Dunblane Community Council

Minutes of the meeting of the Dunblane Community Council held on Wednesday,
2 June, 2021, at 7 p.m. , held remotely via Zoom.

Present: David Prescott (Chairman), Alan Booth (Secretary), Chris Toop (Treasurer),
Karen Jenkins, Fiona Plumtree, Craig French, James Byrne, Andy Mitchell, Sharon
Mylchreest.

In attendance: Councillors Graham Houston, Alasdair Tollemache and Douglas
Dodds, David Chisholm, Ailsa Gray, Margaret Bragg (Minutes Secretary).

1. Apologies, conflicts of interest, Press, and Chairman's Remarks Apologies have
   been received from Rosemary Hunter and Graham Mowat. There is no Press presence
   and no stated conflicts of interest. The meeting is held via Zoom under Stirling
   Council's Temporary Amendments to the Community Council Establishment
   arrangements.

    

2. Approval of minutes of 5 May 2021

   These were approved, proposed by Alan Booth and seconded by Andy Mitchell.

    

3. Co-option of new member

   The Chairman welcomed Ailsa Gray to the meeting and invited her to introduce
   herself. Her background is mainly in the private sector as a corporate lawyer but
   also as a non-executive director of Highland and Islands Enterprise and Business for
   Scotland. She works to support companies to build a broader social and
   environmental commitment and to help communities to demystify governance
   procedures. Living in Old Glassingall she is interested in local history and would be
   the community council's representative for Ashfield, Kinbuck and the surrounding
   area. She was elected unopposed to the community council and welcomed by the
   councillors. The Chairman reiterated his appeal for help in attracting more people
   to apply to be community councillors.

    

4. Standing items and actions from previous meetings: See attached.

   Cycle routes and Active Travel The Chairman will have an update for the next
   meeting on when the work will be complete. Councillor Tollemache reported that
   representatives of the Active Travel group from Dunblane and Bridge of Allan have
   been looking at the possibility of a cycle route between the two towns and he agreed
   to find out how it is progressing. Action: Councillor Tollemache.

    

   A discussion arose over the introduction of 20 mph limits and Councillor Houston
   clarified that these were introduced on the B8033 from the Fourways roundabout to
   Marks and Spencer as a result of the Spaces for People initiative. However, on the
   Doune Road they were introduced as a result of pressure from residents. It was
   reported that, as well as the new 20 mph signs, the existing signs of "20 mph when
   lights are flashing" were still in position and were causing confusion. Fiona Plumtree
   also reported that 30 mph was still painted on the road surface.

    

   Craig French felt that drivers were not always adhering to the new speed limits and
   that further publicity and enforcement or traffic calming measures were required.
   David Chisholm agreed that the signage on the B8033 was not clear and drivers were
   not keeping to the speed limits.

    

   The Chairman commented that he believes the work is not yet complete and knows
   that it is on a temporary basis. Its impact will not be apparent immediately. He
   agreed to pass on the comments raised to Council officers. Action: The Chairman.

    

   Gritting of roads and footpaths The Chairman understood that there was to be a
   meeting last month with Council officers but has not been informed of any, and
   Councillor Houston confirmed that planned improvements have not come before
   the Council yet. He agreed to check on the timetable with Bruce Reekie (Senior
   Manager, Environment and Place, Stirling Council), but said that the review has taken
   Terence O'Byrne's report into consideration. Action: Councillor Houston.
   Councillor Houston has insisted that the report should come to the community
   council for comment before going to the Council, and the Chairman agreed that it
   should be made clear that concerns raised by the community have been listened to.

    

   Dunblane High School/Dunblane Young People's Project The Secretary asked if
   young carers at the High School have been sufficiently supported during the
   pandemic and he agreed to ask Rosemary Hunter to report on this at the next
   meeting of the community council. Action: The Secretary.

    

5. Police Report: See attached.

   Councillor Tollemache reported that he raised the issue of anti-social behaviour in
   the Laighhills at the Public Safety Committee of the Council and the Police Inspector
   agreed to report back to him. Chris Toop led a discussion about the incidence of
   attacks on young people in the Laighhills and of broken glass on the footpaths. He
   feared this would increase in the summer months. As the young people are fearful
   of reprisals, they do not report these incidents to the police. Both Councillor Dodds
   and Councillor Houston insisted that it is essential to phone 101 and that it can be
   done anonymously. Only by recording the incidents will the police divert more resources to tackling the problem. David Chisholm commented that there have been
   problems in the Laighhills over the years and it is essential that the police are more
   pro-active in dealing with them. Ailsa Gray agreed to contact the Headteacher at the
   High School to make him more aware of the problem and to stress the need to
   encourage children to report incidents to the police. Action: Ailsa Gray. It was also
   suggested that posters advertising the 101 number be put up in the Laighhills. It is
   understandable that after the lockdowns and restrictions on meeting, anti-social
   behaviour will be a problem this year.

