Aug AGM 2022 Minutes

CROFTAMIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MINUTES

Venue – But & Ben Wednesday 14.9.22 @ 7.30 pm

Attendees: David Armstrong (DA), Donnie Watson (DW), Alli Peterson (AP), David Mackie (LL&TNP), Paul Henke ( Stirling Council)

Plus 6 residents

Apologies – Margaret Steel, Henry Braid, Cyndy Bourbousson, Police.

The meeting was asked to stand for a moments silence in recognition of the Her Majesty the Queen’s passing.

1. Previous Minutes. Approved DA and seconded AP

2. Police Report (emailed report) –

Sep 2022 - Compiled by PC Steven Graham

PC Graeme McNulty will be joining me in the Ward Officer role for the Forth and Endrick area on 12th September. Graeme was previously the School Based Officer at Balfron High School.

Antisocial Behaviour

There have been no reports of anti-social behaviour in the Croftamie are since the last meeting.

Road Safety

One vehicle RTC occurred between Drymen and Croftamie. No injury sustained.

Complaints re parking have been received at the Devil’s Pulpit. This area is still monitored by Police and Stirling Council enforcement officers who issue parking tickets

Theft

There have been no thefts in the Croftamie area since the last meeting.

There was a report of suspicious person in the area of Dalnair House. Police attended and established theta it was a false alarm with good intent.

Identity theft Identity theft is when criminals get access to someone's personal information. They then use it to steal their identity. They could then pretend to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans and mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over someone's accounts and change the address. They can steal someone's name and reputation. Then can use this to make money.

Here are a few ways which these criminals work:T hey search through rubbish to find bills or bank statements

They target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier

They bribe or rob postal workers or purchase the information from other criminals

They search through unattended bags.

Warning signs

There are a number of warning signs to look out for:

If you get bills or invoices for goods you have not ordered If you get collection letters for debt that isn't yours or

There are transactions on your bank or credit card statements that you do not recognise Important documents such as your passport or driving licence may have been stolen.

Take action

There are a number of steps you can take to avoid falling victim to identity theft: Keep all your important documents safe and secure

When using a credit or debit card, make sure it’s never out of your sight

Cash machines may have been tampered with. Your cards could be skimmed and cloned

Never give out your personal details when you’re contacted by phone, fax, post or email

Close all accounts you no longer need

Move your mail when moving home by arranging with the post office to forward your mail to your new address

Get organisations to send to your new address.

If you think you might be a victim of identity theft, don’t delay:

Contact your bank or building society Keep a record of all communication Report the matter to the police

Request a copy of your credit report (such as Equifax or Experian) - you can ask for incorrect information to be removed.

Amazon Scams

The Amazon Scam is a common form of attempted fraud. There are two frequently reported messages:

Your subscription is due for renewal and an automatic payment will be deducted from your bank account

A button has been clicked on your account and a payment is due as a result, but the caller can help you secure a refund

In both cases, the caller, asks consumers to visit a website and download either software or an app in order to check their account. Downloading this software will grant the scammer access to your computer, where they could potentially access your bank account details.

Another cold call was recently reported, claiming to be from Amazon’s fraud department and saying that your account has been hacked. The caller says that an iPhone had been ordered and asked for your mobile account details in order to secure a refund.

If you receive a suspicious call, email or text claiming to be from Amazon which asks for

personal information, a payment, or offers a refund you don’t expect, you should not give out any personal information.

Fuel theft advice There has been a rise in domestic and commercial fuel tanks. It’s important to put measures in place to protect your fuel tank and make it extremely difficult for thieves to target your fuel.

Please find below some tips to avoid becoming a victim of such a crime:

Locate your tank in a safe location remembering that many thieves use Google Maps to find satellite images of fuel tanks.

Consider locating your tank behind a garage or shed and away from roads. Positioning it close to your business or home will ensure it’s in clear view.

Locate inside a security gate or cage with a good quality, robust fence or cage to make life difficult for thieves.

Install an alarm Consider fitting alarms to external gates surrounding your fuel tank or to the inside of a shed or outbuilding that is housing the tank.

Fit a fuel theft lock, thieves often come armed with tools so it’s worth investing in quality locks, locking fuel caps and anti-siphoning deterrents to slow down the criminals and reduce the likelihood of success. Locks with a CEN or BSEN 12320 Grade 6 classification indicate maximum security (Grade 1 is the least secure)

Install outdoor security lighting positioning your tank in the bright light is an effective solution worth considering. With the majority of thieves striking at night, installing automatic security lighting will help stop criminals from targeting your fuel tank.

