www.strathblanefield.org.uk

MINUTES OF STRATHBLANE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Monday 2nd March 2015 in the Primary School Final for approval

Members Present: - Margaret Vass, Alan Hutton, Richard Arnold, Elspeth Neill, Avril Keen, Philip Graves, Julie Hutchison, Willie Oswald, Marian Lever.

In attendance: Rev Richard Begg, Cllr Graham Lambie, Constable Manon van Minwegen, Robert Davy CDT, Alan Milliken - SC Education Head of Learning Communities, Performance and Resources+ 15 residents.

(SC = Council. CC = Community Council. CDT= Community Development Trust * Denotes an action)

1. Welcome from the Chair and any apologies –from Margaret Vass MV said thank you to all who had taken part in the Village Summit. There had been a good attendance from all the community groups. She also proposed a vote of special thanks to Alan Hutton who had produced the special edition of the February Blane Valley Bulletin. CC agreed to change agenda order to suit the visiting police and SW presenters. Apologies-Sue Rand.

2. Declaration of interests - None

3. Scottish Water update – from Stewart Smolarek The main power cable has been installed. The roads within the compound are due to be tarred this or next week. Commissioning will follow on thereafter. Some discussion followed about lorries which had be seen driving along pavements and the physical deterioration of the access roads. SM indicated that SC was fully aware of the latter. A further query was raised about the switch cabinet in the Edmonstone Hall car park. This is a temporary unit and will be replaced by a brick-effect kiosk, in due course, of more attractive appearance.

4. Minutes of February’s meeting and matters arising. Minutes were approved by EN and seconded by PG subject to the addition of Marian Lever’s name as attending the meeting. a) War Memorial –only 75% funding will be available from the War Memorials Trust. The community will have to find the balance. WO queried whether a community pride application could contribute towards the 25% shortfall. RA indicated that he had all the application papers available now and was awaiting a final third quotation from a contractor to allow this to be processed. WO hopefully to assist. b) Priority Based Budgeting – MV advised of an interesting item - a sum of £100K for community pilots. She hoped that this might include 1 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Strathblane, but she is not yet sure to what use this might be put. We await further clarification from Cllr Lambie.

5. Police report – from Sgt Robertson, presented by Const. Minwegen. Various call outs under the headings antisocial behaviour, road safety and theft were reported. In particular the Coop had been targeted by shoplifters. With regards community engagement and reassurance the report stressed the importance of having community officers we know. Vehicle crime is being targeted so road checks can be expected in connection with this. A tour had been undertaken with Cllr Lambie over the wider Stirling area viewing a day in the life of a police officer. A major incident during the month was a drugs bust at one of the huts.

A full police report is given on-line in Appendix I at www.strathblanefield.org.uk

6. Report back from Village Summit on 21st February - from Alan Hutton A comprehensive report was delivered, taking us back to the Community Action Plan (CAP) prepared in 2011 and the seven areas for action emanating from that. He described achievements to date in respect of those targets, up until now. Representatives of all the voluntary organisations operating in the village attended the summit to add their views on the future of the village organisations and how they could be helped, both long term and short term.

The summit was opened with three surveys using electronic voting to prioritise perceived communal needs and the following main outcomes resulted: a) Q- What do you want from the summit: A- Volunteers at all levels and provision of and sharing information and skills. b) Q-Top priority A- Built environment, community communication, natural environment and healthcare and services. c) Q-Second priorityA- Natural environment, built environment and healthcare and services. d) Q- Third priority A- Healthcare and services, the natural environment, community communication, involvement and participants and built environment. The main short-term priorities for action by the CC are summarised as follows: • Urgently explore funding and local expertise to specify requirements for community website. • Set up a "groups" e-mail to communicate better. • Using local expertise examine better use of social media for village wide communication. • Use BVB to feature groups and request assistance with projects. • Explore and consult on the vision for our community’. • Open up a dialogue with Stirling Council to explore a partnership to develop the school and facilities that meet wider community needs. • Consult groups on their requirements for facilities.

Request SCDT: – to explore opportunities for income generation; – to consider developing stronger links with groups; – and use SCDT’s charitable status might be used to help groups’ income. 2 www.strathblanefield.org.uk A more detailed report is available on line in Appendix II at www.strathblanefield.org.uk ML suggested that healthcare could be added to the list. WO commented, in the context of communication platforms within the village that the website needs to be addressed and brought up to date. Alan Campbell has done a sterling job managing the website, but it is still the same old platform which needs to be updated and made more functional – perhaps with self-editing capability by each of the groups featured. Money will of course be needed for this. AH stressed the need to involve all of the community in the “conversation”. A survey in the May BVB could help towards this as well as a major consultation at the Village Fair inJune.

