Chair’s report and elected position holders

Chair’s report and elected position holders

This week we held our AGM and elected our position holders.  Our Chair Mike gave his annual report which can be read below, and the minutes from last years AGM were approved. 

 

Elected Position Holders

Chair: Mike Watson

Vice Chair: Anna Doeser

Secretary: Leslie Harkness

Treasurer: Alasdair Taylor

Planning Officer: Alastair Heron

Communications Officer: Anna Doeser

 

Chair’s Report

Good evening, it’s good to be back in harness and in a position to present the annual report covering the past year.

A year in which we have been busier than ever addressing an ever growing number of local issues some of which I will allude to later.

The increasing workload has without doubt impacted on Team members and regrettably we have lost two valued members in Iain McCusker and very recently Duncan Mc Dougal. 

As lead on Planning Iain did an outstanding job fronting our valued response to a number of key planning issues (including the controversial Co-Op site location and the Henderson Street Care Home development proposal as well as the day to day oversight of the everchanging local planning landscape.

Duncan has been a priceless asset fronting our significant objection input to the Airthrey Kerse planning applications and the formal appeals process at both local and Scottish Government level over the past decade on behalf of ourselves and Causewayhead C.C.

We are however fortunate to have recruited two new members in Alastair Herron who has adopted the Planning portfolio and is already addressing a number of challenges including the upcoming Local Development Plan.  We are also pleased to welcome the addition of Emma Fradgley who will amongst other things be assisting Alasdair with the Xmas lights plan.

Regrettably we are also about to lose Janie who is standing down has done an outstanding job over the recent past often encouraging us to think out of the box and has led on a number of important developments in tandem with key partners including the Accessibility and Inclusivity access work with Caryln Fraser of Stirling Council and also the Discover Bridge of Allan initiative.

Planning has been a major issue throughout the year and despite what could be measured as successful interventions on number applications. The Park of Keir outcome following the Ministerial intervention was undoubtable a low point and has left a bad taste.  For the many years work by RAGE, Dunblane Community Council , ourselves and our elected members to be dismissed in such controversial circumstances was a significant blow and threat to the upholding of future Greenbelt expectations and an undermining of the Local Community Planning process.  In the same context the future shape and development of the Village will be included in the soon to be created Local Development Plan by Stirling Council and we plan to bear influence wherever possible through the consultative process.

As ever the constant issue of traffic management, speeding and parking have been a constant feature of our agenda working through our elected members.  And highlighting specific issues including the those relating to the access and egress to the new Crossing Gates and speed restriction within the Village.

I am happy record that following years on our agenda and the input from Bill the on-going saga of the Tennis Courts now appears to be closer to a resolution with potential access to major funding being made available to Stirling Council through a new Lawn Tennis Association stream of funding. The outcome should be clearer following a meeting with Land Services officials later this week.

Village Christmas lights provision proved to be potential problem with issues over maintenance costs and a significant shortfall in available funding. We were fortunate to have the drive and imagination of Anna who’s Crowdfunding initiative saved the day and certainly created a welcome and much appreciated festive feel in the Village at an important time in terms of Covid Recovery. 

Work on the future of the lights in terms of storage, funding and maintenance is now a priority for a small working group. Now further complicated by the future closure of U.G. site with whom we were in consultation over potential storage and minor maintenance cost saving options

Despite the considerable work done to create a clear administrative system for access by the community to the Common Good Fund applications and uptake over the year has been disappointing in part due to misunderstandings with Stirling Council officials. A matter to which we will be giving full attention with Stirling Council who appear to be on a different page in respect of their understanding of the administration management of our Fund.

I am aware that during my time away concerns over the quality and delivery of appropriate grass cutting services has been highlighted on a number of occasions. Coupled with these concerns is the issue of litter and appropriate bin provision.

Having not long returned from OZ both issues were in full evidence and unwelcome.  I am aware that these are on-going matters and that an acceptable level of service provision is being sought.

Finally, I would wish to highlight our Communications group which has also been hard at work this year making improvements in our digital communication and information to the wider Community on a wide variety of issue which is increasingly accessed appreciated by residents.

In closing I would wish to take the opportunity to thanks my colleagues for their commitment and support in particular Leslie for his invaluable support and mentoring. Also, Janie, Anna and Alastair for support throughout the year and in particular during my OZ sabbatical.

I would also wish to thank our Elected representatives for their whole hearted support which is appreciated and greatly valued as one of our key strengths as a proactive C.C.  It would also be remiss not to recognise the support from Stephen Bly and the Community Development team at Stirling Council.p

Mike Watson

Chair

AGM and June Meeting

AGM and June Meeting

We are back on Zoom for our 2022 AGM.  This will be held before our June meeting on Tuesday the 21st at 7pm. In this meeting we will receive the Chair’s report and the Treasurer’s report. We will also be electing office bearers. See the agenda and meeting joining information here

This will be followed by our regular June Meeting at 7.30pm, where we will be talking about Recruitment, Christmas Lights, Discover Bridge of Allan, Tennis Courts, Common Good Fund, a return to in person meetings, Speed Restriction Measures, Planning and reports from our Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and Residents Voice where you can make your comments or questions.

Find the meeting joining information here on the agenda.  We hope to see you there.

AGM and June Meeting

June Meeting and AGM

Our 2021 AGM will be held before our June meeting on Tuesday the 15th at 7pm via Zoom. In this meeting we will receive the Chair’s report and the Treasurer’s report. We will also be electing office bearers. See the agenda and meeting joining information here

This will be followed by our June Meeting at 7.30pm via Zoom.  The full meeting agenda is still to be confirmed, it will be shared when available.

We hope to see you there.

AGM and June Meeting

February meeting and AGM

Our next ordinary meeting is to be held on Tuesday 16th February at 7.30pm via Zoom. Find the agenda here. All are welcome to attend.  

We will be discussing: Gritting, The Wallace Monument, Tennis Courts, Speeding, Common Good Fund, Blairforkie Development, Play Parks, Dog Fouling, Community Council Vacancies, Planning Issues and Residents Voice where you can make your comments or questions.

Our 2020 AGM had been postposed due to COVID. We can now confirm it will be held before our February meeting on Tuesday the 16th at 7pm. In this meeting we will receive the Chair’s report and the Treasurers report. We will also be electing office bearers. See the agenda here

We hope to see you there.

RAGE AGM 5th December

RAGE AGM 5th December

RAGE (Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion) are a concerned group of local people who want to protect and save the Park of Keir green belt site. The fight to save this land has been ongoing for 30 years and they want to preserve the Iron Age fort and woodland for future generations.

RAGE are holding their AGM on Wednesday 5th December at 7.15pm at the new Lecropt Church Halls, Dunblane Road, Bridge of Allan FK9 4NB. They will be discussing their future plans and everyone is welcome to come along.

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