Trossachs Area Network Meeting
10 November 2011
Thornhill Primary School
PRESENT:
Barbara Allan Stirling Council
Margaret McKechnie Stirling Council
Claire McDonald (Minute) Stirling Council
Clara Walker Community Partnership
Neil Black LLTNPA
Dick Johnson (Chair) Callander Community Council
Stuart Mearns LLTNPA
Tony Ffinch Stirling Council & Callander Resident
Kevin Findlater Central Scotland Police
Owen McKee LLTNPA
Peter Rickard Thornhill & Blairdrummond Community Council
John Bothams Callander Kirk Hall
Keith Graham Port of Menteith Community Council
Sheena Makgill-Crichton Port of Menteith Community Council
Sue Morris Trossachs Community Council
Paul Owens Stirling Council
Gerry McGarvey Gartmore Community Council
Apologies:
Kate Sankey Thornhill CDT/Community Partnership
Fergus Wood Stirling Council
David Shearer McLaren Community and Leisure Centre
Tony Teasdale RSHA
Linda McKay LLTNP
Bob Jack Chief Executive, Stirling Council
1. Welcome and Introductions
Dick welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the purpose and format of tonight’s meeting.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting & Matters Arising
The following changes were noted for the Minute of 11 August 2011: -
· Community Update – Margaret McKechnie clarified that it was Inversnaid PS that was closing and not Aberfoyle PS.
Subject to this change, the Trossachs Area Network agreed to approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 August as a correct account of the proceedings.
There was some discussion around the Village Halls and the ways in which they could work together for mutual benefit. Dick introduced some ideas which had been discussed by the TAN Steering Group such as joint purchasing, promotion and marketing, touring circuits around the halls for concerts and other entertainments, caretaker training and Portable Appliance Testing. Dick asked the group if they would be interested in developing a Working Group to explore some of these possibilities.. He added that this could be a group where knowledge could be shared. Many halls were looking to cut costs and generate new funds and this could be a good way of doing this. It was noted that there was a Community Partnership website and Village Halls can become members of this and access useful documentation and toolkits.
Margaret McKechnie reiterated what Keystone was and what they were offering: KeyStone is designed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)to give information, support and encouragement to hall management committees. It helps committees to make sense of legislation and regulation, put systems in place to keep things running smoothly and allows groups to concentrate on providing the best facilities possible. KeyStone is now being provided in the Stirling area with Mentor support to take hall committees through the process. She went on to tell the group that this would be a useful tool for them to use and so far 8 people have been trained as mentors and 3 Village Halls have signed up so far: Thornhill, Port of Menteith and Kinlochard Halls have all signed up. KeyStone is also trying to secure insurance discounts for community run halls and buildings. They are also trying to get major funders to recognise this quality award.
Barbara Allan added that Stirling Council halls set energy targets and that this expertise could be shared with community run halls as well as the expertise of our caretakering staff.
Action – TAN Steering Group to send letter to Hall Committee contacts to guage interest in forming a Working Group
3. Update on Housing Enabler Project
Gavin Kennedy, the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs Rural Housing Enabler, introduced himself and explained that he had been appointed to help communities identify and develop solutions to address the issue of affordable and local needs housing in the National Park. The project has been established by the National Park Authority and the Rural Housing Service with support from Argyll and the Islands LEADER and Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER.
The initial pilot areas selected are:
· Luss (Argyll & Bute Council)
· Gartocharn (West Dunbartonshire Council)
· Balamaha/Buchanan, Gartmore, and Drymen (All Stirling Council)
Good progress has been made on the pilot projects with work to assemble baseline housing need and demand information already underway. In addition, some initial discussions with community representatives and landowners have taken place
He then went on to inform the group about Council house building in Killin. Stirling Council has agreed to buy the former Cost Cutter Store site on the Main Street and develop 12 flats in two three-storey buildings in 2012. Stirling Council has also made a successful bid for £600,000 of funding to build 20 new council houses in Cowie, Stirling and Thornhill. Rural Stirling Housing Association also were successful in their bid for funding for 14 new affordable homes in Doune. He went on to tell the group a little about help for first time buyers explaining that through a Scottish government scheme first time buyers can own their own home but only pay for a proportion of it.
Gavin explained there were estimated to be around 120 empty homes in the Stirling Council area. Whilst empty homes alone cannot resolve the lack of adorable housing, they can help to provide local affordable housing in rural communities.
4. National Park Local Plan
Stuart Mearns introduced himself to the Group. Stuart went on to explain about the National Park Local Plan. The Local Plan provides a clear framework for the development and use of land in the National Park.
The statutory aims were:
•To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage,
•To promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area,
•To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public,
•To promote sustainable social and economic development of the communities of the area.
Stuart went on to explain the process summary of the plan. The preparation of first National Park Local Plan started in Feb 2007 and it was hoped that it would be adopted in December 2011
The main and key issues that were looked at were:
· Protecting the Park’s special qualities, including landscape
· Supporting the rural economy
· Promoting sustainable tourism
· Respond to population decline and change
· Improved access to housing
· Alternatives to car based travel
Some policy considerations that were looked at across local authority boundaries were employment, housing, education and healthcare. .
Stuart explained that the key policies were Housing, Tourism and Wind Energy, orking together with partners and landowners to provide clear guidance and advice. Current projects include Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, Rural Housing Enabler, Callander Charette and Rural Stirling Business Space Survey. It was hoped that the plan would be adopted by 13 December 2011
5. Community Updates
Callander Kirk Hall – plan to run a Children In Need event.
Callander – Looking at Summer Events Programme and Callander Charette.
Thornhill/Blairdrumond – A community survey on affordable housing had been conducted and around 135 responses had been received so far.
Strathard – Hydro Scheme application has been withdrawn. B829 being upgraded.
Port of Menteith – Speed limits meeting tool place. Still not been resolved. They have the backing of Bruce Crawford MSP. Project Group - on the verge of contract being signed. Negotiations are underway with regards to the Car Park.
Trossachs – The Primary School will be hosting an Open Day. The community have concerns about winter roads maintenance and the loch shores.
Gartmore – also have concerns about winter emergency planning and roads maintenance.
Kevin Findlater of Central Scotland Police then gave a brief update on the 5 lochs project. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has formed a "Five Lochs" partnership comprising police, community councils and landowners. They will look at solutions to problems around the five lochs of Voil, Earn, Lubnaig, Venachar and Achray.