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Approved minutes Carron Valley & District Community Council
Meeting held Wednesday 5 April 2023 meeting at 7.30pm, via ZOOM
In attendance
Peter Hayward, chair, PH Margaret Porter, MP
Dorothy Breckenridge, Secretary, DB Nicolas Sinclair, Treasurer NS David Petch, DP Iain Macfarlane, IM Morag Holdsworth, MH Helen Bang, minute clerk, HB
1 Introductions and welcome
1.1 The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1.2 Apologies – PC Pam King. No Councillor attended.
1,3 Declarations of interest for items on agenda.
MH Drumarnock windfarm is in her neighbourhood and near North Third.
1.4 Items raised by members of the public for inclusion in agenda – none
2 Community Police report
2.1 No report received at time of meeting
3 Minutes of previous meeting held on 1 March 2023
3.1 These were agreed - Proposed DB, seconded MH.
ACTION HB to DB for Stirling Council.
4 Matters arising
Actions from March meeting
Item
5.1 Approved February minutes and draft March minutes - done.
3.2 Issues regarding social care in the Carron Valley – ongoing.
5.2 CC election concerns - DB has been in communication with SB - see item 6.3
5.3 CC Handbook to MH – done.
5.4 Stirling Council view on windfarm development? - nothing received so far.
5.5 Planning information to go on website – a planning section is now set up.
6.2 Passing places and request for convoy system Scottish Water - Scottish Water said they didn't mean putting in new passing places except on the private road. MH said instead of Gateside Road they are coming up C10 road instead. Now massive potholes on that road. Private road is very good.
PH sent in CC enquiries regarding potholes. There has been some patching on Gateside Road. On Thursday four heavy duty lorries came in and out again.
7.1 CC asset form- This has been submitted.
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting held 5 April 2023
5 Chair’s report PH
5.1 2015 windfarm report has been superseded by 2017 report published in 2022. Stirling Council website issues - a search for planning produces over 400 references but no way to search them. 'Wind energy developments' is a website that can eventually be found. PH shared the two maps which differ considerably.
Attach as Appendix. ACTION HB to put on website.
6 Secretary’s report DB
6.1 Drumarnock/ Muirpark - a community meeting was held at the King Robert Hotel.
A VRG subgroup is to discuss community benefit.
6.2 DP - we are still receiving complaints from Denny residents who are just the wrong side of the boundary and have received no compensation despite that CC receiving the same amount of money. If Denny CC is involved again this needs to be raised.
6.3 Wind Two people were talking about the power line will go back through Denny. There was a discussion about overhead lines rather than underground.
6.4 An informal survey was conducted at the woodland regarding windfarms, asked residents for opinions. Of 30 residents asked about half were for and half against. Also asked what we should do with the money - mostly people suggested social things like the hub. Plan to continue this at the next wood fuel day this Saturday 8 April.
6.2 Scottish Water update re North Third engineering works / new contact. DB and MH hoping to organise a meeting where they will raise the pothole issue.
6.3 CC elections - promoting- timings - forms - accounts year end - new committee inaugural dates
DB has circulated information. HB has put information on the website and Facebook about standing as a CC.
On 24 April Stirling Council will confirm if a ballot is required or not. If none is required we can negotiate regarding an inaugural meeting which has to be in person. DB has advised that we have continued working via Zoom. Has asked Stephen Bly to resolve this issue because it would exclude someone who is isolating or housebound.
Also asked regarding accounts which usually finish end of April and are presented at AGM but said to continue and pass to new CC once inaugurated.
DB has contacted Maureen Berry and sent a pack.
7 Treasurer’s report NS
7.1 The balance is £936.12. Year end. ACTION NS will handle this and get a third party to check them - DB asked if IM could verify for the end of year accounts. He agreed.
7.2 NS is standing down. Will organise bank paperwork for new signatory and arrange to meet with MH who has kindly agreed to take over as Treasurer.
7.3 DP pointed out that officers are re-elected following the elections.
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting held 5 April 2023
8 Stirling Councillor report
8.1 No report received at time of meeting.
9 Valley Renewables Group report IM
9.1 A Board meeting was held on 4 April.
9.2 NS has indicated he wishes to stand down as Chair and director. A decision was taken to invite Margaret Porter to be co-opted.
An arrangement will be made over chairing meetings.
9.3 IM is moving out of the community during the summer. Carol Brown is also uncertain about their future.
9.4 £12K has been awarded in the past month in many diverse grants.
9.5 Funding hiccup - a Foundation Scotland computer system upgrade has delayed payments.
9.6 Subgroups – the Warm up, costs down grant has been very popular, it runs to the end of April. The. New Energy Efficiency Grant has also been very popular
9.7 A Community Growers grant application to reskin polytunnel and training for chainsaw for woodland volunteers has been approved.
9.8 Energy Efficiency subgroup is supporting microgeneration on a single household as a test project.
9.9 The Energy Efficiency subgroup is carrying out a survey of some existing households regarding retrofitting.
9.10 NS pointed out that a co-opted member would be a non-member, MH is a member so could chair meetings.
10 Woodland Group report DB
Attached as Appendix II
70 households have taken up opportunity, there have been eight wood fuel days so far. Average cost of £35 per household per time.
Final day this season is 8 April. 13 May there is some volunteer activity and a picnic.