7. Roads Priorities –from Julie Hutchison, roads correspondent JH and MV had met up with Jim MacGregor SC engineering services. David Maley could not attend. The following areas were viewed and discussed: Resurfacing of the main road Parking at shops opposite the Blane Valley Inn: A layby is not possible, but It may be possible to install bollards to separate pedestrians and parkers. Kerbs would have to be strengthened to continue to allow parking. Resurfacing of the road adjacent to the War Memorial (Campsie Dene access) Top of Station Road – impossible to turn left without swinging over the centre line of the main road. Dangerous. Station road shocking with totally inadequate pavement. Bridge over the burn at Station Road – discussed the possibility of creating a chicane to slow traffic. The pavement beyond might be able to be cleaned up to make it more useable, but no funds to improve it. Craigenlay Ave and Kirkhouse road – very poor condition. J MacG pretty horrified at the general surface condition of a considerable number of estate roads. Co-op car parking: a more major issue. No short term fix for this but drawings will be produced. Lack of white lining on the main road discussed. Temporary lines might be painted on at key areas, but a permanent job should be done once all of the sections of road resurfacing have been completed. Planning gain re pavement at Campsie road-this will continue down to the A81 past the manse car park and Kirk Rooms. Safety on the Stockiemuir Road through Carbeth area and Cuilt Road junction. AK asked Cllr Lambie can give an opinion re safety issues on this road. He suggested that getting up a 50 signature petition for improvements and speed reduction measures could be a way forward. There was currently no funding for major improvements. AK reiterated her concerns about road safety at Cuilt Road end at Carbeth. Carbeth residents and business owners are not only concerned for road safety, but consider the current high speed road detrimental to their businesses as this is considered the most dangerous road in . When you descend from a bus into their dilapidated bus shelters you have to cross a 60 mph road that has no appropriate signage.

3 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Furthermore the John Muir Trail runs alongside and across this same road again with no signage. This issue has been pursued for many years and even the proposals outlined to our MP by Stirling Council have not been fully implemented. It was unanimously agreed that a petition to Stirling Council should be raised and that a police opinion on the safety of the road be sought.

ML raised the matter again of the trees at the Kirkhouse Inn. This has been an ongoing issue for several years and it is up to the Inn owners to address this. MV agreed to speak to the Duncans about it. If they will not respond SC should be asked to undertake the work and recharge the Kirkhouse Inn. She also thanked JH and MV for their work in connection with the roads survey. WO asked whether a temporary job could be carried out at the Station Road bridge. Sustrans funding for footpaths he said, were more favourably viewed if adjacent roads were speed controlled. He also said that the nib of land adjacent to Pestle and Mortar would be difficult to develop because of telegraph pole and light columns adjacent.

8. Area forum report back – from Margaret Vass Several CC members had attended to meet the senior management team for our area to put our concerns to them about police reporting and attendance at CC meetings.. There was discussion around how the system could be made to work and names given of our community team – Constables Lorna Deans, Paul Roose, Alan McCallum, Ross McNaught and Steven Graham. WO pointed out that they had conceded that a “one size fits all approach” was not working and that police numbers had been increased. CC complaints had been taken on board. The police had suggested that more use be made of the 101 telephone service for not urgent crime or suspicions reporting. They would also appreciate more feedback from the CC on the performance of their service delivery. They also pointed out the difficulty they were having because back-office staff had been cut so police officers had to do office work. The next area forum is on Monday 18th May where the topic will be the roads budget.

9. Community Council election for vacancies No volunteers had come forward to join the CC. This is worrying as several current community councilors are due to retire soon. We need to find ways to get people to come forward.

