Adopted minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2021

KILLEARN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17 MARCH 2021

Members present Caroline Carrick, Andrew Donaldson, Susie Henderson,
Hilary McGregor, Jim Ptolomey (Chair), Fiona Rennie

Apologies Heidi Bryce, Elizabeth Jones, Police Scotland

In attendance Doug Ashworth, Cllr Alistair Berrill, Cllr Rob Davies,

Graeme Fraser KCFC, Euan Shaw,

Fergus McFarlane, Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust
21 members of the public,

Christine Bauwens (Minute Secretary)

How to contact us Go to www.killearncc.org.uk and click on contact button.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the KCC meeting on 17 March 2021 was held
via Zoom.

Jim informed the meeting of the passing of Jim Fallas who died on Thursday 11 March.
Mr Fallas was a very active member of the local community and will be sorely missed. His
funeral will take place on 25 March at 11.00 am. KCC wish to extend sincere
condolences to his wife Mary and family at this sad time.

CC1032 – MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 17 FEBRUARY 2020

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

CC1033 – MATTERS ARISING

• CC1022 – Road and General Maintenance

   

  Jim informed the meeting that resurfacing work will begin on Branziert Road week
  commencing 22 March. The state of the footpath at the bottom end of

  Station Road was raised at the recent SW Area Forum.

• CC1023 – Q&A with Alyn Smith MP – Broadband

   

  A letter has been sent to Openreach from Alyn Smith MP regarding the
  broadband situation and a response awaited.

• CC1025 – Councillor’s Report – Education issues during lockdown

   

  Cllr Berrill and Alyn Smith followed up the issues raised for education during
  lockdown. The response from the Department of Education indicates some
  improvements although day to day teaching varies between different teachers and
  different schools.

   

  Adopted minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2021

   

  CC1034 – PRESENTATION BY LOCH LOMOND FISHERIES TRUST

   

  Fergus McFarlane of the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust was welcomed to the meeting. He
  spoke about the Endrick Legacy Project, which has involved habitat restoration work in
  the local area such as targeting Invasive Non-Native Species, removing small barriers to
  fish migration and tree planting. Fergus explained about the control of invasive plants
  such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and American Skunk Cabbage in the local
  area. Invasive animal species such as American mink and American cray fish also
  require to be controlled. As well as bank protection and willow weaving, clearing of fallen
  trees and debris is also undertaken. The Trust has recently planted around 300 trees but
  sadly Fergus informed the meeting that between 26 February and 9 March, the trees
  which were planted on the banks of Endrick Water, had been stolen. As this area is
  popular with walkers and cyclists, if any member of the public recalls seeing anything out
  of the ordinary, please contact Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust on
  l.lomondfisheriestrust@gmail.com

   

  Subject to the easing of COVID restrictions, the Trust would welcome the opportunity to
  work with volunteers. Please see their website for further information http://www.llft.org

   

  CC1035 – POLICE MATTERS

   

  As Police Scotland was unable to attend the meeting, due to it being held via Zoom,
  Fiona presented the following Police Report:

   

• Vehicles stuck on A81 near Gartness due to flooding.

• B818 closed due to partial bridge collapse.

• Police deterred motorists from parking in the area at Glengoyne Distillery and
  moved away persons who had come from outwith the area.

• Speed checks to be carried out in the village in the near future.

• Report of suspicious person thought to be a bogus workman at house in Balfron
  Road.Search made by Police but found no trace of him.

• Fraud reported in Gargunnock of company offering to investigate Council Tax
  banding and apply for backdated rebate if error found. The company took a fee of

  £195 without the approval of the customer. Bitcoin investment fraud and
  fraudulent sale of puppies have been attempted in other local villages. Residents
  should also beware of telephone callers pretending to be from their bank, from
  HMRC or offering a deal or prize and asking for personal information.

• The problem of sheep worrying by dogs at this time of year.

  The full police report is available on KCC website www.killearncc.org.uk

   

  CC1036 – KCFC UPDATE

   

  Following recent announcements from the Scottish Government, Graeme reported it is
  hoped to gradually open up facilities at the Village Hall. Weddings with a maximum of 50
  guests can take place and the Kitchen Window café has been open for takeaway. The
  recent edition of Killearn Courier features an article on the Heritage Trail and it is hoped
  to have the official opening in May depending on COVID restrictions. £500 has been
  donated to the G63 Group Crowdfunder to support the Grow Garden project to create a
  community food garden between Balfron and Killearn.
  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/grow-g63

   

   

  CC1037 – BROADBAND

  Adopted minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2021

   

  Doug informed the meeting that a letter had been sent from KCC to Alyn Smith MP
  regarding the problems with broadband in Killearn. He in turn has written to Openreach.

   

  Residents in the Branziert area have received postcards from the Scottish Government
  stating that the planned landline upgrade will not happen until the second half of 2022. It
  is hoped that because of this, these premises will be able to use the Interim Voucher
  Scheme which should cover the installation costs of a wireless internet facility.

   

  It would appear that other premises in the village, such as Rowan Crescent and other
  propertiesin the Trees Estate, will also not have a fibre connection until the second half
  of 2022. Help for these premises may be possible with the Interim Vouchers.

   

  Following investigation into the poor bandwidth at the Primary School, Doug explained
  that the current service of 300 Mbps is shared across 22 sites, including McLaren High
  School and Balfron High School. SC are working on connecting these two high schools to
  their own fibre services which should make a significant improvement but will take some
  time to implement. In the meantime, more locally-based interim alternatives are being
  investigated to bring about improvement more quickly.

