Oct 2022 Minutes

PORT OF MENTEITH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes of the General Meeting of the Port of Menteith Community Council held in the Port Hall on Monday, 3rd October, 2022 commencing at 7.00pm

Present : Peter Stewart, Chair

Sheena Makgill-Crichton, Vice- Chair & Secretary Matthew Woods

Jim Riach

Councillor Gene Maxwell David Mackie, NPA

In Attendance : Claire Outterside

Valerie Graham, Minutes Secretary

1. Members Present and Apologies for Absence

Apologies from Alison Forrester were noted.

2. Declarations of Interest in the Items of Business

There were no declarations of interest.

3. Adoption of the Draft Minutes of the General Meeting held on 22nd August, 2022

The adoption of the draft minutes was proposed by Jim Riach and seconded by Peter Stewart and agreed by the members present.

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 nd August, 2022

4.1 Adoption, Co-option & Election

4.1.1 Adoption of Matthew Woods as a Full Community Council Member

The adoption of Matthew Woods as a full member of the Port of Menteith Community Council was proposed by Sheena Makgill-Crichton, seconded by Peter Stewart and approved by members.

4.1.2 Approval of the co-option of Claire Outterside to the Community Council

The co-option of Claire Outterside as a member of the Port of Menteith Community Council was proposed by Peter Stewart, seconded by Sheena Makgill-Crichton and approved by members.

4.1.3 Election of Treasurer

The election of Claire Outterside as Treasurer was proposed by Peter Stewart, seconded by Sheena Makgill-Crichton and approved by members.

4.2 Port of Menteith Church & Cemetery

Sheena Makgill-Crichton reported that the Church of Scotland is still going through a process of restructuring. The Presbytery of Stirling will be linking with Perth to form one of the new super-sized presbyteries and that will start in January 2023.

Port of Menteith Church has not had confirmation of exactly what the New Plan is but at present there is no talk of closing the church. Services will continue every Sunday throughout the year and the Church will be open for visiting in the summer. However, as mentioned previously, Churches have to prove that they are a necessary part of a community to be able to move forward with any degree of certainty for the next decade.

Members were advised that the Church is going to send out a Community Survey and asked for to be sent out on the Community Council’s email list which was agreed. Also, notice that there will be the annual traditional Carol Service on Christmas Eve.

4.3 Force 9 Community Benefit Scheme

Councillor Earl had reported that Force 9 had agreed to a meeting with him but the arranged date had been postponed as it was due to take place on the day of the Queen’s funeral. A new date is being arranged and Martin will pursue it as far as possible.

4.4 Boundaries for Thornhill Community Trust & Place Plan

Peter Stewart reported that he had nothing further to report on this item but did not consider it to be a problem.

4.5 Proposed Gartrenich-Gartur Cycle Path

Members were advised that nothing further had been heard regarding this proposal.

4.6 Loch Lomond Byelaws Review Consultation 2022

During the discussion, members expressed the opinion that the engagement between the NPA and the communities within the Park could be improved.

4.7 NPA Entry Sign

David Mackie reported that he had discussed the Community Council’s concern at the lack of the National Park entry sign at the Port of Menteith with the appropriate NPA Officer and that this was despite the fact that there had been numerous discussions of the subject with the previous NPA representative at meetings and that the metal sign had been produced and a local company had been engaged to construct the stone plinth for it when the park entry signs were first introduced.

However, the fact that Mr. Mackie had been told that the reason for this was that the roadside verge is not wide enough was met with incredulity by members and Mr. Mackie said that he would pursue the matter further. Action : DM

5. Roads & Other Issues

5.1 Roads & Verges

5.1.1 Response to Martin Earl’s approach to the Roads Department

Following Councillor Earl’s report of the Community Council’s complaints regarding the hazards resulting from excessive drops at the edges of the carriageways of some local roads, it has been agreed by the Roads Manager “that roads operatives will fall back in some of these areas to make good on where the verge interfaces with the carriageway surface which will remove the hazard.” He has asked for contact to be made with the Community Council to ensure that the areas the Roads Department identifies are the same as those reported. However, Members were advised that so far there had been no contact by the Roads Manager.

Sheena Makgill-Crichton also reported that she had been approached by two local farmers regarding the overgrown vegetation on the narrow section of the B8034 alongside the Lake of Menteith which is causing problems for vehicles passing each other.

