Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
KILLEARN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 March 2025
Members present Elizabeth Jones (chair), Fiona Rennie, Andrew Donaldson,
Hilary McGregor, Michael Bowdidge, Heidi Bryce,
Lachlan Mackenzie
Apologies Calum Mclean, Graeme Fraser (KCFC), Matt McCammon (Police Scotland), Tasha Houchin (KCC Planning Consultant),
Rev Stuart Sharp
In attendance Cllr Gerry McGarvey
27 members of the public,
Emily Semple (Minute Secretary)
How to contact us Go to www.killearncc.org.uk and click on the contact button.
CC1511 - MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 19 February ‘25
Minutes were approved by Andrew Donaldson and Fiona Rennie.
CC1512 – MATTERS ARISING
- Parking at primary school access on Beech Drive Area has been assessed by Stirling Council and Double Yellow Lines will be installed to make the area safer during school drop off/pick up times.
- Approval has been granted for an agricultural building at Drumore Wood.
CC1513 – POLICE MATTERS
. Fiona gave the following Police Report on items relevant to Killearn:
- Anti-Social Behaviour, Vandalism.
A number of youths from outside the area attended Killearn and damaged the home address and vehicle belonging to the resident they have taken issue with. Unfortunately, damage was caused to a picnic table and bench from the Nursery. Enquiries are ongoing. The youths were traced by Police, their details noted and returned to their home respective addresses. One person will be reported for the damage caused to property and another arrested and charged with threatening behaviour and resisting arrest. Another youth received a recorded Police Warning regarding their conduct towards police. Enquiries are still ongoing.
- Theft
Two persons were arrested and charged for theft after they entered the Cala Homes housing development compound and loaded their van with various items of building equipment. A report will be submitted to the Court and all items have been returned to the builder.
The full police report is available on KCC website www.killearncc.org.uk
CC1514 – KCFC UPDATE
Graeme Fraser sent his apologies.
Fiona Rennie raised that there is a double page spread in the courier for the ‘Wild About Killearn’ events at the Killearn Village Hall on the 26th and 27th April. Saturday will be host to 1
Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
a number of activities during the day and on Sunday evening there will be a Natural history film premier.
CC1515 – PLANNING AND LOCAL PLACE PLAN
Tasha Houchin (KCC Planning Consultant) sent her apologies. Liz Jones presented the following update:
○ 25/00085/FUL Former Wishing Well Farmhouse Coffee Shop Balfron Station Gartness - Erection of 2 detached outbuildings comprising gym and garage {these are two separate buildings, both at the front of the existing property, one to each side.}
○ 25/00108/FUL Little Moss Drumbeg Road Killearn G63 9LJ - Formation of rear extension and demolition of garage {this is for a single storey rear extension. An existing attached garage will be demolished to accommodate it.}
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A member of the audience asked for details of the owners so that they could get in touch directly. They are looking to purchase the house next door. It was recommended to reach out to the architect who has submitted the planning document and use that channel. ○ 24/00644/FUL Park House 77 Main Street Killearn G63 9LF - For painting existing iron railings and window and door surrounds, new driveway gates and new flues. Also changes to planning approval 24/00048/FUL including altered design and position of garage, shed and greenhouse, change of design of 1no. window in extension and change to area of hard surfacing.
- New fence - Buchanan Views and Drumtian Road A new fence has been erected around the field at Blairessan behind the new Buchanan estate, meaning there is no longer access for walking over to Drumtian Road.
KCC are waiting for clarification from Stirling Council around whether this is a registered right of way - it was raised that just because it has been used in the past doesn’t automatically mean it is a registered right of way. A "right of way" is a legal right to travel across land allowing access to a specific location or route (to get from point A to point B).
There is no noted planning application for housing on this land.
- Trees
A request for consideration has been raised around an Oak tree in the garden of a house on Allan Road. The new owners have had a survey done and found several faults with said tree, in particular: tear out wounds, fractures and crossing branches across the crown and dead wood. Recommendation for pruning, cleaning the crown and removing some cross branches to protect abrasions. Any work being suggested is to protect the health of the tree.
KCC does not think there is a TPO but Stirling Council will be able to clarify. Timing of the work was raised to ensure minimal disruption to nesting wildlife.
