Callander Community Council
Approved Minutes of the meeting: Monday 18th November 2024
Venue: CYP, Callander 7.00-9.00pm
Community Councillors present: John Kennedy (JK), Marilyn Moore (MM), David Moore (DM),
Fiona Kerr (FK), Ruth Barrie (RB), David King (DK), Robert MacLean (RM), Olga Watkins (OW) joined
online
Also in attendance: Caroline Stewart (CS), minute taker, Richard Johnson (RJ) (National Park Board
Member), Gene Maxwell (GM) (Ward Councillor), Chiara Fingland (CF), (Development Officer), plus
1 member of the public in person and 1 online.
Apologies: Police Scotland, Loucas George (LG), David Shearer (DS),
Abbreviations: All in attendance will be referred to by their initials.
CCC = Callander Community Council; CE = Callander Enterprise; CCDT = Callander Community
Development Trust; SC = Stirling Council; LPP = Local Place Plan; NP = Loch Lomond and the
Trossachs National Park; FLS= Forestry and Land Scotland; FOI = Freedom of Information; CC =
Community Councillors, St.K = St Kessogs, BoD = Braes of Doune Community Fund
Chair of Meeting: John Kennedy
Item Action
- Introduction, Apologies and Meeting Procedures
JK welcomed everyone to the November meeting, Ganga Bhandari, one of the
new owners of Ashley House joined online along with Olga Watkins. Apologies
were received from Trossachs and Teith Police as well as LG and DS.
Recording/Conflict of Interest
JK advised that the meeting was being recorded for the purposes of minutes and
asked if there were likely to be any conflict of interest. RJ declared a conflict of
interest and advised that he would not be taking part in any discussion
regarding the new primary school as he is on the National Park planning
committee.
- Minutes of the Previous Meeting
MM had made an amendment to the October minutes prior to circulating them
to send apologies for DM as he only set up the meeting online but did not
attend the full meeting. The minutes were proposed by FK and seconded by
RMcL.
- Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes.
JK wanted to thank RB for placing the wreath at the cenotaph on
Remembrance Day.
The car that was parked on the A84 has now been moved.
SEED fund application – JK still to get more clarification. MM is in touch
with CF to discuss how it can be used for community events to promote
climate change.
CF clarified that there are no proposed changes to the LPP. There has
been a query from SC and further clarification is needed on how the LPP
fits with SC local development plan. Both parties are in discussion to
ensure that it is in line with legislation. SC have agreed that the NP would
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be the primary authority for the LPP. CF was keen to provide reassurance
that nothing has changed. RB asked about the plans for the top car park
and consultation with residents. CF agreed to address this question
during her update later in the meeting.
Mapping system to find out details of SC assets – MM advised that she
has access to some of this information which she is working on alongside
Chiara and Ellie to try and piece together. Councillor Maxwell advised
that there is public information available through the GIS (Geographic
Information System) which can be accessed through the SC website. A
member of the public asked if paper copies of the information can be
provided for people who don’t have IT access. Councillor Maxwell agreed
to ask if this would be possible.
MM attended the meeting regarding the Trossachs Explorer and offered
the support of CCC. MM clarified that the invitation to the meeting was
personal didn’t come through CCC, but she will request to extend any
future invite to RB.
Councillor
Maxwell to look
into possibility
of providing
paper copies
- Report from Police
MM went over the police report as no one was in attendance from Police
Scotland. Along with the report they had also issued a document on security
which has been circulated prior to the meeting.
MM will add the
document to
the CCC
Facebook page.
- Special Items
Update on Primary School
An email was received from the National Park Planning and Access Committee.
A meeting is due to take place on Monday 25th November in CYP at 10am. The
CCC has been invited to attend and to put any questions in writing before
Wednesday 20th November. The meeting is also open to the public however CCC
only received the invitation recently which has been shared on Facebook and
other social media platforms and information has been displayed in Callander
Connect.
It was highlighted that some members of CCC have not seen the proposed plans
for the school, and they haven’t been discussed. JK advised that there have
been several meetings where concerns have been raised. DS and JK plan to attend
the meeting on 25th on behalf of CCC.
A member of the public asked for the CC stance on the new school. JK advised
that CCC still have questions that they want to put to SC and National Park Planning.
CCC have raised concerns previously around access and capacity.
CF clarified that the committee report will be presented with recommendations
to approve Appendix 1. She suggested that everyone read through the 22 conditions
included in the report and if there are still questions. A link is included
within the document where people can add comments. CF will also make
printed copies of the report available in Callander Connect for people to pick up.
There was a discussion about meeting in person prior to the deadline however it
was decided that any questions should be sent to the Community Council secretary
email address and MM will collate them for JK.
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- Questions from Members of the Public
Ganga Bhandari joined the meeting online to give some more information on
Ashley House. She advised that there is renovation work that needs to be
completed before it can be opened. She is currently speaking to the Care
Inspectorate on a weekly basis and things are still at an early stage.
The plan is to reopen it as a nursing home. Ganga is a qualified nurse herself and
her family have experience of running other businesses around Scotland. There
will be accommodation for 21 residents available, the same as the previous
Ashlea House but with a renovated layout.
- LPP/Callander Connect
CF gave an update
Meadows Master Plan project - the second engagement event took
place in October to look at emerging ideas. Draft information is in the
window of Callander Connect and still happy to take further feedback.
RJ has also attended steering group along with SC. Ryan Campbell is due
to attend from the SC Flood Management Services. The Meadows Group
is trying to keep everyone informed and obtain a range of different
views. LG also attends regularly.
The application for £1,000 that was made to the climate SEED fund by
CCC has been approved by FEL (Forth Environment Link). JK and MM will
meet with the Meadows Master Plan Group and feed into a project
event in January 2025.
