Minutes Approved: 04 FEB 25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
Drymen Community Council Ordinary Meeting Tuesday 05 November 2024
7pm Drymen Village Hall
Meeting chaired by: Rebekah MacDonald [RM]
Present: Rebekah MacDonald [RM], Simon Reid [SPR], Jakki Sendall [JS], Maja McTavish [MM], Fraser Robb [FR], Dawn Connor [DC]
Apologies: Louise MacFarlane [LM], Rhona Camichael [RC]
Ex Officio: Councillor Gerry McGarvey [GM]
Agenda
Apologies
1.
Minutes of the last ordinary Meeting
2.
Voting on new co-opted member
3.
Ask your councillor
4.
Police Matter
5.
Village Hall Update
6.
Library Update
7.
Planning
8.
DCDT Update
9.
Gala Day Report
10.
Treasurer’s Report
11.
Roads & general maintenance
12.
Community Transport Working Group update
13.
Any other competent business
14.
Date of next meeting
Minutes of the last ordinary Meeting
Approval of minutes of Tuesday 01 October 2024 Drymen Village Hall.
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Proposed by: SPR Seconded by: MM
Voting on new co-opted member
Application from Dawn Connor for new DCC member with responsibility for planning issues
Unanimous vote to co-opt new member by DCC members present
Ask your councillor
Councillor Gerry McGarvey
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Sad news regarding the Council Leader and council member of 43 years, Margaret Brisley, who passed away week past Sunday, Gerry now acting on her behalf as Deputy Leader.
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The latest of multiple consultations on the 2025 Council budget due to end in about a fortnight
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Hopefully ends can be met with funds provided by the £4.4bn extra alloted to Scotland in Rachel Reeves’ 30th October 2024 budget.
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Cllr McGarvey urges DCC and everyone to speak out now.
Page2 of 6
Minutes Approved: 04FEB25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
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Conversation on Stirling Road Planning application, need for lobbying of the National Park to make planning application occur quicker rather than be delayed significantly. Councillor asks for any action on behalf of DCC planning officer to be within a day or two.
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Conversation on the state of pavements, especially on Main Street coming up to the school and on the possibility of them being repaved. Requests have been made on safety issues on these pavements to the Council. Councillor suggests a SC officer to come to investigate the safety of Drymen’s pavements. ‘Old’ Balmaha Road is very unsafe for pedestrians, especially more elderly pedestrians. The pavement from the Square to the church is also very dangerous, an officer needs to be out to investigate its safety. Separately, DCDT have recently repaved the road at Square.
Police Matter
Report received from PC Matt McCammon. Fortunately, it was very short this month.
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Online shopping accounts of local residents were fraudulently used which resulted in the said resident’s credit score being negatively affected.
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Road Safety inquiry on Careless driving.
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Road Safety inquiry on collision with white van.
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Perpetrator left the scene before car insurance details were exchanged
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Road Safety inquiry on collision with parked vehicles.
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Perpetrator left the scene before car insurance details were exchanged
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Fraud cases are of significance since Fraudulent crime is on the rise, especially elderly residents are more at risk, and PC McCammon presented a Fraud prevention evening a month ago.
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Share information online or via posters around the village. Action: SPR & JS
Village Hall Update
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£5,000 coming into the village hall for general running costs from Foyle Foundation.
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£5,000 came from Stafford Trust, earmarked for the wage of Hall Coordinator.
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~£1,000 raised from live music night. Thanks to Brian & Julian Garvey
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Issues with some Radiators in the Hall ongoing.
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Chance of keeping Hall for financial reasons looking okay, but unclear because of the likely expense of the electricity bill especially this winter.
Library Update
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Library bookbug and Fabric fun craft sessions being held in Village Hall Fortnightly, to the benefit of younger community members.
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DCC is in talks with council for using part of a lesser hall in Drymen. Both Stirling Council, DCC and Village Hall committee are keen to have library services in the village. Council is looking for corporate line to be installed so they can run its computer system in the Hall. Line ordered by Stirling Council but delivery could take 5 months. Hopes this will fulfil temporary need for a library service in Drymen though nonetheless a more permanent solution is desired.
Page3 of 6
Minutes Approved: 04FEB25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
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Councillor McGarvey highlights the creative solutions being proposed to solve library issues across the council, particularly praising the ingenuity of the solution in Drymen.
Planning Update
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Springfield /MacMic held a meeting with DCDT and DCC with regard to its proposed development on Stirling Road. Fresh application needed for development of 55 houses, this has included 3 new consultations carried out over the summer. Fresh application is expected to be submitted within 3 weeks. The Application does not include for affordable housing, however. it does include for options where 33% of houses will have Rural Stirling Housing Association as landlord. However, there was a brief discussion as to whether RSHA has the funds to finance these homes.
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Community benefits discussed with Springfield property, including contribution to Drymen Primary school and possibility of public toilet facility. It was noted that Financial feasibility of toilets up in the air due to National Park doubts. However independent studies conducted on the financial feasibility concluded that a good toilet facility could fund itself with entry fees due to the flow of tourists through Drymen. Grievances expressed on the delays and lack of results regarding public toilets in the village. McGarvey also highlights that most local authorities will try to avoid taking on any additional financial responsibilities but will instead try to facilitate access to funding opportunities. Various methods of funding discussed for public toilets. Staffing issues discussed due to expense of staffing toilets (with paid employees or volunteers), especially with the sheer volume of tourists flowing through Drymen in the summer which would require daily cleaning.
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Discussion of Springfield further down the line potentially providing a cash sum to the community of Drymen for community developments. Community Survey suggested to be used to decide use of hypothetical cash sum. Delays in Springfield due to National Park officers being bogged down with Balloch flamingo land applications for the past 5 years.