   

  KCC wish to express grateful thanks to Doug and Euan for their ongoing work on behalf
  of the community.

   

  CC1038 – PLANNING

   

  Planning Schedule

   

• Valid Planning Applications Received

   

  21/00065/FUL Change of Use of Farm Building to Storage and for Parking of
  Buses (Retrospective) at North Ballochruin Farm, Balfron Station,

  Killearn G63 0LE
  No comment.

   

  21/00138/FUL Extension of Bedroom at First Floor Level into Footprint of Existing
  Balconyat 9 Drumbeg Loan, Killearn G63 9LG

  No comment.

   

  20/00868/FUL Erection of Building to Form Garage and Holiday Let Unit at
  Carbeth Lodge, Drumtian Road, Killearn G63 9QB

  No comment.

   

  21/00186/LAW Erection of Dwelling House Approved under Conditions of
  Planning Permission 11/00441/MSC at Land at Killearn House Walled Garden,
  Killearn.

  No comment.

   

• Decisions of Appointed Officers

   

  None.

   

   

   

  Other Planning Matters

  Adopted minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2021

   

• Rural Stirling Housing Association – Lampson Road site.
  No further information is available.

• Former Killearn Hospital Site

  There have been staff changes within CALA. No date for starting work on site has
  been announced as yet.

• Development of Former Killearn Hotel

  Final paperwork is awaited before work can commence. 100 entries were received
  by the developers in response to their competition to rename the building. The
  winning entry is “Killearn Court”. A plaque will be made for the front wall of the
  building with information about the Black Bull Hotel, so that this piece of local
  history will not be forgotten.

• Finnich Glen

  The local developer informed the meeting that on 23 February, agreement was
  reached with SC on their reasonable conditions. However, due to the COVID
  pandemic and the protracted length of time taken in the project so far, alternative
  investors are now being sought.

  CC1039 – ROADS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPORT

   

  Speed monitoring has been carried out in Balfron Road, Station Road and Main Street. It
  is expected that more information regarding the 20 mph consultation process will be
  available in April.

   

  Residents of Branziert Road have received letters from SC regarding resurfacing work
  beginning on 21 March. As this is bin collection day, it was agreed KCC write to SC to
  clarify whether bins should be put out that day. (Action JP)

   

  The meeting was informed of a proposal for glamping pods at Drumtian Road, off A81 to
  Aberfoyle.

   

  CC1040 – COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

   

  Cllrs Berrill and Davies were both in attendance and reported on the following issues:

   

• As yet, no response has been received regarding the Councillor’s enquiries about
  the pathway on Station Road.

• Viewforth link road has been postponed but not cancelled.

• A bid to stop the £35 garden waste permit was voted down by 11 votes to 10.

• There will be a bi-election on 6 May for Strathendrick Ward.

• Closure of B818 for major bridge repairs. A local resident expressed frustration
  about SC neglect of local bridges over the past number of years.

• COVID related grants are available for B&Bs and guesthouses but applications
  must be submitted by week ending 19 March.

• Delay in painting double lines on A81 near Dumgoyne Distillery.

• Council Tax has been frozen for the next financial year.

Adopted minutes of meeting held on 17 March 2021

CC1041 – TREASURER’S REPORT

As Elizabeth was unable to attend, Fiona gave the following report:

Expenditure £40.00 administrative costs

£71.86 annual web hosting fee

£2,307.46 Christmas lights invoice
Current Bank Balance £1,176.79

From the grant for Sharing Happiness Project, £32.98 has been spent on COVID
information cards with support contact details.

CC1042 – QUESTION TIME

A question was asked from a member of the public regarding the garden waste permit. It
was confirmed that the permit will be issued as a weather-proof sticker which will adhere
to the brown bin in all weather conditions. See website for further information
https://stirling.gov.uk/bins-waste-recycling/garden-waste-permits/

CC1043 – CORRESPONDENCE

Fiona reminded the meeting that the deadline to apply to vote by post in Stirling for the
Scottish Parliament Election on 6 May, 2021 is 6 April. https://stirling.gov.uk/council-
democracy/politicians-elections-democracy/elections-voting/how-to-vote/

Thanks were expressed to Andrew Donaldson for updating the map of the KCC boundary
now available on the KCC website.

CC1044 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Following a recent meeting for carer and server users, a member of the public updated
the meeting on a Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health & Social Care Partnership
Consultation for service users. In the future, it is intended that focus will be on providing
individual care for individual persons. Respite care, including nursing care, will be
provided in Bellfield Centre, Stirling and at Blanefield House, Blanefield. Strathendrick
Care Home, which has had no maintenance money spent on it in over the past six years,
has closed with all staff having found alternative employment.

As Killearn already has an active informal neighbourhood watch scheme in different
areas within the village, it was agreed, following discussions with the Police, that this
should be encouraged and is the best way to deal with the issues at this time.

A request was made for a dog waste bin to be put in the Ibert Road/Branziert Road area
of the village. This is a very popular area for dog walking and it has been noticed that a
number of plastic dog waste bags have been left at the roadside. It was agreed KCC
write to SC with this request. (Action FR)

CC1045 – DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The next KCC meeting is scheduled for 21 April 2021. This will be held again via Zoom
and details will be confirmed nearer the time.

The meeting ended at 9.20 pm.