Dunblane Community Council
| Rachael RennertSecretary cc@dunblane.info | Anthony DelleurChair cc@dunblane.info |
Minutes of the Dunblane Community Council held on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Library, Dunblane.
1. Apologies Apologies have been received from Stewart Corbett and Councillor Robin Kleinman.
2. Conflicts of interest: None were declared.
3. Adoption of minutes of 3 June 2026
These were approved, proposed by Annelise Bakri and seconded by Anthony Delleur.
Further to the AGM, and there being no alternative candidate, Jonathan Failes was elected as Vice-Chair, proposed by Alan Booth and seconded by Annelise Bakri.
4. Co-option of new community council members
It was agreed to start the process of co-opting new members (see June 2026 Minutes). The Secretary will contact Stephen Bly (Community Council Enquiry Co-ordinator) to inform him and this can then be publicised. She will also find out about the time-line. Two people have previously expressed an interest. Action: The Secretary.
5. Reports
Police Report : See attached.
PC David Collins went through the report and highlighted incidents in Edward Place, which have been dealt with by the police and the Council. Councillor Tollemache has met with residents who have been reassured by the police action.
Speedwatch David Whelan updated the community council on the work of the Speedwatch team over June and July. As previously reported, they operate at two locations, on Perth Road and Doune Road. During the school holidays in July the timing of the one-hour sessions has been later – between 9.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Doune Road, in June, 44 vehicles were travelling at over 25 mph (highest speed was 35 mph) and in July 31 vehicles were over 25 mph (highest speed 32 mph). On the Perth Road in June, 163 vehicles were travelling at over 25 mph (highest speed 44 mph), and in July 217 vehicles were over 25 mph (highest speed 42 mph). Rachel Nelson led the community council’s thanks for the work of the Speedwatch team.
Operations Report: See attached.
Terence O’Byrne has produced the report, highlighting that many issues remain unresolved. The Chair has developed an Operations Actions Management Tool to provide a continuous overview and updates. Further discussions will be required and the experience and knowledge of Terence O’Byrne was noted. Rachel Nelson felt it was a weakness overall in the community council with meetings being held but no discussion about them.
Gullies and road surface issues on the Perth Road After many delays Councillor Tollemache was able to report that this is definitely scheduled for the next financial year.
Councillor Tollemache understands the frustration of residents and the community council in trying to resolve problems. Elected members are able to pursue these with Council officers on their behalf.
Planning
The Chair wants to set up a planning team to review planning applications, especially in view of the approaching Local Development Plan (LDP). Rachel Nelson expressed an interest and the Chair asked other community councillors to consider joining this team.
Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported that Sharon Marklow (Service Manager, Planning) said that the Council’s LDP team is collating evidence, with further meetings to be announced. She said that the Council has a clear model of what they want for Dunblane based on the Local Place Plan (LPP). It is important to get as many opinions as possible. There will be an LPP update meeting on 23 September in the Albert Halls and two representatives of the community council are invited to attend.
Elected members
Councillor Wilson reported that there will be motion on the agenda of the next Council meeting for the Council to write to the Scottish Secretary to ask for action on the long waiting times for a diagnosis of autism.
Councillor Wilson was able to report that a review of the school catering service (see Minutes March 2026) will come before the Council in October for discussion and a vote.
It was noted that, following the death of Councillor Henke, a by-election will be held in October.
Councillor Tollemache reported on incidents of the Allan Water being polluted by sewage at different locations. He contacted SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) but has been disappointed by its response of waiting for the result of Scottish Water investigations. The draft report from Scottish Water indicated that they could not find a fault in its system. He felt that SEPA should be carrying out further investigations including regular water sampling. To increase pressure on them, he suggested that the community council contact them to demand they identify the problem. He agreed to send all communications to the Chair who agreed to raise concerns with SEPA. Action: The Chair. Councillor Tollemache is also going to contact Mark Ruskell MSP.
6. Community
Dunblane community response to LDP3 The Chair reported that the community is willing to grow provided this was infrastructure-led. He said that the Council should provide an updated programme and timetable as soon as possible and that a follow up meeting to progress the LDP should be organised. Anna Jarchow-MacDonald agreed but also said that consideration should be given to planning for the long-term and what types of housing are needed. The Council is producing planning models for the whole area which will identify weaknesses. It was recognised that there is anxiety over the power of developers and it is important that community voices are heard.
Community Priorities Action Plan The Chair identified the need to build a Community Priority Action Plan to identify the infrastructure needed in Dunblane. He is working in partnership with the Dunblane Development Trust (DDT) and suggested meetings between the DDT and community council representatives to progress this. Jonathan Failes, Peter Swindon, Rachel Nelson and Karen Jenkins expressed interest in joining this group.
Alan Booth and Anna Jarchow-MacDonald outlined the differences between the two bodies, suggesting that these should be publicised to avoid confusion.
Laighhills
SSEN The Chair, with Alan Booth and Stewart Corbett, met with SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Network) representatives in the Laighhills to inspect the damage left by the work to remove electricity poles there. As compensation, SSEN agreed to supply a mower to help with maintenance in the Laighhills and putting down a better surface on the path between the playpark and the railway footbridge. Alan Booth suggested that Paul Allan (Play and Maintenance Officer) visit with SSEN representatives to determine the required repairs.