    

6. Treasurer's Report: See attached.

   It was noted that the £1,500 Scottish and Southern Electricity Network Community
   Resilience grant has not yet been distributed. Now that society is starting to recover
   with the rollout of the vaccine, people could find this money useful. This will be
   discussedagain at the next meeting of the community council in August and the
   Chairman agreed to contact the Dunblane Development Trust for suggestions.
   Action: The Chairman.

    

7. Correspondence Report

   This will be circulated shortly. Action: The Secretary.

    

8. Report of other meetings

   Karen Jenkins reported on a meeting with representatives of Scottish Water about
   their forthcoming work on flood prevention measures for Claredon Place.
   Additional sewerage capacity is going to be installed within Claredon Place,
   Springfield Terrace and George Street, and surface water from Argyle Way will be
   diverted across the field and down to Duckburn and the river, instead of being added
   to the existing sewerage pipes. This work will involve considerable disruption to
   traffic from the end of June until next February, affecting Claredon Place, George
   Street, Sunnyside and the dual carriageway at different times. In closing Claredon
   Place, Sunnyside and the dual carriageway will become one-way, controlled by lights.
   She has pressed that Tesco and Marks and Spencer be informed that their articulated
   lorries will have to change their routes. Councillor Houston reported that the
   Council will keep the gullies cleaned to clear out the drains. This is necessary work
   but it is essential that the associated road closures be publicised across the whole
   of Dunblane. Karen Jenkins agreed to keep following this up. Action: Karen
   Jenkins.

    

   Alan Booth reported on a meeting that he, with Terence O'Byrne and Councillor
   Tollemache, had with Donna Mills (Stirling Council Land Services) about issues
   relating to the Laighhills. Donna Mills agreed to try to have the wall which is falling
   into the scouring burn, and the bridge repaired. Councillor Tollemache said that
   problems with this have arisen because the pavements at Ramoyle have not been
   repaired by the Council, despite pressure over a few years for this to be done. This
   has caused water to rush down the path to the burn and cause erosion.

    

   Donna Mills confirmed that funding is available to upgrade the football pitches and
   changing rooms at the Laighhills. The Soccer Club will be taking over the pitch as
   their home pitch and, therefore, requires the pavilion to be repaired so that visiting
   teams can use it. The Secretary suggested that, once in use, the toilets there could be available to the public. It is also proposed that AstroTurf be used on the upper
   pitch which would be used for 5-a-side football and cricket. Councillor Houston
   reported that the suitability of AstroTurf is being looked at.

    

   However, the proposal to reroute the riverside path, which has eroded into the river,
   did not go forward for costing by the Council.

    

9. Dunblane Development Trust Report: There was nothing to report.

    

10. Elected Members' Reports

    Councillor Houston reported that nine pupils at the High School are self-isolating
    due to Covid. He also reported that, after the introduction of paid permits for the
    uplift of brown bins, only 18 bins throughout Stirling had not been emptied due to
    non-payment. The Chairman is interested in knowing how much money has been
    raised by the Council under this scheme.

     

11. AOCB

    The Secretary reported that Stirling Council has, as a legal requirement, developed a
    Pollinator Strategy covering (a) roadside verges and (b) recreational grassland,
    including Newton park and Braemar park. The grass is going to be left uncut until
    the end of the summer with the aim of increasing biodiversity and pollinator species
    over the next few years. With reference to Newton park, James Byrne reported that,
    with the involvement of school pupils, trees have been planted. Residents worked
    together and have been granted funding of £20,000 for new play equipment, as the
    old equipment has been removed as unsafe. A discussion arose over whether this
    money was to be used to replace the old equipment or to "improve" the park by
    purchasing additional equipment. Councillor Houston insisted that the old unsafe
    equipment should be replaced and the £20,000 is for additional equipment; and that
    it should not be used to improve the drainage, which is a maintenance matter. The
    community council wholeheartedly supported this view.

     

    James Byrne thanked Councillor Dodds for the six signs highlighting clearing up
    after dogs (see last month's Minutes) and asked that councillors contact him with
    suggestions over siting them.

     

    The Chairman, on behalf of Terence O'Byrne, has been in touch with Network Rail
    about the eradication of giant hogweed. It will be necessary to see if what has been
    done so far has had any effect.

     

    The Secretary reported that Living Streets, through Councillor Majury, has contacted
    the Dunblane Development Trust to conduct an audit of dropped kerbs and
    accessibility within Dunblane. The Chairman pointed out the value of the
    community council and the DDT working together to improve Dunblane for its
    residents.

     

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

    The next meeting of the Dunblane Community Council will take place by Zoom on
    Wednesday, 4 August, 2021, at 7 p.m.

     

13. Planning Report: See attached.

Councillor Dodds left the meeting, but Councillor Houston remained to listen to the
views of the community council.

Glassingall The Chairman commented that it will be useful to understand the case
for the defence when the case comes to court later this year.

Park of Keir No agreement has been signed yet. The Chairman has written to Tom
Arthur MSP, the new Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth,
requesting that he refuse any further extension. He pointed out that there will be
strong opposition to the detailed application if the appeal is upheld. He repeated
that if this does not meet the original application, then the Council could reject it.

