MINUTES FOR CROFTAMIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Venue -But n Ben
Wednesday 15/01/25 at 7.30pm
1.Attendees: Henry Braid (HB), Ali Peterson (AP), Brian Sweeting (BS), Cyndy Bourbousson (CB), David Mackie (DM) LL&TNP, Gerry McGarvey (GM) Stirling Council plus 4 residents.
- Apologies: David Armstrong (DA), Anne Ewing (Community Trust)
3. Conflicts of Interest- none
- Previous Minutes - November approved by CB and seconded by AP. It was noted an error in the Nov minutes and the approval then was for the Oct 24 minutes and not the November ones.
5. Police Report – CB
Forth and Endrick, Community Council Police Report. November 2024- Compiled by PC Matt
McCammon
News PC Laura Newlands joins the Forth & Endrick ward community Policing Team. She comes with 6 years’ response policing experience having spent the majority of her service within the Falkirk / Grangemouth area.
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 Matt McCammon PC Laura Newlands are the Ward Officers for the Forth and Endrick area.
They are 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 however this should not be used to report crimes.
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
Croftamie
Road Safety A report was received of minor damaged caused to an unattended parked vehicle within a carpark in the village. CCTV showed another vehicle reversing and making slight contact, It was likely driver was unaware of the contact they had made. The driver has subsequently been traced, and the matter is being dealt with by the respective insurance companies.
Drymen
Assault A report of an assault was received whereby a member of the public was punched to the face. The victim suffered a minor injury. The following day a male was arrested, cautioned and charged and has been reported to the court.
Anti-Social behaviour Police were contacted and concern raised for the welfare of a male. Officers attended at the address of the male to carry out a welfare check and during this time the male acted in an abusive manner towards Officers. As a result, the male was issued with a Recorded Police Warning for his conduct toward Officers.
Road Traffic Enquiries are ongoing to trace the driver of a black Mazda which collided with another vehicle, causing damage, and left the scene without exchanging details or reporting the matter.
Enquiries are ongoing to trace the driver of a vehicle which collided with an unattended parked vehicle, causing damage to the front offside and wing mirror, and left the scene without exchanging details or reporting the matter.
Where to report scams Scams
In Scotland, report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am5pm) or online at www.consumeradvice.scot
Fraud
If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Suspicious Emails
You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre's scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website
Suspicious Text Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.
Scams and Fraud advice Phishing Warning signs:
- E-mail that uses generic terms like ‘Dear account holder’
- E-mail is threatening and states that urgent action is required
- E-mail has a link you don't recognise
- Spelling errors in the e-mail
- E-mail address is different from trusted company’s website
- Unexpected e-mails from a company you have no business with
- No padlock sign on website and no 'https://' at the beginning of web address.
Keep yourself safe:
- Keep your browser software up-to-date
- Avoid risky sites, including supposed investment sites
- Never click on a link in an e-mail from an unknown person
- Use spam filters if you can
- Never give out your personal details, passwords or security codes via e-mail
- Don’t leave personal documents lying around for anyone else to see
- If you're throwing away correspondence, remember to shred it first.
Fraudulent transactions and identity fraud
Purchases made without the person's consent is one of the most reported forms of cyberenabled fraud. This is when a fraudster gets access to their victim's accounts or uses their payment details to take money or buy things.These offences use different phishing techniques to get a victim’s account details. The fraudster also uses the victim’s debit/credit card or phone. They then use these to carry out transactions online.Access can also be gained through remote access to a victim's devices. The fraudster then gets access to their accounts. If any transactions on your account are suspicious, contact your bank/credit card company as soon as possible. You should report this and allow them to carry out an investigation.
Forth and Endrick, Community Council Police Report December 24 – Compiled by PC Laura Newlands
News
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy new year and look forward to seeing you all over the course of the year.
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 Matt McCammon PC Laura Newlands are the Ward Officers for the Forth and Endrick area.
They are 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 however this should not be used to report crimes.
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
CROFTAMIE Road Traffic
A driver was issued with a Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty ticket for driving in a careless manner which resulted in the vehicle clipping a kerb and flipping off the road. No injuries were reported.
Incidents of note
No Incidents of note reported to Police during this reporting period.
DRYMEN Sexual Offence
Enquiries are ongoing following a report in regard to a sexual offence which had occurred.
Livestock
A report was received of livestock worrying whereby a dog, off the leash, chased and injured a number of sheep. The dog owner was traced a short time later, cautioned and charged and a report has been submitted to the Court.
Incident of note
No Incidents of note reported to Police during this reporting period.