11 Roads report PH
11.1 What three words 'Garages library drummers' is reference to potholes.
12 Planning report PH
12.1 Meterological mast information circulated.
13 AOB
13.1 Care in the community. No response from Jen Preston. DP contacted the Council in December has still not received a response.
£2850 a week is a care home cost for an ex-resident.
PH could put in a CC enquiries once we reconvene and ask for a Council representative to attend a meeting to discuss this. ACTION PH
What is the care package for rural areas?
13.2 Update on social media situation
Carron Valley Connections - A recent Facebook post had to be removed so currently posts require admin approval.
13.3 IM expressed thanks on behalf of the community for service of the Community Councillors.
NS was thanked and wished all the best for the future.
The meeting ended at 8:30pm
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting held 5 April 2023
14 Date of next meeting to be confirmed following the CC elections.
15 ACTIONS
3.1 Approved March minutes to DB for Stirling Council HBß
5.1 Windfarm information for website PH/HB
7.1 Finalising accounts NS/IM
13.1 CC enquiries regarding Care in the Community PH
Appendix II Woodland Report
Woodland group report to Board 04.04.23
Chainsaw course
Keegan & Pennykid insurance in place including Public & Employers liability.
Woodland Management
Two 25 tonne loads of wood delivered. The next delivery of 4 loads will be made in July.
Top dressing of paths proceeding.
Costing for hard standing being explored. No additional permissions are needed but Lanarkshire Council will be informed as a courtesy.
Wood fuel day 11th March
The weather was kind this time, so that the snow did not arrive until 6pm.
Thirty nine loads were produced, 35 of split logs, and 4 of 2m lengths. Of these, 16 were collected and 23 delivered by kind volunteer drivers.
Nineteen volunteers worked on the day, with 5 of these not taking any wood fuel themselves.
The loads went across the VRG area (2 Greathill; 3 Carronbridge; 5 North Third/Craigend; 8 Valley / Muirlands, 6 Auchenbowie; 1 Old Sauchie; 4 Sauchieburn; 10 Buckieburn)
Concern re equity of wood fuel activities
All households are notified by newsletter, website, FB page and have the opportunity to take part. This applies equally to other grant funding.
Not just a day to collect firewood but has been a regular date for residents meeting each other, working together, making local contacts, etc. Kind donations of goodies to eat and drink have been very welcome and enhance the community aspect of the days.
Both VRG and CC members have used the days to go along, meet residents and sound out those attending about a range of locally important topics – eg retrofitting, wind farms.
Summary of 8 wood fuel days from Sept 2020 to March 2023
Estimated 145 households in area. Estimate 12 do not have a means of burning wood fuel. A number of households volunteer but do not take any wood fuel. As with all grant schemes where there is universal coverage, households CHOOSE to take part, quite probably some have never sought any sort of grant.
8 wood fuel days held. One C-19 session had fuel delivered to household groupings instead so only 7 sessions involved volunteers.
Total Households taking part (out of estimated number of 133 who have means to burn wood fuel )
• Total unique households taking fuel 70 (approx.. 53% )
• Total unique households involved = 74 (some households did not take any wood fuel) (approx.. 56%)
• Total number of deliveries = 312
• Median no of loads per household = 4
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting held 5 April 2023
Household distribution
• Carron Valley – Muirlands – Carrnbridge = 24
• Gateside road – Greathill – North Third road = 10
• Auchenbowie - Old Sauchie – Blackrow = 16
• Buckieburn - C10 = 10
• Cultenhove – Sauchieburn = 10
Costs
• Average cost per woodfuel day assuming purchased timber = £1200
• Average numbers = 36
• Average cost per resident taking up the wood fuel per session = £34
Volunteers on the day
• Average number of volunteers per session = 18
• Total number of volunteers = 126 (across seven sessions)
• Average number of volunteers per session NOT taking any wood fuel = 4
• Average(conservative) time donated at each session = 18 x 6 = 108 hours per session.
• Total number of volunteer hours = 756 volunteer hours
Annual costs assuming max of 6 sessions per year
• 6 sessions = £7200
• Estimated total uptake = 216 deliveries
• Estimated cost per household taking up the offer = £34
• Approximate number of volunteer hours per session = 108 x 6 = 648 volunteer hours
Key common elements
• The cheapest value for money for more than 50% of households
• The only grant system which has actively involved community volunteering to any community-wide extent.
• Residents to come together to gain some wood fuel but also to talk to one another, work together, discuss local issues and find solutions, and VRG/CC members have met to seek residents’ views on new issues i.e. help build a resilient community.
Feedback from beneficiaries
• Thanks to our amazing neighbours for dropping off a load of wood
• Big thank you to all the helpers and volunteers, you are all much appreciated
• A welcome load will help, thanks
• A great example of community support and kindness
• Really enjoyed my first community event… Tegan’s cake certainly kept me going and was delicious. Looking forward to many more events and meeting more residents
• We came along to help, didn’t need any firewood but went home happy with a boot full of swopped produce instead.
Further activities and volunteer days
2023 dates
11 Mar - Woodfuel day (and seed swop)
8 April - Woodfuel day (and seed / plant swop)
13 May – tree planting am. Gardeners Question Time pm
10 June – top dressing then e-bike demo pm