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APPROVED minutes Carron Valley & District Community Council
Meeting held Wednesday 1 November 2023 meeting at 7.30pm, via ZOOM
In attendance
Peter Hayward, Chair, PH Dorothy Breckenridge, Secretary, DB David Petch, DP Maureen Berry, MB Jen Preston, elected rep, JP Helen Bang, minute clerk, HB
1 Introductions and welcome
1.1 The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1.2 Apologies – Margaret Porter, Morag Holdsworth.
1.3 Declarations of interest for items on agenda. None declared.
1.4 Items raised by members of the public for inclusion in agenda – none.
2 Community Police report
2.1 No report was received prior to the meeting. Police were unable to attend this meeting.
3 Minutes of previous meeting
3.1 Minutes of the October meeting were approved with the following amendment:
Item 13.2 VRG directors and PH are meeting with them on Friday 6 October to discuss community benefit
Proposed PH Seconded DP
3.2 ACTION HB approved minutes to DB for Stirling Council. Draft minutes to DB for circulation.
4 Matters arising
ACTIONS
2.1 Circulate CC email and password PH closed
2.2 Approved September and draft October minutes to DB HB
closed
4.8 Road closures when no work is in progress or work is taking place at the
side of the road and locals should have access SF
Update - SF wrote to department but has not received a satisfactory answer.
JP was updated on the situation.
The signs seem to have been updated to include 'Local Access Only' instead
of just 'Road Closed.'
There was a discussion about the undocumented Dews gas pipeline discovered.
An email had been circulated about this prior to the meeting. ACTION MB
13.1 Circulate article in The Scotsman HB closed
5 Chair’s report, PH
5.1 Community Benefit from Wind2. A turbine is going up in Muirpark. It is still at the planning stage. They initially suggested Carron Valley should get £28K as well as Denny but it also included benefit to a number of community councils not in any wayimpacted by the turbines. Following a meeting with VRG and PH as representative of the CVDCC, this has now increased to £67,764K a year (30 years index linked.) It is yet to be discussed whether this is going to be restricted or unrestricted funds and whether we would be able to withdraw a large block of money upfront to insulate properties in the district. If agreed this money would be ring-fenced for the retrofitting.
There are other windfarms that will also be generating funds for the district.
Update on the Energy Efficiency Survey conducted by VRG. From the 53 responses, 30 households have now been selected by lottery for an in-depth survey for the opportunities for retrofitting on each individual house. These surveys should be ready by February.
6 Secretary’s report, DB
6.1 Nothing not covered elsewhere.
7 Treasurer’s report MH
7.1 Morag Holdsworth did not attend this meeting.
8 Stirling Councillor report, JP
8.1 Budget consultation. The financial situation is very difficult and tough decisions have to be made. The next phase of budget consultations is starting next week. There is a Drop-in at Stirling High on Monday 13 November. Residents are invited to attend if they have strong feelings about services.
MB attended the first meetings - discussing spend to save. E.g. clearing drains before flooding can cause road damage.
Council tax has been frozen - it is not yet known what money the Government will make available to make up the shortfall. There are statutory requirements that have to be met. There is, for example, "good practice in social work" but it is not compulsory.
8.2 Roads are busy dealing with flooding issues owing to the serious weather.
9 Valley Renewables Group report, MP
9.1 The AGM will be held on Tuesday 7 November at 8pm at the Mayfield Centre and is open to all members. Three vacancies on the Board will be filled by three applicants. They are waiting to hear about funding for the Energy Efficiency Scheme.
9.2 Warm up, costs down grants have reopened and are proving popular.
9.3 DRT has ceased. Dial-a-journey/Order of Malta is available for people who meet certain criteria. They can help with hospital appointment travel. ACTION DB to contact and forward information to Margaret Porter for the newsletter.
9.4 Would there be money from VRG for hospital-related travel for residents? ACTION HB to forward to VRG Board for next meeting. Or could there be a volunteer-run service as exists elsewhere?
10 Woodland Group report, DB
10.1 The wood fuel day in October had to be cancelled owing to the storm. The next is scheduled for Saturday 4 November. It is hoped that there will be soup for helpers!
10.2 Four residents have undertaken a chainsaw training course. They now need to take a First Aid course but will then be qualified to work on smaller trees in the Woodland.
11 Roads report
11.1 Covered elsewhere.
12 Planning report, MB
12.1 MB spoke to Stephen Bly regarding the planning website which has not been updated since 22 March 2023. He asked if she would formally write to inform SC of this. They looked at the map which is up to date, and which flags up where proposed developments are located.
MB also checked Fankerton and Fintry. On Falkirk Council's website - Ryerigg Farm has a planning application in Fankerton. On our periphery - Dews Quarry Park - has proposed additional property here.
There was a discussion regarding an unsatisfactory response to concerns about building here in the past.
There is also an application for a dwelling to the southeast of Buckingham Cottage in Fintry.
12.2 Planning application for a solar array. This was circulated prior to the meeting. It is just outside the CVDCC area.
13 AOB
13.1 Budget crisis:The CVDCC suggested that Stirling Council should ask the windfarms for a contribution – towards roads upgrades etc. ACTION JP
14 Date of next meeting Wednesday 6 December at 7:30pm via Zoom.
The meeting ended at 8:40pm
15 ACTIONS
3.2 Approved October and Draft November minutes HB
4.1 Concerns about gas main. Contact Stirling Council MB
9.3 Secretary to contact Dial-a-ride for information DB
9.4 Would VRG fund a transport service for patients attending hospital? HB
13.1 Ask if windfarms could make a contribution to Stirling Council JP