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Minutes approved: 07MAY24 Proposed by: JS Seconded by: FR
Drymen Community Council
Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of
Tuesday 05 March 2024 held at
Drymen Village Hall at 7pm
Meeting chaired by: Rebeckah MacDonald, Chair, DCC
Present: Rhona Carmichael (RC); Louise Macfarlane (LM); Maja McTavish (MM) Treasurer; Fraser
Robb (FR); Jakki Sendall (JS); Rebekah MacDonald (RM) Chair; Simon Reid (SPR) Secretary;
Dawn Connor (DC) Associate Member; Cllr Gerry McGarvey (GM)
Apologies: None
Ref: What: Who: When:
All were warmly welcomed by the Chair. The Chair explained that DC would be
an associate member of the Community Council utilising her expertise on
planning matters.
Approval of minutes of 09 January 2024 were proposed by: SPR and
seconded by: RC
Approval of minutes of 06 February 2024 were proposed by: MM and
seconded by: LM
Ask your Councilor
A member of our community asked GM about the £200k spent by Stirling
Council on Library Self-service machines.GM re-iterated that there is a policy
of no compulsory redundancies. The questioner explained that in the two case
studies completed after these machines were introduced across England, no
job losses were reported - so why spend the money?
GM explained that when he assesses budget decisions, he asks himself two
questions. Firstly, what impact would this decision have on the most
vulnerable? Secondly, would it maintain or worsen poverty? GM further
explained that in setting the budget approximately £6M was taken out of the
Council’s reserves to balance it. It is expected that this will be repeated next
year as well. GM summarised by suggesting it is inevitable that there will be a
reduction in the level of services.
GM was asked what had been learnt from the Big Conversation consultation?
GM believed the questions were overly complicated and could have been
framed better. In addition, there were other approaches to information and
opinion gathering that could have worked better.
GM was asked if anything had changed because of the consultation? GM’s
reply was simple – the X10 bus service and Libraries. However, he cautioned
that other services have been displaced, for example, the P5 swimming
lesson program.
Lastly, GM was asked if the level of engagement had been low for this
consultation? He explained that there had been 1,700 points of engagement
during the consultation.
Police Matter
SPR
PC Matt McCammon was unable to attend this month but sent a report and
this is attached. It was noted that the report did not include any information
about prowlers and the DCC took an action to make sure that the Police had
been informed.
Planning
DC explained there were no new planning applications.
A discussion then followed on the Stirling Road/Gartness Road development
‘MacMic’. DC reported that the current thinking of the developer may include a
reduction from 85 homes to 66. Primarily, this was due to not building on the
lowest part of the site which is peat. This should be viewed positively as from
an environmental and a cost point of view – it is better not to build on top of
peat. The plans may still include 34 ‘affordable homes’ for rent from Rural
Stirling Housing Association. However, it was suggested that social housing
element of the development, which would allow locals to purchase a home at
a discounted rate may have been abandoned. It was felt that this would be an
opportunity lost. The DCC agreed to seek reassurance from the National Park
Planning Officer that planning conditions such as community benefits and
affordable housing is not lost. The DCC would consider writing to both the
National Park and Springfield (MacMic).
ASAP
DC &
ALL
The potential development at Laurelfields was briefly discussed. The DCC
asked residents in attendance to forward any thoughts they had on this
development within two weeks of this meeting and these would be
consolidated and form a letter to National Park Planning Officer in reply to
previous correspondence. It was noted that neither community benefits nor
community benefits had been discussed thus far. Comments were made that
perhaps the situation of the chicane should be revisited as it is close to the
proposed entrance of Laurelfields.
DCDT Update
Toilets: At the last DCC meeting the DCDT presented its update on the
feasibility study for the provision of public toilets in Drymen. This project is
moving forward slowly and is currently bound to the progress of the MacMic
development, or the lack thereof. During the following the DCDT will be
meeting with the National Park to discuss how it may be able to support the
provision of toilets.
