Service updates

SPECIAL MEETING OF STIRLING COUNCIL - THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER 2021

Last updated

20 Mar 2023

STIRLING COUNCIL

 

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

MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER 2021 at 2.00 PM

 

Present:

Provost Christine SIMPSON (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 HOUSTON

Councillor Jane HUTCHISON
Councillor Chris KANE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy McDONALD
Councillor Susan McGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Jim THOMSON

Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
Councillor Evelyn TWEED

 

In Attendance

 

Carol Beattie, Chief Executive

Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance

Martin Dalziel, Team Leader for External Communications
Graeme Forrester, Lead Solicitor

Charlie Haggerty, Legal Manager

Richard Hayes, Service Manager (Temporary)

Maria Lucey, Roads & Land Services Team Leader (Bridges, Flooding & Drainage)
Isabel McKnight, Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance

Bruce Reekie, Senior Manager Environment & Place

Brian Roberts, Chief Operating Officer – Infrastructure & Environment
Simon Payne, Procurement Specialist

Julia McAfee, Chief Officer - Governance (Clerk)
Louise McDonald, Committee Officer (Minute Taker)
Islay Moore, Support Officer – Governance

 

Also in Attendance

 

Adam Haahr, External Audit

 

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 all Members were present except for Councillor MacPherson.‌‌

 

SC447 APOLOGIES

 

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Councillor Alasdair MacPherson.

 

SC448 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Councillor Evelyn Tweed declared a non-financial interest as the MSP for the Stirling Constituency.

 

SC449 BRANSHOGLE BRIDGE AND CATTER BURN BRIDGE UPDATE

 

The report provided an update in relation to the contract to rebuild the Branshogle Bridge which suffered a partial parapet collapse following a period of heavy rainfall in February 2021, and the proposals to repair the Catter Burn Bridge which suffered a parapet collapse in late September 2021. Both bridges were currently closed and causing disruption to residents and businesses in the local area.

 

The report required Council approval to incur capital expenditure over and above the existing budgetary provision within the Major Bridges Capital budget from reserves.

 

Following a Member query it was agreed that officers would provide detail on any lower scoring structures on the current diversion routes with Elected Members.

 

At 2.55pm the Committee agreed to an adjournment
Recording of meeting was stopped

The Meeting reconvened at 3.20pm with all Elected Members (previously noted) present

 

Recording of Meeting started

 

Motion

 

“Council agrees to:

 

Recommendations contained in the submitted report with recommendation 4 being replaced with:

 

Council notes officers will bring forward condition surveys and plans for the
maintenance of the bridges used on routes that might be used as diversions and that these should be shared with local members and discussed at the next meeting of the environment & housing committee

 

Council further notes that officers are in the process of preparing a Bridge Asset Management and Condition Report which sets the consideration for the Bridge Assets. Council agrees to a special meeting of Council in December for consideration of this report.”

 

Proposed by Councillor Jim Thomson and seconded by Councillor Jane Hutchison

 

Members unanimously agreed the Motion and there was no requirement for a vote to be carried out.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

  1. authorise the additional capital expenditure of the sum of £1.5M, such sums to be taken from reserves and added to the existing Major Bridges Capital budget;

  2. note that the financial position would be kept under review in light of final contract costs and the outcome of funding applications to the Scottish Government;

  3. note that the outcome of the procurement processes for both bridges and the projected costs to the Council, and any other pertinent updates, would be reported back to Members via a briefing note when this information was available;

  4. note officers would bring forward condition surveys and plans for the
    maintenance of the bridges used on routes that might be used as diversions and that these should be shared with Local Members and discussed at the next meeting of the Environment & Housing Committee;

  5. note that officers were in the process of preparing a Bridge Asset
    Management and Condition Report which sets the consideration for the
    Bridge Assets and agreed to a Special Meeting of Council in December for consideration of this report; and

  6. approve the carry forward of £120k from the approved Balfron Active Places Scheme budget to financial year 2022/23, subject to agreement by Sustrans to extend their grant funding period.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager - Environment & Place, dated 8 October 2021, submitted).

 

The Provost declared the Meeting closed at 3.30pm