Feb 2022 Minutes | Stirling Council

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Strathard Community Council Approved Minutes of meeting: Thursday 3 ^rd Feb 2022. Hybrid meeting at Kinlochard Village Hall with Zoom participation.

Community Councillors Present: Trevor Geraghty (Chair), Joyce Kelly, Lynda McColl, Natasha Shepherd, Gillian McEwan, Andre Goulancourt, Stuart Stephen, Clare Graham (nee Dillon), Paul MacKintosh, Nick Lester-Davis

Minute Secretary: Kate Bovill

Attending: SC Counsellors Jeremy McDonald, 2 members of public, Billy Ronald (NPA), PC Donald King

Topic	Discussion	Action
1. Opening 2. Apologies	Trevor Geraghty (TG) opened the meeting and welcomed all attending Michelle Colquhoun, Evelyn Tweed (LA councillor)
3. Minutes	Minutes from last meeting proposed Joyce Kelly (JK) Seconded Paul MacKintosh (PM)
4. Matters arising	TG – Covid numbers still resulting in fatalities and reinforces importance of receiving booster. Jeremy McDonald – 75% of population have been boosted. Nick Lester-Davis (NLD) indicated difficulties with evidencing vaccination if they have been done partly in England & partly in Scotland as the systems do not match up.
5. Police Report Appendix 1	PC Donald King very glad to join SCC in person for the first time in many months, Police Internet systems do not facilitate virtual meetings. Report attached. PC King described a variety of fraudulent behaviours for the public to be aware of & emphasised that neither Police Officers nor the bank would ever ask for personal details or for an individual to make money transfers. Lynda McColl (LM) mentioned complaints about length of time to get through by calling 101. PC King – this outwith divisional control, online forms will engage the same reporting systems & can be used as alternative. Fergus Wood (FW) congratulates SCC around 30mph limit for Kinlochard stretch of B829. Discussion around speed control & SC consultation around walk/cycle/horse friendly road survey. PC King mentioned cut-out PC’s are available to purchase and other areas do this, important to remove for night time as they can be removed.
6. Treasurers Report Appendix 2	LM - need to apply to Scotways for funding to identify landowners in order to progress with Safe Routes to School developments.

	LM enquired about access to new Pride grant - JK – informed that SCC have to close off the Life Plan process in order to reapply.
7. Planning – Appendix 3	JK reported that there were 7 new planning applications one of which has already slipped onto the overdue list. There had been no comments lodged against any of the new applications and no approaches have been made to JK citing concerns. There were 2 withdrawals during this period both pertaining to Duchray Castle and 3 approvals. This has resulted in the overdue list reducing to 4 in number. FW – has withdrawn application on his lochside land at Loch Ard. Will reapply for planning for land on the other side of the B829 therefore no longer a loch side position. He wished to state that a couple of objections/comments had centered around a) not cutting hedges – this is because landowners are not allowed to cut hedgerows between March & September & b) Canada geese present on site – these are non migratory and are acknowledged as a pest which landowners are permitted to control where necessary.
8. Community Life Plans	Aberfoyle Aberfoyle final draft is out for review and should be finalized this month. Kinlochard Meeting to update Kinlochard CLP is still outstanding due to the resurgence in COVID. Plan is to move this forward at the very earliest opportunity but since it will involve substantial attendance numbers this cannot be confirmed at this time Inversnaid/Stronachlachar Still looking for a Chair to head up a steering group for this CLP. I will manage in the interim. There are no plans at this point for a follow on meeting.
9 Kinlochard Resilience Group/ Strathard Resilience	Stirling Council Resilience Group sent through their risk register information. While it provided comprehensive advice on how to compile a risk register and was relatively easy to follow it is not a tool which will help resolve our issue. The document itself points out that issues must be treated and reported differently to risks but unfortunately does not give the information on how to do this. Clearly, as has been repeatedly stated, the Resilience sub group is dealing with is

an issue ie a risk which has impacted and it is out with their or the SCC’s ability to resolve. Meanwhile the longer the issue is perpetuated the more likelihood there is of the community suffering serious consequences. The SCC sub group trying to get an effectual resolution to the issue is now proposing to get back to Stirling Council Resilience and FLS and explain, yet again, all of the above but the group now feels that efforts to resolve this at the local level are now exhausted and guidance is sought on where to escalate the issue to.