10. Elected member report – from Cllr Graham Lambie Main headings raised were

4 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Stirling Council Budget, where various contentious proposed cuts were rejected by the elected members, but a huge reduction id roads maintenance for £4.7m last year to £2.7 this year was a major item. Country Park –representation by the CC on the management committee had been agreed. Stirling council restructuring and staff changes. Car parking at Road and the coop. Planning matters including Auchenburg House, Valhalla wall and Edenmill Farm NHS Forth Valley Board meeting attended on 27th Jan Health and social integration scheme. Strathblane Primary school repairs and replacement of school. Broadband roll out. Community projects funding – Forth Valley leader should be open for applications soon. For Cllr Lambie’s full report see Appendix III at www.strathblanefield.org.uk

11. Planning and licensing –from Avril Keen’ planning correspondent. 15/00054/PPP – erection of dwelling house at Auchenburg House – a delay required pending a site visit. Residents attending the meeting suggested going to the existing houses. The grounds of the application seem to contravene the building in the countryside policy where it is only acceptable where it is essential to run a (rural/agricultural) business. This business appears to be in property management. The planning papers will be circulated.

12. Community comments KV requested that a community pride funding application be made for a safe power supply for Christmas tree lights at the Village Club. JH said she had been approached by a Blane Cresc resident with the following issues: Bad littering on road approaches to the village. The deep clean team needs to be mobilised to address this. Dangerous trees adjacent Cuilt Road. These were being dealt with by Duntreath Estates. RA to progress and see what is happening. In Blane Crescent there is a faulty drain. JH will e-mail SC on behalf of the community to try to get this issues addressed.

13. Finance – no time to discuss SR’s report due to inclement weather. Finances are fine.

14. Correspondence - meeting on 17th March- CC representation invited. It was agreed that PG will be our representative with Julie Hutchison as substitute. There had been correspondence from a N. Wales village (Coedpoeth) with a land contamination problem. Remediation has commenced already and an action group “Lead Astray” has been set up. They are looking for our formal support following our similar issue in . Facebook “likes” are sought and it was agreed that MV could respond in the press.

5 www.strathblanefield.org.uk ML has responded to a questionnaire about the use of the foyer at Stirling Royal community hub to say that we do not wish space as it is too far away.

15. Date of next meeting – Monday 13th April 2015 in the Kirk Rooms.

Blane Valley Bulletin Copy date 16th March 2015.

Contact us at [email protected] . Telephone numbers for Community Councillors are on the notice boards, in the library and in the Blane Valley Bulletin.

Appendices I, II and III follow on-line at www.strathblanefield.org.uk

6 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Appendix I – Police Report in Full

Community Forth and Endrick Ward, Strathblane Community Council Council:

Reporting March 2015 Compiled by Sgt 597 Robertson Period: Ward Plan Antisocial Behaviour Priorities You are concerned about antisocial behaviour including drunken behaviour. We attended a call on 21 Feb regarding fireworks being set off in Park Place. No trace of any persons of fireworks was found.

One individual was traced in possession of cannabis at Carbeth.

A car windscreen was vandalised on 16 Feb at Blane Place.

Road Safety You are concerned about speeding, dangerous driving and indiscriminate parking

A ‘fail to stop’ collision resulted in damage to a set of gates on 13 Feb at Mugdock Park.

We attended a one vehicle collision on 17 Feb at Road, Strathblane. Another collision at the entrance to Duntreath Estate caused damage to a fence and a third on the A81 Milngavie road caused damage to a wall/verge. No one was injured in any of these incidents.

A car with no valid MOT certificate was found at Mugdock on 12 Feb. The driver was issued with a fixed fine, which has already been paid.

Another driver was traced with defective lights. He was given 21 days to have the fault repaired

Theft You are concerned about homes being broken into and travelling criminals.

Vehicles have been targeted in this and surrounding areas:

4 Feb – Attempted theft from a car at a farm off the A81. The car appears to have been unlocked. 17 Feb- 20 Feb – Theft of items from 2 car2 at Levern Towers. The cars were unlocked.

A car was broken into and property stolen at the Kyber car park, Mugdock on 14 Feb.

The CoOp in Blanefield has been targeted by a group of shoplifters who have also visited . A positive line of enquiry is being followed thanks to a sharp-eyed local taking a note of a car number.

7 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Community Engagement and Reassurance It is important to you to have community officers who you know, who are accessible and who address local problems

We have been carrying out road checks to deter and identify travelling criminals in Strathblane, Mugdock and on the Stockiemuir road. This is part of a national initiative aimed targeting vehicle crime called ‘Operation Quarterlight’ There is more information on the Police Scotland website and #operationquarterlight on Twitter.

On Saturday 28th Feb, Councillor Lambie was out with Sergeant Robertson across the Forth and Endrick area seeing what the Police are doing and discussing some of the current issues. We also visited Stirling and see the cells and the nightclubs and pubs in the city. Most will recall the heavy rain and wind, which kept things somewhat subdued, but did show up the issue with surface water on the roads.

