair of Callander Flood group, gave an update. MM had circulated the email he submitted prior to the meeting. 

Ian advised that at the last meeting of the group, it had been agreed that a letter would be sent to the Chair of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero group to highlight the main issue that Callander Flood Group was facing, which was lack of meaningful engagement with SC.  In May 2023, various options including a wall in the car park were proposed by SC and since then there had been no engagement with the group to discuss options further. The publication of the short list of options was imminent and the group were keen to put a letter into SC prior to this being published. The process for the approval of the options appeared to have changed and the flood group were also seeking clarification on this. SC did not know what the criteria was for the next stage of funding. The consultation for the Flood, Resilience Scotland strategy was currently underway, and this was likely to have an impact on how the Scottish Government saw funding for flood protection in the future. The online consolation on the strategy was open until 24^th August and IM highlighted that this was an opportunity for people to have an input into the strategy. Ian would send a link to the document to MM. The letter had been submitted to SC, requesting a meeting with the relevant parties. 

Callander Flood group would be holding two information sessions. The first would be on 8^th July at the Burgh Chambers between 7 and 9pm and the other would be at Callander Connect on 17^th July between 2 and 4pm.

RJ advised that the LPP did not make any reference to flooding which had been causing a problem for the NP. 

MM highlighted that the 27 options being considered were no longer visible on the SC website and suggested writing to SC to get advice on how to access this information.  

MM to contact SC to ask about access to the Flooding options on their website

7. Local Place Plan/Callander Connect

CF was not present at the meeting and had given apologies. JK read out a copy of the report prepared by both CF and Ellie Burroughs

•      Callander Connect was now open 3 days per week. It was still  looking for volunteers.  If anyone was interested, please to contact Freddy, Operations Manager at secretary@callandercdt.org.uk

•      There was a request for a CCC rep. who could train to use  the online tracker for tracking ideas and comments that came in from the Community. MM asked if anyone was interested, to please let her know and she would pass information to the Development Officer.

•      Information displays about LPP updates continued to develop to provide a more structured space for consultation information. MM asked that following the discussion regarding lack of information about flood protection in the LPP, could an appendix be added? RJ advised that the LPP was causing issues with the NP, as the report went up to 2030 and things were constantly changing, therefore there needed to be the option to keep this updated. MM suggested that the CC would be happy to provide any support that may be needed with this moving forward.

•      Callander Partnership met on 31^st May 2024 and the key updates from the meeting were that SC would be running the C60 bus service between Callander and Killin starting on the 1^st July for a 2 year pilot period.   There was a discussion about the  joint promotion of the service with Callander and Killin CCs. RB highlighted issues with the timetable,  with several buses running within a short space of time of each other.  MM asked RB to email her more details on this so she could raise the issue. Feedback on the timetable was being collected by Freddy at Callander Connect to form a community response for SC. SC were looking to creating a business hub at Callander Library which would require the installation of a lift to make it accessible.

•      Trossachs Explorer – LLTNP announced that a new pilot shuttle bus would run for the summer months between Aberfoyle and Callander. There was a discussion about joint promotion of the two bus services by Callander and Killin CCs. 

•      LLTNP Partnership plan was approved by ministers in February. The draft was available on the NP website and set out the plans to be a nature positive, carbon negative, tourism hub.  LLTNP’S Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development study shown in draft identified Callander as a hub for active travel and included concepts on the use of the town’s spaces to prioritise specific projects to support sustainable tourism in the area. 

Anyone

interested in being trained on

tracker to contact

MM

RB to send details of new C60 bus

service to MM

•      Pedestrian footbridge - funding for the bridge had now been confirmed for a feasibility study with the initial stages of work commencing in June/July by SC. 

•      Safe Walking Routes to the Primary school (new school) including the Creep footpath -  SC were hoping to improve the footpath to make it easier  for buggies and pushchairs to use.  

•      Regeneration of Callander Main Street - a survey of businesses had been undertaken and a need for shopfront improvements and street cleaning identified as a main priority. SC would be announcing a Premises Improvement Grant this summer as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which would be pursued along with other funding opportunities. 

•      There was a discussion about several businesses that were planning to close in Callander, mainly due to the retirement of the current owners.   Meadows Masterplan - CCDT had submitted a funding application to FVL CLLD for a feasibility study to explore a plan for the Meadows and Station Road car parks and they were awaiting the results.  

•      Community e-bike share launch - this was successfully launched on 15^th June. Electric bikes of different sizes were now available for hire for residents to use.  Further induction sessions would be arranged through the summer.  Dialogue with SC continued to progress with the installation of bike lockers at Station Road car park and there was also feedback provided from the launch event. 

•      Other LPP updates - there would be a new drop in weekly LPP ZOOM call which would commence on Monday 24^th June between 12-1 for anyone from the LPP subgroups to join and ask questions or for other support. The team link to join was provided. An update was also given for each of the priority areas. 