Install CCTV cameras on your premises to dissuade anyone from targeting your tank as well as catch a thief in the act, providing the police with the evidence required to bring those to justice who choose to ignore the deterrent.

Put up signage to highlight the security measures you’ve installed can help deter those up to no good. These could include: Private property, keep out, Warning CCTV in operation, All vehicles are left with minimum fuel, Security patrols in operation, All vehicles fitted with security devices etc

Community Engagement and Reassurance

It is important to you to have community officers who you know, who are accessible and who address local problems

PC Steven Graham is based at Balfron Police Office and can be contacted at the office, on 101, or at ForthEndrickCPT@scotland.police.uk. It is recommended that this email address is used by the local community for email contact.

Please remember that we regularly publish useful information and updates on social media, including appeals for information, updates about road closures and crime prevention advice. Our Facebook and Twitter pages can be found at

www.facebook.com/forthvalleypolicedivision www.facebook.com/policescotland www.twitter.com/stirlingpol www.twitter.com/policescotland

3. Planning Report – none provided

Pirniehall Development Update – No submission to date to LL&TNP. Park have not made a decision on whether the Environmental impact assessment is required.

4. Roads Update – DW

Water board are putting in new pipes at Easter Catter but no record found to show timescales.

5. Treasurer Update – DA. We are to receive the annual Admin Grant from Stirling Council for £680.57. This includes the admin fee for the Minute Taker. Balance of bank account is

£1489.90.

Been looking at Christmas lights. Cost negotiable but can you approve budget of £30- 50 for lights and batteries? Approved.

6. Stirling Council Update – Paul Henke

He had previously been asked about loss of earnings for local Businesses. Paul reached out to the Council’s ins coy and the council has an indemnity policy if the council are found to be liable. Need to prove liability and submit a claim form against the council.

Or the claimant could contact their own insurance who would compensate up front who would then claim from the council. Proof of negligence is required.

Branshogle Bridge is still delayed. There are businesses who are on the wrong side of the bridge. Some are able to claim on their interruption of business ins.

Ins provider has suggested that proving negligence is very difficult.

Q is there is difference if it was planned maintenance or emergency A – no- funding is not provided no compensation is given

If work was recommended then there should have been a timescale attached.

Update from July request for a drop kerb stone in pavement at Buchanan Crescent (R Fraser received request). Paul to check.

Response to Annual deep clean of pavements within village – Paul to confirm.

Asked to get the street sweeper to remove the vegetation where the pavements have been scraped back.

Q- are there plans to improve the footpath further and address junction road safety Q asked if pavement can continue up to the Drymen Bridge.

7. LL&TNP - Update David MacKie

Last week’s Board meeting was cancelled due to the passing of the Queen. David has been at Planning training

Place Plan/ Community 5 year plan is due.

Parks Local Development plan is also due but is overdue by two years due to Covid. Community need to be included.

DM to find out what support can be provided and what is the process.

Q asked around the nursery and would this be included in the future Plan?

Pirnie Hall - Comment from a resident- that the Park rejected initial plan for house and a couple of houses in the land.

New owner wants to increase the footprint on the land bigger than the village Croftamie - Community are concerned.

Q if I buy a property and land – why does the park dictate what I have to do on that land. Answer was given that with Pirnie Hall the request is to change the use from business to a home.

Was Pirnie hall a home? Over 100 years ago However its been derelict in most recent years

Pavements discussed in the Park and appetite to link the villages? Q can you put pressure on the Council - David will ask.

8. Outstanding points from last meeting

Catterburn Bridge progress, work has commenced parapet walls removed. Generator kicking back in when battery drained at 4 am

CH-Concerns re drilling volumes and vibrations when the Piling starts next week.

Contractor has agreed that they will only park two vehicles on Cattermills side. The others will go on the Glasgow side.

Work is progressing as expected.

Community to decide on Contractors community benefit with support of an Internal community development officer eg a bench, flower containers, improvement to the retaining wall before the bridge, a path above the bridge to Dalnair.

Date for second Bridge meeting with the Contractor Amco Giffen poss expected end of Oct/ beg Nov.

Participation Request – 20-21-002 Pavements have been cleared by to T-Junction. & 20.2.003 Speeding ongoing until road opens again