Natashya Shepard made the point that other options SC would need to address – road maintenance, better tree management by Stirling Council, engaging effectively with Landowners to avoid risk from trees on private land. Improving drainage & ensuring culverts are cleared regularly. Risk assessment is not the SCC’s job. SC have a duty – poor maintenance causes issues of road access.

JK thanked Stirling Council for sending through risk register guidance but restated that unfortunately it did not identify how the SCC can have the issue of the locked gate resolved. While the SCC can support development of a risk register for Strathard resources from the SC will be required to assist.

SS – wants to acknowledge the excellent work FLS did in clearing up after the storm & ensuring his household were safe & had good access/ingress

On a separate but related note progress with the various FLS community engagement groups appears to be going well.

Hopefully the existence of the general CEG as opposed to the LMP CEG’s will prevent issues resulting from FLS policy decisions without being made without local resident input arising in the future.

10. SCT Update

Appendix 4

11. Stirling Council update

Finishing up in advance of purdah prior to elections. Next will be Council Budget meeting.

Gillian McEwan (GM) thanks Jeremy MacDonald for support to with arranging new school crossings

Complaints from Community around time taken to allocate empty LA housing. JM – has been meeting with council to discuss management of voids & is pleased to inform that locals are being prioritised generally in allocations.

	Consultation survey re B829 40 mph limit Monkey Survey results in and while it demonstrated a substantial majority in favour the very many comments appended were more nuanced. There appears to be a difference in opinion between those residents who live in the valley and have to use the road regularly and residents whose main use is recreational. Proposal is to request a meeting with Stirling Roads to discuss the results. Ultimately it is down to Stirling Roads to make the decision.
12. Christmas Senior Citizens event	GM congratulations to local businesses & volunteers who pulled together to make the event a real success. Non attendees received food parcels also delivered after the event by volunteers. Great teamwork
13. Safe Routes to School	Aberfoyle will be getting 3 pedestrian crossings in the next few weeks – Bank corner to Baillie, Old Coop to Forth, Crossing at the Aberfoyle Play Park. A new path has been approved to be developed from Craigfoot Terrace behind Police Brae up to Staball’ard. This will give safe egress from the School during times of flooding but also provide a much safer route to & from school. SC & FLS have communicated well around this.
17. FLS update	Appendix 5
18. AOCB	Kate Bovill asked whether draft minutes could be put on website as long wait between meetings for approval then for SC to put on website. LM difficulties around time availability. NLD suggested a paragraph could be uploaded after each meeting with a brief summary for those interested. This could be printed & put on notice boards. Clare Graham is working on website and document access for SCC with the aim that this will enable much stronger inward and outward communications.

Next Public meeting Thurs 3^rd March 2022

Kinlochard Village Hall 7.15pm

Appendix 1 Police Report

Trossachs and Teith Ward,

Strathard Community Council

hello@ccstrathard.org

Community Council :

01/12/21 to 30/01/22 Compiled by PC Donald King

Reporting Period :

Antisocial Behaviour

You are concerned about antisocial behaviour including drunken behaviour.

On 10/12/2021, Main Street, Aberfoyle, a disturbance took place whereby a passing motorist had the wing mirror of her car kicked. When she stopped she was subjected to abuse and being pushed. Enquiry has been carried out with one female being charged with assault.

