Denny & District Community Council Meeting Minutes-Monday 2th April 2012 Meeting held in The Red Hoose

6.30pm 9.00pm PRESENT Colin Belbin Sharon Tait Brian McCabe Peter ODonnell Julie McCaffery Cllr Waddell Christine Bell Sgt M Campbell Steve Ratcliffe John Cooper (7pm) Cllr McNally Colin Frame REPRESENTING DDCC DDCC DDCC DDCC DDCC Falkirk Council DDCC CS Police DDCC DDCC Falkirk Council Falkirk Council Minutes by J McCaffery REPRESENTING

APOLOGIES Kirsty McKnight PC A Nesbitt PC L Paul Cllr Blackwood Rev N Graham ABSENT Martin Oliver

Denny High School

CS Police

CS Police
Falkirk Council Denny Baptist Ch. REPRESENTING Falkirk Council

Members of public in attendance: J Sherry (HS), L Elliot, P Beattie, T Beresford, George Mc?, M Delaney(HS), D Paterson, C Gibson, J Cordiner, Z Gibson, A McLagen(HS), A Milligan, J Muir, J Price, J Robertson, I Stocks, M Drumgoole, L Stocks, R Bogle, W. Buchanan 1.0 Welcome Action Convenor C Belbin welcomed everyone to the meeting and following protocol, invited members of the public to address the meeting. 2.0 Members of Public Business Members of the public attended the meeting to support their objection to the wind farm proposed for Rullie View. The objections are based on, 1) not respecting the landscape character of the area, visual damage and intrusion, 2) destruction of ancient forest land and precious wildlife, 3) unacceptable impact on historic environs due to size and position, 4) unacceptable generation of audible noise and shadow flicker, 5) not safeguarding the amenity of nearby dwellings, diminishing landscape value and scenic qualities of the area. Several questions were asked of the CC. Q. When was the wildlife survey carried out? (There had been a fire which may have affected the surveys findings.) A. It being outwith the CC remit, the CC are unable to answer. Brent Vivien, FC, could possibly advise. Marjorie Delaney also advised that a student of Stirling University would like to carry out another survey. Q. What have CC members done to garner public opinion since the last meeting and in preparation for tonights vote? A. B McCabe explained that public consultation is limited by budget constraints. The CC are unable to do all wed like. DDCC have set up a Facebook site to seek public opinion and most members use their personal networks, (schools; local clubs; associations, etc) to speak

C. Belbin

B. McCabe

with local people and gauge their feelings on local issues. Publicising DDCC meetings through adverts in the Falkirk Herald and on local electronic signage, hopefully encourages attendance at CC meetings for the public to give their views. Q. Why not a public meeting its the only way to understand public opinion? As expressed previously, the DDCC do not have the facilities or budget to host public meetings. The CC meeting is a widely advertised public meeting. Everyone is welcome to come along and present their case. The large turnout at the last couple of meetings would suggest this is a successful strategy. (Specifically on the Rullie application: DDCCs decision must be submitted by 24th April 2012, There are time constraints and a holiday period to be considered.) DDCC members largely felt that they had consulted and received a diverse range of public opinion and felt able to take a vote on this proposal. Chairman Colin Belbin stressed to CC members that the vote they were about to take should be based on public feedback and not on personal opinion. For transparency, Brian McCabe reminded the attendees that the pro argument focused around the financial benefits which wind farms can bring to an area. Result of vote: 7 opposed the Rullie development. 0 supported the Rullie development. 1 abstention. Colin Belbin to feedback to planning. Q. Why were 40 houses omitted from the ordnance survey map describing the proposal? (Broadside) A. Again, DDCC cannot answer, it is a question for the developers. Q. Why cant comments be viewed on the FC online planning website? (They can for other Councils) A. A FC matter, but CC will investigate and provide feedback. Q. Why dont we get community benefit from Craigengelt? A. Communities need to be represented in order to negotiate. Craigengelt windfarm is outwith the Denny & District boundary but the Denny Development Group exists to negotiate community benefit. Should an application prove successful, the community do not lose out on compensatory benefits. Jim Robertson and John Price of Dunipace Juniors Football Club attended, firstly to thank the DDG group for recent funding and secondly to request help in determining the owner of the Dunipace Social Club premises. A recent fire has left the area a disaster zone with real concerns over the safety of the site. The Juniors are unable to have anyone take ownership of the problem due to lease issues. John Price was advised in September 2011 by John Smith, Falkirk

