STIRLING COUNCIL
MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held as a VIRTUAL MEETING by
MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER 2021 at 2.00 PM
Present:
Provost Christine SIMPSON (in the Chair)
Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN
Councillor Danny GIBSON
Councillor Graham HOUSTON
Councillor Jane HUTCHISON
CouncillorChris KANE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alasdair MacPHERSON
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy McDONALD
Councillor Susan McGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Jim THOMSON
Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
In Attendance
Carol Beattie, Chief Executive
Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance
Mark Easton, Lead Solicitor - Commercial & Property
Graeme Forrester, Lead Solicitor – Governance
Graham Gibson, Senior Media Officer
Charlie Haggerty, Legal Manager
Richard Hayes, Service Manager - Operations
Maria Lucey, Team Leader – Roads & Land Services
Isabel McKnight, Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance
Bruce Reekie, Senior Manager – Environment & Place
Brian Roberts, Chief Operating Officer – Infrastructure & Environment
Julia McAfee, Chief Officer - Governance (Clerk)
Lesleyann Burns, Support Officer
Sheila McLean, Governance Officer (Minutes)
Recording of Meeting started
Prior to the commencement of business, the Provost welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting via MS Teams.
A statement was read to the meeting providing detail on the procedures related to MS Teams and the protocols that both Members and Officers should adhere to throughout the meeting.
The Provost asked the Clerk to carry out a roll call of all Members participating in the meeting. The Clerk confirmed the Members who were present.
SC479 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Margaret Brisley and Councillor Evelyn Tweed.
SC480 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
SC481 STIRLING COUNCIL BRIDGE CONDITION REPORT
At a Special Meeting of Council held on 21 October 2021, Council considered an update report on Branshogle and Catter Burn Bridges and agreed that officers would bring forward a report to a further Special Meeting.
The Senior Manager – Environment & Place introduced his report which presented an overview of the condition of the Council’s bridge assets associated with the public road network and provided details of ongoing work to develop a bridges and structures asset management plan.
The report highlighted that the Council’s road network and its supporting structure was the largest and most visible community asset for which the Council was responsible. Bridges and other highway structures were fundamental to the transport infrastructure.
As part of the roads network, the Council was responsible for maintaining 319 bridge assets associated with the public road network. Defects could be caused by a number of factors and these were summarised in Appendix 1 to the report.
Officers detailed the distinctions between principal and general inspections, which were used to calculate a Bridge Stock Condition Index (BCI). Rating bands and scorings calculated within the BCI were set out in the report.
The report provided details of inspection regimes and maintenance plans.
Officers provided information on individual bridges where concerns were raised by local ward Members. It was noted and acknowledged that some resources had required to be redirected to focus on the rebuild of Branshogle and Catter Burn bridges.
Discussion took place on weight restricted bridges and how restrictions could be better enforced. Officers agreed to discuss options for enforcement with Police Scotland, however it was noted that resources were limited.
Consultants were continuing to develop a bridges and structures asset management plan which would review how investment levels could improve the condition of bridges and structures in the medium to long term and it was proposed that this plan be used to provide an annual update on the conditions of the Council’s bridges and structures to the Environment & Housing Committee.
Decision
Council agreed:
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to note the contents of the report; and
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that the Environment & Housing Committee receives an annual update on the condition of Stirling Council’s bridges and structures through an asset management plan.
(Reference: Report by Senior Manager – Environment & Place, dated 7 December 2021, submitted).
The Provost declared the Meeting closed at 3.05 pm