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APPROVED minutes Carron Valley & District Community Council Wednesday 1 February 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                               Scott Farmer, elected representative, SF Helen Bang, minute clerk, HB

 

• 1 Introductions and welcome
  • Apologies –PC Pam King
  • Declarations of interest for items on Non-financial declaration - PH has employed John Owen in the past - Muirpark. Also employed by the division's Woodland. DP is a next door neighbour.
  • items raised by members of the public for inclusion in agenda: DP Care in the

 

• Community Police report. PC Pam King can’t be present but will take note of

2.1       Attached as Appendix I. Two crimes recorded, Chartershall Farm, dogs attacked a sheep causing a death, between 21 December - 22 December caged trailer was stolen from field near Cozy Neuk cottage. Seven calls were made relating to various matters.

Details on Carron Valley Connections asking to contact police if they have any information. ACTION DB.

 

• Minutes of previous meeting held on 7 December 2022

3.1       Proposed PH. Seconded DP. ACTION HB to DB for Stirling Council and add to website.

 

4                     Matters arising

 

ACTIONS from 7 December 2022 meeting

 

3.3       post approved minutes on VRG website and send to DB for Stirling Council HB/DB

 

5                     Chair’s report

5.1  The Chairhad received an anonymous letter, attached as Appendix II. The letter has no stated subject to it, is vague and accusatory but with no evidence. It appears to be to do with planning. It refers to CVDCC minutes of September and October. DB has checked the minutes and can't see anything defamatory or misleading.

 

In December, PH had sent a planning response to the application at Barrwood, see Appendix III. PH informed Planning about the letter. They advised it wasn't to do with planning and will have no bearing on their decisions.

 

No carbon copies have been received by other CC members.

 

There was a discussion regarding the letter. NS' comments about the planning application is purely as the nearest neighbour as is his entitlement. His comments were unrelated to his membership of CVDCC or VRG.

 

MP asked SF if there is any legal advice available to Community Councils for this type of issue. SF said that expressing an opinion about a planning application cannot be construed as defamatory in any way. IM has concerns about opinions expressed in Community Council meetings being held against them and enquired what the legal position was. SF this sort of behaviour is a form of bullying and vexatious. Planning is a subjective issue.

 

The Chair received full support from the CC for his objection which reflected a discussion held at the CC meetings and agreed to ignore the letter.

 

6                     Secretary’s report

• Drummarnock / Muirpark – pre- PAN email. See Appendicies IV and V. This I nformation was shared with the CC. MH expressed concerns regarding noise and visual impact as the existing turbines are already visible and audible from her property. NS and PH are in the VRG windfarm DP - this may be one of the least problematic windfarm applications as the overall impact on the skyline will be less than some.

IM has concerns about the pre-planning process as opinions may be taken as the views of the community as a whole. We need a clear strategy as to how we represent the views of the  community. We would require more information before making any views known.

NS - the acceptable number of turbines is not specified in Stirling Council's information, how do we know they can't continue to add more and more turbines to an area?

Sarah McDade enquired where they can hold a public information consultation – DB suggested the King Robert Hotel. SF it's not for us to facilitate the developers' information sessions in other areas e.g. Denny and Fintry. Should they be invited to present their case at the VRG Open Day in August?

PH - it is up to community members to express their opinions if they wish to. DP with the changes to Government legislation we are unlikely to succeed in opposing developments.

PH perhaps we should put out a questionnaire once the application is submitted. DB

- it could be flagged up at the Spring Open Day.

 

• Scottish Water update re North Third engineering works

These will commence on Wednesday 8 March for approximately 8 months. The road past Polmaise will be busier than normal. It has been agreed that the access bridge will remain open during this period.

MH - there is reference to passing places on Gatesburn Road, is there any more information available on this?

 

• Co-option of Community

 

DB has put a post on Carron Valley Connections FB page requesting any applications by 8 February. MH has applied. To date no one else has applied. It was agreed that MH would be a welcome addition to the CC.

 

• Treasurer’s

7.1   £1096.02 in account. No transactions since December.

 

• Stirling Councillor report SF

8.1  SF apologised for lack of attendance in October owing to ill health. There hasn't been much happening – the administration is five members and facing £23 million shortfall in funding for the coming year. Stirling Council has managed to stall this and has the option to refinance the existing debts to take PPI contracts over the life of the asset rather than the contract. Some painful cuts are having to be considered. Work is going on to try to come to a balanced budget. The cost of living crisis, the consequences of economic decisions taken by a short-lived Prime Minster in the UK have all had an impact.