On 12/12/21, about 1420hrs at Queen Elizabeth Forest in the area of Duchray Road, Aberfoyle near to Lochan Spling a lone female has been running when a male person has been acting suspiciously following and running behind her. The complainer has stated that if the male wanted to grab her he could have on a couple of occasions but at no point has he said anything to her or acknowledged her when she has spoken to him. The male is described as late 20's, early 30's, about 6ft, medium build, with spiked hair, wearing a black head torch on a pink band, green deer stalker type jacket, dark trousers and boots.

This description and locus matches the incident on the 25/10 and there are similarities to other incidents occurring in the Mugdock area.

Enquiry has been carried out into both incidents and considerable Police patrols have been carried out in the area including use of the Police helicopter, dog handlers, mounted police as well as foot patrol, cycle patrol and mobile patrol. We have made a number of public appeals and spoken to local residents and visitors about both incidents. Enquiries are still ongoing but to date we are no further forward in identifying the person responsible.

Patrols of the area will be continuing.

On 16/01/22 at Forest Hills Hotel a male guest was reported to be acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards staff and other guests. Officers attended and due to his ongoing behaviour, one male was arrested. A report is being submitted to the fiscal.

Ward Plan Priorities

The public is urged to remain vigilant for an ongoing fraudulent banking scam involving people impersonating police officers.

Between October 2021 and January 2022, over 30 reports have been received from members of the public, who have either been visited or contacted by individuals claiming to be Police Scotland officers.

On each occasion, the victim was contacted by telephone from someone claiming to be from a bank fraud department and advised that their bank account had been compromised. They were then requested to either transfer money remotely to another account online or attend at a bank and remove cash, which would later be collected by a police officer.

While not every attempt to extort money was successful, those responsible defrauded a number of victims across Forth Valley, Fife, Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside, Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders.

More than £300,000 has been defrauded from victims and inquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing.

If you receive such a call, or visit, ask for the officer’s details and which department they work for. If the contact is by telephone, hang up and if possible use a different phone to contact the police service via 101, where you will speak to genuine members of Police Scotland and can request police officer verification.

Further advice on scams and fraud can be obtained on the Police Scotland website at - https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/scams-and-frauds/

Other Incidents / Activity of note

Issues raised

Community Council Feedback

The Community Officers for your area are: PC Donald King and PC Lorna Deans, based at Callander Police Office.

The Community Sergeant for the area is PS Grant MacDonald, based at Dunblane Office.

They can be contacted via the email address TrossachsTeithCPT@scotland.pnn.police .uk or by phoning 101

We regularly publish information on the ‘Forth Valley Police’ Facebook page and tweet using @StirlingPol

Appendix 2

Strathard Community Council – Bank account balance at 3 February 2022

	£		£
General Fund opening Bank balance 27 October 2021			10503.71
Monies out
Minute Secretary	(	40.00)
Strathard News Ad	(	50.00)
Minute Secretary	(	40.00)
Total monies out			( 130.00)
Monies in
ALP NP Grant	1750.00
Total monies in			1750.00
General Fund closing Bank balance 7 December 2021			12123.71
Subsequent income/expenditure

Aberfoyle Hall - Christmas lunch		( 31.25)
Christmas lights		( 500.00)
Domain Host registration		( 70.64)
General Fund closing Balance 3 February 2022		11521.82
Less Commitments
Aberfoyle Life Plan	4050.00
Community Events Fund	1011.62
		5061.62
Available Funds		6460.20

Commitments

1	Aberfoyle LifePlan Monies in
	SC Community Pride Grant	£1500.00
	Strathard Community Council	£1500,00
	National Park	£1750.00
	Strathard Community Trust	£1500.00
	Stirling Council	£1750.00
	Monies out
	CCN	(£ 800.00)
	CCN	(£1300.00)
	CCN	(£1850.00)
	Available funds in Bank account	£4050.00

2 Community Event Fund

Funds in Bank account £1542.87

Christmas tree lights	(£500.00)
Aberfoyle Hall - Christmas lunch	(£ 31.25)
Available funds in Bank account	£1011.62

