PORT OF MENTEITH COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes for the general meeting of the Port of Menteith Community Council 

at 7.00pm in the Port Hall on Monday 9^th December 2024.

Approved Minutes

1.      Members Present  and Apologies for Absence  

              Jim Riach (Chair)                                                                        Councillor Martin Ear, 

Peter Stewart (Vice Chair)               David Mackie (LLTNP)  Becky Saunders (Secretary)   Jane Baron - Resident 

              Martin Stewart (Treasurer)                                                    Ken Higgins - Resident 

Robin Armstrong (CC Member)     Ben Outterside – (PoM PS Parent Council Chair) Alastair Orr-Ewing (CC Member - audio only)        

 

2. Declarations of Interest in the Items of Business  

No declarations of Interest were declared

 

3. Adoption of the Draft Minutes of the General Meeting held on 21^st October 2024; Minutes adopted. Proposed by Peter Stewart, Seconded by Martin Stewart

4.     Ongoing Matters – not covered elsewhere;

         4.1     Website progress and wider village comms/integration of websites 

Received 92 visits from 55 visitors in November.  Link to LPP is on a page of the site.  Next step is to better link the comms for the various different groups in the village and look at ‘branding’.  All parties are aware of this but LPP is taking precedence currently.  Agreed to move this item to reports section going forward and until such time as things are integrated and running well.

         4.2       Premises Improvement Grant update 

See 10.2 Hall report

4.3             Pavements and pathways update  Ongoing.  General agreement that we push for pavement from bus stop to hotel in first instance and then onto cemetery in time.  Survey not yet done by roads dept but Stephen Bly is helping to keep this matter current with Angela McGibbon.  There was a lot of discussion regarding paths in and around the village all of which will be expanded upon in the LPP.

         4.4        Defibrillators – Update 

JR reported that he had contacted TSAR who say they are responsible for the defibrillators but that servicing needs to be fund raised for.  More audit on these needs to be done.  Some discussion on how many we should have given that it is such a wide spread community

         4.5       Community Benefit from Bridge Engineers 

Agreed to go back to the contractors with the suggestions of a Village Noticeboard,  a tarmac parking area for school (subject to Landlord’s consent) and tidy up and tarmac of original hall parking area.

 

5.      Local Place Plan Update  

 

We now intend to:

1. Complete consultation with the community, particularly businesses and land owners, before the end of the year. PS and AOE agreed to complete the survey and encourage staff to do the same. Various members of the steering committee are contacting other businesses and landowners.
2. Progress emerging draft report
3. Hold workshop 6^th January to process consultation results
4. Hold further workshop on 16^th January to progress report
5. Have report completed by mid February for formal consultations with Councillors and adjacent Community Councils

 

 

6.    Roads & Other Issues

         6.1     Cardross Bridge Update 

As per Maria Lucey’s updates.  Work continues but is now 5 weeks behind schedule taking it into March or even April. There has been some extra manpower added but it is unclear if this will make a difference.  Next engagement event is due on 11^th December and BS said she would send out a reminder of this.

         6.2     Traffic and car speeds entering the village 

RA and KH are having ongoing discussions with Angela McGibbon about extending the 30/40mph zones, further reducing some areas to 20mph, getting a flashing speed sign and getting the police to work with the Primary School as they have promised previously.  This last point was not present in the police report. ME suggested adding it to the report it function.   KH asked if the Hidden School Entrance sign as you enter the village from the West can be made permanent and BS agreed to submit that in the form of a joint request from CC and Parent Council.

7.    Financial

         7.1        Statement of accounts – MS

Port of Menteith Community Council  Treasurers Report  9^th December 2024

 

Bank of Scotland Current Account

 

20^th August 2024              Previous Balance                                                                                             £579.04

5^th November 2024         Payments for Wix website (2yrs), domain (3yrs) & gmail (1yr)       £256.51

13^th November 2024       Grant received from Stirling Council                                                        £341.87

9^th December 2024         Current Balance at Bank of Scotland account                                     £664.40

 

Bank of Scotland advised that as from 14^th January 2024 the account will change to a Community Account incurring a £4.25 per month fee plus other bank charges.