The LPP surgery takes place every Monday between 12 and 2pm at
Callander Connect and is open to everyone.
Funding opportunities:
o Callander Enterprise under the CCDT banner have applied to the
UK Shared Opportunities Fund Premises Improvement Grant
(PIG) being managed locally by SC. The deadline was 12th
November.
o Together with 10 other local development trusts, it is planned
that CCDT will put in a bid in for the National Lottery Climate
Action fund. Part of its criteria is to encourage rural communities
to come together to build relationships. The group will also look
at other sources of funding.
It is hoped there will be a joint meeting of CCC and the Development
Trust to consider whether there are any changing priorities and to
ensure those set out in the LPP are still applicable.
The joint meeting will also be held in discussion with building owners
and artists regarding other plans for regeneration of Main Street.
RB asked about plans for the Meadows and parking. The parking is not
set in stone, but it is likely it will be reduced but sufficient parking will be
maintained for property and business owners.
The Steering group meeting was attended by LG and RJ as well as SC, car parking
issue was raised especially the possible loss of parking spaces including in the
Meadows. SC still planning to build flood alleviation which isn’t included in the
plans.
JK to liaise with
CF re any
updates
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OW highlighted that Station Road car park is not fully utilised so unlikely to
cause issues if spaces are lost. JK called the discussion to a close and suggested
that people bring any suggestions to the next meeting.
- Reports from Office Bearers
Chair
The main issue that was raised at the last surgery was speeding on Stirling Road.
The problem has been discussed previously and it was asked what the CC can do
about it? There were several ideas put forward including police sitting on the
road with a speed gun, have more of a police present or traffic calming
measures. It was agreed a letter will be sent to SC to communicate with BEAR
and feedback to the police.
Planning
Not a lot of activity over the past month, 4 applications, one of which has been
approved and 3 outstanding which haven’t been considered yet. Nothing
contentious included so no further comments needed.
Secretary
Regeneration of Main Street, MM is on the group representing CCC with
Mark Nichols (business owner) and Mark Griffiths (CCDT) as well as
Chiara and Ellie. Quotes have been obtained for the painting of shop
fronts and for new signage. The application was submitted on 12th
November.
110 emails received and 50 sent some to own account on CC business.
Discussion on C60 bus service and public phone box which is now owned
by the community. A member of staff from the Woodland Trust hopes to
come along to the meeting next month. They have been working with
CCC to identify the owner of a public bench on the A821, however so far
have had no success.
Representatives from CCC (RB, DM and MM) attended the remembrance
service and RB presented the wreath at the cenotaph.
As MM has been unwell, she has not been to the bank, so change of
signatories is still in progress. JK and RB will be added as signatories. The
only expenditures for the last month have been for the website,
payment to DK for the engraving for the trophy for the horticultural
society and to CS for the September minutes.
The annual funding allowance has been paid in to the BoD account from
Schroders-Greencoat, the owners of the Braes of Doune wind farm
company. The amount this year was £22,339.51. There has been no
further activity on the account this month.
MM has sent round the proposed CCC meeting dates for 2025 and has had a
letter from SC advising that they need confirmation of the dates in the next few
weeks. There was a discussion about looking at new venues in the new year
however it was highlighted that notice has to be given to CYP. OW raised
concerns about moving to a new venue where there is no option to offer hybrid
meetings. It was asked if dates can be agreed. They were proposed by JK and
seconded by DM.
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Roads
RMcL advised that the pavements won’t be resurfaced this year. He is hoping to
set up another meeting with BEAR to get an update.
Stirling Council
Councillor Maxwell provided an update. “The Big conversation” is live again and
SC have listened to comments they received last year about the style and now
have more open-ended questions and comment boxes. The Scottish
Government have a 1% increased resource grant and 10% increase in capital
available. The implication of the increase for NI for organisations is still being
discussed to consider how this will look for the local authority. The Scottish
Budget takes place on 4th December and will find out the settlement from the
Government on 12th December which will allow the council to set their budget
in February 2025. Officers are currently producing a list of things that can be
done differently, and it will be down to Councillors to come up with suggestions
on how to fill the gaps as a balanced budget has to be produced.
As Stirling is celebrating its 900 anniversary Elaine Watterston is now titled Lord
Provost.
National Park
No update
Callander Flood Group
The report had been sent round prior to the meeting and MM read it out. The
final preferred option for the Flood Alleviation Scheme should be agreed on by
the summer of 2025 but will not be submitted for funding as the current finance
package has ended. The current short list will be reviewed and final options
chosen to take forward by 31st March 2025. Will now need to wait and see what
Scot Gov offer for the next round of funding.
Callander Flood Group had a meeting with Scottish Water with regards to the
operation and management of Loch Katrine/Venachar to see if any amendments
could be made in the lochs’ control to further reduce the risk of flooding.
Callander Flood Group now have their own Facebook page – Callander Flood
Forum.
- AOCB
Nominations for Callander Citizen of the Year 2024 are now open.
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There was a discussion about the need to recruit new people to CCC. JK
will put out an appeal on various local platforms and in the Ben Ledi
View. MM confirmed it was in the most recent edition for Dec/Jan.
There was a discussion about RJ maintaining website and Facebook
page. MM advised that the CC have a long-standing website and the
minutes etc are added to it and also the Facebook page which is
regularly maintained and updated.
BEAR is upgrading lampposts with 20 out of 30 already completed before
the Christmas light switch on. The tree will be delivered by Cambusmore
estate on Monday 25th November and the lights will be put up shortly
after this with the switch on taking place on Saturday 30th November.
The next surgery in Callander Connect on is Saturday 14th December will
be staffed by JK and MM.
- Date of the Next Meeting
The next meeting would be on Monday 16th December 2024