Nov 2021 Minutes

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Fintry Community Council Draft Minutes of the meeting held on

10th November 2021 (Menzies Hall, Fintry)

· Present/apologies for absence:

• Declaration of interest in any items of business

None

· Approval of Minutes of last meeting:

Approved

· Stirling Councillor’s Rreport

Due to unforeseen circumstances Councillor Jane Hutchison was unable to attend this meeting.

MB to raise a couple of questions via e-mail:

1. Safer Routes to School – who is the primary contact? The council used to have an officer who then left and it went to a private company. Clarification is needed as there have been some concerns raised by parents regarding the Cross and three other roads needed to cross for the children to get to school, this is being highlighted by the fact that we now have a number of large lorries using this route. MB would like to raise that they should ensure at least one rural school’s safer route to school’s plan gets carried out every year along with the urban areas that seem to be favoured.

2. Would like to highlight how difficult it is to get through on the switchboard at the council. MB waited over an hour to get through and when you do finally get through nobody is available on the phone. MB is aware that they are only allowed 30% of staff in offices but would like to know why they don’t have a bare minimum of staff in each department?

· Police Report - report submitted

Road Safety

There were no reportable RTCs in the Fintry area since the last meeting.

Advice for Drivers

Prepare for the winter by keeping your vehicle well maintained before you take to the road. Take special care that brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and wiper blades are in good condition. In addition, washer bottles need to contain an additive to stop the water from freezing.

Tyres should also be checked weekly to ensure they are legal and at the correct pressure (consult your vehicle handbook). The minimum legal tread depth for cars is 1.6mm across the centre 3/4 of the breadth of the tread around the entire circumference. They should also be checked for bulges, cuts or tears which weaken the tyre. Failure to maintain your tyres could lead to a maximum of

£2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.

Make sure your windows are clean, properly demisted and clear of snow and ice before you drive. Also make sure that your roof is clear of snow as this affects drivers behind you and can also cause obstructions on your windscreen when braking. Be careful with low sun as it can make it difficult to see and a dirty, greasy or damaged windscreen can make this worse.

All lights must be kept clean and clear and be in good working order, including registration plate lights. Use the help of someone to check that all of your lights are working.

Theft

There have been no thefts in the Fintry area since the last meeting although the bike shop in Killearn was broken into again and high value bikes were stolen.

What basic steps can I take to protect my home?

The evenings are getting dark earlier and it is a time where traditionally housebreakings can occur. Having your home broken into is not common. There are however many ways that you can help secure your home. They don’t all cost money – some are common sense and good housekeeping.

First, think about basic good housekeeping routines that aren’t expensive:

•Keep your home locked at all times

•Many thieves do not need to break in at all because a door or window has been left open or unlocked

•Don’t leave keys on the inside of door locks, under mats or anywhere else they can be easily found

•If you have a ‘thumb turn’ lock on the inside of a door, ensure that it cannot be accessed from outside

•Don’t keep house keys and car keys on the same key ring

•Don't keep a lot of cash in the house

•Mark your property with a UV marker pen or Security DNA marking Kit - these can be bought online or in some stores

•Look for the Secured by Design accreditation on the product and register - you can place an invisible imprint of your postcode and house number on your possessions

•You can record and register details of your valuables, serial numbers and features or marks, on devices on the national mobile property register on the immobilise website - this includes mobile phones, cameras, laptops and tablets

Co-option to full-time member

Natalie Russell was welcomed as a full-time member.

Co-option of new member

Moira MacKay was voted in as new member by 3 votes.

Treasurer’s Report November 2021

1. General Fund Account

The current balance in this account is £5,734.29. We have received a grant of £1000 towards the playpark from Western Recreation Trust.

2. Foundation Fund

The foundation fund balance to date is £41,707.99

Kingsburn Fund Spending Summary

Resilience Update

• Prescription uplift will continue.

· Meeting has been arranged with Traffic Management regarding the exact location of the flood warning signs and for the movement of flood cameras. This will take place on the 18^th of November.

· Japanese Knotweed has been treated along the riverbank at the bridge and also the quarry road burn by Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust.

Planning

· 12 Menzies Drive extension has been approved.

· Land adjacent to 10b Main Streets planning application has been withdrawn.

· Licensing meeting will be held on the 23^rd of November. Moira MacKay to attend. NR to email for link to next meeting.

Roads/paths (MB)

· Branshogle Bridge Update: There will be a meeting held on the 17 ^th of November from 7-8pm for residents.

· Catterburn Bridge: Surveys are currently underway however we have been informed that this will be a total new design and require planning to be involved.

· The 20mph road marks have now been done. Signage will be installed over the next few weeks.

· The extension to Cicely’s Way is ongoing. Bob has installed additional slats of wood at the gate towards the sewage works end.

· Replacement of street lights: There is a programme of works going to be carried out during the next financial year. This will include Menzies, all of Kippen Road and Culcreuch Avenue.

· IR to speak to the farmers off the land to Stronend, Meikle Bin & Dunmore to ask their opinion on a dedicated path with signage explaining the rules and regulations at the beginning of the path.

Community Council Hybrid Meetings

· Sam Canning to provide a breakdown of costs for the equipment required to host hybrid meetings.

· NR to find out the cost to install a telephone line, line rental and internet providers.

Playpark Update

· The slide in the park has been condemned. We have managed to secure a Scottish Government grant to replace it along with the climbing frame. This will be installed around March 2022.

· The sales person from Wicksteed, who we need to update the 3D plans is on holiday at the moment. We will get these plans out as soon as she returns.

Fintry Tourism and Community Action Plan Update

· Fintry Tourism: A meeting was held on the 4^th of November with people from various groups in the village. The meeting was to brainstorm and discuss what we can do to take tourism and community development forward. There was a good response and a subgroup was created. This is currently in the very early stages.

· Community Action Plan: Still ongoing. A meeting has been scheduled for next week to move this on.

Correspondence

· We received correspondence from Carronbridge Community Council asking us to attend a meeting in mid-November to discuss Shellac and the lack of support from Stirling Council. We have confirmed that we will be in attendance.