Raploch Community Council meeting
10th February 2026
Raploch Community Campus
Present: Barry Hughes (Chair) BH Isabella Low IL, Liz Kettrick LK Hilary Makhatholela HM, Gill Christie GC, Graham Slade GS, Mary McKinlay MMcK and 3 residents.
Jeannie Watson, Community Development Officer Stirling Council.
Max Hislop, Treelink
Nick Bowen, Landscape Architect
Councillor Rachel Nunn
Caroline Stewart – Minute taker
Apologies: None received
1. Welcome, apologies & Conflicts of Interest
No apologies received and no conflicts of interest declared. However, BH advised that he is a resident of Highland Gate, therefore would declare any conflicts of interest with regards to the Treelink presentation if required.
2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the December meeting were proposed by MMcK and seconded by HM.
No matter arising from the previous minutes
Action: There was a request for the minute taker to amend the format of the minutes to highlight actions and owners.
3. Co-option of new members
The Chair advised that Susan Currie has stepped down from her roles as Vice Chair and Treasurer and he will try and recruit around the community to fill these vacancies. It is important that the vacancy for a Treasurer is filled, and the CC get the bank account up and running. There was a discussion about the number of CCs required, currently have 9 and the maximum is normally 10.
Actions: JW to check if the Treasurer needs to be a member of the CC and to arrange a sub meeting with IL and MMK to get bank account set up.
4. Treelink Presentation
Max Hislop came along from Treelink to give a presentation. Max had also attended the December meeting as Treelink have secured funding through Inspire Scotland to develop proposals for a nature park. Max highlighted that the money is not for delivery but to be used to develop proposals for the land around the Kildean Loop. Nick Bowen, local Architect was also in attendance as he has been tasked with developing the proposals. He is keen to get the views of people who live in the Kildean Loop to find out what they would like to see for the site moving forward. Nick spoke through the display boards he had brough along and advised that a link has also been set up on the Treelink website for comments and ideas.
Nick was keen to highlight that the project is not necessarily about trees. The aim is to start from understanding the site and how people use it. STRAVA is being used to look at what people currently do on the site. The display looks at the what the site is, its views and history, as well as the habitats, grasslands and the potential of the site. There are also images from similar environments with ideas of what can be provided. The display boards include a QR code which people can scan, and they will be taken directly to the online resource. The site has been launched today on the Treelink website. There is a community planting event, planed for 1st March, still awaiting final sign off. The event will allow residents to see the display boards as well as get involved in tree planting and engage in conversation. The plan is to plants around 200 trees on the day. Once the consultation has taken placed, Nick will come back with concept design and get feedback, with the website being updated throughout. The plan is that the whole project is completed by early summer 2025.
Action: Nick Bowen to send link to website to Councillor Nunn for communication team to distribute.
5. Chair’s Report
- Space on Emergency First Aid training course tomorrow (11th February) at Inspiring Communities between 9am and 3pm.
- Councillor Gibson has been involved with the empty property at 13 Beatty Ave. SC now own it and work is underway to renovate it.
- Sainsburys lights, not maintained along the path. Councillor Nunn has struggled to make any progress with this issue.
- The chair was approached before Christmas by Vinnie and Bella who are keen to offer support to have a Christmas tree in Raploch. Vinnie has a contact who can supply the tree. The plan is to have it outside Raploch campus on the mound. The chair was keen to check with the CC of they were happy to go ahead with the idea in principle.
Action: BH to check with JW around what needs to be done to make this happen and then feedback to Bella and Vinnie
6. Treasurer’s Report
There is currently a vacancy for Treasurer, so no one present.
MMCK had brought along the last 2 bank statements, and nothing had changed.
Action: BH to speak to Susan to get the cheque book back and also to get cheque for minute taking
7. Councillor’s Report
Councillor Nunn did not have a report prepared but gave an update:
- SC are currently reviewing the booking process for community venues and are putting together a report which should be available by the end of March.
- Lots of work going on regarding the budget, no decision made yet, lots of transformation workshop taking place looking at how SC can do things differently.
- Councillor Nunn is currently the Convenor of the Public Safety Committee. She highlighted that the police are pulling back from attending CC meetings as they need to be out on patrol, therefore they are putting together reports that cover a wider area. Councillor Nunn suggested that everyone look at public safety committee papers, which are provided by the police to Councillors. They include all crime statistics and insight.
- Review of hedge cutting, Conveyor to look at it, Concluder Nunn will follow this up, raised a motion with regards to this
Action: Councillor Nunn will send the link to BH
8. Police Report
The chair received apologies from Police Scotland, but they had submitted a report. He went through the main points of the report. PC Greg Lowry has now returned to the area as a Community Police Officer. The Police have recently completed a bike security exercise in Stirling town centre and Councillor Nunn advised if the CC are interested in having a similar event she can help to organise it. There was a discussion about having a joint event with Recykabike
9. Raploch Community Development Plan
- GC has had support from JW and the final survey is ready to go. SC are providing support to print 200 paper copies, and the survey monkey is ready to be activated. The plan is to leave 50 paper copies of the survey at the reception of the campus along with a return box. GC will also canvas across Raploch. The deadline to return the survey is 24th
- JW will liaise with GC and copy BH in regarding progress and send summary to BH once the survey monkey ends.
- GC will write a draft of development plan, read and approved by all members of CC and will then be lodged with SC.
- BH will promote through Raploch Through the years page.
AOCB
- Housing office approached Councillor Nunn, regarding consultation for planting in Raploch. JW has also been approached regrading a visit to the CC but need to clarify further so will send on email correspondence.
- Substation going up on Woodside Road, on the river side, surface area of 25 square meters. Councillor Nunn has further information regarding height and location. She advised that planning permission is not required as it is infrastructure, a lot of housing in the area belong to SC who are installing PV batteries onto the houses. The electricity network cannot take
cope with the demand therefore the substation is required so the work can be completed. Councillor Nunn will share any feedback.
- It was requested that BH send an email to CC enquiries regarding streetlights that are out on Drip Road
- Councillor Nunn has been consulting with Sharon Marklow, SC Head of Planning, Sharon is happy with the plans for the war memorial. The planning application has been completed and submitted by Councillor Nunn, currently awaiting planning permission. Mick and John have lots of fundraising ideas once planning permission has been granted.
- HM, JW and GW recently walked along the river to get orientated with the local area.
- BH highlighted the article he had completed for The Courier about Raploch.
- Max Hislop advised that there are only twenty-five trees left that are currently being distributed as part of the free nut and fruit trees, project for Raploch and Bannockburn
Action: JW to send email re: visit to CC to BH. Councillor Nunn to provide information re: substation.
Date and time of next meeting Monday 10th March 2025.