April 2021 Minutes

Drymen Community Council

Minutes Of The Ordinary Meeting
Held On Tuesday 06th April 2021
Via Skype Online

Virtual Meeting Platform

At 7.35 pm, Fraser Robb opened the meeting and welcomed the Community
Councillors, Councillor Davis, Willie Nisbet and Robert Edwards, and thanked them
all for participating.

Present

Fraser Robb (FR), Marie Elder (ME), Andrew Richardson (AR), Walter Hemfrey
(WH), Carol Hemfrey (CH), David Burgoyne (DB) and Carole Kerr (Minutes)

Also Present

Councillor Rob Davis (CRD) representing Stirling Council, Willie Nesbit (WN)
representing Loch Lomond And The Trossachs National Park Authority, and one
member of the public: Mr Robert Edwards (RE).

Apologies

Jemma Allan

Declarations Of Interest In Any Agenda Item

None

Approval Of The Minutes Of The Last Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were proposed by AR, and seconded by ME
FR then thanked Carole Kerr for recording the minutes.

Matters Arising From The Previous Minutes

None

1. Police Report

    

   AR read out the police report, which is attached at Annexe A.

    

   Correspondence

    

   AR informed the meeting of the following correspondence:

   • 06th April 2021 – AR spoke via telephone with Robert Bowman of Skoosh,
     who complained about road signs deployed during the Easter, which diverted
     traffic leaving Balmaha Road, to turn left and leave Drymen via the northern
     end of the village. AR explained that the system was intended to address
     traffic management issues. Whilst Mr Bowman agreed that it did address
     traffic management issues, he complained that it reduced the amount of traffic
     passing his shop.

   • 06th April 2021 – Email received from Stirling Council, asking us to apply for
     the minute taker grant.

   • 06th April 2021 – Email received from Foundation Scotland, asking us to
     update them on the Response Recovery and Resilience Grant of £1000,
     which we received to print the Covid community booklet.

   • 31st March 2021 – Email from the Corra Foundation, informing us that we
     were unsuccessful in our application for the Enabling Communities and
     Neighbourhoods grant.

   • 19th March 2021 – Email from the Information Commissioner’s Office
     reminding us to renew our data protection registration.

   • 03rd March 2021 – Email from Julie McPhee of Stirling Council Sustainable
     Development, informing us that they were proposing to install electric car
     chargers within Stirling Road car park. I informed Ms McPhee of the MacMic
     planning application. Ms McPhee replied that they would look at the council
     owned car parking spaces near to the Winnock Hotel.

      

     There followed a discussion as to where the council owned car parking spaces are,
     in relation to the Winnock Hotel. CRD said that he would raise an enquiry with
     Stirling Council.

      

     ME informed the meeting that Marina Brenna from Drymen In Bloom, is requesting a
     donation in order to fund the planting of plants around the war memorial, due to
     Stirling Council not planting this year. Marina was then contact by telephone, and the
     sum of £400 - £500 was agreed by the community council. The motion was
     proposed by ME and seconded by DB.

      

     Chairman’s Report

      

     FR informed the meeting of the following:

   • Drymen car park was again untidy, with the bottle banks overflowing.
     However, it has now been cleaned. CRD added he had emailed Stirling
     Council who said that they would deal with the matter.

      

      

2. Treasurer’s Report

    

   Jemma Allan sent an email saying that other than £160 issued to Carole Kerr to
   cover the minutes secretary grant, the bank account remains unchanged from March
   2021.

    

   Planning Correspondent’s Report

    

   WH informed the meeting of the following:

   • McTaggart And Mickel have submitted a change to their planning permission,
     because they have found more peat than expected on the site, and the peat
     will have to be removed. They also want to change four houses with two
     bedrooms, for four houses with four bedroom. The planning officer said that it
     was straight forward.

   • The owner of the red sandstone shop opposite the Spar; Mr Mackie, has
     asked the council for a determination on his proposal to open the shop as a
     bakery. He wants to use part of the area outside the shop for seating in fine
     weather. That area is owned by the shop. FR welcomed this proposal.

      

     Roads Correspondent’s Report

      

     There were no new updates on the local roads network.

      

     FR commented that council operatives were patching potholes from the back of a
     small van.

      

     Publicity Report

      

     There was no publicity report.

