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Callander Community Council
Approved Minutes of the meeting Monday 17th March 2025
Venue: CYP, Callander 7.00-9.00pm
Community Councillors present: John Kennedy (JK), Marilyn Moore (MM), David Moore (DM),
Fiona Kerr (FK), Ruth Barrie (RB), David King (DK), Loucas George (LG), David Shearer (DS)
Also in attendance: Caroline Stewart (CS), minute taker, Richard Johnson (RJ) (National Park Board
Member), Lorna Deans (LD), Police Scotland plus 2 members of the public in person and 1 person
online.
Apologies: Olga Watkins (OW), David Shearer (DS), Robert MacLean (RM), Gene Maxwell (GM)
(Ward Councillor), Chiara Fingland (CF), (Development Officer),
Abbreviations: All in attendance will be referred to by their initials.
CCC = Callander Community Council; CE = Callander Enterprise; CCDT = Callander Community
Development Trust; SC = Stirling Council; LPP = Local Place Plan; NP = Loch Lomond and the
Trossachs National Park; FLS= Forestry and Land Scotland; FOI = Freedom of Information; CC =
Community Councillors, St.K = St Kessogs, BoD = Braes of Doune Community Fund
Chair of Meeting: John Kennedy (JK)
Item Action
1. Introduction, Apologies and Meeting Procedures
JK welcomed everyone to the March meeting. Apologies had been received from
OW, DS, RMcL, GM and CF. One member of the public joined the meeting online.
JK advised that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of minute taking.
2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the February meeting had been sent out and everyone had the
chance to read them. RJ requested an amendment to the information he had
provided regarding the Trossachs Explorer. Based on this change the minutes were
proposed by LG and seconded by RB.
3. Police Report
LD from Police Scotland was present at the meeting and went through the report.
The report covered the period between 14th February and 14th March. The main
points of the report were:
There have been issues with anti-social behaviour.
Two fires have been reported at the derelict property at Gart farm which is
being used as a hang out by older children.
There have also been two arrests with regards to road safety issues, one
person was issued with a vehicle defect ticket, and the other driver was
stopped due to careless driving, the vehicle was checked and found to have
no valid MOT and therefore was issued with a fixed penalty ticket.
A male entered a premises in Callander and carried out theft. He was
identified by CCTV and appeared at court.
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Over the period the police have received calls about bogus callers attending
properties in Callander offering maintenance and gardening work.
There was a question about a recent incident at McLaren High school, LD
advised she was unbale to divulge any further information with regards to
this matter.
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
RJ advised that a report was presented to the NP on the performance of the
Trossachs Explorer. The NP feel that the bus was a success and are working
to try and make sure it runs again this season. Funding is the major issue.
The NP are willing to invest some money but also need other sources of
funding. Ideally, they would like to have guaranteed funding to ensure it
runs long term.
A letter was sent to SC regarding reduction in hours of the local cleaner. It
was felt the reply from SC was unsatisfactory and another letter has been
sent. Councillor Earl has also written a letter and was advised that Colin
was only every in Callander temporarily and SC have now gone back to their
original arrangement. It is unclear what else can be done. LG proposed that
the CC, go back to SC and ask for additional resources due to the additional
litter in the town during tourism season and write a letter to SEPA with
regards to the environmental and health issues. It was agreed that MM & JK
will meet and write a letter asking for additional resources and to SEPA
highlighting issues with health and hygiene. RB raised the issue with the
barriers on the bench. RMCL has written to and had replies from SC.
Stephen Bly is involved and will keep chasing up the matter
There was a long conversation with regards to the CC taking on part of the
lease of Callander Connect. It was agreed that Freddie will be invited to the
next meeting to present the facts around the performance of Callander
Connect and any decisions will be deferred until then. JK will write to
Freddie and Alison inviting them to come and present at the next meeting
and the CC will prepare questions they want to ask in advance. A member
of the public highlighted that an alternative needs to be available if the CC
decide not to provide support as it is the only venue locally that community
groups such as scouts can use free of charge.
JK & MM to
meet a write
a letter to SC
asking for
additional
resources
and SEPA
Invite Freddy
Bowen-Bate
& Alison Boa
to next
meeting
5. Special Items
Callander Citizen of the Year
The Callander Citizen of the Year award was awarded to RMcL. He wasn’t present
at the meeting therefore FK will email him and let him know he has won the award
which will be presented at the next meeting.
St Kessogs
The building is now up for sale. The subgroup is looking at ways to keep the
building for community use, but this is proving difficult. In the meantime, the
condition of the building continues to deteriorate. A member of the public asked
for a letter to be sent to SC highlighting that they have a duty to look after the
JK & MM to
meet to
decide who is
appropriate
contact.
