Dunblane Community Council
| Rachael RennertSecretary cc@dunblane.info | Anna Jarchow-MacDonaldChair cc@dunblane.info |
Minutes of the Dunblane Community Council held on Wednesday, 6 May, at 7 p.m. in the Dunblane Centre, Dunblane. This is a “blended” meeting, with some attendees joining by Zoom.
Present: Anna Jarchow-MacDonald (Chair), Stewart Corbett (Treasurer), Jonathan Failes (Vice-Chair), Alan Booth, Annelise Bakri, Calum Thomson, Karen Jenkins and Rachel Nelson. By Zoom: Rachael Rennert (Secretary).
In attendance: Bridget Clark, Martin Roberts (Citizens Advice Bureau, Stirling), Simon Robertson (Parent Council, High School), David Whelan, and several residents. By Zoom: Mairi Santolini (Parent Council, High School), Susi Shanks.
1. Apologies
Apologies have been received from Anthony Delleur, Councillors Thomas Heald, Robin Kleinman, Alasdair Tollemache and David Wilson, and the Police.
2. Chair’s Remarks and Conflicts of Interest
The Chair indicated changes to the agenda with the items Community Alcohol Partnership and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) DHS group postponed, as the relevant speakers were not able to be present.
3. Adoption of minutes of 1 April 2026
The minutes were approved, proposed by Annelise Bakri and seconded by Karen Jenkins.
4. Co-option of new community council members
It was agreed to publicise an invitation for new co-opted members and inform Stephen Bly (Community Council Enquiry Co-ordinator). The Chair has prepared a poster for circulation and it was further agreed to send it to the offices at the schools requesting that it be forwarded to parents in school newsletters and to parent councils. Responses have to be received by 29 May.
5. Police Report: See attached.
6. Community
Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) The representative from CAP was unable to attend this meeting but it is hoped they will come to a future meeting. The Chair suggested that they speak to High School pupils about under-age drinking.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) The Chair introduced Martin Roberts from Stirling CAB who reported on the possibility of running a pilot scheme in Dunblane. (See Minutes April 2026.) He indicated that fortnightly sessions would start on 11 June with one worker offering four half-hour slots to be booked in advance. A new booking system has been set up which is easy to use and should reduce the number of missed appointments. If a client needs further support, a home visit or telephone consultation would be arranged. Three possible venues have been identified – the Dunblane Centre, the High School and the Braeport – which would be used in rotation. It was noted that these venues all have private spaces which might be suitable.
A similar pilot scheme in Callander was expanded to three days a week and the Chair has circulated information on the community impact of accessible localised CAB services this has had. A similar need is seen in Dunblane and community councillors suggested links to other groups including Dementia Friendly Dunblane, and young carers at the High School. Martin Roberts reported that Stirling Carer Centre visits schools.
As CAB is a charity, fund raising and donations would be required to cover the £7,500 a year cost of one CAB worker for one day a week. The wide area of advice offered was noted, from helping clients with benefits, consumer issues and energy bills to debt advice. The Chair agreed to discuss with the Treasurer using funds to cover the cost of the pilot scheme. Action: The Chair. Once the venues have been agreed, then the pilot scheme will be publicised. The need to make people aware of the scheme was stressed.
Schools The Chair reported that Culture Day is to be held at the High School on 16 June (see Minutes February 2026), with 18 stalls set up in the Murray Hall. This will be open to the community from 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
Simon Robertson from the High School’s parent council, reported that the school, at a recent inspection, achieved very good in Learning, Teaching and Assessment and Raising Attainment and Achievement. He said that to improve Safe Routes to School, the small roundabout at the school has been removed. Bridget Clark agreed to check whether the pedestrian barriers have also been removed (see Minutes, February 2026). Action: Bridget Clark.
Annelise Bakri reported that the High School garden will be open to the community on Friday, 19 June.
Mairi Santolini (Parent Council, High School), with reference to Sustainability, (see Minutes, February 2026), asked for help in finding a contact at the Council who would provide support with initiatives at the school. Sustainability in schools is a Scottish Government and Stirling Council aim but there is no support or funding available. The Chair indicated that she would contact the Council directly to find out more and asked Mairi Santolini to send her information on projects in Edinburgh where a member of staff is given time to progress the sustainability programme in their school. Action: Mairi Santolini and the Chair. Mairi Santolini felt that all the schools should be involved in this, including younger pupils and primary schools, and Annelise Bakri commented that having a member of staff involved would give the programme a long-term impact.
Greenspaces Holmehill Community Planting Day took place on 24 April, when residents helped seed wild flowers in areas on Holmehill, a joint Carman Family Foundation Trust and St Andrews Botanics Gardens initiative with help from the Dunblane Development Trust. Stewart Corbett reported that more areas are going to be identified for seeding wild flowers and encouraged young children to help. The Chair suggested that High School pupils be involved and noted that gardeners are responsible for maintaining the formally planted areas but not the wild flower patches. Stewart Corbett indicated that in the long term the Carman Family Foundation wish Holmehill to be transferred to a community group.
Laighhills It was noted that £55,000 is available from Stirling Council with the prime objective to provide toilet facilities in the Laighhills. There was a wider discussion over the sports pitches and whether one of them would become an Astroturf pitch, which Alan Booth stressed should be part of a public consultation. It is, however, important that the £55,000 for toilets is not lost in a wider plan, whether they are in a separate building or using the existing toilets in the pavilion, once refurbished. Stewart Corbett agreed to circulate the Laighhills Masterplan. Action: Stewart Corbett. He said that viable, sustainable options should be agreed before taking them forward for public consultation and the Chair asked for more ideas for the next meeting of the community council. Rachel Nelson agreed to find out about how the purpose-built toilet block at Moray Park in Doune is maintained and the cost involved. Action: Rachel Nelson. Anthony Delleur is working on a plan and will present this at the next meeting of the community council. Action: Anthony Delleur.
