KILMADOCK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD ON 13 JANUARY 2025 AT 7PM
IN KILMADOCK INFORMATION AND HERITAGE CENTRE
Present: Tony Farrant (Chair), Ro Drowley, Alison McAlpine, Ken Russell, Sue Sedgwick, Elizabeth Wallace, David Harding, Alistair Sutherland.
In attendance: Neil Fergusson (Development Officer), Cllr Gene Maxwell
Visitors: Jo Watson, Douglas Watson, Jimmy Innes, John Blackwood
1) Approval of Minute
The minute of the meeting of 9 December 2024 was proposed by Sue Sedgwick and seconded by Ken Russell
2) Visitor
Tony Farrant invited the visitor, Jo Watson, to speak to the council about her proposal for a centre for Scottish Heritage Textile Crafts in the redundant Kilmadock Church, Main St, Doune. She talked about her social enterprise charity Lamham that she set up last year, After a presentation about the project, her contact with Mr. Keith Shell on the possible purchase or rent of the building and a meeting with her fellow charity trustees who have ‘thrown their full support behind the idea’ the floor was opened up to the Community Councillors and the visitors for comment.
Various members agreed that it would be a very expensive project and that until more information on the cost of purchase and repairs to the building, the running costs and funding were available then the Community Council could not support the enterprise.
The visitors then left the meeting.
3) Chair’s Report
Tony Farrant reported as follows.
a) Child/Adult Protection – Community Councillors
Dates for Child and Adult Protection Training for Community volunteers within the Stirling Council Area to be facilitated by Neil Whattam, Public Protection Officer
13th March 2025 - 10am – 12.00 noon
18th September 2025 – 1pm – 3pm
Sessions will be hybrid, so can be joined in person at the Bannockburn hub or online with MS Teams.
b) Old Green Shed Site
Work is still on going at the site, the transmitter has been upgraded, now applied for an electricity meter to be fitted after which the installer can then commission their units and complete final checks.
The off street parking order is in the process of being advertised which will allow signs to be erected displaying conditions of use. the only other work left to be done is the installation by roads service of cycle hoops.
c) Refuse Collections
Many residents caught out by the early blue bin collection on Monday 30th
December
d) Toilets
SC are still waiting a response from Scottish Water regarding the depth of the roadside drain before they can carry out any work.
e) Dementia Café
KDT have now taken over the responsibility for managing the once a month café currently held at the Bowling Club. The Dunblane group will help out with the transition process. The key priorities are funding, recruiting a manager and pvg checks for all volunteers.
3) Police Report
7 December 2024 – 10 January 2025\
- Antisocial Behaviour – Between 09/01 and 10/01/25 reported vandalism and attempted break in at the public toilets, Moray Park, Doune, enquiries continuing
- Road Safety
There have been no reports during this time.
c) Theft
About 0050hrs 4th January 2025 the Co-op, Doune was broken into with a 4
figure sum being stolen. This is being investigated as part of a crime series along with previous housebreakings to these premises and others in the wider area.
4) Councilor’s Report
Cllr. Gene Maxwell reported that following a meeting of the finance committee and suggestions from departments at the council on ways to save money the predicted shortfall for the year ending April 2026 would be approximately £10m. This is exacerbated by increases in National Insurance of an estimated £2m but there is extra money being allocated by the government, not all of it restricted. Suggestions from departments have included community halls being run by the residents, alleviating the need for council employed managers, and libraries working on reduced opening hours
5) Treasurer’s report
Elizabeth Wallace, Treasurer, reported that at 13 January the council’s bank balance was £4735.43 (Restricted funds) and £1455.14 Unrestricted). She has sent a report to the WFT to claim the next £9000.00 of funding for the toilets and the funds should appear in the bank account soon.
There is still a bill of £1224 to be paid for the new bench.
She has also written to the Masonic Lodge about the £48.10 outstanding in the accounts but has to date not received a reply.
The electricity for the toilets has not been paid since April 2024 and she has been in touch with the football club about this.
6) Secretary’s report David Harding reported
- Toilets - these had been vandalised and would be locked until they are repaired. DH had engaged a locksmith to mend the broken lock on the cleaners cupboard. It was suggested that a CCTV camera might help to deter vandals.
(DH to act)
- The New Bench is still with Stirling Council. It should have been put in place in December. No new date for installation has been agreed.
- A general discussion took place regarding the handling of the resignation, and subsequent withdrawal, from one member of the community council where different views were expressed.
- A leaflet encouraging residents to join the Community Council will be produced, the wording of which has been agreed with Stirling Council.
- A leaflet about how to deal with Anti-social behaviour has also been supplied and will be delivered to addresses within the Kilmadock area.
7) Development Officer
Neil Ferguson reported that the services to DDYP have now been disconnected and that the building will soon be removed.
8) Roads
Ro Drowley reported that work on the new Puffin Crossing over Main Street has begun. The proposed coach parking space along George Street was referred back to the
Council via Stephen Bly on the 9th December 2024 and the reply from the council on the 6th January 2025 being ‘I will get back to you as soon as possible’. With Stephen’s help she will keep chasing. The Argaty Road will be closed along its entire length, 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday between 3/2/2025 and 14/2/2025 to allow for investigation works on the bridge at the Dunblane end of the road.
9) Villages
White lining in the main car park still not been done.
10) Planning and Deanston
Alistair Sutherland has been unable to find out anymore about the proposed hot food outlet on Innes Park, likewise a proposed recycling centre at Lochhills Industrial Park. There is a wall falling down opposite Deanston Distillery that is blocking the pavement. It has been reported to the council
11) Village Pride and KDT
Ken Russell reported that the Village Pride group would be back in operation soon. Although the Post Office has been closed for a week due to problems with communication it should be back to normal very soon. The Information Centre had a busy time leading up to Christmas.
12) Woodland Group
Tony Farrant reported that the Fairy Trail at Doune Ponds was very well received with lots of compliments and donations for the Ponds. The next event will be the Easter Egg Hunt and that all the seasoned logs have been sold.
13) Toilets
As previously reported earlier in minutes.
14) Post Bridge
Ken Russell reported that it was intended to put an article on the Doune and Deanston website and he suggests that a copy of the Community Council minutes are available in the Library and possibly the Information Centre. However this cannot happen until the minutes have been approved at the next meeting of the Community Council. Production of The Bridge will be revisited in approximately 6 months if interest is shown but unlikely to take the same form.
15) Forestry
Nothing to report.
16) Resilience Plan
Alison McAlpine reported that good quality rescue and safety equipment had been received by the committee and stored. This is for use by both Doune and Deanston. Kilmadock is the first Community Council to receive the equipment.
17) Any Other Business
- The Old Kilmadock Stone will be featured on Digging for Britain BBC2 8pm 14th January 2025. Gene Maxwell thanked ROOK – Rescuers of Old Kilmadock for looking after the cemetery and for the discovery of this important stone.
- Christmas Lights. Many compliments, especially that they stayed on all day. They will be taken down this week by Gary Mather and a letter of thanks will be sent (DH)
- Meetings. David Harding (Secretary) asked for a schedule of meetings. It was agreed that they would be held on the 2nd Monday of the month, 7pm in the Information Centre and that at least one should be held in Deanston. There would be no meeting in July and August.
Next meeting will be held on Monday 10th February in the Information and Heritage Centre, Doune at 7pm.
18) There being no other business the meeting closed at 21.22