On 11 Feb an intelligence led Policing operation at one of the Carbeth huts resulted in the recovery of a substantial quantity of Heroin. 2 men were arrested and appeared at Stirling Sheriff Other Court. Both men are now fully committed for trial. The value of the drugs recovered is believed Incidents / to be in the region of £300,000. Activity of note The distribution of Smartwater product targeted a total of 405 houses in the Killearn and Strathblane area. In total,236 houses accepted the pack (58.2%), 114 of these were in the Strathblane area.

Issues raised

Community Council Feedback

The Community Team for Strathblane are: Constables Lorna Deans; Paul Roose; Alan McCallum; Ross McNaught and Steven Graham.

The Community Policing Sergeant is Adrian Robertson, who covers Forth and Endrick and Trossachs and Teith Community Wards and is based at .

They can be contacted via the email address [email protected] or by phoning 101 We regularly publish information on the ‘Forth Valley Police’ Facebook page and tweet using @StirlingPol

8 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Appendix II – report back from village summit 21st Feb.

The Community Summit Saturday February 21st in the Village Club

Hosted by the SCC with help from SCDT Board members and facilitated by Stirling Council staff led by Pam Campbell. Attendance was by invitation and 55 representatives covering almost all the voluntary organisations and groups in the community participated.

After a welcome by Margaret Vass and a short background presentation by Alan Hutton on progress on the seven priorities that the SCC and SCDT had highlighted in 2011, Pam Campbell got the proceedings underway with the help of a push button voting system by asking participants to vote first on what they wanted to get out of the day and, second, on their three highest priority areas amongst the six listed in the CAP.

Before and after lunch participants were split into six groups, each with a facilitator and representatives from the SCC or SCDT at their table and animated discussion proceeded on (a) the issues facing voluntary organisations – obstacles and challenges; (b) the things that would make life easier for the operation of their groups (and possibly to encourage other groups to form); and (c) more generally what people would prioritise for community development for the next few years.

Many useful and constructive suggestions emerged and, more generally, their was a feeling amongst delegates that they had met others for the first time and shared experience and common problems and possibly that, in some form, this kind of exercise could usefully take place on a regular basis.

Attached is an initial summary of the voting responses and Pam Campbell’s summary of the themes that emerged from the discussions.

This was the first stage of a major consultation of community members on the revision and updating of the CAP. Stages 2 and 3 will take the form of information and invitation to respond in the May BVB and the use of SCC and SCDT stalls at the Summer Fair in June to inform and get feedback particularly from younger community members.

9 www.strathblanefield.org.uk What do you want from the Summit?

Top Priority

Natural Environment Community Communication, Built Environment Involvement & Participants Sustainability Healthcare & Services

10 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Second Priority

Natural Environment Community Communication, Built Environment Involvement & Participants Healthcare & Services

Third Priority

Natural Environment Community Communication, Built Environment Involvement & Participants Sustainability Healthcare & Services

11 www.strathblanefield.org.uk Key Themes for the Summit

Strong Community Organisations & Information Sharing: • Support development of key contact and information on organisations by reviewing Strathblanefield Website • Use BVB & other methods, particularly social media to disseminate information more effectively • Share skills knowledge of funding; and grant applications cycles • Explore opportunities for paid post to support youth work & youth engagement

Volunteering • Support development & access to database of volunteer skills • Support opportunities for mentoring/shadowing & sharing of skills • Promote and encourage inter­group working supporting community action events, e.g. tidy up Graveyard

Community Priorities • Work together to create a strategy to tackle the range of urgent ‘built environment’ requirements to meet community needs — school, library, housing for older people. • Explore opportunities for income generation

VISION, AMBITION, CO­OPERATION This last point seemed to many participants a pivotal one. The real prospect of a new school building opens up the possibility of a co­ordinated solution to our multiple community needs – especially in the built environment. An imaginative co­ordinated project might combine the resources of Stirling Council with the expertise and experience available in our community in achieving that outcome.

EARLY ACTION BY THE SCC At the same time many practical more short­tern suggestions emerged.

• Urgently explore funding and local expertise to specify requirements for community website. • Set up a "groups" email group to communicate better. • Using local expertise examine better use of social media for village wide communication. • Use BVB to feature groups and request assistance with projects. • Explore and consult on the vision for our community’. • Open up a dialogue with Stirling Council to explore a partnership to develop the school and facilities that meet wider community needs. • Consult groups on their requirements for facilities.