Paths: Home Farm to Buchanan Arms Hotel path was cleared of brambles
ASAP
and hedges were cut back.
Litter Pick: There will be a village ‘Spring Clean’ litter pick on Saturday 23
March - all welcome.
E-bikes: The E-bike Club will be re-launched in the following weeks at a
membership cost of £40 pa.
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Minutes approved: 07MAY24 Proposed by: JS
Seconded by: FR
Gala Day
LM updated all on the Gala Day preparations. It will be held on 15 June with
the parade leaving the primary school at midday and arriving at the football
pitch at approximately 12:30pm. There are a few items to be finalized such as
the Temporary Events Licence, First-Aid provision and insurance. The Scouts
have hired the Gala Day a marquee, Drymen Inn will be cooking burgers, hot
dogs and drinks until 4pm. There will be face painting and an evening bar.
Alfie’s Coffee Shop has offered to come along and make coffees. The Spar
has kindly donated £1000 and offered sale or return on some items.
The next meeting of the Gala Day committee will be 20 March at 7pm.
Village Defibrillator
The DCDT and Trossachs Search & Rescue (TS&R) have asked the DCC to
take responsibility for the village defibrillator. RM has agreed to be the named
individual for the defibrillator. The last defibrillator went missing just before
Christmas.
Several funding options were discussed, including a Go-Fund
Me/Crowdfunding page or the DCDT to fund it. It was noted that there are
defibrillators elsewhere in the village, such as the Doctor’s Surgery, the
Winnock Hotel and the Dental Practice, but that these may not be always
available/accessible.
It was suggested that the DCC should publicise the locations of defibrillators in
the area, together with instructions on how to use them. It was noted that both
the Library and the Village Hall have previously organized training sessions.
Treasurer’s Report
The current balance is £2,321.22
Roads
It was noted that the 20mph signs as you enter village are obscured and
missing. DCC to contact Stirling Council Roads Department.
It was noted that due to potholes on [old] Balmaha Road, there is now
aggregates collecting and rutting where it joins Balmaha Road. DCC to
contact Stirling Council Roads Department.
The pavement from the Spar to the Church is difficult to walk or for wheelchair
to navigate. Everyone was asked to email their concerns to
support@drymencc.org so that they can be aggregated together.
Lastly, concerns were raised as parking on the pavement outside the Doctor’s
Surgery has made it impossible for buggy, wheelchair and walking frame
users to use the footpath. On several occasions drivers completely blocked
the pavement so that all footpath users could only pass by walking on the
road. Several options were discussed including asking Stirling Council to have
traffic enforcement officers attend, however, it was agreed that other options
such as a polite Facebook post and a poster for the Doctor’s Surgery waiting
room.
ALL
ASAP
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Minutes approved: 07MAY24 Proposed by: JS
Seconded by: FR
Big Conversation update
Stirling Council’s Big Conversation consultation has now concluded, with the
budget now agreed. The £287M budget includes £146M for schools and £22M
for waste & recycling. Council Tax remains frozen at the previous year’s level.
GM reported that there is a library modernization fund and Drymen Library will
remain open which is good news but overall the agreed budget was the least
worse option.
It was agreed that Stirling Libraries provide much more than library services,
for example Drymen Library supports the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) each
week. This is a service that benefits all demographics and CAB is part-funded
by Stirling Council.
Community Transport Update
It was raised with the DCC that DRT may not be the solution for our
community transport needs as it had been difficult to get through to the
service.
It was noted that there are other volunteer-run services to get people to their
hospital appointments, for example the Good Neighbours scheme in North
Cardiff.
In addition, it was noted that Drymen is in a medical cluster of at least four
other villages, which may be an opportunity that, in time, could be part of a
wider working group.
SPR is willing to act as Admin for the working group and will provide a contact
list.
AOCB
None
SPR
ASAP
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 07 May 2024 7pm Drymen Village Hall
Police Report ‘Police Report
for DCC Meeting 05MAR24’
attached…/
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Minutes approved: 07MAY24 Proposed by: JS
Seconded by: FR