MS made an application to Co-op Bank for a Community Directplus account but we are not eligible. So has have made an application to Virgin Bank for a business account for Charities, Clubs and Societies. This has no monthly fees (if less than ten transactions per month) and on line transactions are 0.30p each.  We await a response from Virgin Money. – NOTE All agreed with this course of action.

 

  

8. Correspondence – None

 

9.    Planning & Licensing Issues 

AOE reported that after discussion with  various parties he was happy with the treeworks proposed for both Malling and Rednock.  He had sought and received assurances from the contractors at Malling that the HGV exits would not compromise road safety at the point they join the A81.   

Having only just clarified the location of Thistledome he would investigate the planning application and come back to the CC with any concerns.

 

10. Reports

           10.1 Councillor’s Report                                                              Councillor Martin Earl

• Councillor Earl reported that the last meeting of the year was due to take place on Thursday 12^th It was likely that the overspend from the Department of Social Care – and in particular Adult Social Care – would likely put a strain on money available elsewhere.   
• He advised that as much community engagement as possible should be given in order to add weight to our priorities.
• Christy Clock is going to cost £1million to reinstate so that may be under discussion.
• A visitor levy is in a consultation process at present but could generate significant income. This is already in use in some regions.  This would likely be a small percentage added to accommodation costs.

           10.2 Port Hall Committee Report                                            Kevin Harrison 

1)    The Hall committee are actively participating in the Place Plan engagement programme 2)    The Hall committee have a draft business plan we are working on, hopefully setting out an approach to hall improvements, activity and connecting with the other plans and groups across the area. We will no doubt consult on this and align with information gathered through the PPP process.  3)    We want to thank the Parent Council for their festive interventions and for decorating and tidying the hall for the season. Thanks for the signpost for events, and for the community calendar installation.

We are keen to work with the CC and others to streamline comms, websites, bookings etc. 4)    We also would like to thank the Community Council and particularly Jim who helped draft a funding application for Climate Action with Jodie from the Hall Committee for activity. We hope to hear back on this, and are looking to follow up with an Awards for All Application in due course. There are lots of exciting ideas particularly around a wellbeing festival to tie in with PPP.

• We look forward to further events, the school has booked the hall for PE and we have Christmas Events, and some bookings into the New Year.
• We hope to have our banking up and running now and will be looking to set an AGM date before the end of January. Thanks so to all the new trustees, and all the other residents who are building enthusiasm for the Hall.
• We are still awaiting paperwork and details for the Briskona fast broadband internet but hope to hear from the Council before Christmas, as installation was mooted for early 2025.

NOTE  Discussion continued about the possibility of a booking app and BS said she would look to see if there was a suitable one from Wix (the website builder).  

AOE advised that they had used a company called Konnect to install chargers for electric vehicles etc.

 

 

           10.3 Carse of Stirling Project Group Report                        Jim Riach

JR reported that the group held it’s AGM in November and currently has a funding application in to involve all communities in a carse-wide project…

 

           10.4 Strathard & Trossachs Visitor Mgmt                             Jim Riach

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park passed the Strathard and Trossachs (which includes PoM) Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan at their June Board meeting. CC members are encouraged to read this as it has funding implications for the Community and the Village Hall in identifying some spacial plans and suggestions for future development. Councillor Earl advised that the RTIF funding would re-open in 2025.

        

           10.5 Port Church & Cemetery                                                    Robin Armstrong 

 

RA reported that Christmas service sheet had been circulated and the church was being decorated on 16^th December.  Discussion with the school elicited the suggestion that school visit the church after it is decorated.  RA to co-ordinate.