A member of the public highlighted concerns about the number of businesses disappearing on Main Street and asked what CCC could do to try and improve matters. GM advised that there was a pot of money from SC economic development that had been underutilised last year. It appeared that there was a lack of awareness that this fund existed. LG suggested  researching the tour buses and tourist groups that visited the town, to try and build up the businesses.

OW stated ‘ well done’ for the many  things that had been achieved and highlighted in the Local Development Officers report.

MM reminded everyone that Callander Enterprise was there to help support local businesses. They were keen to get new business involved and had lowered the joining fee to try and increase membership. There were issues with high rates and high business rates in Callander which meant that it was difficult for business to make a profit. 

There was a discussion on recruiting new members to join the regeneration subgroups and getting ideas together to organise events that would encourage visitors to come to Callander.  RJ agreed to take on a co-ordinator role initially and would feedback at the next meeting. MM asked if he wanted to do this as part of the Main Street regeneration group, but RJ stated that he was happy to do this on an individual basis.

RJ to take on a co-ordination role and feedback at the next meeting. 

8. Reports from Office bearers

Planning

JK reviewed the planning report for the previous month and highlighted the following:

•      The club house at 18 Leny Road - there had been a ‘neighbour notification’ for an extension/upgrade of the club house. They were looking for retrospective approval. JK thought  there was no reason to object to this. 

•      Plans to build a replacement extension at 127 Main Street –  no objections.

•      The last 2 applications had both been withdrawn.

Surgeries at Callander Connect

JK highlighted how valuable the surgeries had been but there was a need for more people to volunteer to staff the sessions. JK would send out the timetable if anyone was able to volunteer. JK reviewed the main topics that had been raised at recent surgeries:

•      Online booking system at the recycling plant - there appears to be no issues and things were running smoothly. There had been issues  with fly tipping at Mollands Road.  There had also been issues with fly tipping in other areas which DS had reported to SC. SC was unable to uplift any waste disposed of on private land.  MM had spoken to the NP rangers to look out for any fly tipping and suggested it would be useful if both could work together. 

•      Issues with access to a driveway at the west end of Ancaster Road which was restricted by cars parked on the lower side of the road. DS advised that he was waiting to hear back from SC.

•      The re-greening of the Meadows – could now provide some answers as things were moving forward. 

•      Speeding issues on Bridgend and Stirling Road – JK would take this up with Police Scotland. Transport Scotland had  put down speeding strips and MM had requested a report on the information that was collected in terms of the type and speed of the vehicles that had gone over them. 

•      Someone had requested  that an Arts Centre be built in Callander.

•      Motor home - there was a discussion about what could be done about motor homes parking around Callander and disposing of rubbish. It was agreed that there was a need for a place for them to park and to have some facilities provided for them. Station Road car park would be an ideal place for it as it was currently under-utilised. It was agreed that FK would also speak to Callander Golf Club. 

•      Potholes - this had been referred to DS and he was dealing with it. 

•      Pavements in School Lane. There had been issues tracing the ownership of this road. 

•      People were keen to become involved with St Kessogs group

•      Issues with rural transport - some of the concerns have been answered with the new bus service. A resident had also applied for a taxi card but could not use it for taxis in Callander. 

•      No turning circle for buses at the cemetery (new)

 Parts of Main Street and Bridge Street had not been resurfaced, causing noise and vibration. DS advised that there was a cellar under the road and this was being investigated by SC.

DK asked if there had been any update from John Watson. There was a discussion on how many meetings  a CC could miss before being asked to stand down – six meetings. A member of the public stated that the minutes of previous CCC meetings were not available on the CCC website from February 2024 onwards. OW directed them to the SC website where they would be  available, as all the minutes had been sent to SC. OW stated that keeping the Facebook page and CCC website updated was yet more work for MM and herself to do  - and requested that anyone who wished to volunteer for this task would be made most welcome. 

Vice Chair

Nothing to report.

Secretary

MM reviewed her report. The main points were:

•      The regeneration of the Main Street.  Still waiting on quotes for the painting and cleaning of Main Street, as well as details of the UK shared prosperity fund which SC would be managing with the next round concentrating on High Streets.  Callander Enterprise had asked if they could apply on behalf of several shops rather than have many individuals applying.  There seemed to be a number of local shops being put on the market including Proposals, Macmillan Wine, The Post Office (End of year) and Menzies (NB: Callander Physiotherapy will not be moving out of their premises).  Farrens Pharmacy had a petition about the NHS closing various pharmacies – please sign to support our Main Street and Surgery one, which was moving into the Main Surgery.  James Bayne was still on the market and Greggs, Spice Delight and the PDSA shop were still empty.  An urgent situation for regeneration.  