Discussion at the meeting
Recent reporting of person knocking on doors in Balfron and Blanefield with fake ID- and asking for money.
At the Public safety meeting last week Forth and Endrick community police presence was discussed and finding will be fed back at the end of the month (GM)
Roads and road safety A811 – concerns have been raised. Contact GM if we have any concerns that we wish to raise
A resident raised concern about an old white van that is driving around and entering driveways then turning around. 6. Planning Report -AP Item 1: Dalnair House application 24//FUL | Erection of 1no. dwellinghouses, application 24/00640/FUL Erection of 5 houses, application 23/00392/FUL Erection of 2no. dwellinghouses
All planning application action on Dalnair has we understand been put on hold whilst the legal matters and developer contributions from the previous applications are under review between the council and applicant (owner of Dalnair.)
CC have made a comment on the applications re the Footpath and the designs for it.
GM can get a progress report clarification of the development of the Path.
Item 2: Ballatone 15 Cattermills (2020/0239/DET) for erection of ancillary residential unit
Application was approved by National Park Dec 2024
Item 3 : Pirniehall Application 2022/0329/PPP Large multiple purpose tourist development Application was approved by Planning and Access committee at meeting 25th November 2024.
Community Council representation was well received however on balance the committee members felt it was difficult to find people willing to restore old buildings and also that the conditions set by the planning team afforded sufficient protection both for the building and grounds.
The Community Council request to add an additional condition further restricting any additional development in the grounds was understood and accepted by both the committee and the National Park planning team. However it was decided that the best way to ensure this matter was for the local place plan and the next National Park development plan to cover this matter.
Application has not appeared on planning portal as approved yet.
Item 4 : Cattermuir Cottage 2024/0234/DET Change of use of land to garden ground and replacement of ancillary building
Time for comment has passed – application under review by planning team.
Stirling roads team have made some minor requests but have no objection.
Item 5: The Old School House Finnich Toll Cameron Muir Road 24/00765/FUL New application – minor works – nothing to report
7. Roads Update
Speeding through the village -Callum has been working with the Council to get the speed limit reduced to 20mph.
Callum to send a direct email to GM to get a progress report on the issues that he’s been working on.
GM advised that contacting the Access committee would perhaps assist in looking at what would be the best measures for someone with a disability who lives in the village and finds it difficult to cross the road safely.
No road closures planned.
- Treasurer Update - Monies received from JR Group £500. Email receipt to be sent.
Balance of account is £1636.74.
9. Stirling Council Update - Cllr McGarvey
Big conversation survey is live and there is concern about budget savings and proposed cuts. The budget deficit is just under £13M.
No decisions have been made yet. Proposals have been presented by every service to show 5% savings from their service.
Concern raised around Music tuition proposal cuts. It was noted that Music participation encourages engagement and confidence building and opportunities. Ringfenced money from Scottish Government has to be spent on what is purposed but it’s the extra costs that are being looked at.
Difficult decisions to be made but all encouraged to complete the Big Conversation by 2 Feb.
Concern raised around reduction in Counselling services within education- concern raised about the future generation who were hit by Covid and NHS have mental health waiting times Q around GIRFEC ( Getting it right for every child) and how this fits to the proposed cuts.
Q was asked will these budget cuts continue year after year? Yes this is very likely.
GM advised there was to be no library cuts but less hours for access to libraries.
The quality of the service in lots of areas is suffering.
Budget will be presented and the Councillors will use the data from the Big Conversation.
Q was raised around the Survey and where is advised there would be a change to provision but it was not explained what that would be- in the questions
Q asked around other villages and the improvement of pavements particularly in Killearn.
10. LL&TNP update from David Mackie
GM has been appointed to the National Park Board representing Stirling.
Lomond Banks have put in an appeal for the planning application which was in principle.
Business management stats report that visitors to the Park were down 10% last year.
New bye laws in place for – speed restriction and life jackets to be worn on the Loch.
Trossachs Explorer bus needs funding again to be available this year.
- Correspondence received
Stirling Council - Big Conversation – complete by 2 February.
12. AOB
- CSET grant – applied for funding for gazebos for the community £1600 – we have to find the remaining 50%. Fundraising- we could rent the gazebos to the stall holders. We have until May to respond.
- Bench update- HB to check with Callum.
- There has been Fly tipping of tyres in the layby approaching the village and also at Finnich Glen.
- There was damage to the Drymen bridge on Christmas night and Q asked would it be repaired like for like rather than concrete like the Croftamie Bridge.
- Q asked around the damaged cars at the old Post Office and it was advised that the individual raises this matter with the Council.
Confirmation of Next meeting
Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 7.30 pm