      

     FR informed the meeting that Jakki Sendall and Maja McTavish had sent emails to
     resign from the community council. FR offered his thanks to both Jakki and Maja, for
     their hard work over the past couple of years. He added that they would like to return
     to the community council if time and circumstances allow. FR then said that the
     community council should look at attracting new community councillors, and asked
     AR to send an email of thanks to both Jakki and Maja.

      

     Councillor’s Report

      

     Councillor Davis (CRD) informed the meeting of the following:

   • The Drymen car park overflowing bins issue seems to have been addressed.

   • He has made enquiries into the reported state of Drymen cemetery. Due to
     high levels of internment, cemetery staff have not been able to maintain the
     cemetery to its usual standards. However, they hope to rectify this soon. ME
     said that the condition of the cemetery was still the same, and thanked CRD
     for taking up the matter.

      

      

3. • The Section 75 payment due to be paid by the builders of the houses at
     Dalnair House has not been paid, and this is being followed up by council
     enforcement officers.

   • The council tax has been frozen at last year’s levels.

      

     Loch Lomond And The Trossachs National Park Authority Update

      

     WN informed the meeting of the following:

   • He pays tribute to Councillor Graham Lambie, who worked tirelessly for the
     community through his role as councillor, and membership of several
     committees, including the National Park board.

   • The National Park Authority has had an increase in its budget, to help them
     cope with the expected demands that will be placed upon the park during this
     coming summer. The increase is double what the park authority had asked
     for.

   • The National Park Authority has also been awarded a capital fund of £1.7m
     for each year of the next five years, from the Scottish Government.

      

     FR commented that during the previous weekend, the road to Balmaha was busy. As
     a result, a local person thought that as they were local, they could park on the double
     yellow lines. The police came along and fined the person £60 for parking on the
     double yellow lines. He added that due to the number of visitors and the toilets being
     closed, the roadside verges are covered in litter and other waste. WN replied that the
     National Park toilets are not Covid compliant, and that portable toilets will be set up
     again this year within the Balmaha car park, as they were last year. He added that
     there could be an argument for both the National Park and the council to look again
     at toilet provision. CRD said that this was a problem throughout the wider area, and
     that he would use his one question at the council meeting, to raise the matter. CRD
     added that he was allowed only one question because he was an independent
     councillor.

      

     Resignation Of Community Councillors And Recruiting New Community
     Councillors

      

     AR said that Drymen Community Council was at the minimum number of community
     councillors, and said that he had put out posts in order to try to recruit local
     community councillors, but without success. He then asked if the community
     councillors could work together in order to recruit two or three people to fill the
     vacancies, to prevent the community council from folding.

      

     DB said that he was of a mind to resign from the community council after the emails
     which went between Jakki and Andrew. But after Jakki and Maja resigned, he has
     decided to remain on the community council. However, he wants to record his
     disappoint in the response AR gave Jakki in response to her email response. FR
     replied that he hoped DB will continue to work with the community council.

      

     AR stated that he was disgusted that no-one in the community council, expect
     himself, could find the time to complete a recent survey, and that no-one with the exception of Jakki and Maja were doing anything for the community council. He
     added that he was still waiting on CH replying to his email to her, about her
     comments (on Facebook). AR said that his comments were made within a
     community council forum, Jakki did not reply to his reply email, and no-one within the
     community council could be bothered to answer a five minute, ten question survey.

     DB replied that he did not agree with that, and that AR did not know what other
     people are doing. AR then asked DB if he was saying that he did not have any time
     over a two week period to fill in a five minute survey. DB replied that he would not
     accept that no-one could be bothered to fill in the survey. AR repeated that no-one
     could be bothered to fill in the survey, with the exception of himself and Carole Kerr.

      

     AR added that every time emails are sent out, it is left to him to attend the Rural
     Forums, National Park meetings and any other events, and with the exception of
     Jemma, no-one else has ever volunteered to attend at any of the other meetings. AR
     asked DB if he was saying that nine community councillors were so busy that they
     could not find five minutes of their time to fill in a survey.

      

     FR said that was fair comment.

      

     CH said that AR would get her answer tomorrow (07th April). CH added that she had
     gone through his thing to Jakki, gone through his long diatribe, and she will tell him
     that she will not answer that questionnaire for several reasons, and she is not
     prepared to say why. AR replied that CH couldn’t be bothered, and asked her to
     evidence what she was saying.

      

     AR reminded CH that he had sent her an email on Saturday (03rd April) after she had
     undermined him on Facebook, and he asked her to evidence her comments.

