Oct 2022 Minutes

Fintry Community Council Minutes

October 2022

19:30

Menzies Hall

· Present/apologies for absence:

• Declaration of interest in any items of business

None

· Approval of Minutes of last meeting:

Approved

· Stirlineg Councillor’s Report

No Councillor present

• Police Report - report submitted

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

Theft

There have been no thefts in the Fintry area since the last meeting however an attempted housebreaking occurred in Drymen

What basic steps can I take to protect my home?

The evenings are getting darker 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

• Don’t leave valuables where they can be see through a window - for example, around the tree at Christmas time

• If you have a wall calendar, avoid having it shown near a window from where appointments can be seen

- people may see when there will be no one in.

• Use timer switches on lights and radios to make it look as if your home is occupied.

• Ensure all doors and windows are secure when you leave and when you go to bed.

• If possible use secure lighting at the front and back of your property.

• Make sure all garden tools and ladders are locked away when not being used. Don’t give the thieves the tools to break into your house

• Use a good quality lock on any garden sheds and outhouses.

• Make a note of all makes, models and serial numbers of expensive items in your home.

If your house is fitted with an alarm then please use it. This is a good deterrent should thieves manage to force entry to your house.

• If you note anything suspicious in your neighbourhood report it on 101.

Identity theft

Identity theft is when criminals get access to someone's personal information. They then use it to steal their identity. They could then pretend to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans and mortgages or to claim benefits. They could even take over someone's accounts and change the address. They can steal someone's name and reputation. Then can use this to make money.

Here are a few ways which these criminals work:

They search through rubbish to find bills or bank statements They target flats where shared mail boxes make theft easier

They bribe or rob postal workers or purchase the information from other criminals They search through unattended bags.

Warning signs

There are a number of warning signs to look out for:

Fuel theft advice

There has been a rise in domestic and commercial fuel tanks. It’s important to put measures in place to protect your fuel tank and make it extremely difficult for thieves to target your fuel.

Please find below some tips to avoid becoming a victim of such a crime:

Locate your tank in a safe location remembering that many thieves use Google Maps to find satellite images of fuel tanks.

Consider locating your tank behind a garage or shed and away from roads. Positioning it close to your business or home will ensure it’s in clear view.

Locate inside a security gate or cage with a good quality, robust fence or cage to make life difficult for thieves.

Install an alarm Consider fitting alarms to external gates surrounding your fuel tank or to the inside of a shed or outbuilding that is housing the tank.

Fit a fuel theft lock, thieves often come armed with tools so it’s worth investing in quality locks, locking fuel caps and anti-siphoning deterrents to slow down the criminals and reduce the likelihood of success. Locks with a CEN or BSEN 12320 Grade 6 classification indicate maximum security (Grade 1 is the least secure)

Install outdoor security lighting positioning your tank in the bright light is an effective solution worth considering. With the majority of thieves striking at night, installing automatic security lighting will help stop criminals from targeting your fuel tank.

Install CCTV cameras on your premises to dissuade anyone from targeting your tank as well as catch a thief in the act, providing the police with the evidence required to bring those to justice who choose to ignore the deterrent.

Put up signage to highlight the security measures you’ve installed can help deter those up to no good.

Treasurer’s Report September 2022

Treasurer’s Report October 2022

1. General Fund Account

The current balance is £4,977.

2. Foundation Fund

The current balance is £35,798.

The current budget and spend to date is shown below.

It was voted on and agreed that £600 would be made available for the replacement of the damaged Christmas lights

Resilience Update

· Prescription service is ongoing

· Applications ongoing for resilience funding

· Japanese Knotweed and giant hogweed have been treated in village would just like to say a huge thank to Malcolm and his team.

The Community Council has been offered more trees for planting through the village these will be available February/March 2023.

· The Menzies Hall Generator funding needed for the electrical works £4,000 (see finance)

· Strathard Community Trust have been in contact with a view to Fintry Resilience helping them to develop a resilience plan. MB will arrange a meeting

Planning

No new planning applications this month

Ogilvie Development – The planning application with Stirling Council is still live and ongoing

C.C advise the community to comment.

Playpark Update

The two new Springers for toddlers that Community Council purchased have been installed Phase two –

The equipment for phase two has gone out to 3 different companies for costings the path works will be getting done by Stirling Council own contractors Disabled access will be from the core path on castle drive.

Roads / Paths

Branshogle Bridge-

Stirling council has advised the Community Council its is now looking like the end of November for completion

Additional 20MPh signs have been ordered for the village and line has been issued by Stirling Council

B822 Kippen Road –

The road will close for two weeks in November/ December 2022 for resurfacing works at the Firs and the Caravan Park.

Cicely’s Way –

Matt Hall has cut back the hedge on Cicely’s Way, Jock Morrison will cut the road side. Malcolm will weed kill path in the next couple of weeks.