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building as it is a listed building. It was asked if the CC could approach other organisations such as Historic Scotland to put pressure on SC. MM & JK will meet and discuss who are the best people to contact
New Procedure - Dealing with Requests, Enquiries and Complaints
OW has asked that no decision is made until she is present, JK has looked at draft
prepared by MM and OW that takes in experience of other CC, has been
distributed to everyone on the CC, amended version will go out before
next meeting and OW to add comments. **
** MM emailed an amendment to JK original comments as OW wasn’t present at
the meeting this was mentioned in the meeting but not publicly recorded by the
Chair. The original group of people drafting the current procedure was DM, MM
and Stephen Bly of SC. It will be based on other CC procedures. The draft version
was then circulated to the full CC for comments, amendments and change. OW did
not receive the email via the google group so was resent separately but was not
able to comment prior to the meeting.
6. Questions from Members of the Public
A member of the public asked for a draft copy of the document around
dealing with requests to be put on display in Callander Connect to give the
public the opportunity to view it. There was also a request for paper copies.
RB advised that Ancaster Road is being used more due to issues on the
Main Street. The road is not being salted regularly, and more people are
parking. RB asked if the road is likely to be upgraded. JK will follow up with
DS and RMcL.
JK to follow
up with DS &
RMcL re:
Ancaster
Road
7. LPP/Callander Connect
CF wasn’t present at the meeting but had submitted the development report:
The CC will work with the Development Trust on a case-by-case basis as any
agreement between the two parties has not been formalised or discussed.
Applied for the Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund to support further work on
the Meadows Masterplan, specifically around Biodiversity. The deadline for
submission was 3
rd March and a decision is due in April.
Climate SEED Fund - The Flood Bus visited the Meadows today and there
was valuable information provided on flood protection of residential
properties.
A walkaround has been arranged with SC officers, Drew Leslie and David
Hopper and will take place in April. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss
key challenges and opportunities including St. K’s. the existing Primary
School, Pedestrian bridge. LG will be in attendance.
LPP priority update including the pedestrian footbridge, safe walking routes
etc. A letter of support has been sent to support the Business Justification
Case with the support of a wide range of community organisations.
Meadow’s masterplan materials on display in Callander Connect to raise
awareness of the project and to seek funding and partnership opportunities
for developing the various strands of work.
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Main street – MM will cover in her report
8. Reports from office bearers
Chair
Nothing to report
Planning
JK went through the planning report and highlighted there were four items
included. There was one item of concern which was an application for a 2-storey
extension at Balgibbon Drive. The main concern was that it might cut of parking.
This has been investigated further and this isn’t the case.
Secretary
Regeneration of Main Street - had a final quote for the upgrading of around 15
shop fronts. The quote and signed contract have been submitted to SC An application has also been made to the hydro fund grant for 5 shop signs.
Loss of landlines - BT are holding a drop-in session on 16th May between 10am
and 4pm, Councillor Earl also involved in looking at what will happen when the
telephone mast is removed.
Local fire service is involved in fundraising for the cleaning of the phone box on
Camp Place.
St K ‘s heard from LG already.
Camp Place benches, awaiting response from SC, MM has written on numerous occasions, asked for a quote which hasn’t been received.
Treasurer – The balance is £2257.54, however a large sum of this is committed to work on Camp Place. Bank of Scotland are now charging £4.25 per
month for each account. It was raised that RB was voted on as treasurer in May
2024 but still hasn’t started in the role. MM is still working on last year accounts before she can pass over to RB.
Roads
RMcL and DS not present. A copy of the report was received from RMcL and DS
everything on the report completed, all up to date
Licensing
Nothing to report
Stirling Council
Councillor Maxwell wasn’t present but had submitted a report
Anti-social behaviour in town, Councillor Maxwell has already met with Police
and Council Housing staff about this issue. He will also be raising concerns
about the Councils allocations process and to ensure tenants abide by their tenancy agreements.
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St K’s is now on the market and there are concerns about its future.
Main subject within the council and for residents is the budget.
National Park
NP budget was approved by the board last week, headline funding is the same
as previous years.
Nature Restoration Fund is being reinstated in the next financial year which will
allow the NP to undertake major nature restoration projects.
LDP still progressing – The board are promoting 2 main areas, firstly the restoration of peat lands and of nature in urban areas, in order to improve natural
habitats to bring back bird lives etc.
Natural Environment bill which is going through the Scottish Parliament. This
will change the targets for nature restoration include the management of wild
deer.
Cornish gold mine, new investors coming in, will open and start production
again
9. AOCB
There has been communication from a resident of the Mollands regarding
the lack of public transport. She has asked the CC oof they were able to
speak to the bus company about reinstating the two buses that used to
cover this area, as people are struggling to get to Dr appointments etc. RB
previously attended the focus group for the C60 and MM also attended but
not had an invite recently.
RJ is making progress with the work on St.K’s graveyard. Currently waiting
on a licence from SC and developing a list of volunteers and potential
contractors who will come into to do addition work.
A public procession notification has been received on behalf of Cancer
Research. The procession will take place on 17th May between 730am & 830
pm. They have gained permission from the NP and Forestry Scotland and no
objections were raised.
Update on duck feeder – NP preplanning has come back with a list of
objections to the preferred location. LG asked for more information on the
cement plinth behind St K’s as he felt this would be perfect for the duck
feeder – this may have been the site of a previous bench.
10. Date of the Next Meeting 21St April 2025