Request SCDT: –to explore opportunities for income generation; –to consider developing stronger links with groups; –and use SCDT’s charitable status might be used to help groups’ income.

12 www.strathblanefield.org.uk

Appendix III – Elected members report from Cllr Graham Lambie.

Forth and Endrick News - Strathblane - Monday, 2nd March 2015

Arnprior Buchanan Killearn Strathblane Councillor Lambie Report • Stirling Council Budget: A number of the more contentious Stop/Reduce options were rejected by both the Administration and Opposition groups including – Review of Winter Gritting, Removal of Special Uplift Concessions, Review of specialist PE/Music, Increase Nursery Fee charges. One item that wasn’t rejected which will impact on some rural communities is the Introduction of road collections, although the service will wish to avoid the accumulation of bins in single places. However, arguably the biggest impact on rural communities is the cut in the Roads, Paths & Pavements capital budget - £2.710 Million for 2015/16 as compared to £4.728 Million in 2014/15. According to the budget note “…the first £1m of any additional receipts or other adjustments will be spent on augmenting the roads budget for 2015/16 and 2016/17. At this stage until we see the approved roads maintenance budget I do not know how this will affect area 2 (Forth and Endrick) but will anticipate there will be fewer road projects in the ward. • Mugdock – CC representation: Mary Coulshed (Team Leader Mugdock Park) has contacted Strathblane CC with an invitation for a representative to attend the next Park Management Committee meeting at 10:00 am Tues 17th March. I’ve asked if the CC can have a substitute as Tues mornings may not suit everyone. The park is also looking for additional income streams including a charge for the car-park. A suggestion is this could be delivered as a loyalty card/pass which for a yearly charge would include unlimited use of the car-parking and vouchers etc. for events and park shops. Casual visitors would pay by a meter system - access roads may have to be double yellow lined or clearwayed to make this work. • Stirling Council Restructuring and Staff changes: The council has returned to a Director structure – the previous structure comprised – Chief Executive, 3 Assistant Chief Executives and a number of Heads of Service. A number of experienced senior officers have left the council in including Kevin Robertson, Les Goodfellow, Willie Watson, and John Risk. There are 3 new directors Robert Steenson (Housing and Environment), Stacey Burlet (Communities and Partnerships), Gerard O’Sullivan (Corporate Operations). The latter appointment is significant as Mr O’Sullivan was formerly a senior BT employee, and brings private sector experience into the council. (See Appendix 1) • Roads Officers: My former contacts namely Stephen Todd and Peter Turner have moved on – Stephen to New Zealand and Peter to Callander. Their replacements respectively are Iain McDonald (Rural Team Leader Roads Maintenance) [email protected] and David Maley (Area Officer - Road Maintenance) [email protected] Update: the other contact is Jim McGregor who I understand attended the roads inspection visit with Julia. • Car Parking Bays – Glasgow Road: I have asked roads if a parking bay can be installed opposite the Blane Valley when the next phase of resurfacing is carried out. Ideally if the pole, bus-stop and wall can also be moved that would give more space. • Car Parking Bays: I understand that there may be an opportunity to install bays opposite the Coop. I have contacted Peter Morgan & Stewart Carruth about this.