      

     FR acknowledged that people are upset, and suggested that things would not be
     resolved during that meeting. He added that everything was said in the open, and

     that he saw nothing that would upset him. FR said that he took on AR’s comments,
     and maybe he has off-loaded quite a bit to AR, because AR is capable of doing the
     duties of secretary for the community council, and he has been very good at taking
     on the responsibilities of the meetings he has attended. FR added that there should
     be no arguments within the community council, because they should all be doing
     their best for the residents of Drymen and the surrounding area.

      

     Post meeting minute:

      

     On the 20th April 2021, AR sent emails to both DB and CH, requesting that they
     evidence their comments, as detailed above. On the 21st April 2021, DB sent an
     email of resignation to FR. By the time this post meeting minute was added on the
     25th April 2021, CH had not responded.

      

     Any Other Competent Business

      

     FR acknowledged that Robert Edwards was the only member of the community to
     join in an online community council meeting, and thanked him for his interest in the
     community.

      

4. WN suggested that the next meeting could be held via Zoom, as he doesn’t think
   there is the same noise and feedback with Zoom. ME asked if AR could be
   sanctioned to buy a Zoom membership on behalf of the community council. AR said
   that he would look at the costs. RE said that it was about £15 per month.

    

   DB asked why access was recently required to the defibrillator. AR replied that he
   had received several versions of the story. However, the basic story was that a lady
   fell in the street, and two other ladies tried to access the defibrillator in case it was
   needed. The person who fell received medical attention. The two ladies could not
   access the defibrillator, because they could not open its box. However, the
   defibrillator was not required. AR added that he was contacted by the Trossachs
   Search And Rescue co-ordinator who looks after the defibrillator box. The co-
   ordinator told AR that she had checked the defibrillator box the following evening and
   it could be opened. The co-ordinator asked AR to go to the box and open it. The box
   is opened by placing your fingers in a recess within the top right corner of the box
   cover, and pulling the cover hard towards you in a forward direction. DB suggested
   that the community council consider the cost of the box if it needs to be replaced.

    

   ME said that Facebook should be used for positive community news, and not as a
   chatroom.

    

   FR asked AR when the next AGM was due. AR replied that as far as he was aware,
   Stirling Council had changed the rules during the pandemic, to allow community
   councils to continue without holding an AGM, provided all of the community
   councillors and office bearers were happy to continue.

    

   FR asked CRD if the next elections for community councils were later in 2021. CRD
   replied that they could be in December.

    

   FR then asked if all of the community councillors were happy to continue on. All
   agreed. WN reminded the meeting that additional people could be co-opted onto the
   community council before the next AGM.

    

   Date Of Next Meeting

    

   7.30 pm on the 04th May 2021. However, this will be confirmed nearer the time.

    

   At 8.40pm FR thanked everyone for participating in the meeting, and then closed the
   meeting.

    

    

5.  

   Annexe
   A

   Police Report

    

   Community Council:

   Forth and Endrick, Drymen Community Council

    

   Reporting Period:

   April 2021 Prepared by PC Steven Graham

    

   Ward Plan Priorities

   Antisocial Behaviour   Yet another report of sheep worrying in the field on the A811 across from Fraser Robb’s. A video of the injuries has been obtained and placed on Police social media. Due to the sporadic times and days these are occurring it is thought the owner of the dog is local to

    

    

    

6.  

   Drymen. Should anyone have any information re the owner of the dog then please contact
   Police.

    

   Between 3/3 and 10/3 damage was caused to a deer fence within Buchanan Castle Est,
   Drymen. If anyone has any information then again, please contact Police.

    

   With regards to the complaint re the vehicle parked in the car park from last month's meeting,
   the owner was traced and the vehicle has been moved.

    

   Road Safety

   There have been no Reportable RTCs in the Drymen area since the last meeting.
   Please keep your vehicle well maintained before you take to the road.

   Take special care that brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and wiper blades are in
   good condition.

    

   Tyres should also be checked weekly to ensure they are legal and at the correct pressure
   (consult your vehicle handbook). The minimum legal tread depth for cars is 1.6mm across the
   centre 3/4 of the breadth of the tread around the entire circumference. They should also be
   checked for bulges, cuts or tears which weaken the tyre. Failure to maintain your tyres could
   lead to a maximum of £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.

    

   Theft

    

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

    

   We always advise never leave bags or any valuables lying on the seats of your parked and
   unattended vehicles. It is so very quick and easy for thieves to smash a car window, reach in
   and take any valuables in an instant. If a thief observes a bag in a car, they may think the bag
   contains something valuable and will smash your window to get in, even if it contains
   absolutely nothing of value! Please take any bag and or valuables with you but if this is not
   possible, place the items in your boot or out of sight, but preferably, take all valuables with
   you.

