February 2023 Minutes

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Cambuskenneth Community Council

Meeting held on Monday 27 February 2023 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall

Present: Ross McGregor (Chair), Barbara McElhinney (Treasurer), Elaine Turner (Secretary), Tessa Carroll

In attendance: Councillor Jim Thomson, Helen Barrett (CNEG), 1 resident

Apologies: None

Minutes were taken by Tessa Carroll

Items for AOCB
None

Adoption of Previous Minutes (23 January 2023)

Proposed: Barbara
Seconded: Ross

Matters Arising
Footbridge winter conditions
We received a response from SC saying that rock salt cannot be used on the bridge because it would damage the construction and glycol is used instead. We were already aware of this from discussions in previous years, so have replied to say that these measures were ineffective during the January icy spell and ask for any update on the idea of installing a non-slip surface, which SC was discussing in 2017/18.

Increase in Hall Charges/Booking procedure – Ross emailed SC about the issues discussed at previous meetings (high weekend charges putting off potential users; invoices delayed/not received/incorrect, potential users unable to get the bookings team to take bookings for them; bookings team refusing to book hall for councillors’ surgeries; keyholder training timing) and had received a response from the Bookings Team providing some background info but of limited help on some points. Ross will forward
the original email and response to our councillors.

Welcome Leaflet – No update.

Hall and Park Funds – We discussed quotes for two 3m x 3m gazebos (approx. £400), a picnic table for the hall garden (approx £700), and a new noticeboard for the hall (approx. £280). It was agreed to go ahead and buy gazebos and noticeboard. Ross will contact SC for permission to place a picnic table in the hall garden.

Pergola – Riverside Naturally has told us that the raised beds and benches near the bowling club were installed by Stirling Council before Riverside Naturally was formed, but they organised the recent replanting with pollinator-friendly plants with funding and help from other charities. We are waiting to hear back from Riverside CC for more details about how the beds and benches were provided.
There was agreement that a similar arrangement (large raised beds and benches) could be an
appropriate replacement for the pergola. It might be best to delay removing the pergola until plans for its replacement are further advanced.
Tessa had started to investigate possibilities for grants; these include Stirling Council’s Community Pride Fund and Repollinate charity. Cllr Jim Thomson suggested the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust, which gives larger grants than the Community Pride Fund.
No update from Cllr Danny Gibson about possibility of a dropped kerb for accessibility at this area.

Waterside Cottage – Cllr Jim Thomson is seeking clarification from council officers about the status of the site and has contacted Taylor Wimpey directly about the Heras fencing being down again.

Cycling Route/Manor Powis/Speed Limit – Cllr Jim Thomson confirmed that a Sustrans officer who will lead the Manor Powis cycle route project has been appointed and that Sustrans is committed to starting the project within the 2023/24 financial year.
A CNEG member is drafting a letter for the CC to send to the Scottish Minister for Active Travel about the long delays in getting this cycle route.

Community council membership – co-option process for vacancies
As noted in the January minutes, two vacancies are being advertised, deadline for nomination forms Tuesday 7 March. We have one nomination to date (27/2).

Community Council Elections –Are you interested in local community matters? Would you like to make a difference – help organise local events, give feedback to Stirling Council, improve the local environment? SC will hold full CC elections in April. We need 6 members to form a CC for
Cambuskenneth, so please consider standing!

COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS – 2023 – TIMETABLE

Vandalism in village
We have reported the recent incidents (waste bin at footbridge set on fire, books from phone box
thrown in river etc.) to the local community police officer and Stirling Council. Both the police and SC’s Community Safety Team have responded and are increasing patrols in the area. They ask anyone who notices further vandalism to report it to the local police on 101. Where there are concerns about fire setting, this should also be reported to the Fire Service.

We have removed the contents of the phone box for a few weeks to remove the attraction and to avoid the risk of a fire within the phone box. We will return the books at the beginning of April, and hope that the attention of any potential vandals will have moved elsewhere by then.
We have also asked SC to replace the bin at the footbridge.