The same farmers had also asked if the brown tourist information sign at the junction of the B8034 in the Port of Menteith could be moved as it obscures the line of sight for larger vehicles trying to move onto the A81. Councillor Maxwell undertook to raise both issues with the Roads Department. Action : GM

5.1.2 Closure of A81 10th-21st October

Members were advised that as a result of the conflicting information issued by Stirling Council regarding the start dates of the two forthcoming closures of the A81, on behalf of the Community Council, Councillor Earl had sought confirmation of the correct dates and this information had been circulated locally.

5.2 Cardross Bridge

Members were advised that no further information had been received from the Bridge Engineer. However, Councillor Earl had reported that a costing for maintenance work on the Cardross Bridge appears in a Capital Plan report to be presented to Council on October 6th.

6. Financial Statement

6.1 Statement to 30 th September, 2022

Members noted the Financial Statement which had been produced by Penny McCoull

6.2 CC Administration Grant

This has now been received in full.

6.3 Community Council Accounts

As the new Treasurer, Claire Outterside will liaise with Penny McCoull regarding the handover of the accounts.

7. Correspondence

7.1 General Correspondence Received

Members noted the list of general correspondence.

7.2 Stirling Local Development Plan - Developer Contributions

Members noted the supplementary guidance relating to Developer Contributions issued by Stirling Council.

8. Planning & Licensing Issues

8.1 New Planning Applications

Members were advised that no new planning applications had been received since the previous meeting.

8.2 Planning Updates

Members were advised that the following applications had now been approved:

22/00416/FUL: Addition of Air Source Heat Pumps at East facing gable walls and small timber lean-to to accommodate plant for the heating system, and provide secure storage at Shandon Wood, Ruskie, Thornhill, FK8 3LG.

22/00466/FUL: Erection of agricultural building at Keirhead Cottage, Thornhill, FK8 3QL

9. Forestry

9.1 Felling Application from Rednock Estate for Cardross Forest and Diamond Jubilee Wood

Members were advised that although the Community Council had not been officially notified that the Felling Application has been approved, a local resident had reported that it had been.

9.2 Proposal to designate ‘Rednock Forest’ as a Local Nature Conservation Site

Sheena Makgill-Crichton said that she had been horrified to learn that neither of the local landowners affected by this proposal had been consulted by Stirling Council prior to it being adopted and being made public.

During the ensuing discussion, members were in total agreement with her comments and Councillor Gene Maxwell undertook to investigate the matter further. Action : GM

9.3 Notification of an application for Rednock & Cardross Forests to be entered into the UKFCG (UK Forest Certification Ltd) forest management group scheme

There was a lengthy discussion of this at the end of which, it was agreed that the Chair would seek further information from the Manager of Rednock Estate. Action : PS

9.4 Forestry & Land Scotland Local Activities Report

It was reported that although the regular report had been received, nothing had changed since the August report.

10. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

The September issue of “News from the Park” had been circulated to members previously.

11. Countryside Trust

There was nothing new to report.

12. Strathard & Trossachs Place Based Visitor Management Group

Jim Riach reported that there had been no further meetings of the Group since his last report.

13. Reports

13.1 Councillor’s Report

In his report, Councillor Maxwell advised that the next formal meeting of the Council would take place later in the week with reports totalling 265 pages and reported that Councillors would be looking at the huge budget overspend, a lack of management caused by a lack of staff, the provision of additional accommodation for 18,000 Ukrainian refugees, the cost of school meals, introduction of payment for electric charging points, etc.

13.2 NPA Report

David Mackie reported that a meeting of the new NPA Board would take place the following week and that he was now a member of the Planning & Access Committee.

13.3 Carse of Stirling Project Group Report

Jim Riach reported that there had been no further meetings of the Project Group

13.4 Port Hall Committee Report

Matthew Woods was congratulated on the extension to the car-park which is almost complete and he reported that applications for funding to enable electric charging points etc., are being sought. Sheena Makgill-Crichton suggested that it might be worth enquiring as to whether Stirling Council has a Covid Recovery Fund to which an application could be made. Members were also advised that the Committee is also looking at various other uses for the Hall, such as a business hub, to increase revenue.

13.5 School Report

As Peter Stewart is no longer the Chair of the School Parent Council, it was agreed to ask the new Chair, Ben Outterside, if he would be prepared to provide the School report for future Community Council meetings. Action : VG

Members noted that P7 pupil, Benjamin Marshall and his father are walking the West Highland Way during the School holiday as a fundraiser to raise money for the outdoor space at the