Firs of Kinbuck The Chairman noted that the recent response by Transport Scotland
has included many more comments and observations than its previous submission.
The application will return to the Council of Planning Panel for consideration and
the Chairman thought there would still be pressure to approve, in spite of the road
safety issues.

Auchinlay glamping development Councillor Tollemache informed the meeting that
the application will go to the August meeting of the Planning Panel.

Kippendavie Woods A discussion arose over this long-running proposal and it was
noted that a consultation exercise has begun with local residents. This refers to
retirement housing, and not a nursing home, as was erroneously reported in the
Press. The Chairman pointed out that the main issue with this development is that
it is contrary to the Local Development Plan, and that the community council's
automatic position is to object to it. He asked what community councillors thought
of developers making a presentation to them and opinion was divided. On the one
hand, it would be an opportunity to get more information but, on the other, only
one side of the case would be given.

As the Chairman pointed out, if the local community wants to take control of this
land, then there are mechanisms by which they could seek to take ownership and
manage it. It is essential that the community is aware of this proposal.

Wider development proposals There is nothing further to report,

Andy Mitchell raised the issue of the application for the listed wall at the back of the
Braeport Centre being breached to instal gates into Holmehill. The Secretary said
that the view of the DDT was that it agreed to there being pedestrian access from
the sensory garden onto Holmehill and had given consent to the planning
application to go forward, but the gate had to be self-closing and rabbit- and deer-
proof. He clarified that the wall is not scheduled but forms part of a scheduled
building. The proposed gates have attracted letters of objection. The Chairman
agreed to put together a response and will circulate it to the community councillors.
Action: The Chairman.

The meeting ended at 8.55 p.m.

This is a true representation of the meeting.

David Prescott ……………………………………………………… Date ………………………

Chairman

Alan Booth ……………………………………………………………Date ………………………

Secretary

Dunblane Community Council

Additional Paper for Zoom Meeting - Wednesday 2nd June 2021

Agenda item 3

1. Future of Burgh Chambers – Project still active - SM will report when there is anything to update

2. Dunblane High School / DYPP project update / Newton School – no report

3. Dunblane twinning proposal – Councillor Tollemache to report (On hold until after the elections)

4. Heilanman's Land - Proposed transfer to Carman Family Trust – progress update?

5. Cycle Routes and Active Travel in Dunblane –Spaces for People works now largely complete.

6. Road and footway gritting – follow up after Bruce Reekie, Stirling Council, attendance at February meeting.

   No further information . What is the position – a follow up meeting was proposed

    

7. Action items - if not on the agenda - None

David Prescott Chair Dunblane Community Council 2 June 2021

CPT officers are aware of recent youth related calls to the Laighills and will
continue to attend in the area at key times and when the opportunity arises.

Between the 5th of May and 1st June 2021 there was a total of 138 calls the Dunblane
area. A breakdown of some of the calls are as follows: 12 public nuisance calls,
zero drugs/substance related calls, zero disturbance type calls, 1 noise related
call, 1 neighbour dispute calls, 2 theft related call, 1 suspect person calls, 8
concern for person calls, 1 domestic related incident and 32 road traffic related
calls.

Any issues raised at Community Council meeting:

https://scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts

Dunblane Community Council

Planning Report - Major Issues – to end May 2021

Glassingall – Proposal of Application Notice – Demolition and fire at Glassingall House.

Nothing further to report, other than the court case has been put off until November.

Park of Keir - Section 75 Processes.

It is understood that, as of last week, the applicant had not signed the legal agreement.

A letter had been sent to the new Planning Minister, Tom Arthur, requesting that he refuse any further
extension and accept that the conditions set by his predecessor cannot be meet, so logic suggests that he
should now reject the appeal.

19/00243/PPP Firs of Kinbuck (Northbound services)

Further submissions have been made exploring the road safety issues and Transport Scotland have provided
an updated response which has been clearly influenced by our dialogue with them.

Even if this is approved there will be a lot more work when the detailed application comes forward and it will
potentially drag on for another two years. If it is rejected by the Council expect an appeal.

There is likely to be pressure to shut some of the central reservation gaps to prevent U-turns which will
disbenefit existing residents and businesses along this section of the A9, although the bulk will probably be
in Perthshire and Perth and Kinross Council have not objected to this application.

21/00216/FUL Auchinlay Road – glamping development

Awaiting events.

Kippendavie Woods

A developer lead consultation is now live (running to Friday 11th June) https://www.kippendavie-consultation.com/ This follows from a site visit last summer. We were clear that our position is to object to
planning applications not in line with the LDP but suggested that a full community consultation may help
inform our view.

This has produced the anticipated objections from many people and a major article in the Stirling Observer
with a completely erroneous headline about a nursing home, when it is quite clear that the consultation
refers to retirement housing. Such poor reporting by the press does little to help dialogue about these
contentious issues.

Wider development proposals

Nothing more to report

David Prescott 2 June 2021