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Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
- Local Place Plan
KCC had a meeting with Stirling planners on 6th March as part of the process, it was a constructive and informative meeting. Stirling Council confirmed that the questions that have been answered are all relevant and should be in the plan.
The subject of resilience was raised at the meeting, following the complete outage from the storm - Village was left with no communication and it was also confirmed that this should be included.
Stirling Council are about to carry out their land owner call for sites for development which will be done over the summer. Sites for affordable housing are a priority for them at this stage. Call for site ends in October which is when the LPP deadlines are, this has been done so that they could align the land being offered to the local requirements.
A few pieces of information are about to be published, one of which is the Place Profile, which shares all of the stats about the village - this is needed to compile the LPP. The other is the evidence report from the first draft of the new Local Development Plan which will be out shortly, giving KCC an idea of the scale of housing that SC are looking at covering in the Development Plan. Both pieces of information should be available soon.
Stirling Council outlined that by 2028 all rural land sites will have been exhausted without the need for further significant infrastructure - only small scale developments possible after that. The Council will be looking to prioritise building in areas where there is already capacity - KCC discussed the fact that with the Cala development, Buchanan Views and the Lampson development, the feeling is that Killearn is pretty close to being close to capacity in terms of supporting infrastructure.
All LPP updates and wider documents can be found here on the KCC website:
https://www.killearncc.org.uk/lpp.html.
A member of the audience asked about the way in which the questions were asked; he felt it was leaning more towards protecting green spaces. KCC clarified that this only occurred in the 2nd survey following the strong response/feeling in the first survey so they could gather more specific information. The 2nd survey was done to gain a better understanding of the answers given in the 1st survey. Specific areas for development will come through Stirling Council from their work with land owners and the call for sites.
The next stage of the process will be to share all of the compiled information gathered, prior to its submission in October - this will be done in due course.
Fiona Rennie confirmed that the topic around infrastructure was raised when discussing more housing opportunities within Killearn. A better idea will become apparent following the release of the aforementioned evidence/documents. KCC to raise again with Stirling Council around capacity at Killearn Primary as still unsure following the Cala Development. Heidi Bryce outlined that although there are around 90 houses, the formula was that the school capacity would only be increased by around 7.6 children due to the pricing of the houses for sale. This means it is more likely to be secondary school children moving in and there is more than enough capacity at Balfron High School. It was then noted that Balfron High School has for the first time, had to refuse placing requests for first year entry (outside the catchment) - prior to this there has always been spaces.
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Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
further LPP consultation events will be held over the summer - date TBC, alongside other methods to gain as much feedback as possible (live, online, flyers/leaflets etc). A draft will be shared on the KCC website as soon as it is ready.
CC1516 – ROADS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPORT
Calum Mclean sent his apologies. Fiona Rennie shared the following updates:
- 20mph limit in Killearn Update 13 Mar. ’25 - 20 mph limits - This Order proposes to make permanent the existing temporary 20-mph speed limits on Aitken Street, Allan Road, Barclay Way, Branziert Road, Branziert Road North, Drumore Road, Endrick Road, Gartness Road, Ibert Road, Kirkhouse Road, Lampson Lane, Lampson Loan, Lampson Road, Napier Road, New Endrick Road and Wilson Crescent, Killearn. The Order will also extend and make permanent the existing temporary 20mph speed restriction on the A875 Balfron Road and Main Street, Killearn and reduce and make permanent the existing temporary 20mph speed limits on the B834 Station Road and Drumbeg Loan.
Speeding through the village was raised by a member of the audience - KCC are awaiting confirmation over what road furniture will be installed. Cllr Gerry McGarvey recommended using social media to draw attention to the risk and safety issues, outlining that this is a call for a change in behaviour. Members of the community are sometimes the worst culprits.
A flashing speedometer sign was suggested but also raised that this could have the opposite effect.
- Traffic lights on Blanewater Bridge have now been removed in line with Stirling Council’s assessment that traffic flow is best managed using the original priority system. Road surface on the Killearn side of the bridge has also been repaired.