Cycle storage and repair station (See Minutes April 2026.) Cycle storage and repair station (See Minutes April 2026.) Rachael Rennert confirmed that Stirling Council in partnership with Cyclehoop will be installing a new bike hangar at the bottom of the lift at the station opposite the Victoria Hall. This will be installed between 26 and 29 May. A bike repair station has also been offered by Stirling Council as part of the pilot and will be installed at a later date.
The Chair suggested that a future application funding from Forth Valley Community Led Local Development could be for a light and sculpture trail along the river.
Street signs A request from the Dunblane Centre to have its sign added to the main signage in the middle of the Fourways Roundabout has been forwarded to Stirling Council. The Chair suggested that a walk around Dunblane should be organised to look at signage, with a view to promoting tourist attractions, and will contact the relevant Council officer.
The Chair suggested that there should be a sign indicating the friendship link with Vaison-la-Romaine and reported that representatives from Vaison are visiting Dunblane on 25 and 26 September. A discussion arose over involving local groups to meet them, from sports and music groups and arranging a ceilidh. Annelise Bakri agreed to apply to the Council’s Civic and Hospitality Fund to cover costs. Action: Annelise Bakri.
Dunblane Development Trust (DDT) Stewart Corbett reported that there is a proposal to have a tourist information area in the Giving Tree shop. He suggested tourist signs, for example at the gold postbox, using touch screens or QR codes. Static signs could be erected at the station and at a few other sites. The cost of the signs would be covered by business advertisements on them. It was suggested that having a co-ordinated colour and design scheme for signs and maps would give coherence. The Chair stated that the walk round Dunblane with the relevant officer from the Council looking at signage would be the first step. Action: The Chair.
7. Environment/Sustainability
Orchard Blossom Day This will take place at the Community Orchard in the Laighhills on 10 May, with a maintenance session at the upper Orchard from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and a celebration of blossom in the afternoon. Karen Jenkins agreed to post this on Facebook. Action: Karen Jenkins.
Forestry Alan Booth reported that Glen Road will be used for timber extraction traffic. With reference to the felling of woodland near Ashfield, he agreed to send information to Ashfield. Action: Alan Booth.
8. Reports
Operational report Terence O’Byrne has produced a 17-point report detailing many issues, some of which are not resolved after many months.
Drainage issues on the Perth Road These have not yet been dealt with.
Pedestrian bridge at the station After 11 years, there is still no progress on dealing with the rusty state and water ponding on the bridge. Terence O’Byrne and the Chief Executive of the Council, Brian Roberts, are meeting on 11 May to discuss this.
Kinbuck bridge Councillor Tollemache has asked for this to be prioritised.
Claredon Place/B8033 pedestrian crossing Councillor Tollemache has asked for an update.
Raised platforms at Springfield Terrace crossing Councillor Tollemache has requested that these be installed. Although noting that the issues at the bus stop outside Tesco have been ameliorated, Jonathan Failes reported that vehicles are still being parked there.
Speed limits on Auchinlay Road, Glen Road and Sheriffmuir Road Councillor Tollemache has asked for updates on their implementation.
Perth Road Traffic Activated Signs As these are being obscured by leaves, Councillor Tollemache has asked for branches to be cut back.
Planning Report
Alan Booth reported that the application at Ledcameroch has been changed, with the application for an access road being withdrawn. As it stands, the application is for a potting shed and greenhouse.
With reference to the Local Development Plan, the Chair reported that the Spatial Strategy and Site Options can now be viewed on the Council website and it was agreed to publicise this on Facebook. The Chair agreed to ask Stirling Council to arrange a date for a public presentation in Dunblane. Action: The Chair. Community councillors should consider how to respond to the various proposals contained in the document and a further discussion will be arranged. Anthony Delleur has indicated he wants to take this forward.
9. Internal
Treasurer’s Report: See attached.
The Treasurer asked councillors to consider how the money in the Community View Fund and the High School Project Fund should be spent.
10. AOCB
Speedwatch David Whelan reported that the first Speedwatch took place on the Doune Road near the Primary School on 5 May between 8.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. when they logged four vehicles breaking the speed limit. These would be reported to the police who would send them a letter making them aware of the speed limit. The Speedwatch group has permission to operate in two positions, on Doune Road and Perth Road, in the morning as indicated above or between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. The purpose is to raise awareness of speed limits. He thanked the Dunblane Development Trust for helping with funding.
Election hustings Alan Booth reported that, at the recent hustings, a previous Chair of the community council, David Prescott, asked for candidates’ views on funding community councils in the same way as parish councils in England are funded. Keith Brown MSP indicated he is willing to attend a community council meeting.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting and AGM
The AGM of the community council will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 June, 2026, in the Library, Dunblane, to be followed by the regular meeting. It was noted that the Chair is standing down, and the election of new co-opted members will take place.
The meeting ended at 9.20 p.m.
This is a true representation of the meeting.
Anna Jarchow-MacDonald …………………………Date …15/05/26…
Chair
Rachael Rennert ……………………………………..Date ………………
Secretary