Notes

1 Christmas lunch monies to be finalised

Appendix 3

Strathard Community Council

Weekly Planning Lists for December 2021 and January 2022

Planning Applications:

1. Ref No 2021/0454/DET Officer Caroline Strugnell Date Valid 26 January 2022. Proposal Construction of cycle shelter; covered outdoor dining terrace; bicycle storeroom and associated landscaping works Location Aberfoyle Bike Hire Main Street Aberfoyle Applicant Mr Nick Green Aberfoyle Bike Hire 206A Main Street Aberfoyle FK8 3UQ Agent Application Type Detailed Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 252284 E 700955 N Advertisement Type Neighbour Notificatio

2. Ref No 2022/0013/DET Officer Nicola Arnott Date Valid 21 January 2022 Proposal Installation of water bottle refill station Location The Pier Cafe Stronachlachar FK8 3TY Applicant Scottish Water The Bridge Buchanan Gate Business Park Cumbernauld Road Stepps G33 6FB Agent Application Type Detailed Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 240428 E 710245 N Advertisement Type Neighbour Notification

3. Ref No 2022/0023/DET Officer Craig Jardine Date Valid 24 January 2022 Telephone 01389 722020 Proposal Erection of ancillary accommodation and garage Location Gartnerichnich Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr & Mrs James & Luisa Bradshaw Perio Mill Fotheringhay Oundle Peterborough PE8 5HU Agent Sam Courtney Dualchas Architects 1.06 McLellan

Works 274 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow G2 3EH Application Type Detailed Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 244550 E 702774 N Advertisement Type Neighbour Notification

4. Ref No 2021/0440/HAE Officer Nicola Arnott Date Valid 10 January 2022 Proposal Proposed alterations to existing dormer windows and formation of new dormer in roofscape front elevation Location Edendarroch Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr And Mrs Gery Fleming Brannochlie Prieston Road Bridge Of Weir Renfrew PA113AN Agent John H. White JHW Architects Ballat Crossroads Balfron Station Glasgow G63 0SE Application Type Householder Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 245429 E 702363 N Advertisement Type

5. Ref No 2021/0439/DET Officer Nicola Arnott Date Valid 22 December 2021 Proposal Proposed alterations to existing double garage upper floor to form holiday accommodation Location Edendarroch Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr And Mrs Gerry Fleming Brannochlie Prieston Road Bridge Of Weir Renfrew PA113AN Agent John H. White JHW Architects Ballat Crossroads Balfron Station Glasgow G63 0SE Application Type Detailed Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 245429 E 702363 N Advertisement Type Neighbour Notification

6. Ref No 2021/0391/HAE Officer Nicola Arnott Date Valid 6 December 2021 Telephone 01389 722661 Proposal Proposed 2 no. single storey extensions to dwellinghouse comprising one wraparound extension to side and rear and one separate extension to the rear Location Hillview Cottage Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr Rich Seddon Hillview Cottage Lochard Road Aberfoyle FK8 3TY Agent William Harley Wd Harley Ancaster Business Centre Cross St Callander FK17 8EA Application Type Householder Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 240109 E 710161 N Advertisement Typ

7. Ref No 2021/0446/HAE Officer Lorna Gray Date Valid 6 December 2021 Telephone 01389 727749 Proposal Erection of 2 no. single storey extensions Location 8 Braeval Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr Andy Kelly 8 Braeval Aberfoyle Stirling FK8 3UY Agent Neil Millsop Signal Architects LTD 2 Shore Road Aberdour KY3 9HY Application Type Householder Planning Permission Expected Decision Level DEL National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid co-ordinates 253427 E 700310 N Advertisement Typ

Withdrawals:

1. Ref No 2021/0270/DET Officer Caroline Strugnell Date Valid 2 August 2021 Telephone 01389 722148 Proposal Complete demolition of existing stone bothy and erection of tourist accommodation Location Duchray Castle Duchray Road Aberfoyle Applicant Mr & Mrs Nikita Malikov Duchray Castle Limited Duchray Castle Duchray Road Aberfoyle FK8 3XL Agent Craig Higgins Thomas Robinson Architects The Red House Croftamie Glasgow G63 0EU Application

Type Detailed Planning Permission National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid Co-ordinates 248116 E 699894 N Date Decision Issued 6 December 2021 Decision Withdraw

2. Ref No 2021/0271/LBC Officer Caroline Strugnell Date Valid 2 August 2021 Telephone 01389 722148 Proposal Complete demolition of existing stone bothy and erection of tourist accommodation Location Duchray Castle Duchray Road Aberfoyle Applicant Mr & Mrs Nikita Malikov Duchray Castle Limited Duchray Castle Duchray Road Aberfoyle FK8 3XL Agent Craig Higgins Thomas Robinson Architects The Red House Croftamie Glasgow G63 0EU Application Type Listed Building Consent National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid Co-ordinates 248116 E 699894 N Date Decision Issued 6 December 2021 Decision Withdrawn

Approvals:

1. Ref No 2021/0446/HAE Officer Lorna Gray Date Valid 6 December 2021 Proposal Erection of 2 no. single storey extensions Location 8 Braeval Aberfoyle Stirling Applicant Mr Andy Kelly 8 Braeval Aberfoyle Stirling FK8 3UY Agent Neil Millsop Signal Architects LTD 2 Shore Road Aberdour KY3 9HY Application Type Householder Planning Permission National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid Co- ordinates 253427 E 700310 N Date Decision Issued 26 January 2022 Decision Approve

2. Ref No 2021/0362/HAE Officer Nicola Arnott Date Valid 15 October 2021 Proposal Erection of single storey rear extension with associated decked area Location 5 Lochard Cottages Kinlochard Aberfoyle Applicant Mr & Mrs E McNeill 5 Lochard Cottages Kinlochard FK8 3TW Agent Brian Allan BDA Design 38 Wellpark Crescent Stirling FK7 9HF Application Type Householder Planning Permission National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid Co-ordinates 244928 E 702058 N Date Decision Issued 21 January 2022 Decision Approve

3. Ref No 2021/0215/DET Officer Alison Williamson Date Valid 7 July 2021 Telephone 01389 722610 Proposal Erection of telecoms mast, installation of associated equipment and upgrade of access track Location North Of Loch Ard Forest Block Off B829 South Of Stronachlachar Applicant WHP Telecoms Limited 401 Faraday Street Birchwood Park Birchwood Warrington WA3 6GA Agent Damian Hosker WHP Telecoms Limited Helena House Troy Mills Troy Road Leeds LS18 5GN Application Type Detailed Planning Permission National Park Ward NP Ward 2 (northern (central) area) Community Council Area Strathard CC National Grid Co-ordinates 240455 E 708378 N Date Decision Issued 7 December 2021 Decision Approve

Enforcement Matters:

None Appeals:

None Overdue Applications:

1. Application Number 2019/0305/DET Development Proposed : Change of use and extension of 1 no. existing building to dwellinghouse and erection of 5 no. terraced dwellinghouses and 1no. detached dwellinghouse Location: Stronachlachar Cottage Stronachlachar Aberfoyle Stirling FK8 3TY Applicant: Stronachlachar Development Ltd Agent’s Name: William Findlater Agent’s Company Name: William Findlater Agent’s Address: Moorpark House 11 Orton Place Glasgow G51 2HF Date Application Valid: 28 November 2019 Date of expiry of period for representations: 3 January 2020

2. Application Number 2021/0194/DET Development Proposed : Formation of bellmouth junction and access road to serve a maximum of 12 dwellinghouses Location: Land To The West Of Lochard Cottage Kinlochard Stirling Applicant: Mr Graham Clough Agent’s Name: Gareth Roberts Agent’s Company Name: Organic Architects Agent’s Address: 140 West Princes Street Helensburgh G84 8BH Date Application Valid: 14 September 2021 Date of expiry of period for representations: 29 October 2021