    

    

7.  

    

   Fraud -

    

   There has been reports of attempted fraud in other villages within the Forth and Endrick area.
   This includes by way of Bitcoin investment and the sale of puppies. Please heed the following
   guidance.

    

   Fraudsters can make contact with you by phone. The caller might pretend to be from your
   bank and ask for personal information such as bank details or they might be someone offering
   you a deal or a prize. Other calls have been made by persons purporting to be from HMRC
   stating that there was a warrant out for the receiver of the call and was asked to contact the
   number that was given. This is clearly a false call so please heed the below advise:

    

   • Consider making your phone number ex-directory.

      

   • Don’t give out any personal information unless you are the one who made the call and you
     are certain of the identity of the person you are speaking to.

      

   • Don’t give out your credit card or bank card details to strangers on the telephone.

      

   • NEVER tell somebody your bank PIN number, even if they claim to be the bank or police. If
     the caller is genuine they will never ask for this information.

      

   • Don’t give out information which may infer that you live alone, are older or vulnerable.

      

   • Never send money to anyone who claims to have a prize for you.

   • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

      

   • Contact local trading standards – they may be able to use approved ‘call blocking’
     technology.

    

   Covid 19 fraud

    

   Criminals are using the Coronavirus as a cover story to trick you into parting with your money
   or information. Always take a moment to Stop, Challenge and Protect before making any
   payments.

    

   It’s important not to let the criminals rush or panic you into making a decision that you later
   come to regret and remain vigilant and guard against criminals using the publicity around
   Coronavirus as a chance to target you with fraudulent emails, phone calls, texts messages or
   social media posts.

    

   With fake news articles on the internet and in the press promoting remedies, cures and false
   advice around coronavirus, it’s also important to only share articles from trustworthy sources.
   If you are in any doubt, then visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus or www.who.int/ for updates and
   information.

    

   Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend
   hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.
   Stop and think: it could protect you and your money.

    

    

8.  

    

   If you receive an email, text or WhatsApp message purporting to be from the
   government, HMRC, the World Health Organisation (WHO) or a coronavirus-
   related charity, then take a moment to think before you part with your money or
   information.

    

   Never click on links or download attachments as criminals may infect your devices
   with malware or ask you to enter your personal or financial information into fake
   websites. In some cases this can lead to your identity being stolen.

    

   SHEEP WORRYING

    

   This time of year presents the problem of sheep worrying. It is an offence to allow a
   dog to worry sheep. “Worrying” includes attacking or chasing sheep and, in some
   circumstances, farmers are legally entitled to shoot dogs if they are endangering
   their sheep. It is vital that you keep your dog on the lead around livestock, even if
   you can usually trust it to come to call. If you live in or near a farming area, you
   must make sure that your dog cannot escape from your property, as it may find its
   way onto land containing sheep.

    

   If a dog worries sheep on agricultural land, the person in charge of the dog is guilty
   of an offence. The Act considers sheep worrying to include attacking sheep,
   chasing them in a way that may cause injury suffering, abortion or loss of produce
   or being at large (not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or
   enclosure in which there are sheep.

    

   The Scottish Outdoor Access Code

    

   The Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) offers guidance for people enjoying
   the countryside with their dogs and says: “In exercising access rights, you must
   keep your dog(s) under proper control. You must also ensure that your dog does
   not worry livestock.”

    

   The Scottish Outdoor Access Code says ‘proper control’ means different things in
   different situations, but when around sheep you should:-

    

   • Not take your dog into a field where there are lambs. Go into a neighbouring field
     or onto adjacent land. In open country, keep your dog on a short lead (2 metres or
     shorter) when there are lambs around and keep away from them.

      

   • Keep your dog on a short lead or under close control if you need to go into a field
     where there are sheep. The SOAC defines ‘under close control’ as close at heel
     and responsive to your commands. Stay distant from the sheep.

      

   • Keep your dog under close control in more open country where there are sheep
     and stay away from them.

    

    

9.  

   • The SOAC reminds dog owners that in some cases a farmer has the right to
     shoot a dog that is attacking their livestock.

      

   • If you are handling a group of dogs, make sure that they do not cause alarm to
     livestock.

      

     Bogus workmen.

