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Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Approved Minutes Carron Valley & District Community Council
Wed 5 June 2024 meeting at 7.30pm, via ZOOM
In attendance
Peter Hayward, Chair, PH Dorothy Breckenridge, Sec.,
Margaret Porter, MP Morag Holdsworth, Treasurer, MH
Maureen Berry, MB David Petch, DP
Jen Preston , SF Helen Bang, minute clerk, HB
1 Introductions and welcome
1.2 Apologies – police
1.3 Declarations of interest for items on agenda.
MB query from young person about how to propose an outdoor gym area for young
people.
1.4 Items raised by members of the public for inclusion in agenda –
2 Community Police report PC Lynne Goldie can’t be present but will take note of
comments. Attached as Appendix I
2.1 PH wondered if the high crime rate area affected residents' insurance premiums.
2.2 Is there a possibility of police attending the meeting so we can ask them questions
about the crime activity. Is there an issue about them attending via Zoom? Or could
they attend the Flower and Produce show in August?
3 Minutes of previous meeting on 1 May 2024
3.1 Proposed MH, seconded PH. ACTION HB to send to DB for Stirling Council.
4 Matters arising from the May meeting.
Actions from May
2.2 Approved April and Draft May Minutes to DB and April minutes to website done
5.4 Pothole information to MP for newsletter done
8.3 Addresses still The Occupier to be circulated done
9.1 Woodfuel days on Facebook/website done
9.4 Ambulance issues report to police done
MH said people were parking in passing places and refusing to reverse
to allow an ambulance through. Signs have disappeared over the years.
DP more education is required regarding driving on single track roads, also
pedestrians who walk on the wrong side of the road.
Maybe something on the noticeboards regarding this. MB has an information
leaflet for visitors. ACTION MB
10.2 Bike lane at Causewayhead SF
Ongoing
5 Chair’s report
5.1 The AGM was held prior to this meeting. There was not an AGM in 2023 as the CC
was reinaugurated in July 2023 following the elections.
5.2 The chair would like to thank the councillors for all their work and thanks to VRG for
all their work administering the money. Thanks to HB for administration work for VRG
and CVDCC and for keeping everyone informed.
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
5.3 Thanks to DB and the Woodland group for the wood fuel days, the care of the
community woodland.
5.4 Thanks to VRG for provision of EPC+ surveys, ongoing planning for the Community
Hall, MP for work on the newsletter.
5.5 We have informed the community about resilience planning with priority services
for the electricity supply.
5.6 The CC has an ongoing issue with roads. During the Spring PH met with Robert
Fleming from Roads which was helpful. Some issues remain ongoing.
5.7 We have kept an eye on planning and have corrected erroneous planning
applications and prevented problems with incorrect information. MB is going to keep
an eye on planning.
5.8 The CC is continuing a dialogue with the windfarm developers, especially WInd2.
The CC is adding its voice to dialogues with VRG.
5.9 We have had a useful meeting with community police officers, travelled around the
district by car and showed them some of the problems in our disperate community.
5.10 Challenges ahead - making the hall a success. A management team is required.
Hopefully this will be a useful resource for the community.
5.11 We are drawing up a local place plan. MB is looking at this. This is an important link
with Stirling Council so we can try to get health help for people in our rural
community.
5.12 PH would like to thank everyone for the effort they put in, and for councillors like
JP attending to feedback to the Council.
5.13 PH also expressed thanks to DB for all her work as CC Secretary.
6 Secretary’s report (DB)
6.1 Information on General Election - information has been put on the website and Carron
Valley Connections regarding registering to vote, postal votes, ID required.
6.2 Proposed Sauchie forest plan Attached as Appendix II
Norway spruce are preferred to sitka as they are good for red squirrels.
7 Treasurer’s report. (MH)
7.1 Attached as Appendix I
7.2 For financial year May 2023-April 24
£896.02 opening balance.
Income - £512.45 administration fee from SC
Expenditure
£350 secretarial fees
Balance £1058,47 as of 30 April 2024
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
8 Stirling Councillor report (JP)
8.1 A new Chief Executive has been appointed. Caroline Sinclair. She comes from a
social work background in Orkney, so JP hopes she will have some ideas on
healthcare in rural areas.
8.2 Council is now in summer recess, slightly earlier than normal owing to the General
Election.
9 Valley Renewables Group report (MP)
9.1 There was a Board meeting on 4 June.
9.2 Changes in lesser grant schemes have been implemented. Energy Efficiency grant still
under discussion until further discussion at the July meeting. To remain at £1000 for
the time being and for new applicants only.
9.3 Woodland volunteer day 6 June - tree planting and maintenance
Wood fuel day 15 June
9.4 Community Hall - application lodged with North Lanarkshire planning on 24 May
Providing there are no issues building warrant submitted by mid-June. Pulling together
a group to advise on the layout of the kitchen area.
9.5 Delayed VRG approved minutes from May meeting - HB missed the June Board
meeting owing to illness, will be circulated asap.
10 Woodland Group report (DB)
10.1 43 collections/ deliveries in May. New residents to the area joined in.
10.2 More energy efficiency questionnaires were solicited.
10.3 The final wood fuel day this season is 15 June. Apologies from PH and MH who are
on holiday.
11 Roads report (PH)
11.1 Drum Farm have had to build slip road to their pods at a very high price.
12 Planning report (MB)
12.1 Nothing not raised before, Two plans have been resubmitted. 7 Carron Valley, Drum
Farm, minor changes from previous applications.
13 Local place plan (MB)
13.1 We have to be realistic about what a local place plan can and can't do. Ideas have to
be in accordance with Town and Country planning regulations.
