STIRLING COUNCIL

MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held as a VIRTUAL MEETING by

MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2020 at 2.45 PM

Present:

Councillor Graham HOUSTON

(Vice Convener of Stirling Council in the Chair)

Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Margaret BRISLEY
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN

Councillor Danny GIBSON
Councillor Graham LAMBIE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alasdair MACPHERSON
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy MCDONALD
Councillor Susan MCGILL
Councillor Jim THOMSON
Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE

In Attendance

Kevin Argue, Transport Development Team Leader (Environment & Place)
Christina Cox, Planning & Buildings Standards Service Manager (Infrastructure)
Graham Gibson, Senior Media Officer (Communities & Performance)

Ritchie Gillies, Planning Officer (Infrastructure)
Drew Leslie, Senior Manager - Infrastructure

Sean Moffat, Infrastructure Analyst (Communities & Performance)
Islay Moore, Support Officer (Governance)

Michael Mulgrew, Senior Planning Officer (Infrastructure)

Neil Pirie, Senior Development Control Officer (Environment & Place)
Angela Simpson, Access & Sustainable Travel Officer (Infrastructure)

Keir Stevenson, Place Development Manager (Economic, Development & Communities)
Carla Roth, Solicitor – Litigation (Governance)

Karen Swan, Committee Officer (Governance)
David McDougall, Governance Officer (Clerk)

Prior to the start of the meeting, Councillor Houston as Vice Convener of Stirling Council welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting via MS Teams. He updated the meeting on the procedures related to MS Teams and the protocols that both Members and Officers should adhere to throughout the meeting.

He also noted that this Special Meeting of Stirling Council had been called to determine the decision on Finnich Glen – 19/00757/FL application following the Meeting of the Pre Determination Hearing Committee today. Members were instructed that no further clarification on the Finnich Glen application could be asked or answered.

The Vice Convener of Stirling Council asked the Clerk to carry out a roll call of all Members and Officers participating in the meeting.

SC322 APOLOGIES‌‌

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor Chris Kane, Councillor Ross Oxburgh, Councillor Christine Simpson and Councillor Evelyn Tweed.

SC323 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

SC324 PROPOSED VISITOR FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 150 CAR PARK, NEW VEHICULAR ACCESS, PATHS, FENCING, BRIDGES,BARRIER, SERVICE ROAD, EARTHWORKS AND ASSOCIATED WORKS AT LAND AT FINNICH GLEN, CAMERON MUIR ROAD,
KILLEARN - MR DAVID YOUNG - 19/00757/FUL

A report submitted by the Senior Manager – Infrastructure detailed the proposal, and the issues raised by the proposal, which was discussed at a Pre-Determination Hearing Committee which took place earlier that day at 1pm on 6 October 2020. The purpose of the Special Meeting of Stirling Council was to take the decision on the Finnich Glen Planning Application (19/00757/FUL).

The application was being brought to Full Council due to the size of the site as the proposed development was classified as a Major Development under the Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009, was significantly contrary to the Development Plan and required determination in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation for determining planning applications.

The Elected Members discussed at length the Officers recommendation and noted legal advice from the Solicitor – Litigation on legality of access rights and right to roam.

With no Members moving the Officer’s recommendation, Councillor Lambie moved a motion, seconded by Councillor Berrill to accept the application as “it would improve road and visitor’s safety, protection of the environment of Finnich Glen and give clear tourism and economic benefits that this application will bring to West Stirlingshire and the wider area.”

The meeting reviewed the proposed motion and with further discussion the exact wording for the motion was unanimously agreed by All Elected Members.

Motion

“The Council is minded to approve the planning application due to significant
improvements to road and visitor safety, protection of the environment of Finnich Glen and clear tourism and economic benefits that the application would bring to West Stirlingshire and the wider area, subject to relevant conditions.”

Moved by Councillor Graham Lambie, seconded by Councillor Alistair Berrill.

Decision

The Motion was agreed unanimously without the need for a roll call vote and the Council was minded to approve the planning application due to significant
improvements to road and visitor safety, protection of the environment of Finnich Glen and clear tourism and economic benefits that the application would bring to West Stirlingshire and the wider area, subject to relevant conditions.

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager - Infrastructure dated 24 September
2020, submitted).

The Vice Convener of Stirling Council declared the Meeting closed at 3.26pm.

SPECIAL MEETING OF STIRLING COUNCIL - TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2020