B. McCabe

C. Belbin

C Belbin

C Belbin

Cllr McNally

Council, that the Administrators had passed the lease back to FC and legal action was expected by last October. Cllr McNally agreed to progress this on behalf of Dunipace Juniors and to ask Officers to visit the site to ensure it is safe. 3.0 Denny High School Report Litter campaign continues. Cllr Waddell advised the group that, on discussion with residents, the litter problem is actually a traffic problem. See PACT report. PACT Report Sgt Campbell attended to advised the group on priorities for April PACT Priorities Based on feedback gained, Sgt Campbell committed to Fri/Sat night patrols of Dunipace Juniors environs. He advised that the Fire Service have not committed to the cause of the fire Demoreham parking continue to work with school officer. Address through education initially. CC members suggested Sgt Campbell target school lunchtime & finish times rather than football match times. Bicycle theft in Little Denny Road/ Overton area Sgt Campbell noted there have been a number of unclaimed burnt-out buckets found in Dunipace area and would urge owners to report missing buckets. A member of the public highlighted that the brewery lorry is causing an obstruction at Denny Cross. This is believed to be resolved The problem with traffic lights at Denny Cross has been resolved. Sgt Campbell again assured the group that the CCTV cameras in Denny are all in good working order and cover the bulk of the town centre. 5.0 Minutes of December Meeting P ODonnell requested that March minutes be amended to state that, Cllr McNally during discussion about potential community benefit from Denny/ Beauly power line, stated that he is against the Rullie windfarm development. Cllr McNally was happy to confirm this as the case.

4.0

Sgt Campbell

J McCaffery

Cllr Waddell asked that minutes be amended to clarify the objectives of Denny Development group. Doug Paterson to provide terms of D. Paterson reference. Based on amendments Proposed by B McCabe, seconded by Peter ODonnell. 7.0 Town Centre Regeneration

Colin Frame updated the meeting on design elements which were reconsidered following public consultation and review. These include: Library access from car park level Wood Finish - high grade/low maintenance wood has been selected Timescale for re-build Smaller units for sole traders redesigned to incorporate Plaster Stucco rendering colour will be reviewed Community space has been increased to include terraced area John Sherry, Heritage Society, stated that he was unhappy with the modern building being proposed and even with the use of traditional materials, the design of the new structure fails to recognise the architecture on the opposite side of the street. Peter ODonnell agreed that the proposed design is unsympathetic to Stirling Street. John Sherry asked if it was too late for another plan to be proposed? Colin Frame advised that the planning application would go in on 4th April. The only way to stop the plan from progressing is to object to it. Colin Frame informed the group that FC will invite applications for a fund matched public art project to design the communal areas. Sharon Tait requested that the new development be renamed. Colin Frame indicated that it would be unlikely that the street would remain as Church Walk. The next meeting of 21st CD will take place in the Baptist Church at C. Frame 7pm on 17th April. Colin Frame will e-mail a copy of the latest plans for discussion 8.0 BMX & Skate Park The skatepark & bike trail project is currently with lawyers. Cllr McNally will provide an update at the next meeting. Tennis club is going well but has been hampered by the closure of the Denny football centre. Classes have been relocated to the Denny centre. Cllr McNally informed the group of outline plans to put outdoor tennis courts in Denny. Two locations are being considered by LTA. Cllrs will meet on Thursday 5th April to make decision on the 3g pitch proposed at the old high school site. Treasurers Business Financial year ended on 31st March. Books are balanced and have been presented for audit. John raised concerns that the 5p per head has been reduced to 4.6p per head per annum. Gift for Ray Richards still to be confirmed. Denny Development Group Update Doug informed the meeting that a website had been set up www.dddg.org.uk and asked CC members to share website details within their networks. Membership to the group is actively encouraged. The group are currently working on developing a legal

Cllr McNally

9.0

ALL

10.0

structure and working towards Trust status. On 17th April the group will meet with Scottish Power to discuss the potential benefits from the Denny/Beauly line. A recent article in the Herald outlines the objectives and aims of the group, amongst which is the desire to maximise community benefit. 11.0 Convenors Business P/12/0142/FUL Alterations and extension to dentist, 35 Glasgow Road PP/12-27 Strathcarron Hospice Procession 7/10/12 @11am PP/12-24 Denny True Blues Procession 12/5/12 @ 4pm Any Other Community Council Members Business Denny High School have requested that DDCC sponsor their prize Fund. J Cooper will arrange cheque. J McCaffery to e-mail to provide the correct contact address Denny Centre 5-a-side pitches are in a state of disrepair. Backboards are damaged, as is the wire fencing. Also, changing facilities take up 15+ car parking spaces which leads to problems with cars being parked on the service /access road. Cllr McNally agreed to take this forward. Concerns over the voting quorum have been raised with B Pirie. Awaiting his feedback. 13.0 Improving Communications and Consultation B McCabe apologised for initiating the Facebook site without formal approval from CC members. This was to try and seek maximum public feedback on the Rullie windfarm proposals. Brian also apologised for posting minutes which had not been formally adopted. This was due to a misunderstanding. In an effort to formalise protocol, it was agreed that Julie forward unadopted minutes initially to members for comment. Once any errors/ omissions have been amended these minutes will be issued to the wider group and will be posted on Facebook/FC website as early as practical, but clearly marked as a DRAFT version. The Minutes will be formally adopted at the next DDCC meeting. 15.0 Next Meeting Next meeting will take place on Mon 30th April in the Baptist Church at 6.30pm Thanks to Rev Norman Graham for his kind offer of accommodation.

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J Cooper

Cllr McNally

C Belbin

J McCaffery