 

• Valley Renewables Group report NS
  • The Board is meeting next

 

• At the January meeting £3200 was approved for preparation of the ground at the Woodland for the Open Day

 

• Terms of references drawn up for Energy Efficiency Grant subgroup have been

 

• The grant application to Falck that was unsuccessful is now the Warm Up Costs Down Grant scheme.

 

• NS is forming closer links with Fintry. The Development Trust representative is attending the March meeting

 

• Falck is changing its branding to

 

• Grant schemes - new schemes have been launched. Energy Efficiency, Warm Up Costs Down and new E-bike Applications to these schemes have already been received.

 

• The Open Day subgroup has been reconfigured and is now chaired by

 

• Community Projects subgroup is meeting Thursday 2

 

• Woodland Group report DB See Financial Report Appendix VI
  • Since December meeting we have received the grant from Falck and purchased the wood processor. It was used at the wood fuel day in January. More wood fuel days are scheduled until April and then again in the autumn.

 

• We have purchased firewood grade We will need to keep a supply in hand for future days.

65 loads have been processed so far. The days were well attended despite the weather and enjoyed by all.

 

• The new path is finished. Grant from Clackmannanshire and Stirling Planning Trust paid for this.

 

• A Gardeners' Question Time event will be held at a future volunteer

 

• PH mentioned news story about issues with woodburning stoves and legislation in England. DB Newer stoves seem to be better at excluding particulates. Burning wet wood is the issue. Many rural areas do not have access to gas.

 

 

11                Roads report

11.1     Nothing new to report.

 

12                Planning report

12.1     Nothing new to report. Windfarms dealt with item

 

13                AOB

13.1  Care in the community. DP

Release from hospital is determined by ability to be looked after at home. There is lack of funding from Stirling Council. Vehicles are unsuitable for our ungritted roads. Care workers cannot always access properties in our area. On one cold night recently of 14 vehicles not one had charged overnight. The attitude of Stirling Council to modification to properties is seriously problematic.

SF there are significant challenges in the health and social care services. There is no magic solution to this. Many private organisations have let the Council down; cherry- picking on what areas they are prepared to service. Scottish Government are moving towards a national care service.

 

• Date of next CC meeting – Wednesday 1 March 2023 at 7:30pm via Zoom

The meeting closed at 9pm.

 

15                ACTIONS

2.1   Police request for information to Facebook                                                        DB

3.1       Approved minutes of December meeting and draft minutes of                       HB February meeting

 

Appendix I Police Report

 

 

Appendix III

Re Planning Application 22/00756/FUL

The Community Council have a number of concerns regarding this application and would request the planning committee consider the following.

The access road to the proposed site is totally inadequate for both visitors and emergency vehicles. In winter conditions it would not be a viable means of access.

The chalets proposed are considerable 2 storey buildings and will surely be visible as they are positioned on the top of the hill. The chalets and cabins would constitute a considerable change to the environment of the wood despite their intended low ecological impact. The woodland as we understand when sold was covered by a covenant that does not allow building.

The use of reed beds for waste control will require careful management, a large reed bed system in the local area failed during a dry summer. As the applicants are relying on non mains water sources, water management may be a problem, as will excess run off during heavy rainfall which will be of concern for those residents further down the water course. Conditions for visitors regarding dogs, lighting etc have been stated but no means of monitoring or enforcement have been proposed. Will the owners live in the chalets when renters are staying? Will this affect the case for business use of the chalets?

Is the woodland area available for visitor use adequate to support use without detrimental effects on flora and fauna?

Is it now the policy of Stirling Council to allow two storey houses to be built in areas of landscape value?

Planning Representative

Carron Valley Community Council Appendix IV

Drummarnock Wind Farm - more info

• The Drummarnock wind farm proposal comprises four turbines at 180m to tip, which will sit in front of the Craigengelt turbines.
• It won't horizontally extend the existing view of turbines
• Wind turbine technology has improved One of Drummarnock's turbines will have roughly three times the output of the existing Craigengelt turbines.
• The site is identified in Stirling Council’s local development plan as being suitable for a modest number of additional turbines.
• There's good wind resource and an available grid connection
• The wind farm will also generate a significant community benefit fund for communities around the wind farm, or within its line of The fund will be around £150,000 per year.
• On a few of their consented projects, Wind 2 is designing near neighbour electricity contribution schemes, whereby part of the fund goes to household electricity bills. This could perhaps be an option for residents within Carron Valley Community Council. Wind 2 is very happy to work with local people and the Valley Renewables Group development trust to ensure best use of the fund.

 

Woodland group budget to 10 Jan 2023