Cornton Community Council
Minutes of the meeting held on
30th April 2025
In the Allan Centre, Bridge of Allan
Minute status: APPROVED
Community Councillors Present
Charles Russell (Chair) CR, Shona Cullen (Secretary) SC, Rose Curley (Treasurer) RC, Aleahya Stevenson AS.
Apologies
Chris Burns, Scott MacArthur SMcA, Sarah Jane Welsh SJW
Also in attendance
Caroline Stewart (Minute taker), Dianna Stevenson DS, Councillor McGill
Abbreviations
Cornton Community Council – CCC; Stirling Council SC; Support for Families - S4F
Item Number
Notes
Actions
01
Welcome, Apologies, and Conflicts of Interest
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies were received from Chris Burns, who is on holiday, Scott MacArthur, who is on call from work, and Sarah Jane Welsh, who emailed her apologies earlier in the day.
There were no conflicts of interest declared
02
Adoption of minutes for previous meetings on 26th March 2025
An amendment was requested to the Co-option section of the 26 March draft minutes. Based on this amendment, the minutes were:
Proposed by AS
Seconded by RC
03
Matters Arising and Actions
Nothing discussed
Page 2 of 5
04
Co-option of new Cornton CC member
One person has applied for nomination – Diane Stevenson, and her application has been approved and sent to SC. Nominations are open until the 21st of May, and there will be an election after the AGM.
05
Planters Project update
The Licence Agreement has been accepted and is with the SC legal department. All insurances are in place. We are now waiting for the scaffolding to be removed from the front of the community centre. After this happens, CR and SMcA will install the planters.
There will then be a campaign for volunteers to maintain the community planters.
06
Cornton Community resident engagement survey/LPP
The chair advised that the CC should consider various channels for engaging with the community, including paper surveys, door-to-door, and social media. He asked the CC to have ideas to bring to the next meeting.
The community café will be up and running and will be used as one of the bases for engagement.
Bring ideas on ways to engage to the next meeting.
07
Community Development Department – E-Bulletin.
Paper copies were distributed.
The chair advised that the publication comes out monthly.
He reviewed some topics covered, including the Community Empowerment Review.
This is a legal framework to promote and encourage community empowerment and participation.
The Scottish Government recently reviewed it, which is available online.
A range of other topics was also covered, including support for young carers and funding.
There was a discussion about Community Space Improvement Grants. Information on this was passed to Cornton Nursery to apply for funding, and the CC has offered support with the application.
The chair provided paper handouts of Play Scotland, VISION for PLAY for Scotland over the next 5 years.
The illustration includes tools the CC can use to communicate with young people.
Etive Place – Councillor McGill asked if there was an update. A meeting was held with the office bearers, Councillor Nunn and Chris Burns, and discussions are ongoing.
Page 3 of 5
Stathcarron Hospice's Big Birthday Tea will be held for the over-50s on 15th May 2025 in Cornton Community Centre.
08
Cornton Youth Group 2025
AS met with CR to discuss other things that could be done for young people aged 12 to 20 in Cornton.
There was a discussion about using Instagram to communicate with and survey young people to learn more about what they are looking for in the community.
AS also suggested improving the youth club, making it available to all ages, and offering more activities, such as sports and crafts.
The library is a good space, but young children, not teenagers, mainly use it.
ShC suggested AS engage with S4F as they can provide resources to Cornton.
There was a discussion about the resources available in the community centre and activities in other libraries around Stirling.
It was agreed that the CC would email Active Stirling and Chris Burns to ask about the tennis table, etc., and ask for the Youth Participation team to visit Cornton.
The chair will also arrange for an Instagram account to be set up for the CC.
We have two green spaces that the CC has been trying to acquire for the past 18 months.
The CC will write to SC to ask permission to use Etive Place for public events.
Sent an email to Active Stirling and Chris Burns to ask about the tennis table etc and to arrange for the youth participation team to visit
The CC will write to SC to ask permission to use Etive Place for public events.
09
Cornton Public Realm – removal of waste bins
Six waste bins are missing in Cornton, which are managed by SC.
Residents have been putting unauthorised waste in them, so they have been removed.
The Chair will write to CC enquiries to get an explanation and try to get the bins reinstated.
The CC is to write to the CC to inquire about getting an explanation.
10
Community Residents Voice
Some residents approached the chair after a three-year-old boy escaped from the park.
The fencing is missing, and the access gates have been broken for a long time, which can affect kids’ safety.
The chair will add to the SC enquiry.
The chair will add to the SC enquiry and ask SC for
Page 4 of 5
Replies are received within 10 days.
The flower plot at the end of the shops, which has been looked after by a local resident, requires new plants.
The chair will write to SC to ask if they can help with plants.
support with plants
11
Fundraising
Stirling lottery is very slow. There have been some updates this week. Once the planters are in place and the CC is seen doing things, hopefully, this will increase uptake.
12
Police Report
No report has been received.
13
Interim Chair Report
Copy of an email received by CC. Shared with Members.
Over the past few months, the CC have been speaking to Stirling and Clacks Development Fund regarding funding.
The chair has asked for an update on the application and was advising that the date for the next round of funding is still to be confirmed. Applications are in two stages.
The first stage is to provide details of the project, with an estimated cost, and then advice will be given on eligibility.
Four other areas have been identified: Johnstone Avenue, Strathmore Drive walking precinct, Strathmore Drive (82-100) green space in front of the school, Cornton Road, and the tree area in front of the school, which can undergo some form of landscaping improvements.
SMcA and CR have reviewed it and come up with some ideas.
They will start putting ideas together and then speak to residents.
(A letter from PLUS Forth Valley Stirling was distributed to the member.)
The chair met yesterday (Tuesday) with Karen Sweeney, the CEO of PLUS, who gave an update. PLUS, now has full ownership of ‘The Hub’, car park, green space, and roadside car park, an all-new car park area for the general public.
A section of the large car park is shared with SPS for their staff.
They will invest in developing the property and are keen to work with and partner with the Cornton community.
Karen is keen to meet with the CC.
14
Treasurers Report
Everything is in place and ready for the AGM.
Page 5 of 5
15
Secretary’s Report
Waiting for emails to come back
Scot Africa doesn’t have an email
Green Chillies waiting on them getting back
The library have an email
Pharmacy to come back with an email
Building a database of the groups and organisations in the community and email addresses.
16
Planning and Licensing
Nothing to report
17
Elected Councillors Report
Councillor McGill gave an update:
At tomorrow's council meeting, Councillor Thomson has asked for the taxi situation in Stirling to be included on the agenda.
The main other issue is ongoing cuts due to budget decisions.
18
Stirling Council’s report
No report received.
19
AOCB
No other business
Next meeting
The next meeting will be at 7 pm on 28th May 2025 at Cornton Community Centre.
Plus CCC AGM May 2025.