3. Application Number 2021/0248/PPP Development Proposed : Change in the use of land from agriculture to caravan site for siting of holiday pods and managers accommodation and formation of access, car parking, footpaths and installation of sewage treatment plant Location: Ledard Farm Aberfoyle Stirling FK8 3TL Applicant: Ledard Estates Ltd Agent’s Name: Murray Watt Agent’s Company Name: MW Consultants Agent’s Address: The Mill House Thornhill Stirling FK8 3QJ Date Application Valid: 6 July 2021 Date of expiry of period for representations: 13 August 2021

4. 2021/0391/HAE Development Proposed : Proposed 2 no. single storey extensions to dwellinghouse comprising one wraparound extension to side and rear and one separate extension to the rear. Location: Hillview Cottage Aberfoyle Stirling FK8 3TY Applicant: Mr Rich Seddon Agent’s Name: William Harley Agent’s Company Name: Wd Harley Agent’s Address: Ancaster Business Centre Cross Street Callander FK17 8EA Date Application Valid: 6 December 2021 Date of expiry of period for representations: 31 December 2021

Appendix 4

Strathard Community Trust report

Strathard Community Council – 3 February 2022

Strathard Community Trust update – 9 December 2021

1 Hub cleaning under review

2 Review of use of Hub – fobs, signing in, etc

3 Leah Dunlop to be approached to prepare accounts

Strathard Community Trust update – 27 January 2022

1 Update bank account signatiories now that Leah has joined

2 Look at interest bearing and digital accounts accounts

3 Community events being considered by Kate Bovill include the reintroduction of the mushroom festival, Jubilee street party event , Christmas 2022 and further cycling activities

4 Funds due to Gravelfoyle to be requested by Enda McLoughlin

5 Discussion on DRT and community transport

6 Progress on the Bike store being made

Appendix 5 FLS update 2/2/22

Please see below for the most up-to-date QEFP trail update:

Ben A’an – Hill path improvement works began on 24^th January and are due to be completed by the end of March. Please obey all safety signage and guidance from the path work contractors working on the hill.

Ben A'an also has some fallen trees on the hill path as a result of the recent storms. These are in a safe and easily passable condition and walkers are able to gain access around them. We are working hard to get these cleared in the coming months.

The Lodge - Please be aware that work started on our new and improved accessible ramp at the main entrance of The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre on Monday 10^th January. This work will last approximately 3 - 4 weeks (weather dependant). The Lodge, Café and Go Ape will remain open during this time and access to The Lodge and Cafe will be via the side doors.

The Three Lochs Drive - The Three Lochs Forest Drive is now closed to motor vehicles for winter. The toilets are also now closed. Both will re-open in spring 2022.

The Drive remains open to walkers and cyclists, however, forestry work will be taking place throughout the winter including the clear up of extensive storm damage, so please adhere to all safety signage if you visit as a pedestrian.

Loch Ard – Forth Valley Viewpoint Trail – This trail remains closed as there are still multiple fallen trees on this path.

The Callander Crags Trail, Sallochy Trail and Ben Venue Hill path are now open after being closed or diverted due to fallen trees.

Garadhban – We have recently had to fell larch trees infected with the disease Phytophthora Ramorum in the Garadhban area. Find out more about how to protect our forest from tree disease here.

We ask that visitors follow all on site signage when out on the trails and choose an alternative route if the one you had planned to use is currently closed or diverted. For updated information of our trails please keep an eye on the destination pages linked via the main QEFP webpage.

Kind wishes, Gill

Gill Walker | Visitor Services Supervisor

Forestry and Land Scotland, Aberfoyle Office, Central Region, Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire, FK8 3UX

m: +44 (0) 7765221918 e: gill.walker@forestryandland.gov.scot