Would like to encourage residents to contribute via social media and the website. We
need to demonstrate consultation and collaboration with the community.
ACTION MB/HB to work on a plan.
13.2 MP - Engaging with the community - the website and Facebook is okay except for
residents who are not online. Years ago, we ran an open forum session on the
Broadband at the old Fisheries building. Before the community hall is available the
next opportunity could be at the Flower and Produce show.
13.3 Examples of local place plan - there are some on the Scottish Government website but
not many rural ones. ACTION JP.
14 AOB
14.1 Outside gym query from young resident (MB). Local to be discussed. Would VRG fund
this?
MP - other community woodlands have such facilities, but it needs a group of young
people to get together to propose. Funding will depend on what is proposed. Trim trails
are not that expensive. Once the hall is available this would be a possible location.
14.2
Windfarm have removed remnants of damaged turbine but did not advise residents.
The road was closed - the transit time was considerable. They need to inform the
community when they are being reinstalled.
If a convoy system was in operation the Council Roads dept should have been
involved? It was on the B818 so in the Falkirk Council area. PH has no contact at
Falkirk Council, it would be useful to have a contact. ACTION JP.
15
17
Date of next CC meeting – this was agreed as Wednesday 4 Sept 2024 at 7.30pm
via Zoom.
The chair wished everyone well for the summer.
ACTIONS
3.1 Approved May minutes and draft June minutes to DB and website HB
4.1 Driving on rural roads leaflet for noticeboards
13.1 Local place plan
14.2 Roads closure issue
13.3 Local place plan examples
MB
MB/HB
JP
JP
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Appendix I Police Report
Name of
Community
Council
06/06/2024 – Carron Valley Community Council
Our priorities in the Carron Valley area continue to
be Anti-Social Behaviour, Drug misuse/Drug dealing,
Road Safety and Community Engagement and
Reassurance.
Crime
reports
Crime Reports for the Carron Valley area between
01/05/2024 – 04/06/2024
Detected: 6
Undetected: 2
Relating to crimes of Vandalism, assault, threatening
and abusive behaviour, resist arrest, road traffic
offences and theft.
Total Crime Reports: 8
Of those undetected 1 report remains open with
possible lines of enquiry identified. The remaining
report has been submitted for closure.
999/101 CALLS
There were 17 calls made to Police for the Carron
Valley area over the stated period. The calls relate
to incidents including reports of theft, animals,
sudden death, road traffic matters, planned shoots,
assist members of the public, abandoned 999 calls
and youths.
Other
Incidents of
note/relevant
Community
On 10/05/2024 PC Spike has met with Forestry and
Land Service Rangers to build a greater partnership
and obtain an understanding of the work they do and
how Police Scotland can assist.
Council
information
Feedback
from
meeting
Appendix II
Please e-mail any feedback/questions to PCs Goldie
/ Spike at:
StirlingWestCPT@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Appendix III
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Sauchie EVSS Forest
Long-Term Forest Plan Renewal 2024 Introduction
Sauchie EVSS Forest is a privately-owned commercial forest of 156 hectares. Management over the last
10 years was governed by an approved long-term forest plan. Due to expiry of the approval, a plan
renewal is now required to provide approval for the next 10 years (2024-2033) with outline plans for the
following 10-year period (2034-2043).
The purpose of this consultation is to allow stakeholders to highlight issues which may affect the long
term forest plan.
Forest area: 156 hectares
Main objective: Production of timber.
Current species composition: The main timber species, Sitka spruce has a relatively low proportion of
about 39% of the planted area. Other conifers make up about 36% of the planted area. Broadleaves
make up a relatively high proportion of about 25% of the planted area.
Current age distribution: The commercial conifer crops range from 3 to 55 years old. Some of the
broadleaved trees exceed 100 years old.
Archaeology: There is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (a prehistoric hill fort) partly within the
property boundary. It is outside the planted area and no felling or other works are planned in this area.
Water supplies: The water supply for Sauchieburn House is within the property boundary.
Biodiversity: Badgers are present in the locality. Red squirrels are present. The forest has relatively
high biodiversity value due partly to a high proportion of broadleaved trees and a diverse age structure.
Watercourses: There are several small watercourses in the forest and these flow eastwards towards the
River Forth, via the Bannock Burn.
Services: Scottish Water underground water pipes pass under and close to the northern timber transport
route.
Timber transport: Timber transport from the north of the forest is via Gateside Road, Polmaise Road
and Stirling. Timber transport from the south of the forest is via Greathill Road, the New Line Road and
junction 9 of the M9.
Public access: Pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders are permitted. Some routes may need to be closed
at times during operations for public safety.
Provisional felling plan: Some crops need to be harvested as soon as possible because of proximity to
neighbouring fields and the possibility of trees falling over fences. Some crops need to be harvested as
soon as possible due to severe wind damage. Some larch crops would be best felled within the next 5
years due to the
threat of the disease Phytophthora ramorum. Some crops would be best felled within the next 5 years
due to age (over 50 years old). Some crops would be best felled later, within 10 years to maintain the
felling cycle and to ensure a spread of age classes in the next crop.
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024
Provisional restock plan: Since the forest already has a high proportion of broadleaved trees, much of
the restock planting will be with commercial conifers. The main timber species will be Sitka spruce but
restock planting will also include Norway spruce, Douglas fir and smaller proportions of other conifers.
Certification: Sauchie EVSS Forest is certified under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. All forest
operations will meet the requirements of this standard.
Approved minutes CVDCC meeting 5 June 2024