•      Administration - since the last meeting approx. 90 emails received and about 40 responses sent. King Charles portrait – it had arrived and Fiona the librarian was in agreement for it to be put in the Burgh Chambers. Traffic speed strips had been collected in Callander – enquiries had been made to Transport Scotland on report. Stirling Council no longer managing flower beds, looking for communities to take them on.  Greener Callander already looked after several but did not have enough volunteers to help. If anyone was keen to take on a flower bed, please let CCC know or join Greener Callander.

•      Other activities – MM attended the Fire and Rescue service consultation with RB and DS. Due to so many fire stations being old or in the wrong place major changes in strategy were being sought. There was a survey that everyone was being encouraged to complete to determine how the Fire and Rescue Service would operate in the future. 

•      The books for last year still needed full details to enable them to be examined and would be handed over once completed – there had been little time the previous month due to holidays and illness.   The new Treasurer, RB would  be added to the signatory list before handing over

MM to check if the SC website is up to date.

the 24/25 accounts once the 23/24 accounts had been examined prior to submitting to Stirling Council. The total bank balance on 30^th June is 

£3226.88, the main expenditure since the previous month being the Minute Taker cashing her cheques. MM proposed that the account examiner should be paid £30 for doing this, which was seconded by JK.  

•      Braes of Doune Community Fund. This month,  payment for 2 microgrants had been approved – to Mental Health Matters Week for printing and to McLaren High School PTA for Hall Hire for an event.  A further enquiry has been made but no application received to date. The major application had been approved by CCC as an application for Community Benefit and was part of the quarter’s submission to Foundation Scotland and the Braes of Doune directors. To date there was £80,514.93 in the account, including  two payments still to be taken out.  This sum included £50,000 for a one-off capital project for the benefit of the town.

Roads report

DS reviewed his report and highlighted the following:

•      A84 roads and pavements issues with cellar under the road which was being investigated. It was agreed at the last meeting that work on the pavements would commence in October after the tourist season had ended. 

•      Layout of bus stop at the Square was causing a backup of traffic. DS asked for CCC permission to approach BEAR to deal with the issue. CCC agreed that he could approach BEAR. 

•      Issues with fly tipping on the A81 were reported to SC and a reply  was received advising that an individual needed to report any issues themselves through the new report system at SC. JK would make a formal approach to the Chief Executive about this.

National Park

RJ gave an update for the National Park. The main points were:

•      There would be a press launch for the Trossachs Explorer on Wednesday 19^th June.

•      RJ advised that the NP had sent the LDP report to all community councils and asked if Callander had received the email. MM would double check but did not recall receiving the email. 

•      Visit Scotland were closing all information centres including Aberfoyle. However, having the regional office on the East side of the NP in Callander was still a possibility.

•      The Scottish parliament were introducing the Visitor Levy Bill. There would need to be a discussion between the local authority and NP on how this would be implemented. The levy would not  be implemented immediately as there was  an 18-month lead in time until it was fully implemented in 2026.

 St Kessog’s 

LG gave an update from the St Kessog’s group.

•      The recent meeting of the group was well attended.

JK to contact SC

•      There had been articles both in the Stirling Observer and Ben Ledi View. 

•      There was a lot of interest in the community on the future of St Kessog’s 

•      The group would be setting up a petition for people to sign. 

•      Before SC sell St Kessog’s, the group wanted to know details of sale including details of home report, rates etc, as it would  need this information to come up with a business plan.

•      The group was looking at grants that may be able to access to help with the process.

•      The group wanted  to keep St. Kessog’s  as part of the community or at best have a say in the future of it and was trying to get as many people involved as possible. 

Stirling Council

•      A new Chief Executive had been appointed but there were still several vacancies for Senior Management positions. 



A by-election had been called in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.   



Due to the ongoing general election, a decision had been made to extend the Council’s summer recess. GM could provide answers on questions, however there would be no Council or Finance meetings until September, as SC did not have the resources to staff all committees as well as organise an election. 



C60 bus marketing would be done on a budget. 



A ban on pavement parking/ dropped kerb would be enforced by SC from Monday 15^th July, with a fine of up to £100. It was an offence to park on a pavement or a dropped kerb.



GM suggested that CCC talks to local businesses about parking. Fees in Station Road car park started at zero seconds and the fee was the same for any vehicles. He proposed that the first hour should be free to encourage local residents to come shopping, as well as encouraging tourists to visit the town. Councillor Maxwell was interested in CCC’s view on the structure. MM would post on Facebook asking for the communities’ view. 

AOB

MM had two items as part of AOB:

•      There were plans to remove the pay phone on Camp Place as it hadn’t been used at all within the previous year for any calls.

MM had put details of this on the Facebook page and asked for any opinions regarding this.

•      SVE would be hosting a 3^rd sector husting event at the Hillpark centre on 20^th June between 6 and 8pm, for local third sectors, social enterprise and communities organisations to engage with political candidates. They had asked for questions and MM had submitted some questions. MM was unable to attend the meeting and asked if anyone else was available to attend. 

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting would be on Monday 19^th August 2024 at 7.00pm in CYP.