13 www.strathblanefield.org.uk • Police Patrol: On Saturday 28th Feb I attended an evening/night police patrol with Sergeant Adrian Robertson starting at Balfron Police Station. Due to heavy rainfall the patrol was quiet although we did find some flooding – worse location was on the A809 just south of Croftamie. The patrol covered every village in the Forth and Endrick Ward, including Strathblane, the Mugdock car parks, and east side up to . We also visited the Randophfield HQ in Stirling and I sat in on a briefing of the night time patrol – 8 officers including 4 WPCs. The visit also include a tour of the cells – there are 21 in Stirling, more in Falkirk. There were 4 prisoners in custody at the time. The Sgt also referred to 2 significant cases in the Strathblane area: A one time prominent drugs dealer who is subject to POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002) action, and a seizure of some £300K of heroin from a Carbeth Hutter property. The patrol concluded with a visit to the Kirkhouse Inn at 01:00 to speak to officers watching late night traffic on the A81 Glasgow road. The entire patrol lasted some 9 hours from 17:00 until 02:00 on Sunday 2nd March. I came away very confident and reassured about the work that the local officers are doing in keeping our villages safe. Also, I would encourage communities and members of the public to check out the Stirling Police Twitter at https://twitter.com/stirlingpol • Planning – Auchenburg House: On the request of the owner I visited the site when it was not subject to a ‘live’ planning application at the time. I asked the applicant to contact Strathblane CC with a view to a site visit from the CC. I understand that the applicant has indeed contacted the CC. I have continuously reminded potential applicants that CCs are statutory consultees with respect to both planning and licensing and I’m glad to see that on the whole applicants appear to be contacting CCs, along with seeking pre-application meetings with the planning officers. The above application could be subject to a referral to the planning panel or the applicant could appeal to the LRB (Local Review Body) in the event of a refusal. I will be seeking the views of the CC before proceeding on this. • Planning – Valhalla Wall: I was informed about the construction of a stone wall next to the Valhalla site and Old Mugdock Road. This has subsequently been reported to planning and I understand that Stirling Council will be seeking a planning application for the wall. • Planning - Edenmill Farm: As this a ‘live’ application I cannot provide a public position of support or opposition. However, any improvement to road safety with the introduction of speed mitigation measures including a 40mph speed limit extending from the Carbeth Inn to beyond the entrance to Edenmill would be welcomed in the community and beyond. • Planning – Craigton and Spittalhill Windfarm 13/00728/FUL: The planning officer is recommending refusal of the application and it has been referred to the planning panel. This is consistent with all previous windfarm applications. Update: This will subject to a site visit and hearing. • Scottish Fire and Rescue - Safe Drive Stay Alive: This is a hard hitting show aimed at young drivers and future young drivers. All secondary schools are encouraged to attend and I understand that Balfron High had participated. The event is coordinated by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service but includes all of the other main rescue services – police, paramedics etc. The show also features relatives of young drivers who have had RTCs (Road Traffic Collisions).

14 www.strathblanefield.org.uk • NHS Forth Valley Board Meeting 27th Jan: I attended this meeting expecting an update on the situation with the Drymen and Aberfoyle Practices. However, it was not on the agenda. The meeting covered a range of issues under the following main banners – Quality/Safety, Health Improvement & Inequalities, Core Performance, Strategic Planning and Development. Most of the agenda items were For Noting and it was hard to identity opportunities where the board could make decisions. The NHS board meeting are open to the public and are held at Boardroom, Carseview House, Stirling – Next Meeting - Tuesday 31st March 2015 09:00 Hard Copies of the board papers are available at the board meeting. • Health and Social Integration Scheme: This paper was submitted to council and was approved. The relevant scheme Forth & Endrick is the Clackmananshire/Stirling one. However, the CC request for greater integration with Forth Valley and looks logical. • Strathblane Primary: I note that the projected maintenance/repair cost for the school is over £700K and fully support the community aspiration to develop a resource for the whole community. Two new primary schools will be built in Stirling – St. Ninians, and St Margaret's (Cowie). This is impacting on the council capital programme. A like for like replacement for Strathblane PS may not be possible whereas a building which includes – school, library, police office, medical centre, community hub etc. looks like a much better deployment of public money and one where a community could be a major part of the project. • Broadband: I understand that Broadband is being rolled out to Kippen but it would appear to be on a first come first served basis as only a section of the village will be done at a time – is this Openreach applying commercial criteria to the rollout. The £600K investment from the council was designed to support high speed broadband for the whole of Kippen and neighbouring communities. I have contacted Cllr Neil Benny (Finance and Economy Portfolio Holder) for a completion date when the whole community has been upgraded. Some communities are being upgraded to 4G (Fourth Generation) mobile – e.g. Balfron • Roads: The 2015/2016 proposed road maintenance programme will go to the Environment and Housing Committee in March. There are some projects that have overrun from 2014/2015 including – (1) Resurfacing in Gargunnock McNeil Crescent – Road Closure 23rd Feb – 27th Feb, Gargunnock – Manse Brae 1st Mar – 6th Mar (2) Resurfacing on B818 near Carron Valley – Road Closure 23rd Feb – 27th Feb. Update: There may be other additional projects to follow from the 2014/2015 programme. • Community Projects Funding: Forth Valley Leader should be open for applications in early 2015. Update: Leader have not released official dates for the availability of funds, but we are hoping these will available around April 2015. • Councillor Graham LambieStirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET 0845 277 7000 [email protected]

15 www.strathblanefield.org.uk

Appendix 1: New Council Structure Chief Executive Stewart Carruth

16