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McGarvey highlights the community has in the past made it clear what is in the community’s interest.
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Suggested requirement could be made in a new planning application for Springfeild to provide a hypothetical cash sum for community benefit at the start of development. However, doubts raised over Springfield delivering any such community benefits due to Springfield’s claims having no obligation in planning to do so (especially due to the expressed cynicism of developers regarding responsibility of community benefits).
Conclusively, the most likely possibility of a public toilets facility is through a community benefit scheme with Springfield property, especially with the compelling argument from the influx of traffic and tourists in the Village.
DCDT Update
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Roads around the village square have finally resurfaced. Benches around the square were also managed to be stripped and treated.
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Hedges on footpath up to old schoolhouse trimmed.
Page4 of 6
Minutes Approved: 04FEB25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
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Christmas tree lights are scheduled to be lit at the Square on Sunday 1st December.
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McGarvey mentions council efforts to provide Wreaths for all communities for memorial service for Remembrance Sunday on 11th November. DCC in process of providing wreaths for Brownies and Girl Guides.
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Village’s Advent windows discussed.
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War memorial still hasn’t been fixed even though damage was raised a year ago.
Gala Day Report
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Date of 7th June 2025 is unconfirmed and back under discussion. Hopefully by December 2024 a definite date will be confirmed.
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The Scout’s Marquee, traditionally used for the Gala, requires new poles being acquired following damages at the Bridge of Allan.
Treasurer’s Report
Current balance $5,653.86
MM Gave an overview of the DCC Bank Balance
Roads & general maintenance
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An Overview of which roads are to be closed locally was given.
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Reminder that any issues regarding roads but also fly tipping, potholes, anti-social behaviour and uncollected bins can be made to the council.
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Survey and vegetation work on Gartness road took place on 8th October.
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Repair to the island at Buchanan Arms: repair was undertaken as the Island was damaged. Council advised they were not aware of any previous correspondence of the Island being unsafe.
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Pavement safety - Gartness road down to the Church and from the square to Drymen Health Centre: this has been raised with the Council questioning whether or not they will undertake a survey of the pavements in Drymen to identify if any others are deemed unsafe or if we have to provide additional details.
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Lack of pavement on Balmaha road is problematic, especially due to the systematic speeding of drivers on that road.
Discussions on speeding and speeding prevention methods on that particular road, among other roads.
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Possibility of lower speed limit being imposed, success of DCC in helping impose 20mph speed zones in particular places in the village mentioned.
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Also potential possibility of installing flashing signs saying “slow down” in areas with speeding. DCDT highlights lack of official data in Drymen to warrant signs. Although the argument to install such speeding prevention methods is nonetheless strong.
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40mph speed limit request all the way up to Balmaha itself. Although there is the argument that such a speed limit could frustrate regular local drivers and cause more issues than it would solve. The argument also exists that there are enough irregular & unfamiliar drivers of roads around Drymen, such as tourist drivers, to warrant imposing such speed limits.
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DCDT could provide data to help with any such measures.
Page5 of 6
Minutes Approved: 04FEB25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
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DCC is generally in favour of installing flashing signs on 3 main entrances to the village. Speed bumps also proposed for entrances to Balmaha road, where speeding is worst, however consultation may be necessary for installation. Point raised that there is not majority support for speed bumps within the village.
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Points raised that railings on Stirling Road require maintenance. Residents reminded that reporting such issues to the council is more effective than raising the issue to the DCC. Point also made that the more reports by residents made the more effective. Planning permission already granted for work on pavement opposite shops on main street due to fencing beginning to lean and fall down slope. DCC will contact owners of the site to fix the issue of fencing along pavement due to safety issues of pedestrians falling down slopes.
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Trees overhanging pavement on main street are also an issue.
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Point raised that Council has no intention of ever removing chicane at entrance to Drymen on the main street.
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Village fed up with the numerous near accidents at chicane due to speeding on entrances to the village. Grievances raised over issues that could be caused by increase in traffic by Springfeild housing developments near village entrance onto bypass. Grievances also raised over council inaction to respond to residents willing to fund repair of war memorial and installation of benches.
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Village vote hypothetically proposed to decide on installation of speeding prevention measures.
Community Transport Working Group update
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Order of Malta dial a journey for hospital appointments available on 2 weeks’ notice. Council to find out more and if Drymen residents are eligible. A contact name has been provided and awaiting a reply.
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Connections with other villages and the sustainable Transport Team are forming a Rural Transport Focus Group. DCC will share more info when they hear more.
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Demand responsive Taxis. workshop to be held but all communities have reported issues with workshops.
Any other competent business
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Stirling Junior Gaelic choir for P1-P6s has started in Stirling on Mondays 5-6pm.
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Forth Valley Health Service would like or insist residents to call 111 before attending the minor injuries clinic for residents to be provided with an appointment. Call non-necessary although recommended to avoid waiting at clinic.
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Lots of surveys going on over next few months, closing day for 17th November about raising council tax to help close Council budget gaps.
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Stirling university contacted DCC for a survey of residents' Private water supplies.
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Free tickets available for Historic Scotland days.
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Trossachs Search and rescue, recognised by Council board.
Page6 of 6
Minutes Approved: 04FEB25
Proposed by: SPR
Seconded by: RM
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New Bylaws available for boat owners on the Loch.
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Action plan to counter Anti-social behaviour at Milarrochy bay.
Date of next meeting
Next ordinary DCC meeting will occur on Tuesday 3rd December, the last DCC meeting of the year 2024.