It was raised that following the removal of the traffic lights 10 days ago, there has since been a car accident. (West side of the bridge). Concerns were raised over visibility and safety. Cllr Gerry McGarvey outlined that if the RTA was of direct consequence from the removal of the traffic lights then it should be reported to Stirling Council.
- Road Closures:
○ A811 closed from Station Road, Buchlyvie to its junction with the A81 and A875 from junction with the A811 to Station Road, Balfron both from 0900 to 1800 running 17/3/25 to 30/03/25
○ B834 (Station Road, Killearn) closed this week until Sunday 23rd March 0800 to 1800
○ A81 (A821 to A811) Ballat and towards Gartmore - 6th April to 27th April [note that following the meeting these works have been cancelled]
- A member of the public at the meeting raised a complaint about the Stockiemuir Road surface noting that from the Council boundary at Carbeth to Finnich Toll is poor – especially at St Mocha/Carbeth Fishery. KCC will liaise with SC to determine the plan for repairing this stretch of road.
- Gerry McGarvey explained that he had raised the issue within the Council and been informed that works had now been scheduled for the new financial year. A member of the public noted that there are now signs up notifying road users of the uneven road surface.
- Bus Stop Cleaning - residents have complained about the state of those at Wellgreen and Branziert Road specifically. Stirling Council have advised that the contract for cleaning and maintenance is now being tendered and both shelters would be cleaned regularly once said contract is in place. 4
Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
- Convex Mirror Request (Gartness Road and Station Road junction) - KCC to raise this with Stirling Council.
This information is available on KCC website www.killearncc.org.uk
CC1517 – CORRESPONDENCE
Fiona reported on the following correspondence:
- Stirling Council approves 2025-26 budget
The budget gap will be bridged by an 8.8% increase in council tax and a range of savings totalling £7.67 million – policy (£125,000), efficiencies (£5.9 million) and non-recurring (£1.6 million). Among the savings proposals rejected were the removal of school music tuition and school counselling; the removal of kerbside glass collections and garden waste concessions; a 25% reduction in library services; and a 25% reduction to the Citizens Advice Bureau.
- Garden Waste Permits
Stirling residents can apply for their 2025/26 annual Garden Waste Recycling Permit from Wednesday, 5 March. New permits will come into effect on 14 April 2025, the price of permit increasing slightly, from £50 to £52. https://www.stirling.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste-permits/buy-a-garden-waste-permit/
- Stirling Visitor Levy – survey
Residents, visitors, businesses and tourism operators across Stirling are being encouraged to help shape a draft visitor levy scheme for the area. The introduction of a levy scheme would see a set percentage charge on overnight accommodation paid by visitors and tourists in the Stirling Council area. Pls. see link https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/visitor-levy (paper copies available in Stirling Council libraries), a series of drop-in sessions have also been arranged at the following locations:
➢ Callander (Wednesday 9 April 2025, 11am-6pm, Callander Youth Project)
➢ Drymen (Wednesday 16 April 2025, 11am-6pm, Drymen Village Hall).
- Lampson Court, Killearn
RSHA is currently building 11 units in Killearn. The properties are due to be completed in June 2025. They will be looking to allocate at the beginning of April and anyone interested will need to apply in the next few weeks.
CC1518 – QUESTION TIME
No Questions.
CC1519 – COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Cllr Gerry McGarvey noted that KCC had already highlighted the budgets which had been preoccupying everyone at Stirling Council over the past few weeks.
People appreciate council tax is not the bad beast it is considered to be. There are undoubtedly strains on provision of services. Gerry noted that the Council did the best they could with as little impact to the services provided and mitigating that pressure to citizens.
Gerry took the time to outline the remuneration and salary announcements - as the newly appointed Council Leader - he explained that he is not personally comfortable with the proposed salary increase.
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Adopted minutes of meeting held on 19 March 2025
CC1520 – TREASURER’S REPORT
Andrew Donaldson presented the following report:
Income + £0
Outgoings - £0
£605.44 Current balance of funds
CC1521 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Nothing of note.
CC1522 – DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING
The next KCC meeting will be held at 8.00 pm on Wed. 16th April 2025 in the Garden Room at the Village Hall.
The meeting ended at 9.01pm. 6