Sub-group reports
Cambuskenneth Nature and Environment Group (CNEG) – Helen Barrett reported on the group’s
meeting held on Monday 6 February and developments since then.
• Helen had a positive meeting with Lorne Scott, factor of Cowane’s Trust, which owns all land around the village apart for the enclosed land around the abbey. He gave permission to plant some trees along the riverbank beyond the septic tank (Mr Rennie of Hood Farm has also agreed to this) and to site log piles on the riverbank in areas where the grass is not cut (SC has also agreed to this) and nest boxes around the village. If any residents are able to donate logs for the log piles, these would be gratefully received.
• Helen and other group members met Guy Harewood, SC Biodiversity Officer. SC will provide the trees to plant on the riverbank as part of their commitment to plant 1 million trees; they will help with the planting and maintain the trees.
• Four experts from Environmental & Biological Sciences at Stirling University replied to Helen’s email looking for advice on the Ricoh site. They have expertise in trees, freshwater science,
soil/drainage/contamination, and plant soil ecology.
• Helen will contact Riverside Naturally to arrange to meet and share our group’s aims and
achievements.
• Helen and Tessa will buy more plants for the park planters and tubs with the remainder of the
Community Pride grant, which has to be spent by mid-April.
• Helen has contacted the local Scouts and they are keen to have a session making bird boxes.
• The possibility of a carpool vehicle, shared with Riverside, was suggested.

See also Cycling Route/Manor Powis/Speed Limit, Wildflower strip in park

Social Group Report – Calendars – Elaine is working on reclaiming the value of the missing calendars from the printer. We will look for an alternative printer for next year’s calendar. BBQ – possible date Saturday 24 June, TBC. History talk – Elaine will contact Murray Cook, county archaeologist, about giving a talk in the hall.

Sustrans Art – Elaine reported that Riverside CC and Riverside Naturally are developing plans to make the entrance to Riverside more welcoming. She suggested a decorative arch over the footbridge might link with this.

Defibrillator – Elaine will talk to a resident with relevant expertise about a training session for
defibrillator awareness/CPR.

Resilience – No update. As Linda has stepped down from the CC, another CC member will need to become a member of the resilience sub-group. Agreed to hold over until the CC has the full number of members.

Wildflower strip in park – The arrangement when the wildflowers were sown was that Stirling Council would cut the strip with the final grass mowing of the year, but this has rarely happened, and a resident has kindly cleared it in early spring for the past couple of years. Ross will post on Facebook a request for volunteers for a session clearing the strip of last year’s dead flowers in the near future.

Cycling on footbridge – The CC had received a request from a Riverside resident to support a public petition to introduce a bye-law to reinstate the ‘Cyclists dismount’ signs at the footbridge. The group felt that the problems had reduced in recent years and that such signs would not dissuade inconsiderate cyclists from behaving badly. Ross will reply to say that the CC would not support such a petition.

Report from Councillor – Cllr Jim Thomson reported that SC had approved a Pollinator Strategy 2023–2028. A budget meeting was scheduled for Thursday 2 March and an increase in council tax was expected. Area forums may be revived. Under National Planning Framework 4, place plans to involve communities more are to be developed. A free bicycle repair scheme for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford standard cycle repairs has been launched, operating through Recyke-a-Bike and funded by the Scottish Government https://www.cyclinguk.org/ScotCycleRepair

Treasurer’s Report – Balance of around £5,000, of which £2,896,71 is ringfenced for the hall and park (this revised figure includes £325 from the November 2016 cheese & wine, which was received in November 2018 but not assigned to the hall & park total in subsequent accounts).

Police Report – no report but we received a response from the community police officer about the recent vandalism – see above.

AOCB
River – Elaine asked Cllr Jim Thomson if there were any plans for a tidal barrage on the river for energy production and flood protection. He explained that a barrage for flood protection had been proposed as part of the larger City Deal bid a few years ago but insufficient funding was received. He reported that waste heat from the sewage works at Forthside is now being used to provide heat for several public buildings in the area. Ross noted that tidal turbines cause problems for migratory fish.

Date of next meeting: Monday 27 March 2023 at 7.30pm in the village hall

Stirling Council: 01786 404040, Police non-emergency 101, NHS 24 111
Scottish Power emergency: 105, Scottish Gas emergency: 0800 111999

Reminder: Minutes are available via the CC website and Facebook page. If you want them emailed privately or paper copies, please let us know via email at cambuskennethcc@gmail.com or by contacting any CC member.