 

 

           10.6 NPA Report & Entry Sign progress                                                 David Mackie

 

• JR advised DM that officer Craig Gavinigan came out and surveyed the site for a sign and Matt Buckland had told him that this was now going to be progressed, hopefully before Easter 2025.
• DM said he had been in the job for 2 years and was keen to emphasise the passion of park staff.
• By-laws are about to come into place to modify conduct and speeds on Loch Lomond.
• Bracklinn Falls bridge has won an award.
• West Highland Way now has its own trust set up to deal with repairs along its route.
• Park visitors down by 10% last year. Litter down 17%.
• Trossachs Explorer deemed a success with 5000 users and they are hoping to get funding in place to continue this next year.
• KH asked about joining up the route in a circular fashion from Callander to Aberfoyle via PoM but ME suggested it would likely need to be better embedded before they can look at expansion.
• JR pointed out that with Inchmahome getting 20k visitors a year there was considerable traffic in PoM.

 

           10.7 School Report                                                                        Ben Outterside 

Port School Report for Port of Menteith Community Council meeting 9^th December 2024

 

• The school is planning to have more collaboration and engagement with the village hall with plans for the pupils to plant some trees, hold more events like the Christmas fair, an annual ceilidh, amongst other planned events. The school has extended there hire of the hall for P.E sessions to all year round and not just the winter months as the weather is so unpredictable.

 

• The School/kirk BBQ was another success making funds in excess of £2000 with as always a portion of the total amount being donated to the village Kirk. The school plan to use funds to continually improve the schools outdoor learning and give the pupils more opportunity’s and experiences.

 

• The Parent council are continuing to hold the Mini mornings which is a free event aimed at nursery and primary school children to help promote the school. We have found this successful and it has so far brought three family’s from outside the catchment to join our school off the back of there experience at the events.

 

• The school role is currently sitting at 13 pupils which is up on the predicted figure of 9 pupils for this year. We will not have any pupils leave for high school this year and there will also be a intake in August so the numbers will increase again this coming summer.

 

• Police Scotland have now visited the school to discuss road safety with the older pupils (P4 to P7) but we are still waiting on a date for them to return and conduct speed checks on the roadside. Could the CC again help push for this please.

 

• The parent council have raised concerns that the speed camera van does not ever seem to visit the village, we feel it is found to be spending a vast amount of time on the A811, where it could be beneficial to also cover the smaller ‘through villages’ where speeding is also found to be rife. Could we please have assistance from the CC to push for this.

 

• The School Parent Council organised a Christmas tree kindly donated by Duff Trees at Buchlyvie and have decorated the village hall ahead of the fair on 7^th December 2424 which will also be left up for the duration of the festive season.

 

• The Parent Council is organising a village Ceilidh for 18^th Jan 2025 in the hall.

 

• There has been a temporary sign put up to the west of the village informing drivers of the hidden school entrance over the blind summit could it be put to the council that this is made into a

 

           10.8 Police Report                                                                          Donald King

 

Attached.  Discussions around the report noted that chainsaws were stolen from Cardross on the same night the quad bike was stolen but this had not been reported.  

Also noted that the white van (Reg: EX[?]68 WMP) that crashed into the sign on the day of the Blether/LPP Engagement Day had not been reported.  ME suggested we did report it.

ME suggested calling Andy Bushell to progress speed checks particularly in relation to the school.

         10.9        Forestry and Land Scotland                                         Julie McAlpine 

 

          Attached and no comment made                                

 

11. Any Other Business

 

11.1 Minute Taker – ME suggested contacting Andy Mackintosh at Strathyre to find out who their new minute taker is.

11.2 Fridge in layby at West Malling – needs reporting.  BS can do.

11.3 Road edges precipitous between Blairhoyle and Ruskie and also at Lochend on the bend – needs reporting.  ME suggested going via Report It in the first instance and back to him if no joy.

11.4 AOE asked about protocol for getting B8034 gritted and how often it should be done and who to contact if it is not.  ME reported back that it was a Priority 1 road although it is currently being done very intermittently by a contractor.  ME advised that it should be reported if it is not gritted

 

12. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting : Monday 17^th February 2025.  7pm Port of Menteith Village Hall