The Chair also wanted to progress reinstating the electricity supply to the pavilion and has asked SSEN for a full report on the status of the electricity supply. Alan Booth remembered that in 2018 the community council was assured that all services (electricity, water, sewage) were still in position. Councillor Tollemache agreed to find out if reconnection, rather than putting in an expensive new underground connection, is possible. Action: Councillor Tollemache.
Asset transfer The Chair has emailed Tracey Mills (Service Manager for Corporate Property Assets) for information on the asset transfer of the pavilion. Councillor Tollemache informed the meeting that the Community Development Team at the Council will get involved once a business case and application have been received. He confirmed that, until an application has been started, no specific funding can be discussed and therefore the £50,000 grant for toilet facilities would not come into discussion at this stage. The condition of the pavilion and its necessary repairs are also an issue. Councillor Tollemache said that the option of using the £50,000 grant for a stand alone toilet should be discussed in a joint meeting with the DDT.
The phased development of the pavilion was discussed with the need to confirm that the Soccer Club is willing to support its use. The Chair indicated that the Soccer Club wish to use the grass pitch at the bottom of the Laighhills and to instal an AstroTurf pitch on the upper Laighhills which would be fenced off. These plans should be widely publicised and Anna Jarchow-MacDonald suggested that the Soccer Club and community council should give a presentation and organise a survey of responses to the different options. There is also the issue of access only by walking.
It was agreed that the immediate focus should be on the provision of a public toilet and questions of funding its cleaning and maintenance were discussed. A stand alone toilet on the plinth beside the pavilion would cost about £12,000 a year to maintain, which would have to be raised within the community. It was realised that if the Soccer Club used the pavilion, the building, and therefore the toilet, would not be open all the time. However, in the longer term, if another concern wanted to use the pavilion during the day they could take over responsibility for the toilet which would then be available to the public. If that were to happen, the stand alone toilet facility could be moved to another site. Councillor Tollemache is going to ask for a meeting with Council officers to discuss the different options. Action: Councillor Tollemache.
Alan Booth has been in contact with Zoe Niven (Nature Restoration Officer) and it was agreed to control the bracken round the trees in the Laighhills.
7. Environment/Sustainability
Stirling Food Partnership Community councillors have been invited to attend a community food networking event at Fallin on 21 August, and the Chair was keen to find out if a similar scheme could operate in Dunblane. He asked members to let him know if they wanted to attend.
Stirling Council’s Tree and Woodland Strategy This online survey is open until 2 September.
8. Internal
Communications The Secretary reported that the community council’s inbox has been experiencing problems but is working at the moment.
Alan Booth asked that the Minutes be posted on the website and circulated earlier.
Treasurer’s report : See attached.
The Treasurer has submitted the accounts for 2025-26, but has missed the deadline for submitting the application for the Administration Grant from the Council.
Annelise Bakri reported that the £5,000 grant received from the Council for funding community gardens (see Minutes April 2026) is being held in the DDT’s accounts and she has to apply to them when she needs it. The Chair agreed to organise a meeting to sort out this situation. Action: The Chair.
9. AOCB
Citizens Advice Bureau(CAB) (See Minutes May 2026) Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported that a CAB representative wants to come to the community council to report on how the sessions at the Dunblane Centre have been working. The next step is to identify a suitable space at the High School where sessions could be held.
Newton Park David Christie, whose garden backs on to the park, complained that it is not being maintained by the Council as it was in the past, with the result that his garden is being invaded by weeds. He said that children cannot use much of the area as the grass is too long. Richard Bateson commented that whereas planned rewilding can be cost saving, but this does not mean leaving areas full of weeds and nettles. Alan Booth highlighted Stirling’s Pollinator Strategy for parks to increase biodiversity and the number of species. The park should be fully cut with the cuttings removed once a year in the autumn and, by using yellow rattle, a wild flower meadow should develop. David Christie reiterated his appeal for the Council to review this strategy at Newton, an area well-used by dog walkers and children. Councillor Tollemache agreed to meet with him on site to inspect the area. Area: Councillor Tollemache.
Imagine If Jonathan Failes is going to arrange a meeting with the Chair and Anne Jarchow-MacDonald and Imagine If, who had supported the community council in drawing up the Local Place Plan, to discuss community projects in Dunblane. Action: Jonathan Failes.
Timber Transport Group A site visit to Kippendavie has been arranged by the Stirling Tayside Timber Transport Group for 13 August to discuss timber transport and forestry. Alan Booth is going to attend and encouraged other community councillors to join him.
Councillor Tollemache reported that the pavements on Old Doune Road and part of the roadway are being resurfaced.
Alan Booth reported on the lane restrictions on the A9 between the A820 Doune Road and B8033 junctions and that the Council had not been willing to put a weight restriction on lorries to prevent them diverting through Dunblane.
A brief discussion was held over the continuing use of Zoom but it was agreed that it made the community council more accessible to the public and should, therefore, continue.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the community council will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 September, 2026, in the Library, Dunblane.
The meeting ended at 9.50 p.m.
This is a true representation of the meeting.
Anthony Delleur Date 14.08.26
Chair
Rachael Rennert Date
Secretary