      

     With the better weather forthcoming bogus workmen can use this in order to target
     homes for work on the house (gutters, driveways etc) and/or gardens. Please be
     aware of this and see the below guidance.

      

     How can I protect myself from doorstep crime?

      

   • Be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly.

      

   • Keep front and back doors locked.

      

   • Use the door viewer or nearby window when answering the door.

      

   • Fit a door chain or bar – use it and keep it on when talking to callers at the door.

      

   • If you’re not sure, don’t answer the door.

      

   • Don’t feel embarrassed - genuine callers expect you to be careful.

      

   • Only let callers in if they have an appointment and you have confirmed they are
     genuine.

      

   • Always ask for identification badges of anyone you answer the door to, but don’t
     rely on them. Identity cards can be faked – phone the company to verify their
     identity.

      

   • Some companies offer a password system. Ask your utility providers if this can be
     used and if you have a password with a company make sure the caller uses it.

      

   • Never let people try to persuade you to let them into your home even if they are
     asking for help – they may not be genuine. If someone is persistent, ask them to
     call at another time and arrange for a friend or family member to be with you.

      

     Never agree to pay for goods or give money to strangers who arrive at your door.

      

   • Don’t keep large amounts of money in your home.

    

    

10.  

     

    • Remember, it’s your home. There’s no reason why anyone should ever enter your home
      against your wishes.

       

    • If you’re not sure, don’t answer the door.

       

      https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/personal-safety/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers/

       

      Bike theft

       

      More than 500,000 bikes are stolen in the UK each year because they’re poorly secured or not
      secured at all. More than half of all bikes stolen are taken from the owner’s property. Due to the
      lockdown bikes have become more popular and thus have become more of a target for theft.
      Help protect your bike by following these guidelines:

       

      What can I do before I set off?

       

    • Photograph your bike and record all of your bike’s details and distinguishing features and keep
      in a safe place. The serial number can be found on the bottom bracket.

       

    • Register your bicycle securely online at the National Cycle Database, www.bikeregister.com.
      Doing this may help to recover your bike if it goes missing. On registering, you can also
      download a bike logbook where you can record your bike’s details to keep at hand.

       

    • Security mark your bike’s frame with a UV pen or other method - the mark should include your
      home postcode and house number.

       

    • Insure your bike, either on contents insurance or separately if required.

       

      How can I secure my bike if it’s kept in common close or stairwell?

       

    • Always keep your bike out of sight as best you can.

       

    • Lock your bike with two locks to a secure banister or ground anchor.

       

      What if I store my bicycle in a garage or a shed?

       

    • For tips on garage and shed security see here

       

      https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/home-and-personal-property/secure-your-garden-
      outbuildings/

       

    • Lock your bike with two locks to a ground anchor.

       

      How should I secure my bike and its accessories when out and about?

       

    • Lock your bike up every time you leave it using secure locks (i.e. D-locks or thick cable locks).

       

    • Ideally, use two different types of lock - a thief will need more tools to steal it.

     

     

11.  

    • Locks are considered more vulnerable when close to the ground, so keep them off the floor.

       

    • Fasten your bike through the frame and wheel to a fixed object.

       

    • Lock your bike in a busy, well-lit place, in view of people or CCTV cameras.

       

    • Lock the bike closely to the object it’s attached to so it is difficult to manoeuvre.

       

    • Lock the wheels and remove small parts / accessories that cannot be readily secured, such as
      lights, pumps, water bottles, saddles etc.

       

    • Vary your routine - lock up your bike in different ways & place.

     

    Pedal and motorbike identification forms

     

    The downloadable forms at the bottom of this page are a handy guide for you to record information
    about your bike or motorbike. These forms can be used as your own personal record about your
    property for the duration of time you own it. Every bike or motorbike will be unique to its owner
    through the serial/chassis/VIN numbers but these are not the only ways to identify your property.

    Modifications, stickers, repairs, damage also can be used to help identify your bike and the more
    information you record about your property throughout its time with you, the greater possible
    chance we have of reuniting you with your property if unfortunately lost or stolen. If you keep these
    forms up to date and in a place you remember, if you ever have to report your bike lost or stolen,
    you will have the perfect reference tool for making your report.

     

    https://www.scotland.police.uk/spa-media/d4jlfj4i/pedal-cycle-identification-form.pdf

     

     

    We also have bike marking kits so if anyone wishes their bike marked in order to try and
    identify it if it gets stolen then please get in touch.

     

    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.pnn.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